Williamsburg Regional Library

A grand delusion, America's descent into Vietnam, Robert Mann

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 787-799) and index

platesillustrations

index present

non fiction

A grand delusion

bibliography

45136691

Robert Mann

America's descent into Vietnam

A Grand Delusion is the first comprehensive single-volume American political history of the Vietnam War. Spanning the years 1945 to 1975, it is the definitive story of the well-meaning, but often misguided, American political leaders whose unquestioning adherence to the crusading, anti-Communist Cold War dogma of the 1950's and 1960's led the nation into its tragic misadventure in Vietnam.At the center of this narrative are seven political leaders-Dwight Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, J. William Fulbright, Mike Mansfield, and George McGovern. During their careers, each occupied center-stage in the nation's debate over U.S. policy in Vietnam.This is a piercing analysis of political currents and an epic tragedy filled with fascinating characters and antagonisms and beliefs that divided the nation.--, Amazon.com

The little pipsqueak: February 1965 -- part 1. The roots of war -- The "loss" of China: 1949-1950 -- Paralyzed with fear: 1950 -- Korea: 1950 -- The part-time isolationists: 1951 -- part 2. The initial descent -- Nothing but a grim joke: 1945-1950 -- The keystone in Southeast Asia: 1951 -- A great crusade: 1951-1952 -- Pouring money down a rat hole: 1953 -- Pouring money down a rat hole: 1953 -- You shall not fight unaided: 1953 -- La Guerre sale: 1954 -- We cannot engage in active war: 1954 -- Diplomacy of bluster and retreat: 1954 -- The best available prime minister: 1954-1955 -- This is our offspring: 1955-1956 -- A blank grant of power: 1957-1958 -- Nothing more than a mirage: 1958-1960 -- part 3. Into the morass -- Vietnam is the place: 1961 -- You're just crazier than hell: 1961 -- A world of illusion: 1962 -- The beginning of the beginning 1962 -- You did visit the same country, didn't you?: 1963 -- A stone rolling downhill: 1963 -- part 4. Escalation and deception -- Get in, get out, or get off: 1963-1964 -- The damn worst mess I ever saw: 1964 -- Aggression unchallenged is aggression unleashed: 1964 -- No wider war: 1964-1965 -- Harder choices: 1965 -- We are very deep already: 1965 -- This could be quagmire: 1965 -- Sliding farther into the morass of war: 1965 -- Let them know they are in a war: 1966 -- Once our flag is committed: 1966 -- Where does it all end?: 1966-1967 -- There is a rot in the fabric: 1967 -- A very near thing: 1968 -- Everyone has turned into a dove: 1968 -- The vice president has very few guns: 1968 -- part 5. Nixon's war -- Win the peace: 1969 -- This chamber reeks of blood: 1970 -- We'll bomb the bastards off the earth: 1970-1971 -- Peace is at hand: 1972 -- A spirit of doubt and contrition: 1972-1975

adult