A Question of Loyalty plunges into the seven-week Washington trial of Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell, the hero of the U.S. Army Air Service during World War I and the man who proved in 1921 that planes could sink a battleship. In 1925 Mitchell was frustrated by the slow pace of aviation development, and he sparked a political firestorm, accusing the army and navy high commands -- and by inference the president -- of treason and criminal negligence in the way they conducted national defense. He was put on trial for insubordination in a spectacular court-martial that became a national obsession during the Roaring Twenties.
Uncovering a trove of new letters, diaries, and confidential documents, Douglas Waller captures the drama of the trial and builds a rich and revealing biography of Mitchell.
About the Author :
Douglas C. Waller is the diplomatic correspondent for TIME magazine. Before joining TIME in 1994, he was a defense and foreign policy correspondent for Newsweek. Before joining Newsweek in 1988, he spend 8 years working in the U.S. Congress, for Rep. Edward J. Markey and Sen. William Proxmire. He is the author of THE COMMANDOS: The Inside Story of America's Secret Soldiers and AIR WARRIORS: The Inside Story of the Making of a Navy Pilot. He holds a B.A. in English from Wake Forest University and an M.A. in Urban Administration from the University of North Carolina.
Review :
"Waller has probably done his best work ever in this recounting of Mitchell's life and trial" - Booklist (starred review)
"Fascinating book" - John Lehman (member of the 9/11 Commission), Washington Post Book World
"Facinating . . . A Question of Loyalty is a must-read" - Wall Street Journal
"[A] fascinating well-told story of a military maverick's life" - Chicago Tribune
"This is not just great fun, it's also--literally--as fresh and relevant as this morning's paper." - Joe Klein, Time magazine and author of Primary Colors
"As Congress debates intelligence reform, this fascinating book reminds us of Harry Truman's dictum that the only thing new in the world is the history you don't know." - John Lehman, member of the 9/11 Commission and former secretary of the Navy, Washington Post Book World
Named to the Washington Post Book World's "Best of 2004" list - Washington Post Book World
Named to the Booklist Editors' Choice 2004 list - Booklist
Named to the Chicago Tribune's "Best of 2004" list - Chicago Tribune Books
"Don't pass up Douglas Waller's riveting read about the legendary Billy Mitchell, whose rebellion captivated a nation." - Senator John McCain
"Buy this and get ready to hang on to your seats! A gripping true-life trial. I loved it." - Greta Van Susteren, Fox News
