Uncertain Warriors: Lyndon Johnson and His Vietnam Advisers(Modern War Studies)

Lyndon Johnson, when it comes to his role in the Vietnam war, is popularly portrayed as an irrational ""hawkish"" leader who bullied his advisers and refused to solicit a wide range of opinions. That depiction, David Barrett, argues, is simplistic and far from accurate. Johnson zealously worked to shroud his advisory system in secrecy, fearing leaks that might prematurely foreclose his options. The result, says Barrett, is that Johnson appeared to ignore diverse and dissenting opinions, relying instead on a few like-minded advisers. Barrett contends that this insistence on secrecy, plus Johnson's colourful personality, has overshadowed his approach to policymaking and his consideration of a wide spectrum of opinion from a variety of formal and informal advisers. In this book, Barrett presents evidence showing Johnson developed a complex system of consultation. He systematically assesses Johnson's encounters with his advisers and records how the president, the advisers, and outside observers viewed the adviser/advisee relationships. Following a paper trail of memoranda, letters, diaries and notes, Barrett not only examines how Johnson dealt with his advisers and developed an advisory system, but delves into Johnson's personality and style to show their impact on his decisions. Despite Johnson's willingness to consider opposing viewpoints, Barrett concedes, his rational advisory system nevertheless produced a flawed and fatal set of policies because they were based on an increasingly outdated world view.

Review :
"There will be few readers of this challenging and well-argued book who will put it down without a more sophisticated understanding of the Johnson administration."--Journal of American History "Barrett's work helps one appreciate further the tortured complexity of Lyndon Johnson and the flawed and tragic nature of the American military involvement in Vietnam that he oversaw."--Review of Politics "Recommended to both history buffs and those whose lives Vietnam touched, who still wonder how and why decisions were made on US involvement."--Military Review "Barrett has produced a highly provocative study that examines Lyndon Johnson's national security apparatus and decision-making process."--Naval War College Review "Barrett successfully undermines the standard view of Johnson's decision-making process."--American Historical Review "Important and disturbing."--International History Review "Highly recommended."--Library Journal "A book that should be read closely by those interested in LBJ and why Vietnam happened. . . . By allowing for a very complex LBJ, Barrett has given us a more interesting figure than have many better-known books."--Deborah Shapley, author of Promise and Power: The Life and Times of Robert McNamara "A book of great humanity and compassion. . . . Fair-minded without being uncritical, thorough but never pedantic, always clear and readable, this book belongs on the small shelf of truly first-class books on American policy in the Vietnam War."--William P. Bundy, former editor of Foreign Affairs "A genuinely important study which views President Johnson&8217;s conduct of Vietnam policy with a fresh eye."--George McT. Kahin, author of Intervention: How America Became Involved in Vietnam "Uncertain Warriors will be much discussed as Vietnam scholars continue to debate the question, 'Why Vietnam?'"--Lloyd Gardner, author of Approaching Vietnam: From World War II through Dienbienphu "The best account I have seen of Tet decisions."--George C. Herring, author of America's Longest War: The United States and Vietnam, 1950-1975