Conventional Thinking

Today I listened to a podcast from Fresh Air podcast of David Talbot discussing new theories of the Kennedy Assassination. I love hearing things related to what I am currently studying or reading, in this case, The Best and the Brightest. I didn't expect it, but it gave me another new reference point to put this book in perspective. Much of Talbot's talk revolved around supicions that RFK had about who killed his brother. While publicly backing the Warren Commision report, he privately felt that certain CIA interests were behind, or at least involved in the assassination.

While I can't vouch for the accuracy of his reporting, I do want to look further into it and if it has not been discredited, I may move to his book next while Halberstam's points are fresh in my mind. It sounded like RFK was positive of a conspiracy very early on. I don't know how long he harbored these thoughts, or if he ever backed off of them.

Realism

The first real profile of the Best and the Brightest is McGeorge Bundy. I've heard of him over the years, mostly as an example of the above, but never really knew anything about him. As will be the ongoing theme of this writing, so many of the issues are similar to our contemporary situation. The realists will guide us through. Let the professionals handle the war. It is a kind of self-protection against criticsm. Appearing serious and describing threats that may or may not be real somehow makes one a realist. I suppose much of it is the fear that this one time they may be correct. Isn't it safer to always be cautious and operate in a world of worst case scenarios.

. . . And yet the battle scenarios and results are seen through a best case filter. Realism only extends far enough to cede the decision making. It doesn't allow one to acknowledge what is really going on. Even when it is agreed upon that the plan is not working, somehow our nation is always told that we are too fragile for the truth, especially those who are facing the worst of it in the actual situation.

I recently watched The Good Shepherd and many of the scenes fit well with the personalities and circumstances talked about in this book. Not a great movie, but a good companion piece to a study of the Best and Brightest.

Revisiting the Past

In reading the Halberstam book and revisiting the beginnings of America's involvement in Vietnam, I am struck by how similar the partisan arguments are to those that go on today. McCarthy scarred the political discourse more then is acknowledged. We haven't really moved beyond those arguments, even though we censured their originator.

Many realized that McCarthy's slurs could be repackaged and cleansed, but still would put politicians on the defensive. The message would be the same, and as it became mainstream, it became more dangerous.

I've read Hunter Thompson's Fear and Loathing on the Campaign a couple of times in the past year and am amazed at how elections have not really changed, even as the media has become unrecognizable. In fact, because the media has changed so much, they are so self-referential that they refuse to recognize all that has stayed the same.

Apropos of nothing, of course, just rambling

Intro, Best and the Brightest

In the introduction, Halberstam explains how he came to write this book. It really sets up the book well. While he was concerned that his experience in journalism might not translate to book writing, he found that his insatiable curiosity was well served by the book writing process.

His description of thinking in terms of what you produce is trenchant. A journalist who produces 800 words a day, starts to think in those terms. Transferring to book writing requires a different a whole different outlook.

That is why it is so important to have the passion to pursue a book. There are so many impediments to finishing works like these. Four years writing something that you are not sure is wanted by the public. It would be impossible to will oneself through such a process.

The Best and the Brightest

I bought three books yesterday, The Best and the Brightest, The Kingdom and the Power and The Guns of August.

I may hold off on the The Guns of August, having read it before. I also may want to create an online course using it. Possibly integrating it with a geographic tool.

I think I'll start the Halberstam book, seeing if it gives any insight into what is currently going on in Iraq. I enjoy his books, and will try to get a couple of more in the coming weeks. When I get The Powers that Be I'll probably read it as a companion to The Kingdom and the Power.