Traditional military experience mattered little to McNamara—even less in an era of nuclear deterrence and superpower competition.47 Admiral McDonald recalled that the defense secretary once said, “Oh, let’s stop doing it John Paul Jones’ way. Can’t you have an original thought for a change?” One of McNamara’s assistants told the admiral, “I know you military fellows have always been taught to get in there with both feet and get it over with, but this is a different kind of war.”
