Anderson could barely contain his anger as he listened to McNamara’s detailed questions. “This is none of your goddamn business,” he finally exploded. “We know how to do this. We’ve been doing it ever since the days of John Paul Jones, and if you’ll just go back to your quarters, Mr. Secretary, we’ll take care of this.” Gilpatric could see the color rising in his boss’s countenance. For a moment, he feared a blazing row in front of the assembled Navy brass. But McNamara simply remarked, “You heard me, Admiral, there will be no shots fired without my permission,” and walked out of the room.
