American Reckoning Quotes

“new mainstream consensus emerged around the idea that the Vietnam War had primarily been an American tragedy that had badly wounded and divided the nation. The focus was on healing, not history.”
― Christian G. Appy, American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity

“By 1971, 58 percent of Americans had concluded that the war in Vietnam was not just a mistake, but immoral.”
― Christian G. Appy, American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity

“My main argument is that the Vietnam War shattered the central tenet of American national identity—the broad faith that the United States is a unique force for good in the world,”
― Christian G. Appy, American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity

“were”
― Christian G. Appy, American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity

“devices”
― Christian G. Appy, American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity

“populace,”
― Christian G. Appy, American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity

“things”
― Christian G. Appy, American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity

“renewal, a “national crusade to make America great”
― Christian G. Appy, American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity

“What would those soldiers have thought if they were privy to a classified memo written in March 1965 by Assistant Secretary of Defense John McNaughton? While outlining the “course of action” in Vietnam, McNaughton includes a brief, haunting breakdown of American objectives in Vietnam: US aims: 70%—To avoid a humiliating US defeat (to our reputation as a guarantor). 20%—To keep SVN (and then adjacent) territory from Chinese hands. 10%—To permit the people of SVN to enjoy a better, freer way of life. ALSO—To emerge from crisis without unacceptable taint from methods used. NOT—To “help a friend,” although it would be hard to stay in if asked out.”
― Christian G. Appy, American Reckoning: The Vietnam War and Our National Identity