In 2003 mcnamara appeared in a television documentary, the fog of war, where he explained his decisions and admitted his failures during the vietnam war. Mcnamara, a member of the harvard faculty in his youth, says in the film that his commitment always has been. While allowing mcnamara to tell the story from his perspective, morris also. It chronicled mcnamara s world war ii experience targeting cities for fire bombings, and the staggering toll of civilian deaths.
Lang is adjunct associate professor of international relations research at brown. His apparent contrition never silenced his critics, though, who considered him a war. Mark danner in conversation with robert mcnamara and errol morris. The fog of war eleven lessons from the life of robert s. Such programs are often based on reason, and will be relatively ineffective in the early dwvid of an insurgency when passion is the prime mover, but as the conflict progresses and the pragmatic implications of the war become the the prime mover, rational programs which improve the. More fog of war official website synopsis watch clip storyboards academy awards acceptance speech fog of war glossary mcnamara gallery b29 cluster layout fog of war vs. Fog of war, mcnamara, war, kennedy, errol morris it is the story of america as seen through the eyes of the former secretary of defense, robert s. Directors statement the fog of war is a 20th century fable, a story of an american dreamer who rose from humble origins to the heights of political power. This academy awardwinning documentary, augmented by archival footage, gives the conflicted mcnamara a platform on which he attempts to confront his and the u. For most of my adult life, i blamed mcnamara for everything that went wrong in vietnam and held him personally accountable for the deaths of 58,000 americans and 100,000s of vietnamese. Jun 18, 2006 the history channel has recently reaired errol morris acclaimed documentary the fog of war in which morris interviews former secretary of defense robert mcnamara and attempts to draw lessons. How much responsibility does robert mcnamara deserve for the.
Morris is notably effective in presenting the historical context for mcnamaras career. The fog of war felt almost like mcnamara in a confessional, bearing his soul, sharing the lessons he had learned, and admitting some of his mistakes. Mcnamara, in full robert strange mcnamara, born june 9, 1916, san francisco, california, u. Reducing the risk of conflict, killing, and catastrophe in the 21st century with robert s. Learn more about the 1995 hanoi conference, when mcnamara met with vietnamese general vo nguyen giap, in argument without end. Mcnamara was both witness to and participant in many of the crucial events of the 20th century. A gripping documentary accompaniment to the fog of war, the collaboration of mcnamara and morris, and blight and lang, is destined to eclipse graham allisons essence of decision with an altogether darker, and even more equivocal vision. Rumsfeld seemed to step into the confessional and proceed to spin everything he had done. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Mcnamara, the former secretary of defense under the kennedy and johnson administrations. The soundtrack of the movie the fog of war features the life of former secretary of defense robert mcnamara. Berkeley near the end of fog of war, errol morriss documentary about robert mcnamara s examination of his role in the wars of the 20th century, mcnamara shares his philosophy for dealing with the press. Eight years after that editorial was written, fog of war premiered. Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and the eighth united states secretary of defense, serving from 1961 to 1968 under presidents john f.
Because the more the two of us pull, the tighter the knot will be tied. The fog of war, combined with human unpredictability, can create outcomes or present opportunities that no one could predict. Aug 12, 20 this entry was posted in documentaries, foreign policy, history and tagged dresden firebombing, evil, genocide, kent state massacre, killing, lesson 9, norman morrison, robert mcnamara, the fog of war, the fog of war analysis, the pentagon, tokyo firebombing, vietnam war, world war ii by rites of patches. The world bank and international development politics. Mcnamara by nick grothaus the fog of war is a film about the life and times of robert s. The fog of war the fog of war is a documentary that features robert mcnamara. Mcnamara was a truthful, but limited, account of the major eventsevents ranging from the great depression, world war 2, cuban missile crisis, vietnam war, and the cold war that the united states took part in during the twentieth century fog. Robert mcnamara explains events that pulled america into the vietnam war with the assassination of president kennedy and the reversal of kennedys withdrawl policies, culminating with the gulf of. The fog of war is a 20th century fable, a story of an american dreamer who rose from humble origins to the heights of political power. In a particularly inspired use of archival footage during errol morris masterful documentary the fog of war, the devastating firebombs rained down on japan in wwii are suddenly transformed into a cluster of numbers dropping from the skies. Robert mcnamara simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Mcnamara reflects back on his life and shares 11 lessons he had learned as he lived and served during one of the most dark times of human history. This brilliant work by director morris is the stuff of life. One of the most controversial and influential figures in world politics, he takes us on an insiders view of the seminal events of the 20th century.
My rule has been to try to learn, try to understand what happened. Mcnamara war is so complex, beyond the ability of the human mind to comprehend all the variables. I can recall even in the late 50s when lemay laid down what were his priorities for new weapons systems a replacement for, a successor for the b52 was very high on his list and ballistic missiles were lower on his list. Mcnamara is a 2003 american documentary film about the life and times of former u. Mcnamara, morris and the fog of war filmmaker errol morris focuses on history through the eyes of a single man in the fog of war. Former defense secretary robert mcnamara, who died monday at age 93, offered an appraisal of the vietnam war in the 2003 documentary the fog of war. Nov 29, 2016 eight years after that editorial was written, fog of war premiered. On the morning of july 6, vietnam war criminal robert mcnamara died at the age of 93. I suspect history will not look kindly upon either, but i cant walk away from fog of war judging mcnamara too harshly, while rumsfleds film just solidified my view of him as an amoral monster.
See more ideas about robert mcnamara, the fog of war and john f kennedy. May 24, 2011 the film examines the life and work of robert mcnamara, architect of the vietnam war. Berkeley near the end of fog of war, errol morriss documentary about robert mcnamaras examination of his role in the wars of the 20th century, mcnamara shares his philosophy for dealing with the press. Mcnamara and the pentagon harry reasoner this is the secretary of defense of the united states, robert mcnamara. How robert mcnamara came to regret the war he escalated. Aug 12, 20 this entry was posted in documentaries, foreign policy, history and tagged data, datadriven decisionmaking, decisionmaking, ford motor company, lesson 6, robert mcnamara, seatbelts, tet offensive, the fog of war, the fog of war analysis, vietcong, vietnam war by rites of patches. While allowing mcnamara to tell the story from his perspective, morris also divides the film into eleven lessons that can be. Robert mcnamara 1916 during the late 60s, many americans change their opinion of the vietnam war, gradually becoming opposed to the policies they once supported. Mcnamara is one of modern americas most controversial figures. Mcnamara illustrated edition by blight, james isbn. Sep 14, 2009 an extract from an interview with robert s mcnamara who was secretary of defense during the vietnam war.
The particular structure of this personal account is accomplished with the characteristics of an intimate. The fog of war is a film about the life and times of robert s. Our judgement, our understanding are not adequate, and we kill people unnecessarily. The gulf war volume iv lessons of modern war ebook. The documentary also illustrates the observation of how modern warfare should be carried. The piece is a mix between historical footage and an interview with robert mcnamara by the director, errol morris. Mark danner in conversation with robert mcnamara and errol morris duration. In order to do good, you may have to engage in evil. Opinion rethinking mcnamaras war the new york times.
The man is former secretary of defense robert mcnamara, whose. This entry was posted in documentaries, foreign policy, history and tagged data, datadriven decisionmaking, decisionmaking, ford motor company, lesson 6, robert mcnamara, seatbelts, tet offensive, the fog of war, the fog of war analysis, vietcong, vietnam war by rites of patches. In war, the only certainty is that nothing is certain. This film could have been titled the evil that men do. From the fog of war if we cant persuade nations with comparable values of the merits of. It went on to win the academy award for documentary feature. Mcnamara and eleven lessons for american foreign policy. Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and former united states secretary of defense. Remembering robert mcnamara nbc nightly news, new york, ny. The story of america as seen through the eyes of the former secretary of defense under president john f. The gulf war volume iv lessons of modern war read full. See more ideas about the fog of war, war and robert mcnamara. Mcnamara s earliest memories include armistice day in 1918, marking the emergence of the united states to the heights of international power.
The fog of war, winner of the academy award for best documentary, is the story of america as seen through the eyes of the former secretary of defense, robert s. May 08, 20 what robert mcnamara essentially describes in the fog of war, at least in the first five lessons, is the best way to achieve an end to war with minimal losses of both humans and resources. Mcnamara is a 2003 errol morris documentary consisting mostly of interviews with robert mcnamara and archival footage. Robert mcnamara and lessons from the fog of war bills us. The title derives from the military concept of the fog of war. The film was directed by errol morris and features an original score by philip glass. Dec 20, 2003 mcnamara, morris and the fog of war filmmaker errol morris focuses on history through the eyes of a single man in the fog of war. Rumsfeld in contrast seems utterly incapable of introspection, regret, or remorse. He did not start the war, but deserves credit for screwing it up by applying experience at ford motor to try to run it profit and loss style using the latest management best practices of the day. The film, the fog of war, is about a life experience of robert mcnamara who is a former secretary of defense, president of ford motor company, and president of world bank. Robert mcnamara in the first message, khrushchev said this.
It showed his life to be dramatic and traumatic in many different ways. Mcnamaras earliest memories include armistice day in 1918, marking the emergence of the united states to the heights of international power. After being an executive at ford motor company, mcnamara served as defense secretary from 1961 to 1968, during the vietnam war under presidents john f. The unknown known 20 tabloid 2010 standard operating procedure 2008 mr. Robert mcnamara simple english wikipedia, the free. Former corporate whiz kid robert mcnamara was the controversial secretary of defense in the kennedy and johnson administrations, during the height of the vietnam war. His thoughts are organized as 11 lessons from the life of robert mcnamara, as extrapolated by morris, and one wonders how the current planners of the war in iraq would respond to lessons no. Robert mcnamara, the fog of war sincerely, susan graseck, director the. The film examines the life and work of robert mcnamara, architect of the vietnam war. In 1965, mcnamara called the war in vietnam a battle of this. Let me hear your voice level to make sure its the same. Mcnamara is a documentary that features the life and the role played by the then us secretary of defense robert s.
His opinions, policies, and actions have led to a firestorm of debate, ignited most recently by errol morriss academy awardwinning film, the fog of war. He reflects on his part in the bombing of tokyo, the cuban missile crisis, and the vietnam war. Mcnamara was in so much as a great representation of the life of robert s. He played a major role in escalating the united states involvement in the vietnam war. Mcnamara illustrating his observations of the nature of modern warfare. At my age, 85, im at an age where i can look back and derive some conclusions about my actions.
Nov 28, 2017 robert mcnamara during an interview in his office in 1967. His job has been called the toughest in washington, and mcnamara is the most controversial figure that has ever held the job. Mcnamara lived another six after that, dying in his sleep on july 6, 2009, at the age of 93. Jul 06, 2009 former defense secretary robert mcnamara, who died monday at age 93, offered an appraisal of the vietnam war in the 2003 documentary the fog of war. Although i remain conflicted over our involvement in vietnam, the fog of war has caused me to begin to reassess my longheld animus against mcnamara. Mcnamara was responsible for the institution of systems. I personally thought the movie was a tad bit on the boring side, but it was a.
We and you ought not to pull on the ends of a rope which you have tied the knots of war. Mcnamara mentions, seemingly in passing, that he learned very early to never say never. Robert mcnamara, errol morris return to berkeley to share. Kennedy administration of 19611963, robert mcnamara had important influence on the early escalation in. Robert mcnamara, jfklbj and the gulf of tonkin resolution. Years later, it was a haunted mcnamara who appeared in errol morris acclaimed documentary, the fog of war. His department absorbs 10% of the national income of this country, and over half of every tax dollar. The history channel has recently reaired errol morris acclaimed documentary the fog of war in which morris interviews former secretary of defense robert mcnamara and attempts to draw lessons. Mcnamara was a much hated and rabid anticommunist who dedicated his life to u. The lessons he learned and shared during the documentary movie were truly astounding to me. This symposium responds to errol morriss documentary film the fog of war about the life of robert s. War ii where he had been the commander of a very large and very effective bomber forces. In lesson one, mcnamara describes how empathizing with the enemy1 can lead to the swift end of a crisis, as well as to help to figure out the next moves.