If you thought the legacy of Vietnam War has become a distant memory that has faded in its ability to impact the deliberations of the American presidency and U.S. foreign policy discussions…revisit that thought…read this book.

Marvin Kalb is the Edward R. Murrow Professor of Practice (Emeritus) at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government (among other noteworthy endeavors and achievements).Deborah Kalb is a freelance writer and journalist who has penned insights for Gannett, Congressional Quarterly, U.S. News and World Report etc.

Although the Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, the U.S. had officially “lost” its first war to “a raggedy-ass little fourth rate country,” – according to Lyndon Johnson.

Although President George W. Bush declared “we’ve kicked the Vietnam syndrome” (along with other famous utterances like “mission accomplished”), the authors painstakingly provide the heretofore untold dialog and impact the Vietnam War has had on each and every administration from Ford through the present day.

American history inhabits the heads and hearts of policy makers, advisors and Presidents alike. This book provides factual verification of the ongoing influence of the Vietnam War in our national security policy considerations.

Frankly, for political science, American history and folks with a penchant for the behind-the-scenes gestation of foreign policy – This book is REQUIRED READING.

A truly remarkable contribution to the works associated with the history of the American presidency, our nation — and our present-future.