May 24, 2011 the film examines the life and work of robert mcnamara, architect of the vietnam war. When the united states us entered the second world war, mcnamara. Whether viewers find his reflections candid, evasive, or somewhere in between is entirely up to them. Mcnamara, robert strange, american politician and fifth president. Life and business lessons learned while catfishing the tennessee. President john kennedy, right, walks with secretary of defense robert mcnamara towards a pier on cape cod to board the kennedy family boat for an. The piece is a mix between historical footage and an interview with robert mcnamara by the director, errol morris. He played a major role in escalating the united states involvement in the vietnam war. Mcnamaras earliest memories include armistice day in 1918, marking the emergence of the united states to the heights of international power. What others are saying the fog of war trailer the fog of war.
Mcnamara and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Mcnamara died in washington dc in july 2009, aged 93, and was buried at arlington national cemetery. Mcnamara war is so complex, beyond the ability of the human mind to comprehend all the variables. If youre looking for a free download links of the fog of war. 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. Mcnamara, the former secretary of defense under the kennedy and johnson administrations. Mcnamara was one of the most controversial and influential political figures ofthe 20th century. 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. Arguably the best film yet by the awardwinning documentarian errol morris, the fog of war, a look at the life of former secretary of defense robert s. Mcnamara, a member of the harvard faculty in his youth, says in the film that his commitment always has been. Robert mcnamara and lessons from the fog of war bills us. Decades after the fact, the vietnam war occupies a dark space in the collective conscience. Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and former united states secretary of defense.
Mcnamara was a business executive with ford motor company before his appointment as united states. Feb 28, 2004 the fog around robert mcnamara director errol morris discusses how his oscarwinning the fog of war resonates with george w. Robert strange mcnamara was an american business executive and former united states secretary of defense. Mcnamara is a former harvard professor, ww2 officer, president of ford, secretary of defense and head of the world bank. Mcnamara, the fog of war neither damns nor exonerates its subject, but instead allows him the space to account for his actions.
The fog of war eleven lessons from the life of robert s. Mcnamara illustrating his observations of the nature of modern warfare. The film was directed by errol morris and features an original score by philip glass. His apparent contrition never silenced his critics, though, who considered him a war. The piece is a mix between historical footage and an interview with robert mcnamara by the director, errol. 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 simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The gulf war volume iv lessons of modern war ebook. Eleven lessons from the life of robert s mcnamara, was released in 2003.
Robert strange mcnamara led a very interesting life, he attended harvard business school, when wwii broke out he served in the usaf under the command of curtis lamay the man responsible for the bombing of japanese cities, mcnamara used statistics and trends to streamline the maximum effectivity. Jul 21, 2009 on the morning of july 6, vietnam war criminal robert mcnamara died at the age of 93. Mcnamara s controversial book tells the inside and personal story of. Mcnamara is one of modern americas most controversial figures.
Mcnamara trailer is a 2003 american documentary film about the life and times of former u. Mcnamara, in turn revered and reviled, may yet be redeemed as an icon of management. Opinion rethinking mcnamaras war the new york times. Dont answer the question they asked, the former secretary of defense 19601968 advises with a smile. Fog of war eleven lessons from the life of robert s. 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. Mcnamara belongs to a blessedly small circle of people who by his own uncomfortable admission arguably qualify for prosecution as war criminals.
This academy awardwinning documentary, augmented by archival footage, gives the conflicted mcnamara a platform on which he attempts to confront his and the u. 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. 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. Robert mcnamara, fog of war the name robert mcnamara often conjures up a variety of unappealing images.
Mcnamara is a vital and presciently timely examination of a past that can repeat itself with incalculable harm to the united states. Errol morris, brilliant documentarian, produced this piece, the fog of war, basically an indepth interview with robert mcnamara with footage of the time about which mr. At my age, 85, im at an age where i can look back and derive some conclusions about my actions. Mcnamara papers a finding aid to the collection in the library of congress. 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. Documentary film director errol morris invites him to do a filmed interview. Academy awardwinner for best documentary feature, the fog of war is the story of america as seen through the eyes of the former secretary of defense, under president kennedy and president johnson, robert s. Mcnamara s earliest memories include armistice day in 1918, marking the emergence of the united states to the heights of international power. The papers of robert strange mcnamara 19162009 span the years 19342009, with the bulk concentrated between 1968 and 2005. Robert mcnamara biography facts, childhood, family life. Mcnamara and eleven lessons for american foreign policy. Mcnamara, in full robert strange mcnamara, born june 9, 1916, san francisco, california, u.
Morris interviews robert mcnamara, secretary of defense in the kennedy and johnson administrations, and finds a uniquely unsettling viewpoint on much of 20thcentury american history. How robert mcnamara came to regret the war he escalated. Our judgement, our understanding are not adequate, and we kill people unnecessarily. 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. Years later, it was a haunted mcnamara who appeared in errol morris acclaimed documentary, the fog of war. Mcnamara was a much hated and rabid anticommunist who dedicated his life to u. 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. Robert strange mcnamara and the report from iron mountain. Jul 06, 2009 years later, it was a haunted mcnamara who appeared in errol morris acclaimed documentary, the fog of war. Morris was also interested in mcnamara s central role in many key events of the 20th century. Subtitled eleven lessons from the life of robert s. It went on to win the academy award for documentary feature. 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. Mcnamara, gets a deftly handled expanded treatment upon its release to dvd.
Mark danner in conversation with robert mcnamara and errol morris duration. Morris is notably effective in presenting the historical context for mcnamara s career. The fog of war is a film about the life and times of robert s. Companion book to the documentary film the fog of war. In the documentary the fog of war he reports about major events during his live and how small. Robert mcnamara born june 9, 1916 is an american business executive and a former united states secretary of defense. Mcnamara, writing in his 1995 memoir, in retrospect, on the management of the vietnam war high government leaders arent generally known for flaunting their errors. 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. 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. 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. Robert mcnamara commenting on the cuban missile crisis and how such risks and scenarios are still very real today.
Mcnamara 2003 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. The fog of war 2003 documentary by robert mcnamara on. 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. 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. Mcnamara is a 2003 american documentary film about the life and times of former u. Let me hear your voice level to make sure its the same. Jul 06, 2009 fog of war director remembers mcnamara 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. Reducing the risk of conflict, killing, and catastrophe in the 21st century with robert s. Errol morris academy awardwinning documentary about former defense secretary robert mcnamara, the fog of war. Smart news keeping you current how robert mcnamara came to regret the war he escalated the architect of the vietnam war never formally apologized, but struggled with its consequences for the. Mcnamara by nick grothaus the fog of war is a film about the life and times of robert s.
Mcnamara, 2004 mcnamara is this chart at a reasonable height. I was a teenager at the time trying to make sense of what seemed absurd to me. His career was a journey toward managerial wisdom and mirrors the very evolution of management as a. The fog of war draws on decades of bitter experience to offer a piercing perspective on the cold war. Mcnamara is a 2003 errol morris documentary consisting mostly of interviews with robert mcnamara and archival footage. Fog of war director remembers mcnamara 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. The fog of war by errol morris errol morris, robert s.
Mcnamara was responsible for the institution of systems. 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. My rule has been to try to learn, try to understand what happened. Mcnamara pdf, epub, docx and torrent then this site is not for you. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the fog of war.
The fog of war, the movie that finally won errol morris the best documentary oscar, is a spellbinder. Robert mcnamara, former secretary of defense and architect. 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. Mcnamaras lessons and the fog of war lloyd etheredge. A film based on robert mcnamara, titled the fog of war. Bushs foreign policy in iraq, and the complicated morality of his.
Harry reasoner this is the secretary of defense of the united states, robert mcnamara. Lang is adjunct associate professor of international relations research at brown. Mcnamara was both witness to and participant in many of the crucial events of the 20th century. The film examines the life and work of robert mcnamara, architect of the vietnam war. Mcnamara as well as illustrating his observations of the nature of modern warfare. Feb 20, 2017 director errol morris and former secretary of defense robert mcnamara describe their documentary fog of war which follows the life of mcnamara and his experience in modern warfare. Vietnam meeting wiht oppsing force in 95, and in its part vietnam pm says to mcnamara about why vietnampeople figth against american armed. But toward the end of his life, former defense secretary robert mcnamara issued a string of candid mea culpas for misjudgments about vietnam that were made during his 196168 tenure at the pentagon, especially his delay in acting on growing doubts that the war could be won. Secretary of defense from 1961 to 1968, during the vietnam war. Robert mcnamara was defense secretary from 1961 to 1968 under president kennedy and president johnson. Morris is notably effective in presenting the historical context for mcnamaras career. High government leaders arent generally known for flaunting their errors. Robert mcnamara, the fog of war sincerely, susan graseck, director the. This symposium responds to errol morriss documentary film the fog of war about the life of robert s.