America at War: Examining Presidential Decision Making in Crisis July 12 16, 2010

Transcription

1 America at War: Examining Presidential Decision Making in Crisis July 12 16, 2010 Monday July 12 9:00 9:30 Introductions Mark Adams, Truman Library & Museum 9:30 12:30 White House Decision Center: Korean War scenario Tom Heuertz, Truman Library & Museum In the White House Decision Center, teachers will examine historical documents for information about the Korean crisis. Advisers will then meet to discuss ideas and strategies that they will recommend to the President. The President meets with his advisers to decide what to do and to prepare a statement to the press. Finally the President delivers his or her statement at a press conference while others become reporters and ask questions. 12:30 1:45 Lunch & Tours 1:45 2:45 Why John Wayne Never Went to Korea? Paul Edwards, Center for the Study of the Korean War Vast misunderstandings about why America was involved in the Korean War, and the failure to accept its less than successful outcome-it was the only war about which John Wayne refused to make a movie-has allow this vastly important war to fade from memory. One significant outcome of this has been that the perceived military failure in Korea has prevented us from consideration of the vast social, political, and economic watershed this period encompassed. This gap, constantly ignored, leaves us unprepared for understanding much of what is happening in America's current participations. 2:45 3:45 Research orientation and Research time 3:45 5:00 The Cold War Turns Hot: The Truman Administration's Response to the Crisis in Korea Sam Rushay, Truman Library & Museum Documents, photographs, and other audiovisual materials from the Library's collections will be used to illustrate the policies, politics, and diplomacy of the Korean War, a pivotal time in American history. We will examine why President Truman decided to go to war in Korea. In the session, we will explore the Truman Administration's response to North Korea's invasion of South Korea in June 1950 and its ill-fated decision to "roll-back" communism by crossing the 38th Parallel. We will also examine the Truman administration's relations with Congress and Congressional critics, particularly Joseph McCarthy; and explore how President Truman dealt with a key Supreme Court decision during the war, the steel seizure case. In addition, we will look into the role of the United Nations in the war, and the Truman Administration's efforts to seek a diplomatic solution to the war in Korea.

2 Tuesday July 13 The American Culture of War: A History of American Military Force from World War II to Operation Iraqi Freedom Adrian Lewis, University of Kansas The American Culture of War presents a sweeping critical examination of every major American war since 1941: the Second World War, Korea, Vietnam, and the First and Second Persian Gulf Wars. As he carefully considers the cultural forces that surrounded each military engagement, Adrian Lewis offers an original and provocative look at the motives people and governments used to wage war, the discord among military personnel, the flawed political policies that guided military strategy, and the civilian perceptions that characterized each conflict. Korea: Eisenhower s First Cold War Crisis Kim Barbieri, Eisenhower Library On October 25, 1952, Presidential Nominee Dwight Eisenhower delivered a campaign speech in Detroit, Michigan, promising to bring the Korean War to an early and honorable end. Three weeks following his election, Eisenhower made good on that pledge, making a secret three-day fact-finding mission to Korea. While there, the President-elect consulted with top commanders, broke bread with the troops, met with South Korean President Syngman Rhee, and assessed the battle lines. As late as mid-may 1953, the National Security Council was considering alternative courses of action in Korea, ranging from the use of tactical atomic weapons to an armistice. Though Eisenhower called publicly for an honorable armistice, soon-to-be Secretary of State John Foster Dulles, military commanders, the Republican Party, and Syngman Rhee all opposed it. On a personal level, Eisenhower s only child, John a father of three was himself serving on the frontlines in Korea. This presentation outlines the processes, issues, and personalities involved in achieving an armistice in Korea during the early months of the Eisenhower presidency. 11:45 12:45 Lunch & Tours 12:45 2:00 Research 2:00 2:45 Korean War Veterans panel Kansas City area veterans will recount their experiences in the Korean War. Panelists include: Paul Edwards, US Army Vern Scott, US Air Force Bob Jones, US Army Bob Rhodes, US Marine Corp. Paul Wolfgehr, US Army 2:45 4:00 Cuban Missile Crisis Nancy McCoy, Kennedy Library 4:15 5:00 Vietnam War Veterans panel Kansas City area veterans will recount their experiences in the Vietnam War. Panelists include: Kathy Lee, US Army Warren Parker, US Army Ron Thiewes, US Marine Corp Chris Bell, US Navy George Scarborough, US Air Force

3 Wednesday July 14 A Presidential Decision: July 21, 1965 Marsha Sharp, Johnson Library This session examines the national security meeting scheduled for July 21, 1965, where key advisors were asked to prepare and deliver a report on the situation in Vietnam. The purpose of this meeting was to inform President Johnson of possible practical policy options concerning problems in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Watergate and the Yom Kippur War Mindy Farmer, Nixon Library In the fall of 1973, the White House found itself suddenly embroiled in two very different assaults-one domestic and one foreign. While President Nixon and his staff were busy deflecting inquiries into the Watergate break-in, on October 6, 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel during the holy holiday of Yom Kippur. After weeks of tense negotiations and international maneuvering, the Yom Kippur War ended with a clear diplomatic victory for Israel, and in turn the United States. Yet, while the end is known the means remain unclear. For this session, we will examine documents from this incredibly tense time to gain insight into President Nixon s involvement, and mindset, in the fight to protect U.S. ties to Israel and, simultaneously, his political career. 11:45 1:00 Lunch Guest Speaker: Steve Casey will discuss his award winning book, Selling the Korean War: propaganda, politics, and public opinion in the United States, How presidents spark and sustain support for wars remains an enduring and significant problem. Korea was the first limited war the US experienced in the contemporary period - the first recent war fought for something less than total victory. This book explores how Truman and then Eisenhower tried to sell it to the American public. 1:00 2:00 Research 2:00 3:15 Saddest Hour: The Fall of Saigon Barbara McGregor, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum Using President Ford s decision-making process and personal accounts, this session will examine the final days of United States involvement in Vietnam. As a young Congressman from Michigan, Gerald Ford served on the House Sub-committee on Defense and, in that capacity, visited Vietnam in By the late 1960s he still believed that North Vietnam could be defeated. In the end, that was not the case. While Richard Nixon officially ended U.S. involvement in the war in 1973, Gerald Ford inherited the task of ending our physical presence in that war-torn country. Late in April 1975, evacuation turned to panic as the remaining American personnel and tens of thousands of South Vietnamese raced to depart as North Vietnamese troops moved ever closer to Saigon. 3:30 4:45 Choosing Peace: Jimmy Carter and The Iran Hostage Crisis Kahlil Chism, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum From 1939 to 1975, a period of time spanning seven United States presidencies, there were only 11 years during which the United States was not involved in a major military conflict. When Jimmy Carter became president in 1977, the Vietnam War had just ended two years prior. And two years later, on November 4, 1979, Iranian militants stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran and took approximately seventy Americans captive. This terrorist act triggered the most profound crisis of the Carter presidency and began a personal ordeal for Jimmy Carter and the American people that lasted 444 days. This presentation will look at the origins and resolution of the Iran hostage crises, and shed light on why President Carter, a military man who knew the importance of a strong defense, chose not to wage a war against Iran.

4 Thursday July 15 Cold War Mindset: Hot War Engagement Mira Cohen, Reagan Library This session will examine the Executive Branch decision to send American troops to invade the Caribbean Island nation of Grenada in We will go behind the scenes to explore the relationships between the executive branch, Congress and the press. As the invasion of Grenada involved the first major military operation since the Vietnam War, we will explore and analyze the historical context of the decision through the lens of the Cold War framework. Other issues to discuss include the role of the United States in nation changing, international opposition, and the responsibilities of a United States President. The Gulf War: Issues and Decisions Shirley Hammond, George H.W. Bush Library This session examines U.S. Foreign Policy in Iraq. The beginning of the dispute and claims concerning territory, oil, and money will be discussed. The reasons for Iraqi aggression against Kuwait are explored. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to advise the President on important decisions? Here is your chance to experience the White House Situation Room where the President is briefed by his advisors and critical decisions are made. Documents and political cartoons of the era are provided for a better understanding of relationships, issues, and actions. 11:45 1:00 Lunch & Tours 1:00 2:15 Research 2:15 3:30 Iraq and Afghanistan Ivan Welch, LTC(R) and Dr. Kevin Benson, COL(R). Both speakers are from the University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies, Fort Leavenworth. This session will begin with an examination of the historical geography on the Southwest Asia Theater of War. We will then go behind the scenes to explore the development of the plan for the liberation of Iraq and subsequent post-hostilities operations from the perspective of the officers charged with planning the campaigns. The presentation will conclude with a short assessment of how well the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are going at present. Other issues to discuss include war as an extension of policy in the 21st century, civil-military relation, the nature of coalition warfare, and the influence of the media on the conduct of war. 3:45 4:45 Military Officers War panel Open discussion, Q & A 5:00 6:00 National History Day Reception. Two students from the Greater Kansas City area placed in the top 10 in the nation at National History Day in June. One of the students finished first and was awarded a gold medal. The reception will honor the students and they will showcase their entries.

5 Friday July 16 Presidents and War Making since 1950 Gary Hess, Emeritus Distinguished Research Professor, Bowling Green State University An appraisal of how four presidents (Truman, Johnson, Bush I, Bush II) took the United States to war, considering constitutional, national security, international, and domestic political factors, and the effectiveness of each as a wartime president. 10:30 11:30 Teachers share lesson plan ideas in small groups 11:30 12:00 Evaluation and wrap up