President John F. Kennedy was so incensed by Mr. Halberstam's war coverage that he strongly suggested to The Times's publisher, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, that the reporter be replaced. Mr. Sulzberger replied that Mr. Halberstam would stay where he was. He even had the reporter cancel a scheduled vacation so that no one would get the wrong idea.

Different times, different times.

Mr. Halberstam's book, "The Best and The Brightest" was a very good read.

One interesting sidebar to this thread:

Halberstam wrote that he uncovered the fact that a 'fact finding' mission Kennedy ordered assembled comprised of experts in a variety of fields from guerilla warfare (new since Korea) to economists, 'The Best and The Brightest' was scheduled to go to Vietnam, and then report back to him on our chances.

With perhaps one or two exceptions, every single hand picked unbiased mind was replaced (unbeknownst to Kennedy), and the ensuing report by the hawkish replacements countered the more pragmatic views of those who never got to go.

Immediately after the trip, Kennedy upped the ante in Vietnam and we were off to the races.

So, while Halberstam was hard on Kennedy about Vietnam during JFK's lifetime, he did discover that Kennedy had been duped by hawks itching for another fight on the heels of the lack of victory in Korea a few years before.

" It was simply a case, he said, of American commanders lying to the press about what was happening in Vietnam. "They were shut out and they were lied to," Mr. Prochnau said. And Mr. Halberstam "didn't say, You're not telling me the truth.' He said, You're lying.' He didn't mince words."

Mincing words these days is how the media both keep friends in high places (wouldn't want to step on any important toes) and still sell lotsa soap.

Worrying about "the truth", isn't real high on their agenda.

Corky: Are you saying Rich Little's biting satire was muted at the Press/Prez dinner so as not to offend Glorious Leader?
I thought, other than Faux News, they were all virulent anti-Bush?

NG3

I don't know, but I heard that next year they are going for comedy that is more attuned to the Republican mentality.

It is a toss up between Carrottop and Ronald McDonald at this point.

Damn. Thought I'd read Hasselhoff for a sec.

has O'reilly blamed immigrants yet? or liberals.....

Great writer. A very good man. I, for one, am saddened. I received his book about Bill Belichick for Christmas. I'm looking forward to it. His baseball books, The Summer of '49 and The Teammates were very good. Damn.

Will Fox put out an attack piece on him now?

All American -- Newsworthy post!!

Btw, do you have a link to confirm that (or was that only in the book), and who were the hawks "itching for another fight".

If Allamerican's 8:49 is true, those ordering the replacements (and maybe the replacements themselves) should be hung for treason.

I was sad to learn of this news.. I happen to be re-reading his 'Summer of 49'.

If anyone wants to know what the 50s and 60s were like, they can't go wrong with
'The 50s', 'Best and the Brightest' and
'October 1964'

All American -- Newsworthy post!!

Btw, do you have a link to confirm that (or was that only in the book), and who were the hawks "itching for another fight".

Posted by townncountry

I read it years ago and don't have a copy here. Public library most likely has one. Very good read.

Halberstam starts with Eisenhower and the French and goes all the way through the war.

i couldn't tell you who they were, but it's right there in the book for anyone to read. I was shocked myself when I read the portion I referrenced.

I'll look forward to any comments after you've had a chance to read it for yourself.

Will do -- I scanned it way back when, too. But I forgot a whole lot of what I learned back in the 70s.

Best and Brightest probably his own best and brightest work. Lots of other stuff was a bit like Ambrose: hire some researchers, cut-and-paste. But B & B is a classic study of many things, including hubris.