Wesley Fishel and Vietnam: A Great and Tragic American Experiment

(Hardback)

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Description

In this book, Joseph G. Morgan examines the career of Wesley Fishel, a political scientist who vigorously supported American intervention in the Vietnam War, what he deemed a "a great, and tragic, American experiment.". Morgan demonstrates how Fishel continued to champion the prospect of an independent South Vietnam, even when Vietnamese resistance and infighting among Americans undermined this effort. Morgan also analyzes how opponents questioned Fishels scholarly integrity and his academic collaboration with the US government in implementing Cold War policies.

Reviews

Joseph Morgans welcome biography of Wesley Fishel makes several important contributions to the literature on the Vietnam War. It expands upon and clarifies the activities of a sometimes controversial and often little-understood player in U.S. relations with Ngo Dinh Diem and the government in Saigon. More broadly, it captures in this one mans story the early enthusiasm and eventual frustration that colored Americas national engagement with South Vietnam over two decades. As a final bonus, it gives valuable insights into the troubled role often played by American academics in support of Washingtons Cold War policies.

Author Bio

Joseph G. Morgan is associate professor of history at Iona College.