Reagan on War: A Reappraisal of the Weinberger Doctrine, 1980-1984

Acknowledgments

AC K NOWLE DGM EN TS I would like to start by thanking the Lord for bringing all the people acknowledged here into my life. It is humbling to reflect upon how many hands and minds were brought together over distant time and space to create this book. I will do my best to properly acknowledge and thank those involved, knowing full well that there is no way to adequately do so and in full recognition that despite such good help, errors remain for which I must accept full responsibility. I would be remiss if I did not thank all the sources of help I received during my research. First, Gen. (Ret.) John William Vessey Jr. honored me with the privilege of being the first researcher into his archive and kindly replied to my email queries, while Caspar Weinberger Jr. graciously allowed me access to his father’s materials, and K. T. McFarland and Adm. (Ret.) John Poindexter volunteered to share their experiences serving in the Reagan administration. Second, many dedicated librarians and archivists helped me along the way: Michael J. Browne and Sheri Lewis at the Combined Arms Research Library, Susan Lemke and Scott Gower in the Special Collections at the National Defense University Library, and Lisa Jones at the Ronald Reagan Library. Each of them provided both invaluable assistance and good cheer. I also owe a great debt to the dedicated professionals at the Library of Congress. Third, I would like to make note of the research monies granted to me from The Omar N. Bradley Historical Research Fellowship as well as the West Point Faculty Development and Research Fund, made available from endowments managed by the Association of Graduates. My colleagues in the Department of History at West Point past and present have served brilliantly as role models, mentors, friends, and master motivators and helped me see this project through to completion . Special thanks are owed also to Profs. Joseph Glatthaar and Robert Citino, who served as visiting professors in the department. I cannot xvi acknowledgme nts adequately express how much I appreciate the time and excitement they showed toward my early work. Professor Glatthaar was integral in helping me complete my dissertation, while Professor Citino helped make sure my book manuscript made it into the hands of my wonderful editor at Texas A&M University Press, Mary Lenn Dixon, who has deftly guided me through the publication process. I am also very grateful for my doctoral advisor and toughest critic, Prof. Alex Roland, who stuck with me when others did not, as well as Profs. Tami Davis Biddle, Dirk Bonker, and John Thompson, who not only served as doctoral advisors but also provided encouragement to write this book. Special thanks are due to Van Mobley and Christopher Maynard, who served as readers for the manuscript and offered intelligent advice for improvement. Finally, I want to thank Kevin Brock, who edited this work and provided numerous helpful comments. Growing up, I was very fortunate to attend a small high school in Michigan where teachers poured their hearts and souls into their students . Margret Handren, Vibeke Eggen, Janet Maxim, Richard Welty, and Randall Knight each in their own special way excited me about what they liked to call “life, living, and the universe.” While a cadet at West Point, my history instructor, Col. (Ret.) James Johnson, planted in my mind the prospect of becoming a historian and years later played an integral role in my joining the Department of History. I was also very fortunate over the past decade to have the officers in small group 7B, Col. (Ret.) Donald Lunday and his wife, Pat; Col. (Ret) Michael Matheny; and Lt. Col. (Ret) Donald Jones, give me the confidence to express ideas I did not dare share with others. I thank the wonderful prayer warriors from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and West Point, New York, for their witness: members of the Grierson Street Bible Study and Tuesday Morning Fellowship Breakfast, Kaye and Syvette Davis, Tom and Jean Schmidt, Barry and Carol Bazemore, Ray and Lori Amparan, Ms. Bobby Cason, Marci Miller, Linda Lewis, Jennifer Munro, Loretta Woody, Barbara Jean Rider, and Terri Geffert. To my parents, Stan and Nancy Sanders, who I have not called as often as I should have these past five years, I thank you for your uncon- xvii Acknowledgments ditional love, patience, and special assistance with this book. To my in-laws...