The Weinberger Defense

CASPAR Weinberger refers to Fighting for Peace as a “personal account” of his seven years as Ronald Reagan’s secretary of defense. And, despite the book’s organizational problems and its inclusion of numerous details of questionable relevance, Weinberger does draw some rather interesting personal portraits. Former National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane is portrayed as a man of very limited abilities attempting to gain reputation through inept Machiavellian manipulations of his President. Paul Nitze is portrayed as a bureaucrat more concerned with “getting a treaty” than with serving the interests of his country. And Ronald Reagan is portrayed as a bold and principled leader whose problems with staff disloyalty and bad press arose from his resolve to shape rather than follow public opinion.

Fighting for Peace: Seven Critical Years in the Pentagon, by Caspar W. Weinberger (Warner, 480 pp., $24.95)

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About the Author

Bruce Frohnen

CASPAR Weinberger refers to Fighting for Peace as a “personal account” of his seven years as Ronald Reagan’s secretary of defense. And, despite the book’s organizational problems and its inclusion of numerous details of questionable relevance, Weinberger does draw some rather interesting personal portraits. Former National Security Advisor Robert McFarlane is portrayed as a man of very limited abilities attempting to gain reputation through inept Machiavellian manipulations of his President. Paul Nitze is portrayed as a bureaucrat more concerned with “getting a treaty” than with serving the interests of his country. And Ronald Reagan is portrayed as a bold and principled leader whose problems with staff disloyalty and bad press arose from his resolve to shape rather than follow public opinion.

Fighting for Peace: Seven Critical Years in the Pentagon, by Caspar W. Weinberger (Warner, 480 pp., $24.95)