Individual liberty is ingrained in American culture. Yet, in
contrast to this cherished ideal, American men were inducted into
military service under a system that flourished for more than
twenty years before its rationalization was seriously questioned by
more than a small minority of citizens.
Analyzing this paradox, George Flynn provides the first
comprehensive look at an institution that managed to sustain
political and public favor through two wars before dying out under
a barrage of protests during a third. Placing the American draft
within a historical context, he shows how social and political
considerations determined the character of conscription in the
United States.
The draft developed as it did, he argues, not mainly because of
military needs or strategy, but because of political decisions
initiated by civilians with nonmilitary agendas. Explaining why the
draft remained relatively immune to political criticism prior to
the Vietnam conflict, Flynn chronicles the draft's military and
strategic successes and failures in America's mid-century wars. He
shows how major institutions and lobbies representing science,
education, and various professions and religions influenced it and
how, ultimately and ironically, the selective character of the
draft eventually made the system inequitable and helped cause its
downfall.
Challenging the assertion that centralization of state power has
been a constant characteristic of twentieth-century America, Flynn
reveals how local interests were frequently at odds with national
interests and that often the local powers prevailed. Thus, he
argues, the operation of Selective Service helped curb
centralization and assured the continued power and influence of
localism.
A complex and volatile issue in America, the draft has been a
perennial concern for our presidents and military leaders in their
quest for military preparedness and mobilization. Tying military
issues to the broader history of state and society, this book
examines a continuing problem of the modern state-how to find
enough of the right individuals to shoulder defense
responsibilities.
"Written by a scholar who is eminently qualified to reconstruct
and interpret this history because of his great familiarity with
the material and the issues involved, this is a full and rich
political history of conscription in America from 1940 through 1973
(and a bit beyond). A fine book based on great research and filled
with new details."--John Chambers, author of "To Raise an Army: The
Draft Comes to Modern America."
"One theme Flynn pursues imaginatively throughout is the
contrast between the mythic purpose of efficient, centralized
selection of manpower and the myth of equality of sacrifice in a
democratic society. The research is truly staggering-presidential
libraries, various military responsibilities from Carlisle to the
Hoover Institute, various record groups in the national archives
(including very good use of Nixon's presidential records), numerous
hearings, pamphlet literature, interviews, oral histories, and
correspondence with principal actors."--J. Garry Clifford, author
of "The First Peacetime Draft."
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