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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What made McGeorge Bundy an effective administrator?

2. What position had Robert Lovett been appointed to in 1947?

3. Whom did Kennedy want to act as Secretary of State?

4. What does Halberstam say was the problem with the Kennedy administration's pragmatism?

5. Why didn't Kennedy offer the position of Secretary of State to David Bruce?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the White House eventually try to limit the military?

2. What does Halberstam say was Robert McNamara's background before becoming Secretary of Defense?

3. Describe Vietnam's problems with the Buddhist monks.

4. What was the American government's relationship with Diem in 1961?

5. Why didn't the U.S. gain the loyalty of the Vietnamese peasants?

6. Describe U.S. engagements in Vietnam in the 1950s.

7. What does Halberstam say Kennedy was confronted with at the beginning of "The Best and the Brightest"?

8. Who was Robert A. Lovett, and what does Halberstam say he signified for Kennedy?

9. What does Halberstam say was McNamara's relationship with Kennedy?

10. How did the situation in Vietnam unfold?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using evidence from Halberstam's text, describe how the Vietnam War affected America's relationship with the community of nations--particularly China and Russia, its Communist foes. What did the Vietnam war do for American interests abroad? How did it affect America's reputation and image?

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the conditions that led to the coup against Diem and the credibility gap in America. Was the U.S. ripe for a coup the same way that the Diem regime was considered ripe for a coup? What forces were arguing for regime change in America? Why were they ultimately unsuccessful? (Was regime change ultimately what protesters in the U.S. wanted?)

Essay Topic 3

Did the Vietnam War mark a change in American ideology? Was the concept of natural rights changed or abandoned? Was Vietnam a war like other wars America had fought, or was it unprecedented? How did the U.S. government's response to the opposition to the war change the nature of citizenship and political activity in America?

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