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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. After his deferment request was denied, how did Kerry enlist in the Navy Reserve?

2. What was the result of Kerry's congressional run after the Dick Cavett Show?

3. How did the audience appear when Kerry first appeared on camera during the Dick Cavett Show?

4. What do his crew and witnesses of a refueling event on the way to An Thoi say Kerry lied about?

5. How did Kerry injure himself during his time with the skimmer?

Short Essay Questions

1. How was Kerry awarded the Silver Star?

2. Why is it important to understand when the problems between O'Neill and Kerry began?

3. What does Captain Plumly report about Kerry's service, and how does that correspond to the reports of his trips to Saigon?

4. What were Kerry's reasons for choosing the Swift Boats to serve on?

5. How did the assignment of the Swift Boats change, what was Kerry's response, and why did the other officers consider him to be a problem?

6. What was the content of Kerry's testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, and why did it anger O'Neill so much?

7. How did one of Kerry's suggestions affect the Swiftees when they were ordered to employ Psychological Operations against the enemy?

8. What is the significance of O'Neill's suggestion that the readers of the book view the video of the debate between him and Kerry?

9. What did O'Neill first do to challenge Kerry on his testimony, and how did Kerry respond?

10. How did the debate between O'Neill and Kerry begin, and what was the outcome?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Vietnam Veterans Against the War was a big part of Kerry's anti-war agenda and the start of his political ambitions.

1) How did the VVAW begin and why was Kerry chosen to be the leader?

2) Who were the primary members of the VVAW and why did their identities prevent their claims from being taken seriously?

3) Describe 3 events involving the VVAW that illustrate their motives and unethical actions.

Essay Topic 2

Kerry's testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is the catalyst for much of the book's objection to his ability to be the Commander in Chief.

1) Detail the statements made by Kerry, how they were perceived at the time, and why O'Neill and the other veterans objected to them so fiercely. Which ones were the most offensive or damaging? Why?

2) Who was the Committee made up of, and why was that important in their purpose and receptiveness to Kerry's testimony?

3) Who was responsible for writing Kerry's speech and how do Kerry's claims about it demonstrate his dishonesty?

Essay Topic 3

The authors cite the biased media as one of the reasons Kerry was allowed to hide his actions from the voters in 2004. They also make it clear that he is intentionally hiding his agenda from the American people in order to be elected.

1) How did the media play a role in the public perception of Kerry during the 2004 election? Why was the media sympathetic to Kerry's campaign? Were they just unaware of the information the Swift Boat Veterans provide in the book? Even after the book was released, what does it say about the media that many outlets still ignored Kerry's past actions?

2) Considering all of the information in the book, what does it say about the Democratic Party that they would nominate Kerry to be the Commander in Chief? Were they unaware of his actions?

3) The main problem the authors have with Kerry is that he was not forthcoming about his anti-war activities and deceptions during the war. Why is that a valid concern? How does Kerry's refusal to release his military documents prove O'Neill's point about their content? What would have happened if Kerry had been more upfront during the campaign about his past and possibly present views about the military? How would the voting have been affected?

(see the answer keys)

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