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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 person did Kerry compare himself to during his tour?

2. Why was Kerry eventually given offshore assignments by commanders at Cat Lo?

3. What were Kerry's goals back in Vietnam, according to Commander Grant Hibbard?

4. How did the Committee reply to O'Neill's request?

5. What was Cavett's reputation as a commentator?

Short Essay Questions

1. How was Kerry awarded the Silver Star?

2. What was the conversation between Kerry and the Captain of an LST en route to An Thoi, and why do the authors dispute it?

3. How was Kerry awarded the third Purple Heart, and why was it significant?

4. What happened in the infamous sampan incident, where a mother and her child were found, and how did Kerry respond?

5. How did O'Neill finally have the chance to debate Kerry in 1971?

6. What were the circumstances around the award of Kerry's second Purple Heart, and how does it parallel the first?

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

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

9. 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?

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

Why is it important for the authors to establish that their motives for writing the book are not political? Describe 2 examples of how they accomplish this. What does the time in which the book was released have to do with their effort to distance themselves from politics? How might their points be taken less seriously if they represented a candidate or had a political agenda? How is their case strengthened by focusing only on Kerry's war background and his inability to be the Commander in Chief?

Essay Topic 3

What are the questions the authors ask at the end of the Introduction? Why are the answers to them critical to the effectiveness of the authors' main points? What do the authors hope to accomplish with the rest of the book? How have they proven their sincerity in the Introduction, and how does that make them more credible?

(see the answer keys)

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