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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapters 27 - Epilogue - Final Word.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who was named commander of American forces in Vietnam in June 1964?
(a) Maxwell Taylor.
(b) Averell Harriman.
(c) General William C. Westmoreland.
(d) General Harkins.

2. What did the fact-finding mission discover at about the time of the problem with the Buddhist monks?
(a) The North was expanding its recruitment.
(b) Diem was not on top of the situation.
(c) Vast corruption.
(d) The U.S. was unprepared for guerilla warfare.

3. What does Halberstam say was going to cause the realities of the war to be made public?
(a) The process of paying for the war.
(b) Leaks from inside the government.
(c) The media.
(d) Passage of the Freedom of Information Act.

4. How did the Kennedy administration see the war in Vietnam?
(a) As a war against Communism.
(b) As a gift to Asian allies.
(c) As a boon to the military contractors.
(d) As a diversion from domestic problems.

5. What does Halberstam say was decided at the April 20, 1965 meeting in Honolulu?
(a) The military reduced troop levels.
(b) The military refused to provide reports from field commanders.
(c) The military shifted to search-and-destroy missions exclusively.
(d) The military agreed to increased troop usage.

Short Answer Questions

1. When does Halberstam say the President's thinking about bombing began to change?

2. Who was the only administration insider arguing against escalation?

3. What was Kennedy in the process of doing at the beginning of the book?

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

5. What events does Halberstam say affected American perceptions of its global priorities?

(see the answer key)

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