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The "Introduction" (pp. 11-12) concisely tells the simple facts behind the case. It does NOT tell who was behind the "Capital Legal Foundation" and put up the millions of dollars for this unnecessary trial.
Page 131 gives an example of the problem. The defense lawyer would ask General Westmoreland if he made certain statements. The General would vehemently deny doing so. Then the lawyer would bring up several documents proving that the General had indeed said so.
Page 191 has a deposition: they "deliberately manipulated the figures of enemy strength to misguide the public, the press, and Congress. The documents they supplied were irrefutable proof that there was a conspiracy ... no one knew how high the conspiracy went."
Page 195 tells of Richard McArthur: when he complained about the changes to his figures he was transferred out to the field!
A number of witnesses said Westmoreland had a ceiling on enemy figures, no matter what the facts were ("One Little Lie"). The trial ended when Westmoreland dropped his charges.
Page 153 tells how the documentaries are staged. They record the subject with all questions and answers. Then they record the interviewer asking questions that have been answered previously. The questioner can change the tone and questions for the desired effect.
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Some of the words included are as quizzical as some of those that are omitted. Alphabetically, the reference runs from "abattoir" to "xenophobia"--which seems a strange place to stop. Why there is no inclusion of "yokefellow" or "yaw" nor "zaftig" or "zeitgeist" is enigmatic at best. A second anomaly is that certain definitions differ from what is found my copy of "Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary." Mr. Buckley identifies "promulgate" as "to issue a new law or regulation;" Webster's definition says "to make known by open declaration...(or) to set forth or teach publicly." For "synecdoche" Mr. Buckley offers "the single example in place of the whole; the one for the many." Webster is more encompassing with "a figure of speech in which the part is used for the whole or the whole for a part." Webster's says that "kedge" means "to wrap or pull...(or) a small anchor," while Buckley's related but contrasting explanation reads "to anchor securely." As with ALL vocabulary sources, check the definition in a dictionary before using the word!
While not terribly detrimental Mr. Buckley pleonastically includes more than one form of several words. The use of both "intrinsic" and "intrinsically," "mollify" and mollifying," "invidious" and "invidiously," "stultification and stultifying" among many other double versions comes across as a rebarbative padding device--completely unnecessary in a collection this tumescent.
While the incorporation of words such as "salient," "levity," "obtrude," "junket" and a handful of other less than exotic choices is debatable, the assumption that some readers will be unacquainted with them is not quixotic. However, selecting "plainspoken" for placement within such a gallimaufry is truly outlandish. It seems highly doubtful that anyone unfamiliar with such a quotidian word would have the need for such an abstruse vocabulary primer.
Despite these minor to moderate drawbacks, this book is unreservedly recommended for those interested in elevating their speaking prowess. For three years I have been operating a "Word of the Day" email service/webpage (sent me a message if you wish to join) and "The Lexicon" boasted a plethora of specimens that I had never before encountered. So while all my above comments are valid, they are nugatory distractions compared to the numinous lagniappes that can be acquired from a perusal or two.
I personally have given a tribute to both these men by building a copy of the sign painters box (made in 1919) given to Dutch by his father. Roth has pinstriped a few of these for his charity auctions. This book is a treasure to the art of pinstriping and the "Kustom Kulture" movement.