Overview

Since its dedication in 1982, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial has become an American cultural icon symbolizing the war in Vietnam--the defining experience of the Baby Boom generation. The black granite wall of names is one of the most familiar media images associated with the war, and after three decades the memorial remains one of the nation's most visited monuments. While the memorial has enjoyed broad acceptance by the American public, its origins were both humble and contentious. A grassroots effort launched by veterans with no funds, the project was completed in three and a half years. But an emotional debate about aesthetics and the interpretation of heroism, patriotism and history nearly doomed the project. Written from an insider's perspective, this book tells the complete story of the memorial's creation amid Washington politics, a nationwide design competition and the heated controversy over the winning design and its creator.

Full Product Details

Author:   Robert W. Doubek
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 17.80cm , Height: 1.70cm , Length: 25.40cm
Weight:   0.567kg
ISBN:  

9780786479092

ISBN 10:   0786479094
Pages:   324
Publication Date:   02 July 2015
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order  
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Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgments Preface Abbreviations 1. “What about a memorial?” 2. The Man and the Idea 3. $144.50 4. The West Pointer and the Sculptor 5. Friends in High Places 6. New Recruits but Bunko Too 7. Two Acres 8. National Velvet 9. The Buck, the Millionaire, and Action on All Fronts 10. Crisis on the Hill, but Promise of a Rose Garden 11. Design Disputes 12. The Fundraising Maze 13. Not Afraid of Virginia Woolf 14. Burning Out 15. The Largest Architectural Design Competition Ever 16. “What the hell is that?” 17. Unveiling and Reaction 18. Who’s the Real Mother? 19. The Sacred Names and the Inscription 20. Our Opponents Take the Field 21. “A nasty five hours” 22. Prefixes 23. Moving Dirt and Molding Clay 24. “Art war” 25. “A felt need in this country for healing” 26. Our Moment 27. The Truce Ends 28. The Diva Sings 29. Safe at Home, but No Applause 30. “Our Parthenon” Postscripts Index

Reviews

Doubek tells the story from his recollections and personal notes, calendars, photos, and news clippings...the book is a good read because Doubek, who was an important player in the Memorial's early history, describes the fervor, as well as the pettiness and rancor, displayed by those for and against the design, himself included --VVA Veteran Magazine.

Doubek tells the story from his recollections and personal notes, calendars, photos, and news clippings...the book is a good read because Doubek, who was an important player in the Memorial's early history, describes the fervor, as well as the pettiness and rancor, displayed by those for and against the design, himself included -- VVA Veteran Magazine VVA Veteran Magazine

Author Information

Robert W. Doubek served in Vietnam in 1969 as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force and later was in charge of building the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Presently an employee of the U.S. State Department, he travels worldwide to purchase land for construction of new U.S. embassy and consulate compounds. He lives in Washington, D.C.

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