March 11, 2005
 Dracut, Massachusetts
  U.S. Rep. Marty Meehan's 11th annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast

 Boston, Massachusetts
  John F. Kennedy Presidential Library
    and Museum
  Conference on "Vietnam and The Presidency"
  Topic: "Lessons Learned"

Wes Clark at the "Vietnam & the Presidency" Conference
by Marian Ferro
March 11, 2006

It was a 2-day conference held at the JFK Library and sponsored by the National Archives and all of the Presidential libraries.

Wes was on today's final panel, "Lessons Learned," along with fellow veterans, Senator Chuck Hagel, columnist Bob Herbert from the New York Times, and Pete Peterson, who was a POW for 5 1/2 years and later was appointed the first ambassador to Vietnam. Brian Williams was the moderator, and he was pretty good. The whole conference was interesting, but as you might guess, I was particularly looking forward to this panel, and it didn't disappoint. Wes was terrific, as always. I took a few notes, though not as much as I'd have liked to.

Here is some of what he said, as best as I could scribble it down.

"Presidents should avoid going to war. It's a last, last, last resort...Wars are extremely ugly and...and painful..Don't go to war unless you absolutely must...Vietnam was an elective war. So was Iraq.

First Person Account: WKC at the JFK Library - A Day in Three Acts
Act I: The View from the White House
by Donna Z
March 11, 2006

Caroline Kennedy opened the second day of the conference with a fine and funny introduction. Her remarks included a letter sent to President Johnson from a seven year old, self-described young Democrat, Brian Williams. Williams played the role of moderator, but was quick to remind us, that he is now an avowed independent.

A film of a taped interview with President Carter reminded us of his leadership in taking on the controversial position when he granted “draft dodgers” amnesty. He made a point that this amnesty did not include deserters, just, as he said, those who voted with their feet. My notes which are fuzzy at this point read: Iraq: a lamentable sequel.

With what could be thought of as the introductions over, the morning began with Ted Sorenson, Jack Valenti, Henry Kissinger, and General Haig. Each made a few memorable comments.

First Person Account: WKC at the JFK Library - A Day in Three Acts
Act II: From the Headlines - The Press
by Donna Z
March 11, 2006

Dan Rather needs no introduction. He started by making some striking comparisons to today’s coverage which because of the nature of available technology meant that Vietnam gave us “bottom up” reporting with correspondents in the field. Today’s reporter cannot move because they are expected to report in from a stationary point on the hour. Thus, they are unable to see the field or hear from the fighters leaving them at the mercy of the lying machine. Vietnam is not monolithic, rather is is broken in various stages with changes in both the conflict and the army. Rather feels that the army from 55-66 was “1’st Rate,” but as wars do, in was ground down over the years. The people went for love of country and because we sent them. He called talking to Johnson: a dialogue with the deaf. Rather maintains that today’s army is superb, and really want Iraq to have a civil society.

First Person Account: WKC at the JFK Library - A Day in Three Acts
Act III: Lessons Learned - The Warriors
by Donna Z
March 11, 2006

The final panel taking the stage after a day of remembering Vietnam, were the warriors. No longer in their twenties, and yet, it was their fates and many like them who were at the heart of the day's matter. For while the previous speakers had talked the talked in DC, or filed the stories from distant rice paddies, these were the people who did not chose the battles, they fought them. 

General Clark called Vietnam and Iraq “elective wars” that is was easier to get into than out of. When pressured by Williams about the soldiers on the ground, General Clark admitted that at night they would talk. He said that there were things happening that lacked strategic sense--things that didn’t military sense. As you may have read by now, he would go on to tell some tales: first he told the audience about 911 and going to the Pentagon. I found the story of his anger of the man who shot him particularly interesting (see the story below). I don’t know why, but today driving home I thought about my own anger over the killings at Kent State. I held that anger which blanketed the entire military until I made the leap and decided to support a general. General Clark made the most of his time to educate his audience about the dangers of a one-party state.