Uniform Impression

In 1962, when I served for a short time as a consultant to President Kennedy, he asked me to brief the crusty West German Chancellor Adenauer on the military ideas of the young Administration. Adenauer had his doubts about the strategic doctrines that Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara was developing. At one point he interrupted me in the full flight of my oratory to ask how I knew what I was presenting was true. I had been briefed by a general, I responded. Had the general worn a uniform? the Chancellor wanted to know. When I allowed that I did not remember, he suggested that I ask the general to repeat his briefing in civilian clothes; if I was still impressed, I should let him know.

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