Historians/History

Maybe Add Values Teaching to Our American History Survey Courses?

by Vaughn Davis Bornet

The aged author of this essay just showed his faith in the value of patriotism when in spring 2011 he published his book SPEAKING UP FOR AMERICA; IN THE ROGUE RIVER VALLEY DURING THE VIETNAM WAR. Available from iUniverse, Amazon, etc., the 176 page book consists of 12 speeches, the first delivered May 30, 1963, and two essays. The author cut his eye teeth on Vietnam with his heavily researched book THE PRESIDENCY OF LYNDON B. JOHNSON (Kansas Press, 1984), 431 pages (suggested for the Pulitzer Prize at the time). The author shared authorship on Edgar Eugene Robinson and Vaughn Davis Bornet, HERBERT HOOVER; PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES (Hoover Press, 1976). Soon after getting the Stanford doctorate after 1951 he did the innovative chronological bibliographical essay for Robinson’s THE ROOSEVELT LEADERSHIP, 1933 to 1945 (Lippincott, 1955). His labor and welfare books and publications established his early reputation; he says his nearly four years with RAND were stimulating. He resides in Ashland, Oregon.

The eighth on our list is the idea of patriotism. That it was a vital ingredient in the concept and activity surrounding my new book Speaking Up for America is already evident. Let me quote from pages xiii and xiv: The words now printed in this book were sometimes prepared at the request of veterans organizations. Many were delivered on such patriotic holidays as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Veterans Day. Thus open patriotism is often visible on these pages. I am not in the least apologetic! It seems to me that Samuel Johnson was overly cynical when he proclaimed (maybe slyly?) that ‘Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.’ His remark is from an age when authoritarian rulers flourished, and there was little to be patriotic about. Since the old curmudgeon’s edict does not intimidate me, readers will find on display here an unapologetic love of country.

(To detour but a moment, there seem to be two fairly recent books on the “politics” of Samuel Johnson which I have not read; however, I did sweat through what I would term his aristocratic essay The Patriot, where in 1774 (and 1777?) he seems little inclined to side with the restless colonists of North America or any aspect of their Cause. The good patriot seems to him—I judge quickly--one who respects and abides by both order and Authority. (Essay in The Oxford Authors: Samuel Johnson. 1984, pp. 580-8.0 Moreover, we are told he routinely eschewed all aspects of statesmanship and totally avoided “affairs of state.” Sir Sidney Castle Roberts in his long and sound Encyclopaedia Britannica sketch, 1963 edition.)

My book, I hasten to say again, is one of memorial and historical speeches and several essays, War and peace in America’s history is a theme; justice for the Vietnam veteran, and our nation’s efforts to help other peoples through war and in in peace is a preoccupation. The book is not a defense of the Vietnam War effort nor a taking of sides at this late date on the quarrels of those troubled years over policy regarding Southeast Asia.

I remark close to book’s end, “Those who defend us, military regulars, reserves, and national guard alike, absolutely deserve the words of thanks we offer on national holidays.” (p. 150) I publicly urged “building suitable memorials to those who died in Vietnam” (p. 98) seven years before creation of the D.C. structure.

Both here and in Speaking Up for America, I fear, adventurism in Iraq and Afghanistan are subjects for another day. My self-assigned task is to focus sharply on recommending eight views to be relied on when routinely teaching the facts of the American history survey. The job is uphill, for I have to react vigorously to that serious drive in the vicinity of the Thirties to install and demand total objectivity in the procedures of the history profession.

It was a premier intellectual historian of my day who judged in 1946 that our Fourth of July orations have been little utilized by those who study our past. In his book The Roots of American Loyalty he says that an intelligent and understanding patriotism will help a democratic state to survive! I stated the plain truth of the matter when I wrote, “Patriotic speeches delivered to live audiences are seldom published. They tend to be overlooked by historians.” With my book’s entry into the arena and its surprising availability with modern means such as Amazon and the astonishing Kindle, that is no longer the case. (Maybe the out of date word patriotics will return—as I hint at early in my book.)

I have come to believe during work on Speaking Up for America that much in our beloved Country is nudging us the wrong way, that is, if we intend to continue to cement America semi-permanently in a world leadership role. We must swing into action and soon. Historians can be very helpful by adding profound meaning, when possible, to that vast area of historical facts on which we have a monopoly. My eight ideas may not be the right eight, but my long lifetime has inclined me to believe in them while remaining open to amendments. (My initial conceptualizing of them was in an unpublished manuscript years ago!)

I ask permission to conclude with one sturdy asseveration: I do in fact believe, deeply, that patriotism is a characteristic that Americans are going to need very much if they really expect to survive in prime condition during the rest of the 21st Century. All who depend on the United States had better hope that love of country survives and flourishes on the street corners as well as in the schoolrooms, gardens, and buildings of this troubled nation.