Synopses & Reviews
U.S. flag officers are intended to be exemplary defenders of duty, honor, and country — but what can we learn by exposing the bad leaders lurking within these venerable ranks?
There is an ugly strain of criminal and unethical leadership in the upper ranks of the American military. Despite the exemplary service of most American military members, a persistent minority of U.S. flag officers (Navy admirals and Army, Air Force, and Marine generals) have embroiled the profession in scandal since the Revolutionary War. In Generals and Admirals, Criminals and Crooks, award-winning author Jeffrey J. Matthews examines bad leadership in American military history over the past one hundred years, beginning with war crimes in the Philippine-American War and ending with the recent Fat Leonard corruption scandal.
Scrutinizing a range of leadership failures, including moral cowardice, sex crimes, insubordination, toxic leadership, and obstruction of justice, Matthews offers a fascinating analysis of the bases and motives leading to these missteps and explores what could be done to curtail future misconduct of generals and admirals. The book also includes an up-to-date examination of President Trump's term in office that highlights the vital role honorable military leadership plays in our democracy. Confronting the dark side of criminal and unethical conduct among U.S. flag officers, this frank and historically grounded book offers valuable lessons in leadership that will stimulate further debate and critical self-assessment within the U.S. military.
Review
"A well-researched and masterfully written book...should become a staple at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the war colleges, and in all general officer courses." Army Magazine
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"Matthews's assessment of blatant criminal behavior through the nuances of loyalty to a cause or individual reveals how power, and absolute power, can influence and corrupt." Brigadier General (Ret.) Dave Reist, U.S. Marine Corps
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"Nothing strikes at the heart of good order and discipline more than unchecked misconduct at the highest level. This book should be mandatory reading for every officer serving." Colonel (Ret.) Don Christensen, U.S. Air Force, former chief prosecutor for the Air Force and military judge
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"In his latest book Generals and Admirals, Criminals and Crooks, Matthews has skillfully presented and expertly analyzed seven case studies of senior military leaders failing to live up to the military's high standards of 'duty, honor, and country.' This book is an essential addition to the reading list of those officers who are serious about their professional development and stewarding the military profession." T. G. Bradbeer, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College
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"We cannot promote good leadership by denying bad leadership. Generals and Admirals, Criminals and Crooks will not allow us to take the easy way out." Barbara Kellerman, author of Leaders Who Lust: Power, Money, Sex, Success, Legitimacy, Legacy
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"We need to hold all military personnel accountable to the same Uniform Code of Military Justice. Matthews's Generals and Admirals, Criminals and Crooks is ideal reading for members of Congress who are too often blinded by the stars on the uniforms of some." Congresswoman Jackie Speier, former member of the U.S. House Armed Service Committee
About the Author
Jeffrey J. Matthews is the George Frederick Jewett Distinguished Professor at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. He teaches American history and leadership and has written or edited four previous books, including Colin Powell: Imperfect Patriot (University of Notre Dame Press, 2019), winner of the Foreword INDIES War and Military Book of the Year Award and finalist for the Army Historical Foundation Book Award.