Why America Fights: Patriotism and War Propaganda from the Philippines to Iraq

353 Pages·2009·6.32 MB·English

by  Susan A. Brewer

W A F
HY M(cid:2)ERICA IGHTS
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W A
HY MERICA
(cid:2)
F
IGHTS
PATRIOTISM AND WAR
PROPAGANDA FROM THE
PHILIPPINES TO IRAQ
S A B
USAN . REWER
1
2009
1
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Copyright © 2009 by Oxford University Press, Inc.
Published by Oxford University Press, Inc.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Brewer, Susan A. (Susan Ann), 1958–
Why America fi ghts : patriotism and war propaganda
from the Philippines to Iraq / Susan A. Brewer.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-19-538135-1
1. United States—Foreign relations—20th century.
2. Politics and war—United States—History—20th century.
3. Patriotism—United States—History—20th century.
4. Propaganda, American—History—20th century. I. Title.
E744. B69772009 303.6'60973—dc22 2008050360
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
To Bob
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contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 3
1. The “Divine Mission”: War in the Philippines 14
2. Crusade for Democracy: Over There in the Great War 46
3. The Good War: Fighting for a Better Life in World War II 87
4. War in Korea: “The Front Line in the Struggle
between Freedom and Tyranny” 141
5. Why Vietnam: More Questions Than Answers 179
6. Operation Iraqi Freedom: War and Infoganda 230
Conclusion 276
Notes 286
Bibliography 319
Index 335
vii
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acknowledgments
I fi rst grasped the value of propaganda when it was time to pick up toys.
As the eldest of four children who were allowed to make elaborate messes,
I led the clean-up. With delight, I discovered that the effort went easier with
music, Sousa marches or show tunes. Later, I became interested in the stories
that Americans tell about their country and its role in the world. In partic-
ular, I was intrigued by the way the people in charge used patriotic versions
of history to win support for their foreign policy, especially during wartime
when so much was at stake. As any big sister knows, the power to manipulate
can be used for good or nefarious purposes. I write this book for my brothers,
sister, students, and anyone else who wants to understand how a nation can
be inspired with truths and deceptions when it goes to war.
The research and writing of this book were made possible by generous
fellowships and grants. My thanks to the Institute for Research in the Human-
ities at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the National Endowment for
the Humanities, and the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point University
Personnel Development Committee. I am grateful to the splendid staffs at the
National Archives for assistance with documents, still pictures, and motion
picture, sound, and video records, the Library of Congress Manuscript Divi-
sion and the Prints and Photographs Division, the John F. Kennedy Library,
the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, the Harry S. Truman Library, and the
Wisconsin Historical Society. For resources from work in progress to silent
films and Operation Enduring Freedom Trading Cards, I am grateful to
Stephen Badsey, Laura Belmonte, Nick Cull, Leslie Midkiff DeBauche,
Mitchell Hall, David Langbart, Neil Lewis, Chester Pach, John Regnier,
ix