George Washington and Benedict Arnold by Dave R. Palmer (mention given to Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick)

The publisher calls Palmer's book a dual biography.  It is subtitled A Tale of Two Patriots.  The author

laid out George Washington’s (1732-1799) and Benedict Arnold’s (1741-1801) respective lives in parallel--Washington’s childhood, Arnold’s childhood; Washington’s early adult years, Arnold’s early adult years.  Then the Revolutionary War begins.  

In 1775, Washington is in Boston, Arnold at Fort Ticonderoga.  In 1776, Washington is losing Manhattan and the lower Hudson, Arnold is fighting to a draw against the Brits and managing to hold the upper Hudson for the patriots.  In 1777 Washington is losing the Battle of the Brandywine in September while Arnold is victorious at, first, the Battle of Ridgefield and then the Battle of Freeman’s Farm (Saratoga).  So it goes.  The parallels cease of course when Arnold turns to treason in 1779 and finagles a command at West Point so that he can hand the post over to the British.

Much has been written about Washington’s personality. Flawed as all humans are, George Washington was nonetheless a man of tremendous character.  He consistently practiced honesty, self-control, altruism and prudent judgment. He was courageous in battle, frequently riding into the heat of a fray. Recognized as an excellent horseman, he was a physically imposing figure, mindful of his appearance and reputation, ambitious in his goals.  Yet, he was relied upon by the majority of his contemporaries as the man who could exercise oversight with fairness and guide the unsteady nation with prudence.   

Benedict Arnold was also one of the most courageous, fighting men in the Revolutionary War, and, like Washington he had drive and spirit. Arnold, however, was a self-serving man with a fiery, combative personality. He was impulsive, often aggressive and brusque.  Arnold never felt he got the recognition he deserved for his military achievements (it’s hard not to agree with him) and he was preoccupied with wealth and all its outward trappings.  What made Arnold turn on the cause for which he had had such passion?  Most agree that it was ego, ambition and money.  His second wife, young Peggy Shippen of Philadelphia, equally materialistic and ambitious, is believed to have urged him on in his decision to betray the Revolution.  

In addition to the biographical chapters at the beginning of the book, the author takes the reader through the battles of the war leading up to and including Arnold’s treason at West Point.  Palmer closes out his book with a look at why these two lives ceased to march in parallel.

The author, Dave Palmer, is Retired Lt General Dave Palmer who was a 1956 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and superintendent of the same from 1986 to 199.  How fitting then that Palmer examines his subjects according to the goals of the institution so much a part of his life.  The U.S. Military Academy aims to turn its cadets into leaders of character.  Character, Palmer explains, hinges on virtue---fortitude (physical and moral courage), temperance (control of the passions and appetites), prudence (practical wisdom and the ability to know right from wrong, make right decisions) and justice (fairness, honesty, lawfulness, loyalty).  Palmer evaluates Washington and Arnold in each of the four virtues.  No surprise that General Washington scores 100 on all four.  And Arnold?

Palmer gives him full credit in only one category, fortitude. Arnold’s battlefield drive, his willingness to go to the front line, his taking a stand once he began something and his good mind on the battlefield regardless of danger to himself distinguish him in this category.  On prudence Arnold gets half credit.  Palmer reasons that Arnold did show good judgment in matters of combat though he could not sustain that judgment off the battlefield.  On temperance Arnold rates a zero. Arnold consistently indulged his emotions and his desire for material rewards. Lastly, justice was a huge problem for someone of Arnold’s self-absorption and self-indulgence. He promoted himself over others (even his wife).  He was dishonest when convenient and practiced deception recklessly and without remorse in order to achieve his goals. 

Palmer’s style is very readable and he takes seriously his analysis of the character and leadership qualities of these two historic figures.  This comparison was missing from Nathaniel Philbrick’s Valiant Ambition though I should mention that reading Philbrick’s book first probably helped make Palmer’s book easier reading! Palmer’s book needs many more maps and could use a few more photographs.  However, the photos that are included are not the routine; photos are credited to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, Norwich Historical Society and The Granger Collection.  I would recommend Palmer over Philbrick for the West Point perspective and thoughtful comparison Palmer brought to the subject.  

Finally, Palmer leaves us a visual of our two generals.  At West Point, a statue of George Washington on horseback dominates the Plain, a center point of the post.  Still on post but down the road and out of sight unless you make the trip is the old Cadet Chapel.  Inside, Palmer explains, are plaques that carry the names, rank, birth date and death date of heroes of American battles.  The single plaque that lists only rank and date of birth is Arnold's.  Benedict Arnold's name does not appear.  No date of death is given.  As Palmer writes, “…traitors never die, they simply cease to exist.”    

Leadership by Rudolph Giuliani

Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani begins and ends his book with the terrorist attacks of 9/11 which occurred during his final year as mayor. Sandwiched in between are several hundred pages of Giuliani’s views on management and leadership.   

Like most of these books that public figures seem programmed to write after their term in office expires, Giuliani’s book is both self-referential and self-serving.  He re-caps in a favorable light his accomplishments during his eight years as mayor, but, to his credit, Giuliani has plenty to favorably highlight.  His leadership during the 9/11 disaster was truly exemplary as was the order he brought to the chaotic and crime-ridden New York City of the 90s.  This book is interesting reading for anyone, but especially for New Yorkers and certainly for those who lived in the city during the 9/11 attacks.  

The way that Giuliani turned around crime in NYC is legend, but true legend of course.  In this book, he describes in readable fashion how his administration employed George Kelling’s Broken Windows Policy along with Compstat, regular precinct meetings and quality of life arrests to begin what would be the remarkable restoration of New York City to safety and livability.  He describes how he bypassed the bureaucracy to rout the squeegee-men at the bridges and tunnels and engage the MTA in the fight against graffiti in the subway system.  

He made Times Square and Bryant Park walkable again. He lowered taxes, dealt with a spate of plane crashes that had taken off from JFK and reformed the city’s welfare system.  His account of his dealings with the city hospitals is informative.  He made extensive changes to the Child Welfare Administration, separating it from the HRA to make it an independent and better functioning agency under the name of the Administration for Children’s Services.  

This book, though not autobiography, does have a trace of the personal in it.  The mayor shares a little about his schooling, his parents and more than I cared to know about his prostate cancer.  He included that subject in the chapter on decision making, a bit contrived perhaps.  He wrote just a bit here and there about his children.  He had nothing to say about his second wife, Donna Hanover and surprisingly more to say about his relationship with Judith Nathan who became his third wife (they are now divorced or in the process thereof).  He makes copious references to baseball and his love of that sport and other pastimes.  His account of how he prepared himself for the mayoralty is good reading.  He includes also reflections on his years as a prosecutor in the Southern District of New York and his years in the Justice Department. This is personal autobiography only to the extent that Giuliani wants it to be which is not all that much.  

Entirely missing from this book was any discussion by Mayor Giuliani of the role that his Catholic faith may have played in his personal formation or his decisions as mayor.  He does mention some of the nuns and brothers in his Catholic school education.  He did consider the priesthood for a time.  But in the day-to-day challenges of running a large and complex city neither prayer, church nor faith are discussed.  Something must account for his strong sense of justice, fair play, sense of responsibility and right vs. wrong.  I would have thought it would be his Catholic background.    

Rudy Giuliani is a man with a keen intellect that he puts to constant use in order to unpack issues, resolve problems and get a job done.  He is not one given to brooding introspective reflection or soul-searching self-analysis.  He is a man of action who uses incisive reasoning and facts to address life’s challenges.   Giuliani is not the most charismatic of public figures in case you didn’t know.  In fact, he’s pretty low on the likeability factor.   As he himself says, as a prosecutor he wouldn’t be doing his job if people found him likeable.  (I paraphrase.)  Nor does Giuliani have physical attributes working to his advantage.  He lacks the towering presence of a reserved six-foot-tall George Washington.  He could not pull off appearing in native Cherokee dress in the streets of Washington, D.C. as Sam Houston did.  He does not have the classic good looks of a JFK and he even has that slight speech irregularity barely noticeable as it is.  

What he does have is steely determination and an abundance of brainpower and confidence.  It must be said that he has used these to advantage and achieved to an admirable degree.  His contributions to the city of New York are, alone, enough that he should occupy a well-deserved place as a notable public figure.