"Bodyguard of Lies"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Cathal Nolan in "Bodyguard of Lies: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Defensible Deceit in World War II" does not believe it is always proper for governments to lie to the public, but he does establish a clear line, when and when it is not proper to lie, by giving general and specific historical examples of past government lies. The author points out that Reagan in the Iran Contra fiasco, Nixon with Watergate and Johnson with the U.S. incursions into Laos and Cambodia and Bill Clinton in Monica-gate, all lied for non-utilitarian reasons; however, Nolan differentiates between Roosevelt and the other deceivers of public trust because if the Nazi threat was not stopped, it would have continued to spread throughout the world until democracy no longer existed. The paper concludes that truth should be told whenever possible; but when the truth is not for the good of all mankind, a president is justified in using whatever means possible to preserve prosperity and moral goodness.

From the Paper:

"Roosevelt viewed the Nazi's as a real threat to mankind. History proves he was correct. The public in the 1930's was weary of getting involved in another war. Congress was dominated by isolationists who refused to support foreign nations with arms or manpower even if they were our strategic allies in the fight for Democracy. The country was reeling from the depression, and many felt funds were needed at home. However, Roosevelt knew the threat of Nazism and German expansion was real and felt public opinion had to be altered."

More papers on "Bodyguard of Lies":

• Argumentative Essay # 75677 : "The Iraq War: A War of Lies"
• Argumentative Essay # 135726 : "The Morality of Lying"
• Essay # 143705 : "Truth Versus Lies"

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