Nation: McNamara's Many Wars

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In perhaps his greatest contribution, McNamara skillfully implemented the Kennedy Administration's goal of balancing the ability to mete out massive (nuclear) retaliation with the troop strength, versatility and mobility needed to fight limited actions. Five years ago, the U.S. could have blown up much of the world, but it could not have put a relatively small ground force into Southeast Asia without undermining its strength elsewhere. Today the U.S. is able to honor its worldwide commit ments while fighting in South Viet Nam. For some of the very reasons that he is under attack in Congress, McNamara has been able to keep the defense budget from growing even faster than it has. The announced figure of $58.3 billion for the year beginning July 1 may yet rise because of the war, but it would already be billions higher were it not for McNamara's reforms. Indeed, for the first time, the U.S. is waging a major military campaign overseas without crash mobilization or stringent economic controls at home.