Research Catalog

Title

Caspar Weinberger and the U.S. military buildup, 1981-1985 / Edward C. Keefer.

Author

Keefer, Edward C. (Edward Coltrin), 1945-

Publication

Washington, DC : Historical Office, Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2023.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

United States. Department of Defense. Historical Office, issuing body.

Description

xxvi, 768 pages : illustrations, maps; 26 cm.

Summary

"The book details Caspar Weinberger's role in orchestrating the largest peacetime military buildup in U.S. history and the consequential military engagements of the Cold War's last decade. President Ronald Reagan tapped Weinberger, a renowned budget cutter, as his first term Secretary of Defense to lead a cost-effective military expansion by trimming fat and increasing efficiency. Instead, under Weinberger, the military services enjoyed record budgets, the U.S. defense industry posted record profits, and service members saw increased pay and expanded training. Efficiency and fiscal moderation took a back seat. In foreign policy, Weinberger opposed arms control agreements with Moscow, something Reagan came to favor during his second term. The defense secretary wanted instead to complete the historic military buildup before negotiating arms control, a stance that brought him into conflict with Secretaries of State Alexander Haig and George Shultz, as did his Middle East policy of advocating closer relations with friendly Arab nations. Weinberger actively supported the British during the Falklands/Malvinas War, but he unsuccessfully opposed American intervention in the Lebanon crisis, which true to his fears ended in tragedy. In other foreign policy issues such as confronting communism in Central America, using China against the Soviet Union, and keeping NATO allies happy, Weinberger was largely in line with those of the president and his administration. Weinberger's success in managing and selling the military buildup remains his lasting legacy"--

Series Statement

Secretaries of Defense historical series ; volume X

Uniform Title

Secretaries of Defense historical series ; volume 10.

Alternative Title

• Caspar Weinberger and the US military buildup, 1981-1985
• Caspar Weinberger and the United States military buildup, 1981-1985

Subject

• Weinberger, Caspar W
• United States. Department of Defense > Officials and employees > Biography
• United States. Department of Defense > History > 20th century
• United States. Department of Defense
• 1900-1999
• Cabinet officers > United States > Biography
• National security > United States > Decision making
• Armed Forces > Appropriations and expenditures
• Cabinet officers
• Employees
• Military policy
• National security > Decision making
• Politics and government
• United States > Military policy > History > 20th century
• United States > Politics and government > 1981-1989
• United States > Armed Forces > Appropriations and expenditures > History > 20th century
• United States > Foreign relations > Decision making. > 1981-1989
• United States > History, Military > 20th century
• United States

Genre/Form

• Biographies
• History
• Military history
• Biographies.

Note

• Redacted.
• Shipping list no.: 2023-0287-P.
• In scope of the U.S. Government Publishing Office Cataloging and Indexing Program (C&I) and Federal Depository Library Program (FDLP).

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (pages [731]-748) and index.

Source of Description (note)

• Description based on online version of print resource (OSD, viewed Oct. 3, 2023); title from title page.

Contents

Caspar Weinberger's journey to the Pentagon -- The Pentagon team and relationships within the Reagan Administration -- The buildup budgets : Fiscal Years 1981, 1982, and 1983 -- Confronting the Soviets : estimates of military power, crisis in Poland, and reassessments of technology transfer and trade embargos -- Weinberger and Soviet-American nuclear arms reduction negotiations -- Defense acquisition reform and Pentagon reorganization -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization -- The Middle East : Israel, Egypt, and Jordan -- Lebanon : into the cauldron -- The Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia -- The Falklands/Malvinas War and Weinberger as "assistant quartermaster" -- Defending the defense budget : Fiscal Years 1984-1986 -- National security and strategic forces modernization -- Grenada : Operation Urgent Fury -- Central America, Cuba, and South America -- Libya, worldwide terrorism, and Africa -- The all-volunteer force -- East Asia and Southeast Asia -- Weinberger's legacy -- Maps, charts, tables, and diagrams.

Call Number

JFF 24-172

ISBN

• 9780160959677
• 0160959675

LCCN

2023021122

OCLC

1378393825

Author

Keefer, Edward C. (Edward Coltrin), 1945- author.

Title

Caspar Weinberger and the U.S. military buildup, 1981-1985 / Edward C. Keefer.

Publisher

Washington, DC : Historical Office, Office of the Secretary of Defense, 2023.

Type of Content

text

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

volume

Series

Secretaries of Defense historical series ; volume X

Secretaries of Defense historical series ; volume 10.

Bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages [731]-748) and index.

Connect to:

https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo218569

https://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo218569

Chronological Term

1900-1999

Added Author

United States. Department of Defense. Historical Office, issuing body.

Other Form:

Online version: Keefer, Edward C. (Edward Coltrin), 1945- Caspar Weinberger and the U.S. military buildup, 1981-1985 (OCoLC)1401017470

Gpo Item No.

0306

Sudoc No.

D 1.2:H 62/3/V.10

Research Call Number

JFF 24-172