Duty Memoirs Secretary at War

Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War (Hardcover) Gates notes that he got the title of his memoir Duty from a written passage on his desk taken from Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book Team of Rivals, where she shared that “President Lincoln secretary of war, Edwin Stanton, who, after making a decision that would lead a soldier’s death, was found ‘leaning over a desk’, his face buried in his hands and his heavy frame shaking with sobs. ‘God help me to do my duty. God help me to do my duty!’ he was repeating in a low wail of anguish.”
“Duty” was the reason why Gates returned to public life and take the position of Secretary of Defense. He was asked by President George W. Bush and asked to stay on by President Obama. Gates did not know any of these men but had worked for 8 presidents and was close to the 41 President Bush.
This book is candid and at times a bit think in the details of modern warfare, but it provides a fascinating peek inside the inner corridors of power.
Gates gives portraits of those he worked with. He felt Hillary Clinton was smart, pragmatic with a good sense of humor. As to Vice President Biden, whom he often disagreed as being over verbose and picking sides that end have been on the wrong side of history and how awkward it was to sit next to him within the situation room.
As to the up close view of President Bush and Obama, they are both honorable men who depend on a close circle of advisors. How each made a decision and moved on. However at the point he began to work with them, they were at different stages of their presidency. Bush was a lame duck and on his way out, he had already left his marks for history and worn down a bit by 9/11 and the wars. Obama was the new guy in town, ready to fix all the wrongs, his political antennas fresh to the shifting winds.
Gates shares the art of the dance of the office of Secretary of Defense, dealing with the politicians, the bureaucracy, and the soldiers while remembering that he served at the pleasure of the President.
Gates is the only Secretary of Defense to be a part of two different administrations. He was called “yoda” by the young Obamanites and truly did have a “love” for the soldier in the field. Gates has asked to be buried in section 60 at Arlington Cemetery.
Gates voice is calm and collective and he does a good job of sharing the decision making process of the inside the situation room, a place that is not as exciting as portrayed in the movies.
Some interesting narratives are on the final hunt for Osama Bin Laden, a raid he was not all too supportive and the complexity of the Arab Spring.
Gates has done a great service to write this book and bring to light that we are a nation at war and to remind the reader that it takes a lot of sacrifice to maintain the freedoms we take for granted every day.
This book is ideal for someone who wants to better understand the dynamics of real life political science and a fresh view of Obama’s leadership style.


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