Choosing War: Presidential Decisions in the Maine, Lusitania, and Panay Incidents

by Douglas C Peifer

Throughout US history, presidents have had vastly different reactions to naval incidents. Though some incidents have been resolved diplomatically, others have escalated to outright war. What factors influence the outcome of a naval incident, especially when calls for retribution mingle with recommendations for restraint? Given the rise of long range anti-ship and anti-air missile systems, coupled with tensions in East Asia, the Persian Gulf, and the Black and Baltic Seas, the question is more relevant than ever for US naval diplomacy.

In Choosing War , Douglas Carl Peifer compares the ways in which different presidential administrations have responded when American lives were lost at sea. He examines in depth three the Maine incident (1898), which led to war in the short term; the Lusitania crisis (1915), which set the trajectory for intervention; and the Panay incident (1937), which was settled diplomatically. While evaluating Presidents William McKinley, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt's responses to these incidents, Peifer lucidly reflects on the options they had available and the policies they ultimately selected. The case studies illuminate how leadership, memory, and shifting domestic policy shape presidential decisions, providing significant insights into the connections between naval incidents, war, and their historical contexts. Rich in dramatic narrative and historical perspective, Choosing War offers an essential tool for confronting future naval crises.

344 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2016

Reviews

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peifer provides a probing and thought-provoking examination of three naval incidents in which American Presidents have struck a foreign policy risk and struggled to manage the resultant domestic political crisis. The author looks at their political decision-making process as the nation considered war.

The Presidents were walking a political tightrope that was shaken by each of these three incidents, to wit: The USS Maine with President William McKinley, the RMS Lusitania with President Woodrow Wilson, and the USS Panay with President Franklin Roosevelt. There is so much involved in this book; I am only providing a highlight of information. If you are interested in the subject, you must read the book.

The book was well written and meticulously researched. It is highly readable and absolutely fascinating. Peifer has made a major contribution to understanding these three historical incidents. This is a great historical study of decision-making and analysis of current and future problems. This is a very timely book to read.

The book is 331 pages and was published in 2016. I read a hardback volume.

[Steven Siroski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three key historical events, two I knew of, one I didn't. An interesting read that outlines all of the factors that go into how a country responds to provocation. One incident led to war, one did not, while one started to change attitudes that set the ground work leading to war. Of note is the most aggressive action is the one that did not lead to war, but the most innocuous one did, showing how complex these decisions can be. For all the hand wringing today about the media and social media, it is interesting to see how media, special interest groups, misinformation, and public opinion were so crucial even back in 1898, in addition to things such as party lines and personalities. It is curious when a President is compelled to respond in a way contrary to his personal opinion due to these other factors. All of these incidents are key pieces of history that help fill in the story of the US involvement in three wars. As the most recent of these occurred over 3/4 of a century ago, this provides vital context into understanding these conflicts and how they have shaped today's world.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty interesting read (which was done for school) detailing three cases of incidents that influenced US involvements in conflicts. These three cases were unique in their outcomes--though all three were maritime crises. The sinking of the Maine quickly drove the US into war with Spain because of domestic pressures on the McKinley and the legislative branch. The sinking of the Lusitania caused a confusion of US foreign policy as Wilson tried to walk the line between engagement with Europe while remaining neutral, something he ultimately failed in doing. The US declaration of war would have to wait nearly two years, and Wilson's bungling of the diplomatic environment (made worse by a highly divided State Department) ensured that the situation would be confused until that declaration occurred. The sinking of the Panay in China by Japanese forces was a challenging moment for FDR. FDR understood that there were predatory states operating in 1937 and that this made war almost inevitable, but also understood that there was no way for him to seek war or mobilization of manpower and resources at that moment because the US was divided on interventionism vs. isolationism. Plus, most people saw no need to get involved in foreign affairs while they were still struggling through the Great Depression. While the US ultimately did become involved in World War II, the events that lead to that moment four years after the Panay crisis were so different from the atmosphere in December, 1937 that the two events are barely connected. In that we see, contrary to McKinley and Wilson, FDR's path did not get the US involved in a conflict.

The final section on understanding historical analogies and the nature of naval incidents was very interesting, especially in this time of enhanced focus on the maritime affairs in the world's hotspots.