Generals and Admirals, Criminals and Crooks: Dishonorable Leadership in the U.S. Military

by Jeffrey J. Matthews

U.S. flag officers are intended to be exemplary defenders of duty, honor, and country―but what can we learn by exposing the bad leaders lurking within these venerable ranks?

There is an ugly strain of criminal and unethical leadership in the upper ranks of the American military. Despite the exemplary service of most American military members, a persistent minority of U.S. flag officers (Navy admirals and Army, Air Force, and Marine generals) have embroiled the profession in scandal since the Revolutionary War. In Generals and Admirals, Criminals and Crooks, award-winning author Jeffrey J. Matthews examines bad leadership in American military history over the past one hundred years, beginning with war crimes in the Philippine-American War and ending with the Fat Leonard corruption scandal.

Scrutinizing a range of leadership failures, including moral cowardice, sex crimes, insubordination, toxic leadership, and obstruction of justice, Matthews offers a fascinating analysis of the bases and motives leading to these missteps and explores what could be done to curtail future misconduct of generals and admirals. The book also includes an up-to-date examination of President Trump’s term in office that highlights the vital role honorable military leadership plays in our democracy. Confronting the dark side of criminal and unethical conduct among U.S. flag officers, this frank and historically grounded book offers valuable lessons in leadership that will stimulate further debate and critical self-assessment within the U.S. military.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military Fiction, Crime, War, Politics

384 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2023

Reviews

[Chad Manske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noted scholar Jeffrey Matthews (author of the 2019 book ‘Colin Powell: Imperfect Patriot,’ and others) delves into the criminal and unethical behavior of some of America’s most egregious military generals and admirals. Employing a case study approach with the primary objectives of “drawing wider public attention to the nature of bad leadership and to illuminate specific types of unethical and criminal conduct,” Matthew’s forthcoming book (October 2023) goes a mile deep scrutinizing the behavior of a handful of officers using seven types of criminal or unethical leadership: war crimes, insubordination, moral cowardice, toxic leadership, obstruction of justice, sex crimes, and public corruption. Each crime is specifically defined within the context of its use. And as each of these behaviors are the focus of individual chapters, so too is the essential spotlight on one or two (mostly) bad actors. The level and depth of research is comprehensive, yet this reader would have like to have seen a more balanced approach across many more actors in the case studies. As noted, the depth on the primary officers is deep and wide, but at the end of each chapter, readers find a handful of other officers whose behavior merits mention under the category but their stories are not equally developed. This is a minor point in a book that is destined to become required reading in military colleges at all levels any time the topic of ethics and wrongdoing is taught.

[John Grillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. It made me realize how common it is to abuse power from leaders that are typically charged with setting examples for others on how to behave. The number of individuals used as examples of this abuse throughout the course of our US history was just staggering. What was equally shocking to me was the fact that the great majority of these “criminals” essentially walked away with little more than a slap on the wrist. With such little risk of consequence it is not surprising that the numbers of abusers is so high.
This book should be required reading not only for officers in the military but also for perspective rising leaders in industry

[Jordison Francisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Generais e Almirantes, Criminosos e Bandidos: Liderança Desonrosa nas Forças Armadas dos EUA Matthews 2023
Como o título sugere, este livro está cheio de vinhetas de generais e almirantes inescrupulosos que manipulam o sistema por lucro ou outros motivos. Muitos desses líderes identificados não são criminosos nem bandidos, então o título é um tanto enganoso.

Muitas das histórias já foram contadas antes, mas são muito amplificadas. Talvez o general mais conhecido seja Colin Powell. Seu fiasco no discurso da ONU não é discutido — ele estava aposentado do exército — mas seu envolvimento ativo no escândalo Reagan Irã-Contra é. Ele foi fortemente cúmplice nas maquinações associadas a esse período, mas escapou da censura pública. Curiosamente, o autor não relaciona seu envolvimento como major com o encobrimento do massacre de My Lai no Vietnã.

O autor identifica vários tipos de má conduta e identifica indivíduos envolvidos nessa conduta. Isso inclui...
• Crimes de Guerra. Jacob Smith na guerra das Filipinas
• Insubordinação. Douglas McArthur
• Covardia moral: Harold Johnson Guerra do Vietnã durante LBJ
• Liderança tóxica: Hyman Rickover, pai da marinha nuclear
• Obstrução da justiça: John Poindexter e Colin Powell, caso Irã-Contra
• Crimes sexuais: Almirantes Tailhook
• Corrupção pública: a dúzia suja de almirantes de Fat Leonard

O formato de Jeffrey Matthews inclui um histórico detalhado da criação e das carreiras dos homens que ele descreve. Muitos deles eram incrivelmente brilhantes, ambiciosos e demonstravam grandes habilidades de liderança.

Fiquei completamente impressionado com o livro de Jeffrey Matthews, "Generais e Almirantes, Criminosos e Bandidos". Ele habilmente entrelaça narrativas cativantes de figuras reverenciadas e notórias, lançando luz sobre seus personagens complexos e o impacto de suas ações na história. Matthews não os pinta apenas como heróis ou vilões — em vez disso, ele nos mostra o quão complexas essas figuras realmente eram.

Matthews escreve: "No nível individual, os candidatos devem estar seriamente comprometidos com a continuação do desenvolvimento moral pessoal, sempre se apegando a um grau saudável de humildade. À medida que sobem de posição, devem estar constantemente autoconscientes e permanecerem fortemente sintonizados com os perigos éticos e legais que acompanham as posições de autoridade: arrogância, ganância, intemperança, insensibilidade, autoengano, egoísmo, covardia moral e lealdade mal direcionada." (305) A grande maioria dos almirantes e generais não são vítimas desses perigos, escreve Matthews.

Esta é uma leitura obrigatória para qualquer pessoa interessada em entender as complexidades do comportamento humano em posições de autoridade. Seja você um entusiasta da história, um estudioso da liderança ou simplesmente procurando por uma leitura envolvente, este livro sem dúvida deixará uma impressão duradoura. Altamente recomendado!

Minha maior decepção com o livro é que Matthews não identifica exemplos de onde esses principais líderes militares são comprometidos por grandes contratantes de defesa. Andy Pasztor escreveu WHEN THE PENTAGON WAS FOR SALE: Inside America's Biggest Defense Scandal em 1995. Li o livro algum tempo depois. Ele identificou exemplos dessa corrupção que Matthews escolhe ignorar em seu livro. Uma atualização do livro de Pasztor teria sido bem-vinda.

[Beau Raines]

DNF. I stopped during the first chapter.The book spent a lot of time detailing the history of the campaign in the Philippines - a lot of pages. While understanding the history is important it took too much to get to the behavioral part of these generals.

I didn't want to read a military history book, I wanted to read about crooked and criminal leaders.

[Minerva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another one that every officer and judge advocate should read.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abuse of power comes in all shapes and sizes.

[Kellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting; 3.5 stars. I did find my self asking ‘so, what’s the point?’ at the end.

[Tim Newby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating, deeply researched, and well written. Highly recommended.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting yet depressing stories of officers at the height of their power succumbing to greed and abusing subordinates.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Overview of Leadership Traits with Examples

Wow, I couldn’t put it down. This book characterized bad leadership traits focused around military scandals. It includes intricate and referenced details of leadership failures and repercussions for those involved. A great read for anyone interested in leadership or military scandals.