Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War facts for kids
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| Author | Robert M. Gates |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Presidency of George W. Bush, Presidency of Barack Obama, Afghan war, Iraq War |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Publisher | Alfred A. Knopf |
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Publication date
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January 2014 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 618 |
| ISBN | 978-0307959478 |
| OCLC | 857234147 |
| 355.6092 B | |
| LC Class | E897.4.G37 A3 2014 |
Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War is a true story book written by Robert M. Gates. He used to be the U.S. Secretary of Defense. The book was published in January 2014. It covers the years from 2006 to 2011. This time includes when George W. Bush and Barack Obama were presidents. It also talks about the war in Afghanistan and the Iraq War.
The book is told from Robert Gates's own point of view. He shares his experiences with the U.S. Congress (where laws are made). He also writes about how the Pentagon (the main building for the U.S. military) was managed. Gates describes his interactions with some military leaders and the White House staff. This book was the first to share details about important discussions during President Obama's Cabinet meetings.
Contents
About the Book: Duty
Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War is a book about real events. It tells the story of Robert Gates's time as the Secretary of Defense. This role is very important. The Secretary of Defense leads the entire U.S. military.
What is a Memoir?
A memoir is like a personal diary or a story from someone's life. It focuses on a specific period or important events. In this book, Robert Gates shares his personal experiences. He tells what it was like to work with two different presidents.
Key Time Periods Covered
The book covers a busy time in American history. It includes the end of the George W. Bush administration (2006-2009). It also covers the start of the Obama administration (2009-2011). During these years, the United States was involved in two major conflicts. These were the war in Afghanistan and the Iraq War.
Robert Gates's Role and Experiences
Robert Gates was seen as a very experienced person. He had worked in American foreign policy for many years. When he joined the Obama administration, he was a Republican. This showed President Obama wanted people from different political parties to work together. This is called bipartisanship.
Working with President Obama's Team
Over time, Robert Gates's relationship with President Obama and his staff became difficult. The book talks about long-lasting disagreements. These were about how to handle important policies. Gates had different ideas than Vice President Joe Biden. He also disagreed with Tom Donilon, who was the National Security Advisor. Another person he had disagreements with was Lieutenant General Douglas E. Lute. These disagreements were often about the war in Afghanistan.
