William Lederer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Lederer
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| Born | March 31, 1912 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 5, 2009 (aged 97) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation | American author |
| Spouse | Ethel Hackett (1940–1965) (3 children) Corinne Lewis (1965–1976) |
| Children | W. Jonathan Lederer Brian J. H. Lederer Bruce Allen Lederer |
William Julius Lederer, Jr. (born March 31, 1912 – died December 5, 2009) was an American writer and officer in the United States Navy. He is best known for his book The Ugly American, which he co-wrote.
Contents
William Lederer's Life Story
William Lederer joined the United States Navy in 1930. This was after he left high school. He later graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1936.
His first job was on a river gunboat called the USS Tutuila (PR-4). This boat was part of the Yangtze Patrol in China.
Serving in World War II
When the United States entered World War II in 1941, Lederer served as an officer. He worked in both Asia and Europe. He helped navigate ships during the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily.
Later in his naval career, he became a public information officer. He worked at The Pentagon and then for a top admiral in Hawaii. He rose to the rank of captain.
Becoming a Writer
William Lederer became a very successful author. His most famous book was The Ugly American, published in 1958. He wrote it with Eugene Burdick.
They were worried about how the United States was handling its relationships in Southeast Asia. The book showed that American officials could make a big difference. They just needed to learn local languages and respect local customs.
Lederer and Burdick believed that if Americans ignored these lessons, countries in Southeast Asia might turn to the Soviet Union or Chinese Communist influence. The book suggested creating a group of skilled people. These people would be fluent in local languages and dedicated to helping. This idea helped inspire the Peace Corps, which John F. Kennedy started in 1960.
Books About Foreign Policy
In his 1961 book, A Nation of Sheep, Lederer looked at problems with intelligence gathering in Asia. He explored how American foreign policy was shaped. He believed it came from local officials, newspapers, and even spies.
His 1968 book, Our Own Worst Enemy, shared a story from 1940. Lederer met a priest and his assistant in China. They asked him for a copy of the United States Declaration of Independence. The assistant, "Mr. Nguyen," later became Ho Chi Minh. Ho Chi Minh used ideas from the American document in Vietnam's own declaration of independence in 1945.
The book also talked about how the United States supported a corrupt leader in South Vietnam. It described how American aid was stolen. It showed how Americans sometimes ignored problems, saying, "It's their country, and we Americans are only guests here."
Fun and Humorous Books
Lederer also wrote lighter, more humorous books. All the Ships at Sea (1950) and Ensign O'Toole and Me (1957) are examples of his funny stories. He even wrote a children's book called Timothy's Song in 1965.
Television and Film Work
Some of Lederer's books were turned into TV shows and movies. The television series Ensign O'Toole was based on his books. It was a situation comedy about a U.S. Navy destroyer crew. Lederer worked as a technical adviser for the show.
He also helped write the movie McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force in 1965.
Later Life and Passing
William Lederer passed away on December 5, 2009. He was 97 years old.
Books with Eugene Burdick
- The Ugly American, 1958 (co-author, with Eugene Burdick)
- Sarkhan: a Novel, republished as The Deceptive American in 1977.
Other Selected Books
- All the Ships at Sea, 1950 (author)
- The Last Cruise; the story of the sinking of the submarine, USS Cochino, 1950 (author)
- Spare-Time Article Writing for Money (1954)
- Ensign O'Toole and Me, 1957 (author)
- A Nation of Sheep, 1961 (author)
- McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force, 1965 (co-screenwriter)
- Timothy's Song, 1965 (author)
- The Story of Pink Jade, 1966 (author)
- Our Own Worst Enemy, 1968 (author)
- The Anguished American, 1968 (author)
- The Mirages of Marriage, 1968 (co-author with Don D. Jackson)
- Complete Cross-Country Skiing and Ski Touring, 1970 (co-author with Joseph Peter Wilson)
- Marital Choices: Forecasting, Assessing, and Improving a Relationship, 1981 (author)
- A Happy Book of Happy Stories, 1981 (author)
- New Complete Book of Cross Country Skiing, 1983 (author)
- I, Giorghos, 1984 (author)
- Creating a Good Relationship, 1984 (author)
