"As with most narratives of seminal events in World War II, time and academic inquiry have produced necessary correctives to our understanding of the war--particularly the Navy's actions in the Pacific. Hamilton Bean does the historical canon of the wartime Pacific a great service by laying bare a major barrier to news-hungry Americans--a naval Public Relations Officer named Waldo Drake. Bean's fascinating expose reveals how one man's misguided adherence to censorship, while protecting operational security and the images of leaders like Admiral Nimitz, robbed wartime America of a complete picture of the contributions their Navy was making to achieve victory. A terrific, original contribution to the scholarship."--
Lt. Col. Stephen M. Rusiecki, USA (Ret.), Dean of Academics / Deputy Commandant, U.S. Army Inspector General School, and author of
"Invasion On!" D-Day, the Press, and the Making of an American Narrative "Hamilton Bean's Nimitz's Newsman is a magnificent piece of work that is the first to bring together diverse sources to look at how the U.S. Pacific Fleet managed its World War II public information efforts. Bean's work is a phenomenal piece of research. Bean shows how an insular culture espoused by some Navy senior leaders unfortunately created mistrust between them and the media. Nearly 80 years after the war, Nimitz's Newsman provides valuable lessons and insight on the importance of telling the Navy story to the public today"--Rear Adm. Tom Jurkowsky, USN (Ret.), Former Navy Chief of Information
"Hamilton Bean has constructed a carefully researched and insightful narrative exploring the fascinating career of Lt. Cdr. Waldo Drake, USNR. Woven throughout the story is the history
of the US Navy's Pacific Fleet during World War II and the birth of modern media relations and public relations. The strategic decisions and actions of Waldo Drake clearly demonstrate the power of communication as an essential part of the war effort. Drake's pioneering efforts can be seen in contemporary use of communication as a tool in international conflict."--Matthew Seeger, Distinguished University Professor of Communication, Fellow International Communication Association and author of several books including Narratives of Crisis
Fascinating and compelling! Hamilton Bean's study of Waldo Drake is a great look at the complex interplay of organizational dynamics and personal relationships. It is a valuable addition to the history of the Pacific War and the evolution of Navy public relations."--Trent Hone, author of Learning War and Mastering the Art of Command: Admiral Chester W Nimitz and Victory in the Pacific
"Who wants to know where the fleet is?" Time magazine asked with Chester Nimitz on its cover. As his public relations officer, journalist Waldo Drake had to answer by balancing the contradictory demands of morale-boosting publicity with military secrecy. Gathering no shortage of critics and admirers along the way, Drake parceled out uplifting stories even as he censored what Americans were told. Hamilton Bean has produced an intriguing read between the lines of the Pacific war."--Walter R. Borneman, author of The Admirals: Nimitz, Halsey, Leahy, and King
"Hamilton Bean opens the reader to the complex tapestry of Waldo Drake as WWI veteran, LA Times journalist, Navy Reserve Intelligence Officer, and Public Relations Officer for CINCPAC during the seminal years of the WWII Pacific campaign. Imagine playing tennis against ADM Nimitz, shaping Naval policy on public relations, and corralling noted journalists all in the same day - that describes Waldo Drake. As Bean describes Drake maneuvering operations, strategy, and policy with ADM Nimitz and other notable flag officers, he offers a fresh and important read on the challenges of being a staff officer for a Navy legend during the throes of WWII."--Lt. Col. Ronald Buikema, USMC (Ret.), President/Founder, TractorShare Corp.; Adjunct Professor, University of Maryland Global Campus
"Bean enriches the scholarship of World War Two by taking the reader through that well-known period of history from a less familiar angle. Diving into the role played by eminent newsman and Nimitz's trusted Public Relations Officer Waldo Drake, Bean illuminates - not only Drake's role in the war - but offers the reader insights into that historical environment through a fascinating perspective. Bean brings the atmosphere of the time into context providing glimpses into an integral part of the war effort"--Kim Roberts, Professor of the Practice of International Relations, Georgetown University
"Hamilton Bean's detailed research allows understanding of the communications and interactions between Waldo Drake and those he dealt with inside and out of the Navy, as well as the dialogue and communications between Admiral Nimitz and both Admiral King and SECNAV. In reading about WWII these fascinating details affecting historical events are often not available for understanding the background and rationale of how decisions are made (examine Bean's extensive research in his end notes). Nimitz's Newsman is an interesting and thoroughly enjoyable book illustrating the important communications and working relationships between leaders, their staff, and the news media during this critical historical period. Valid in any current or future situations of intense high stress. Highly recommended."--Rear Adm. Steven G. Smith, USN (Ret.), former Director of Strategy and Plans (J5) U.S. Pacific Command
