Odysseus in america combat trauma and the trials of homecoming. Interview max cleland, author of heart of a patriot, on. From 2003 to 2007, he was on the board of directors of the exportimport bank of the united states. Cleland served from 1971 to 1975 in the georgia senate, and became an advocate for affairs. Senator from georgia who has served as the head of the veterans administration and on the 911 commission. Joseph maxwell max cleland born august 24, 1942 is an american politician from georgia. Reflections on viet nam, where america lost its soul. Up in his suite of senate offices, his press secretary is groaning as senator max cleland rewrites the statement on kosovo that has already been sent out to the press. Oct 15, 2009 on washington unplugged thursday, former senator max cleland of georgia, who lost both legs and an arm in vietnam, discussed how losing his senate reelection campaign to saxby chambliss in 2002. S veterans administration, max cleland has been a distinguished. Mar 2002 voted no on require photo id not just signature for voter registration. Joseph maxwell cleland is an american politician from georgia. With unbelievable drive and passion for life and god, senator cleland tells an inspirational story about the tenacity of the human spirit and his personal greatness.
Cleland, joseph maxwell max, a senator from georgia. He is the former democratic senator from georgia, max cleland. Sitting at a scratchedup table at a bookstore coffee shop, his white shirt unbuttoned at the collar and his. Pictures of the war from the other side page, tim, cleland, senator max on. Max cleland is a viet nam veteran, triple amputee, former head of the veterans administration, former us senator, and member of the 911 commission. In 2008, wilson made ads attacking barack obama by showing the incendiary statements of his former pastor, jeremiah wright.
On washington unplugged thursday, former senator max cleland of georgia, who lost both legs and an arm in vietnam, discussed how losing his senate reelection campaign to saxby chambliss in 2002. Max cleland was born on august 24, 1942 in atlanta, georgia, usa as joseph maxwell cleland. Senator max cleland, himself a wounded and decorated veteran of vietnam, seven thematic sections address every aspect of military and civilian life as our country fought for freedom in europe and the pacific, in korea, in southeast asia, in the middle east, and at home. Odysseus in america book by jonathan shay, john mccain. Vietnam vet max cleland, former veterans administration head and us senator, speaks frankly about his war wounds, surviving post traumatic stress disorder, walter reed and karl rove, the inspiring gen. For rick wilson, the republican party went to hell in 2010. He said, you know, he said, the book is not a war story.
Born and raised in lithonia, georgia, cleland received the atlanta journal cup as the most outstanding graduate in the class of 1960 at lithonia high school. Former senator max cleland discusses his new position as the secretary of the american battle monuments commission and presents his new book, heart of a patriot. Joseph maxwell cleland born august 24, 1942 is an american politician from the state of georgia. One of ricks most successful ads was an attack against democratic senator max cleland during his 2002 campaign against saxby chambliss. Jonathan shay uses the odyssey, the story of a soldiers homecoming, to illuminate the pitfalls that trap many veterans on the road back to civilian life. After one term, max cleland faced a tough reelection bid in 2002. Cleland, a democrat, is a disabled us army veteran of the vietnam war, a recipient of the silver star and the bronze star for valorous actions in combat, and a former united states senator he has also served as administrator of veterans affairs now a cabinetlevel position. Cleland, a democrat, is a disabled us army veteran of the vietnam war, a recipient of the silver star and the bronze star for valorous actions in combat, and a former united states senator.
For max cleland, politics was a refuge from war the former senator recalls how a traumatic accident in wartime led to a political career that spanned four decades. This interview is being conducted as part of the veterans history project, an effort by the american folklife center and the library of congress. Today were here to interview senator max cleland from georgia. Max cleland is back in the city that brought him so much joy and so much heartache. Cleland, a democrat, is a disabled us army veteran of the vietnam war, a recipient of the silver star and the bronze star for valorous actions in combat, and a former u. Seventh congressional district candidate carolyn bourdeaux has received a highprofile endorsement from a former georgia secretary of state and u.
In december 2003, cleland stepped down from the commission to become a member of the board of directors of the exportimport bank of the united states. By the time he had reached middle age, max cleland thought he had nothing to. Max was a man literally torn apart by the vietnam war. Accountability citizenship accountability citizenship. Former senator unloads on enemies, dishes lewinsky dirt in his upcoming book, heart of a patriot, former senator and decorated vietnam war veteran max cleland unloads on his political nemeses and dishes some details on his friend bill clintons affair with monica lewinsky.
Pictures of the war from the other side is an intense collection of images, many never seen before, from the cameras of north vietnamese photographers. Senator max cleland, who lost his senate seat in an ugly and controversial reelection campaign in 2002, is the first nongeneral and first vietnam combat veteran to chair the commission. Jan 29, 2007 and max cleland seems just a little bit envious of the senator who preceded him today, the man pushing for a chickenshit subsidy for the poultry growers of his state. Max cleland a silver star for gallantry in action at the battle of khe sanh, one of the wars fiercest firefights. For rick wilson, the republican party went to hell in. Carter supported cleland in his unsuccessful contest for the democratic nomination for lieutenant governorship in 1974 and then named him to head the veterans administration when carter became u. Throughout his book, cleland quotes the fiction of ernest. See this members remarks in the congressional record. Strong at the broken placesa great story about a much maligned man.
Cleland was a captain in the us army during the vietnam war when he was severely injured by a grenade that later caused the amputation of his two legs above the knee and his right forearm. Former sen max cleland, national cochairman of kerry presidential. Jonathan shay uses the odyssey, the story of a soldiers homecoming, to illuminate the pitfalls that trap many veterans. Cleland, a democrat, is a disabled us army veteran of the vietnam war. The former senator recalls how a traumatic accident in wartime led to a political. This is a new, updated edition of a memoir he wrote in 1980, describing his experiences in combat during the vietnam. How i found the courage to survive vietnam, walter reed and karl rove. After a long and painful recovery at the walter reed army medical center, he went home to his parents house in georgia in a. Click here for 5 full quotes on government reform or background on government reform voted yes on banning soft money contributions and restricting issue ads. Book max cleland for public speaking harry walker agency. How i found the courage to survive vietnam, walter reed and karl rove by max cleland with ben raines. Veterans administration, max cleland has been a distinguished public servant for nearly 50 years.
Just as the 2000 florida voting fiasco symbolizes for democrats the electionstealing illegitimacy of bush. Following the election, max cleland was swornin as a united states senator on january 7, 1997. However, this time he was defeated by republican saxby chambliss. Max cleland lost both legs and his right arm in vietnam. Click here for 8 full quotes on health care or background on health care. And max cleland seems just a little bit envious of the senator who preceded him today, the man pushing for a chickenshit subsidy for the poultry growers of his state. Senator max cleland accountability citizenship presents a new paradigm of informationage citizenship for americans. From 2003 to 2007 he served on the board of directors of the exportimport bank of the united states, a presidentially. Correspondent richard engel takes a look at the long war in afghanistan and explains why it continues on. Joseph maxwell cleland born august 24, 1942 is an american politician from the state of. Max cleland represented georgia in the us senate from 19972003. Cleland, a democrat, is a disabled us army veteran of the vietnam war, a recipient of the silver star and the bronze.
He is also a survivor of war and politics another form of war, as well as the psychological trauma experienced by combat veterans. Jun 2001 voted no on funding gop version of medicare prescription drug benefit. He was the united states senator from georgia from 1997 through 2003. Army soldier, to being an elected united states senator, to being president obamas appointed director of war memorials around the world, max cleland is an icon of the. In addition, this series includes material from the state senate, lieutenant governor, and secretary of state campaign races. Senator max cleland talks about his autobiography strong at the broken places. Oct 18, 2016 obviously, it didnt win the election for mccain. Sponsored legislation by max cleland, the senator from georgia in congress from 2001 through 2003. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Former senator unloads on enemies, dishes lewinsky dirt in his upcoming book, heart of a patriot, former senator and decorated vietnam war veteran max cleland unloads on his political nemeses and dishes some details on. With me today is one of the members of the 911 commission, former georgia senator, max cleland. Joseph maxwell cleland born august 24, 1942 is an american politician.
Senator max cleland get a free ebook by joining our mailing list today. Asa baber vietnamera marine veteran and the men columnist for playboy one hell of a book. Max cleland there he became an ally of jimmy carter s, and the two developed a friendship that would endure for decades. Senator cleland has inspired millions with his irrepressible good humor and courage in the face of daunting physical challenges. A former united states senator and youngestever administrator of the u. He became secretary of the american battle monuments commission in 2009. In this ambitious followup to achilles in vietnam, dr. Senator max cleland 2010 hollywood fame literary award. Voted yes on allowing importation of rx drugs from canada. A former united states senator and yongestevver adminstrator of the u. Soldier and statesman, the honorable senator max cleland, like frankl, knows that one may lose body parts or suffer great unjust losses and depravations, but dignity and honor reside in the human soul, and cannot be violated in a person of strong moral character and of faith. Oct 06, 2009 for max cleland, politics was a refuge from war the former senator recalls how a traumatic accident in wartime led to a political career that spanned four decades.
The nasty realities of the political attack ad industry. Senator from georgia who has served as the head of the. From 2009 to 2017, he was secretary of the american battle monuments commission. He was the united states senator from georgia from 1997 through 2003 from 2003 to 2007, he was on the board of directors of the exportimport bank of the united states.
Each included photographer has a chapter highlighting his personal stories and captivating pictures. Rick explained that the most successful attack ads dont go after a candidates weaknesses. The white house has played coverupformer 911 commission. Max cleland simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. President obamas choice to be in charge of the american battle monuments commission is a grievously wounded vietnam veteran, twice decorated for bravery. Senator max cleland talked about his memoir, heart of a patriot.