Several presidents have been given conflicting advice during wartime. Some advisers urged the president to pursue a peaceful solution; others urged him to escalate bombing to overcome the enemy. These presidents did not want to go down in history as the first U.S. president to lose a war, so they chose to escalate, thereby prolonging the war. According to your text, this decision was most likely a consequence of the motive to __________.
A) perceive the situation as accurately as possible
B) save as many lives as possible
C) justify previous actions
D) convince the taxpayers that a tax increase was necessary

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The decision to escalate the war despite conflicting advice was most likely driven by the motive to justify previous actions and avoid being seen as the first U.S. president to lose a war. This suggests a concern with reputation and legacy, which is more aligned with option C. Options A, B, and D are not as directly related to this decision.

Several Presidents Have Been Given Conflicting Advice During Wartime