About this item
An insider's sometimes shocking account of how Defense Secretary James Mattis led the US military through global challenges while serving as a crucial check on the Trump Administration.For nearly two years as Trump's Secretary of Defense, General James Mattis maintained a complicated relationship with the President. A lifelong Marine widely considered to be one of America's greatest generals, Mattis was committed to keeping America safe. Yet he served a President whose actions were frequently unpredictable and impulsive with far-reaching consequences. Often described as the administration's "adult in the room," Mattis has said very little about his difficult role, and since his resignation has kept his views of the President and his policies private. Now, Mattis's former chief speechwriter and communications director, Guy Snodgrass, brings readers behind that curtain. Drawing on meticulous notes from his seventeen months working with Mattis, Snodgrass reveals how one of the nation's greatest generals walked a political tightrope while leading the world's most powerful military.Snodgrass gives us a fly-on-the-wall view as Mattis... * Reacted when learning about major policy decisions via Twitter rather than from the White House. * Minimized the damage done to our allies and diplomatic partners. * Slow-rolled some of Trump's most controversial measures, with no intention of following through.As the first book written by an insider with firsthand knowledge of key decisions and moments in history, Holding the Line is a must-read for those who care about the presidency and America's national security. It's filled with never-before-told stories that will both alarm and reassure, a testament to the quiet and steady efforts of General Mattis and the dedicated men and women he led at the Department of Defense.
About the Author
A native of Colleyville, Texas, Guy Snodgrass graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1998 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Computer Science. Immediately following graduation, he attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned Masters of Science degrees in both Nuclear Engineering and Computer Science while conducting research at Los Alamos National Laboratory on nuclear weapon design and testing.Previously a Navy F/A-18 fighter pilot, Mr. Snodgrass led combat sorties in support of forces on the ground during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Subsequently selected as a TOPGUN Instructor, he served as the air-to-air mission planning subject matter expert for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Mr. Snodgrass then transferred to Atsugi, Japan where he served as a Training Officer and Department Head with the "Diamondbacks" of VFA-102, supporting multinational operations in the Asia-Pacific region. During this tour, the Diamondbacks received numerous awards for command excellence. Mr. Snodgrass was also selected as the 2008 Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Pilot of the Year, 2009 Strike Fighter Wing Pacific Tactical Aviator of the Year, 2010 Naval Air Forces Pacific Michael G. Hoff Attack Aviator of the Year, and for the peer-awarded 2010 Naval Air Forces Pacific Navy and Marine Corps Leadership Award.Mr. Snodgrass then attended the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. Selected as a Mahan Scholar, he completed additional studies in areas of national strategic significance, including nuclear deterrence, cyber warfare, and the employment of space systems. At the completion of his studies, he graduated first in his class, earning a Masters of Art degree in National Security and Strategic Studies (Highest Distinction) . He was also the President's Honor Graduate and was selected for the Admiral William Sims Award as the college's Distinguished Graduate.Mr. Snodgrass was subsequently selected for the U.S. Navy's 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review team where he assessed U.S. Navy force structure and made recommendations regarding future fleet design. During this tour he was selected to serve as Speechwriter to Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the U.S. Navy's 30th Chief of Naval Operations.Following his tour in the Pentagon, then-Commander Snodgrass returned to Atsugi, Japan, where he had command of an F/A-18E Super Hornet squadron. During this tour he created the 2015 Far East Commanders Conference; the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet's 2016 Pacific Warfighter Symposium; and the "Benkyoukai Initiative," a tactical-level partnership with Japanese Air Self Defense Force squadrons. During this period, the men and women of the "Dambusters" earned the 2017 Battle Efficiency award as the finest Super Hornet squadron in the Western hemisphere.After his command tour, Mr. Snodgrass reported to the Pentagon as Director of Communications and Chief Speechwriter to Secretary Jim Mattis, the 26th Secretary of Def