"An examination of how America's top naval leaders-Admirals Zumwalt, Moorer, Sharp, Holloway, and Felt-dealt with the challenges of the Vietnam War and its aftermath, with a discussion of their relationships with Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter and Secretaries of Defense McNamara, Laird, and Schlesinger"-- Provided by publisher.

Chapter 1. Steaming into the abyss -- Chapter 2. At the brink -- Chapter 3. Upping the ante -- Chapter 4. Command in crisis -- Chapter 5. Navy troubles -- Chapter 6. White knight of the delta -- Chapter 7. Fighting to retreat -- Chapter 8. Test of fire -- Chapter 9. A new broom -- Chapter 10. Revolution in the navy -- Chapter 11. Fighting Washington -- Chapter 12. The end game -- Chapter 13. Conclusion.