A Different Kind of Victory

Recipient of the 1982 John Lyman Book Award for United States Naval History, this biography of Admiral Thomas C. Hart unites fifty-five significant years of American history with a man whose central guiding force in life was the U.S. Navy. Based on Hart's twenty-one volume diary, A Different Kind of Victory investigates the forces and circumstances that shaped Hart's actions during a memorable and influential career that spanned three wars and was followed by brief service in the U.S. Senate. From his early days as the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he fought for academic reform, to his "second" career in elected office, Hart could always be found amid controversy. In descriptive detail, James Leutze relates Hart's war experiences, both professional and private, and examines his controversial relationships with other, equally strong-minded naval leaders. Blunt, outspoken, aloof, and occasionally referred to as "Terrible Tommy," Adm. Thomas C. Hart was nevertheless respected and admired, an inspiration to his fellow officers.