"The Fog of War," the movie that finally won Errol Morris the best documentary Oscar, is a spellbinder. Morris interviews Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, and finds a uniquely unsettling viewpoint on much of 20th-century American history. Dr. Megan Boccardi, Quincy University Assistant Professor of History, will lead a discussion after the film.

Employing a ton of archival material, including LBJ's fascinating taped conversations from the Oval Office, Morris probes the reasons behind the U.S. commitment to the Vietnam War--and finds a depressingly inconsistent policy. McNamara himself emerges as--well, not exactly apologetic, but clearly haunted by the what-ifs of Vietnam. He also mulls the bombing of Japan in World War II and the Cuban Missile Crisis, raising more questions than he answers. This movie provides a glimpse inside government. It also encourages skepticism about same.This program is free and open to the public, but reservations are requested. Please call 223-1309, ext. 501 or go online to www.quincylibrary.org to make your reservation.