Letter: Book suggests insights on Mar-a-Lago documents

I just completed reading Mark Esper's memoir "A Sacred Oath" while Secretary of Defense under former-president Trump until fired in November 2020. His efforts to upgrade our defense strategies, modernize the military and keep them apolitical are commendable. His commitment to his oath remarkable, all while working in a chaotic political environment at home and abroad.

When appropriate, Esper applauds Trump's good decisions and reveals his own strategies to avoid bad outcomes when they are not. Competing with White House staffers and political appointees just seeking Trump's favor make his accomplishments more impressive. Surrounded by competent DoD staff and military leaders, it shines brightly on our defense members, military and civilian.

In the Aug. 29 Daily Herald Guest View, Frank Splitt portrays part of the Mar-a-Lago problem search the result of a "somewhat cavalier attitude" toward classified documents - true. He also cites other sources saying "the government notoriously over-classifies material" also - maybe true. While these may be contributors, I think Esper's memoir reveals a Trump characteristic that he was not interested in the details only outcomes.

Trump was always concerned about himself or the U.S. looking "weak." I could envision, in his final days in the White House, Trump just throwing everything into a box with no regard to content. Then when confronted with this, he refuses to accept responsibility so as to not look weak.

Joe Celosky

Hoffman Estates