"Interviews and addresses given by a distinguished group of Americans make up this anthology drawn from the pages of Naval History and Proceedings magazines. The book focuses on "makers," encompassing those who have participated in historic events as well as those reporters, writers, and filmmakers who have helped us to understand history.".

"In one volume, we hear from explorers of the ocean depths - Robert Ballard, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and Don Walsh; from explorers in space - Jim Lovell and Bill Readdy; and from a Medal of Honor recipient - John Bulkeley. We reach deeply into the memories of veterans who have gone on to high-profile civilian careers - Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Ben Bradlee, James Webb, Ernest Borgnine, Herman Wouk, Gene Hackman; and even a Japanese kamikaze pilot, Kaoru Hasegawa.

We discover how important naval history is to some of our greatest historians - David McCullough, Shelby Foote, and Ken Burns - and best-known journalists - Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, Art Buchwald, Robert Timberg, and Tom Ricks. And we are invited into the inner sanctum of military policy to the offices of Secretaries of Defense Dick Cheney and Caspar Weinberger, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff William Crowe.

History Makers strongly connects naval and maritime affairs with some of today's biggest names in their respective fields."--BOOK JACKET.