Cass R. Sunstein, Columnist

'Union' Is Crucial Word in Mattis's Trump Denunciation

The former general reminds us what helped ignite the Civil War.

June 4, 2020 at 3:19 PM UTC

Cass R. Sunstein is a former Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is the author of “The Cost-Benefit Revolution” and a co-author of “Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness.”

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Photographer: Win McNamee/Getty Images North America

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What pushed former Defense Secretary James Mattis over the edge, to denounce President Donald Trump, in the strongest possible terms?

Only the former general knows for sure, but a clue is provided by the title of his statement: “In Union There Is Strength.”