Here, Right Matters: An American Story

Alexander Vindman

Aug 2021 · HarperCollins

About this ebook

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, who found himself at the center of a firestorm for his decision to report the infamous phone call that led to presidential impeachment, tells his own story for the first time. Here, Right Matters is a stirring account of Vindman's childhood as an immigrant growing up in New York City, his career in service of his new home on the battlefield and at the White House, and the decisions leading up to, and fallout surrounding, his exposure of President Trump's abuse of power.

 0900, Thursday, July 25, 2019: President Trump called Ukraine’s President Zelensky, supposedly to congratulate him on his recent victory. In the months that followed, the American public would only learn what happened on that call because Alexander Vindman felt duty-bound to report it up the chain of command: that the President of the United States had extorted a foreign ally to damage a political challenger at home. Vindman’s actions and subsequent testimony before congress would lead to Trump’s impeachment and affirm Vindman's belief that he had done the right thing in the face of intense pressure to stay silent. But it would come at an enormous cost, straining relationships with colleagues, superiors, and even his own father, and eventually end his decorated career in the US Army, by a Trump administration intent on retribution. 

Here, Right Matters is Vindman’s proud, passionate, and candid account of his family, his career, and the moment of truth he faced for his nation. As an immigrant, raised by a father who fled the Soviet Union in pursuit of a better life for his children, Vindman learned about respect for truth throughout his education and military service. As this memoir makes clear, his decision to speak up about the July 25th call was never a choice: it was Vindman’s duty, as a naturalized citizen and member of the armed forces. In the wake of his testimony, he would endure furious partisan attacks on his record and his loyalty. But far louder was the extraordinary chorus of support from citizens who were collectively intent on reaffirming an abiding American commitment to integrity.  

In the face of a sure-fire career derailment and public excoriation, Vindman heeded the lessons from the people and institutions who instilled in him the moral compass and the courage to act decisively. Like so many other American immigrant families, the Vindmans had to learn to build a life from scratch and take big risks to achieve important goals. Here, Right Matters is about the quiet heroes who keep us safe; but, above all, it is a call to arms for those who refuse to let America betray its true self.

Ratings and reviews

I will not demean the mans history nor the honor of his service,but his,others actions only resulted to be a heartfelt hug me moment for the blue masses. Politicians,media,old hippies will stoke the fire(lying)so to keep you yelling at clouds. As a number of you sky screamers make a stance in defiance,show disdain of what you didn't understand nor bothered to, millions of people now voice regret of ther stance,vote against "Orange". Even tho they don't "like" him they realize what they did and what he did as a whole. It's sad that people are influenced by and base choices off their feelings and not by objective facts and deductive reasoning. Politicians lie to us about Orange,calling him fascist, authoritarian,racist,Russian puppet,dictator,even tho facts show that is a lie. As the courts then subverted all 61cases so to never allow for evidence to be presented they sit idle while you flakes of snow declare victory for Biden and deny the"Lies"of the election. GBA 0601021 Proverbs 22:8

I didn't know reviews were based on politics. The aforementioned reviewer I'm sure didn't read the book. He only used his right wing opinion as ordered by the Orange One. It was a great book about a courageous human being who risked everything to tell what this country has always been based on...The Truth And Nothing But The Truth. I enjoyed reading about his younger years also.

A patriot exposes a sociopathic, country destroying conman.

About the author

Lieutenant Colonel Alexander S. Vindman (Ret. ) was most recently the director for European Affairs on the White House's National Security Council. Prior to retiring from the U.S. Army, he served as a foreign area officer with assignments in U.S. Embassies in Kyiv, Ukraine and Moscow, Russia and for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a Political-Military Affairs Officer. He is currently a doctoral student and Foreign Policy Institute Fellow at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a Pritzker Military Fellow at the Lawfare Institute, a board member of the Renew Democracy Initiative nonprofit, and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Perry World House.