In the days following the September 11, 2001, attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., public trust and confidence in the federal government soared, despite a catastrophic failure to detect and deflect the terrorist attacks. That Americans trust in the federal government in times of need is no suprise but, at least since the early 1970s, most Americans claimed not to trust the federal government most of the time--until recently. In The Generation of Trust, David C. King and Zachary Karabell show that the rally-around-the-flag effect we have seen since September 11 is part of a longer trend partly driven by a new generation of Americans, largely Generation X (born 1961 through 1975) and Millenials (born after 1975). The authors look at why members of this new generation trust the government and especially the U.S. military more deeply than their Baby Boomer parents ever have done.

Relying upon extensive polling data, The Generation of Trust explores the "generation" of trust in the military that has taken place since the end of the Vietnam War. King and Karabell focus on the performance and professionalism of the U.S. military largely since the end of the draft and the beginning of the all-volunteer force in 1974. In addition, they consider the careful use of advertising, movies, and the news to portray the military's improved performance and professionalism in the best light.

The Generation of Trust is an important and illuminating study of how the military gained and sustained the public trust and also how other institutions can emulate the success of the military in improving their images.

David C. King is associate professor of public policy at Harvard University. Zachary Karabell holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University.