56 pages • 1 hour read
Kamala HarrisThe Truths We Hold: An American Journey
Nonfiction | Autobiography / Memoir | Adult | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapters 9-10Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 9 Summary: “Smart on Security”
Chapter 9 focuses on national security issues, particularly cybersecurity and climate change. Harris recounts her experiences on the Senate Intelligence Committee and discusses various threats to American security. She explains how the 2016 Russian interference in the US election brought the committee’s work into the spotlight.
Harris details the committee’s findings regarding Russian cyber operations against US election infrastructure. She highlights vulnerabilities in voting systems, including outdated machines and the lack of paper records in some states. To illustrate these risks, Harris describes a demonstration in which a professor easily hacked a voting machine, changing the outcome of a simulated election.
The chapter then moves to broader cybersecurity concerns. Harris discusses potential threats to critical infrastructure, such as power plants and transportation systems. She cites examples of cyberattacks by various state actors, including Russia, Iran, North Korea, and China, as well as non-state criminal organizations. Harris advocates for improved cybersecurity measures, including upgrading technology, investing in innovation, and developing a comprehensive cyber doctrine. She mentions her efforts to introduce legislation to protect US elections from foreign interference.
The narrative then shifts to climate change as a national security threat. Harris recounts questioning CIA director nominee Mike Pompeo about his stance on climate change, emphasizing its importance to national security. She explains how climate change can lead to resource scarcity, mass migration, and increased global instability. Harris discusses water security issues, drawing from her experiences in California and a visit to Israel. She describes the need for better water management and conservation practices in the United States.
The chapter also touches on the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and wildfires, exacerbated by climate change. Harris shares personal anecdotes from visiting disaster-affected areas in Puerto Rico and California. Harris concludes by emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in addressing global threats. She argues for maintaining strong alliances and rejoining the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The chapter ends with Harris recounting her questioning of CIA director nominee Gina Haspel regarding the morality of past interrogation techniques. Harris uses this example to underscore the importance of maintaining American values and moral authority in national security decisions.
Chapter 10 Summary: “What I’ve Learned”
Chapter 10 begins with an anecdote from early in Harris’s legal career. While trying a hit-and-run case, Harris made a self-deprecating joke about her difficulty with directions, which prompted the judge to privately admonish her. The judge told her to figure things out without undermining herself, an experience that stuck with Harris and contributed to her leadership philosophy.
The chapter then outlines several key principles that have guided Harris throughout her career. Harris emphasizes the importance of applying scientific thinking to policymaking, encouraging leaders to formulate hypotheses, test them, and be willing to adjust based on evidence. She stresses the value of firsthand experience and understanding issues on the ground, citing her visit to Mira Loma, California, where she witnessed the effects of pollution on the community. Harris also argues that attention to detail and seemingly minor aspects of policy implementation can often make the difference between success and failure.
Additionally, Harris discusses the power of language in shaping perceptions and policy, citing examples from her work on sexual exploitation cases. She advocates for transparency in decision-making processes, explaining how leaders reach their conclusions. Furthermore, Harris emphasizes the importance of solidarity and allyship across different struggles for equality and justice.
The chapter then recounts Harris’s experience during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Harris describes the testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault, praising Ford’s courage and credibility. She contrasts this with Kavanaugh’s combative demeanor during his testimony. Harris recounts the dramatic moment when two sexual assault survivors confronted Senator Jeff Flake in an elevator, which led to a brief delay in the confirmation process for an FBI investigation. Despite this, Kavanaugh was confirmed, which Harris views as a setback for women’s rights and judicial integrity.
However, Harris finds hope in the broader impact of Dr. Ford’s testimony, which inspired many other survivors to come forward with their stories. She draws parallels to the lasting impact of Anita Hill’s testimony during Clarence Thomas’s confirmation hearings in 1991.
The chapter concludes with Harris’s reflections on mentorship and representation. She shares the story of Venus Johnson, a young Black woman whom Harris mentored from law school through a career in public service. Harris emphasizes the importance of not just being the first to achieve but ensuring that others can follow.
Finally, Harris reiterates her belief in the fundamental goodness of people and the ongoing struggle for progress in America. She calls for a recommitment to patriotism defined as fighting for the ideals of the country, rather than unconditional support. Harris expresses optimism about the future, citing examples of engaged citizens working for change, and challenges readers to be active participants in shaping a better future.
Chapters 9-10 Analysis
The final two chapters of the book, Chapters 9 and 10, are capstone to Harris’s overarching message, emphasizing several key themes that have been woven throughout the text. These chapters delve into Harris’s experiences on the Senate Intelligence Committee, her approach to various policy issues, and her reflections on the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings.
The theme of Compassion in Law Enforcement is prominently featured in these chapters. Harris, drawing from her experience as a prosecutor and Attorney General, advocates for a law enforcement approach that balances accountability with empathy. She recounts her efforts to combat cyber exploitation, emphasizing the importance of language in framing these issues. As Attorney General, she took on cyber exploitation case, insisting that her team use the term “cyber exploitation” rather than “revenge porn,” stating, “It wasn’t revenge, nor was it pornography. The victims had never intended for the images to be publicly displayed. It was internet-based extortion, plain and simple” (264). This careful consideration of terminology demonstrates Harris’s belief that language shapes perception and policy, and that law enforcement can be both tough on crime and compassionate toward survivors.
Another significant theme is The Pragmatic Pursuit of Idealistic Goals. Throughout these chapters, Harris presents herself as someone willing to tackle complex issues with a combination of idealistic goals and practical solutions. She discusses her approach to climate change, cybersecurity, and water security, emphasizing the need for detailed, data-driven policies. Harris introduces her mantra of “show the math,” explaining, “When we force ourselves to lay out our assumptions, we often find that there are certain parts of our arguments that assume things they shouldn’t. So we go back and revisit them. We revise them. We dive deeper” (265). This approach exemplifies her belief that effective leadership requires not just grand visions but also thorough, well-reasoned plans. She applies this principle to various issues, including her work on the Senate Intelligence Committee, where she stresses the importance of understanding complex cybersecurity threats in detail.
The theme of Changing the System From Within is also prominent in these final chapters. Harris describes her experiences on the Senate Intelligence Committee and her role in the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. She portrays herself as someone willing to work within existing institutions to effect change, even when faced with significant opposition. This theme is particularly evident in her discussion of the Kavanaugh hearings, where she emphasizes the importance of speaking truth to power, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. Harris recounts her questioning of Kavanaugh, detailing how she pressed him for answers, even as he tried to evade her efforts. This anecdote illustrates Harris’s commitment to using her position within the system to challenge what she perceives as injustice or dishonesty.
In these final chapters, Harris alternates between personal anecdotes and broader policy discussions, using her experiences to illustrate larger points about governance and leadership. For example, she begins Chapter 9 with a description of her work on the Senate Intelligence Committee, then transitions into a broader discussion of cybersecurity threats and policy responses. This approach humanizes complex policy issues and demonstrate how abstract principles can have concrete impacts on individuals’ lives.
Harris makes several significant allusions and references throughout these chapters. She cites historical figures such as Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King Jr., drawing parallels between their struggles and contemporary social justice movements. For instance, she quotes a telegram King sent to Chavez: “[I]n urban slums, in the sweatshops, of the factories and fields. Our separate struggles are really one—a struggle for freedom, for dignity, and for humanity” (267). These references place her work within a broader historical context of civil rights advocacy and to emphasize the interconnectedness of various social justice movements.
The analytical framework employed by Harris in these chapters is primarily that of a pragmatic problem-solver. She consistently emphasizes the importance of understanding complex issues in detail, gathering data, and developing practical solutions. This approach is evident in her discussions of cybersecurity, climate change, and water security. This multi-faceted approach demonstrates her commitment to comprehensive, evidence-based policymaking.
