I hate how Generations portrayed Harriman. He was obviously good enough to make Captain and go on to command the Enterprise-B, not something they would just give to anyone, but they had to make him look like a dolt in order for Kirk to come off as more "heroic". The only things he may have been guilty of was being caught short, carrying out a rescue mission they were in no shape to handle, whilst all his moves were being caught on camera (who knows how many of them were live broadcasts) for all the galaxy to see--that would weigh on anyone.