OSS. The Secret History of America's First Central Intelligence Agency
Language: English
Published by University of California Press, Berkeley, 1972
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Alkahest Books, Deerfield, IL, U.S.A.Alkahest Books
AbeBooks seller since April 26, 2001
Condition: Used - Fine
US$ 15.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Large octavo, dark green cloth covers with gilt pine titles. Includes black and white illustrations, notes, bibliography, index. xii [2] 458 pages. Book is in fine condition; dust jacket has a couple of small closed tears, still very good. " A fascinating historical reconstruction of the OSS story. Mr. Smith's lively and objective account brings to life the mixture of intelligence, bravery, creativity, confusion, corruption, monarchism, communism and sheer zaniness in Wild Bill Donovan's circus." --Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. Espionage, Counterintelligence, Spies, Spying, CIA. 060299B.
Seller Inventory # 000021189
- Title
- OSS. The Secret History of America's First Central Intelligence Agency
- Author
- Smith, E. Harris
- Publisher
- University of California Press, Berkeley
- Publication year
- 1972
- Condition
- Fine
- Dust jacket
- very good
- Binding
- hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0520020235
- ISBN 13
- 9780520020238
- Edition
- first edition.
- Seller catalogs
- Spies
--Washington Post Book World
In the months before World War II, FDR prepared the country for conflict with Germany and Japan by reshuffling various government agencies to create the Office of Strategic Services--Americaâ s first intelligence agency and the direct precursor to the CIA. When he charged William (â Wild Billâ ) Donovan, a successful Wall Street lawyer and Wilkie Republican, to head up the office, the die was set for some of the most fantastic and fascinating operations the U.S. government has ever conducted. Author Richard Harris Smith, himself an ex-CIA hand, documents the controversial agency from its conception as a spin-off of the Office of the Coordinator for Information to its demise under Harry Truman and reconfiguration as the CIA.
During his tenure, Donovan oversaw a chaotic cast of some ten thousand agents drawn from the most conservative financial scions to the countryâ s most idealistic New Deal true believers. Together they usurped the roles of government agencies both foreign and domestic, concocted unbelievably complicated conspiracies, and fought the good fight against the Axis powers of Germany and Japan. For example, when OSS operatives stole vital military codebooks from the Japanese embassy in Portugal, the operation was considered a success. But the success turned into a flop as the Japanese discovered what had happened, and hastily
changed a code that had already been decrypted by the U.S. Navy.
Colorful personalities and truly priceless anecdotes abound in what may
arguably be called the most authoritative work on the subject.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
From the Back Cover
During his tenure, Donovan oversaw a chaotic cast of some ten thousand agents drawn from the most conservative financial scions to the country's most idealistic New Deal true believers. Together they usurped the roles of government agencies both foreign and domestic, concocted unbelievably complicated conspiracies, and fought the good fight against the Axis powers of Germany and Japan. For example, when OSS operatives stole vital military codebooks from the Japanese embassy in Portugal, the operation was considered a success. But the success turned into a flop as the Japanese discovered what had happened, and hastily changed a code that had already been decrypted by the U.S. Navy.
Colorful personalities and truly priceless anecdotes abound in what may arguably be called the most authoritative work on the subject.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Alkahest Books
Deerfield, IL, U.S.A.
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Established in 1984, Alkahest Bookshop took over the space and stock of the Atheneum Bookstore on Central St. in Evanston, IL. For many years we were a partner in Chicago Rare Book Center, which closed in 2017. We are now on-line, and have a select general stock, with large sections on U.S. history, art, and literature. We are members of the Midwest Antiquarian Booksellers Association (MWABA) and IOBA.
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Alkahest Books
IL, U.S.A.
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