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Secret Empire
Eisenhower, the Cia, and the Hidden Story of America's Space Espionage
by Philip Taubman
ISBN: 0684856999
ISBN-13: 9780684856995
Format: Hardcover
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Summary
In this Cold War history, a Washington-based journalist tells of the great advances in intelligence gathering under Eisenhower and the CIA, which included high-altitude, long-range aircraft (such as the U-2) as well as the first spy satellites. These new space-based technologies revolutionized U.S. intelligence gathering and played a significant behind-the-scenes role in the relationships between the two superpowers. In an epilogue, Taubman connects the creative thrust of the Cold War era with the challenges that have arisen following the events of 9/11. A New York Times Notable Book for 2003.
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"Taubman tells this story with effervescent admiration for the heroic inventors and a fine eye for revealing anecdotes." -- Alex Roland
-- New York Times Book Review
Bibliographic Details
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published date: 2003
Size: 6.5 x 9.75 inches
Weight: 1.65 pounds
Pages: 448
Publisher's Notes
During the early and most dangerous years of the cold war, a handful of Americans, led by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, revolutionized spying and warfare. In great secrecy and beyond the prying eyes of Congress and the press, they built exotic new machines that opened up the Soviet Union to surveillance and protected the United States from surprise nuclear attack. Secret Empire is the dramatic story of these men and their inventions, told in full for the first time. In a brief period of explosive, top-secret innovation during the 1950s, a small group of scientists, engineers, businessmen, and government officials rewrote the book on airplane design and led the nation into outer space. In an effort no less audacious than the creation of the atomic bomb, they designed, built, and operated the U-2 and supersonic SR-71 spy planes and Corona, the first reconnaissance satellites -- machines that could collect more information about the Soviet Union's weapons in a day than an army of spies could assemble in a decade. Their remarkable inventions and daring missions made possible arms control agreements with Moscow that helped keep the peace during the cold war, as well as the space-based reconnaissance, mapping, communications, and targeting systems used by America's armed forces in the Gulf War and most recently in Afghanistan. These hugely expensive machines also led to the neglect of more traditional means of intelligence gathering through human spies. Veteran New York Times reporter and editor Philip Taubman interviewed dozens of participants and mined thousands of previously classified documents to tell this hidden, far-reaching story. He reconstructs the crucial meetings, conversations, and decisions that inspired and guided the development of the spy plane and satellite projects during one of the most perilous periods in our history, a time when, as Eisenhower said, the world seemed to be "racing toward catastrophe." Taubman follows this dramatic story from the White House to the CIA, from the Pentagon to Lockheed's Skunk Works in Burbank, from the secret U-2 test base in Nevada to the secret satellite assembly center in Palo Alto and other locations here and abroad. He reveals new information about the origins and evolution of the projects and how close they came to failing technically or falling victim to bureaucratic inertia and Washington's turf wars. The incredibly sophisticated spies in the skies were remarkably successful in proving that the missile gap was a myth in protecting us from surprise Soviet attack. But in some ways, the failure to detect the planning for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, can also be attributed to these powerful machines as the government became increasingly dependent on spy satellites to the neglect of human agents and informants. Now, as we wage a new and more vicious war against terrorism, we will need both machines in space and spies on the ground to fight back.
Other Editions
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Secret Empire
Taubman, Philip
Simon & Schuster, 2003-03-01. Hardcover. New. GREAT Bargain Book Deal - some may have small remainder mark - Ships out by NEXT Business Day - 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! ( more information) Offered by BookCloseouts.com (Canada)
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Secret Empire: Eisenhower, the CIA, and the Hidden Story of America's Space Espionage
Taubman, Philip
Simon and Schuster, New York, 2003. VG/VG like new, clean, tight binding. White boards with 1/4 blue spine and gilt lettering, first printing hardcover.. 441 + xx pp incl contents, preface, cast of characters, notes, bibliography, acknowledgements, and an index + 8 pp of B&W photos. ( more information) Offered by Welly's Books (United States)
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9)
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SECRET EMPIRE Eisenhower, the CIA, and the Hidden Story of America's Space Espionage
Philip Taubman
Simon & Schuster, 2003. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Fine/Fine. During the early and most dangerous years of the cold war, a handful of Americans, led by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, revolutionized spying and warfare. In great secrecy and beyond the prying eyes of Congress and the press, they built exotic new machines that opened up the Soviet Union to surveillance and protected the United States from surprise nuclear attack. Secret Empire is the dramatic story of these men and their inventions, told in full for the first time. In a brief period of explosive, top-secret innovation during the 1950s, a small group of scientists, engineers, businessmen, and government officials rewrote the book on airplane design and led the nation into outer space. In an effort no less audacious than the creation of the atomic bomb, they designed, built, and operated the U-2 and supersonic SR-71 spy planes and Corona, the first reconnaissance satellites -- machines that could collect more information about the Soviet Union's weapons in a day than an army of spies could assemble in a decade. Their remarkable inventions and daring missions made possible arms control agreements with Moscow that helped keep the peace during the cold war, as well as the space-based reconnaissance, mapping, communications, and targeting systems used by America's armed forces in the Gulf War and most recently in Afghanistan. These hugely expensive machines also led to the neglect of more traditional means of intelligence gathering through human spies. Veteran New York Times reporter and editor Philip Taubman interviewed dozens of participants and mined thousands of previously classified documents to tell this hidden, far-reaching story. He reconstructs the crucial meetings, conversations, and decisions that inspired and guided the development of the spy plane and satellite projects during one of the most perilous periods in our history, a time when, as Eisenhower said, the world seemed to be "racing toward catastrophe. " Taubman follows this dramatic story from the White House to the CIA, from the Pentagon to Lockheed's Skunk Works in Burbank, from the secret U-2 test base in Nevada to the secret satellite assembly center in Palo Alto and other locations here and abroad. He reveals new information about the origins and evolution of the projects and how close they came to failing technically or falling victim to bureaucratic inertia and Washington's turf wars. The incredibly sophisticated spies in the skies were remarkably successful in proving that the missile gap was a myth in protecting us from surprise Soviet attack. But in some ways, the failure to detect the planning for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, can also be attributed to these powerful machines as the government became increasingly dependent on spy satellites to the neglect of human agents and informants. Now, as we wage a new and more vicious war against terrorism, we will need both machines in space and spies on the ground to fight back.; Dust jacket shows just a touch of wear, otherwise as new. The book has not been read. ( more information) Offered by Extraordinary Books LLC (United States)
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16)
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Secret Empire: Eisenhower, the Cia, and the Hidden Story of America's Space Espionage
Taubman, Philip
NY: Simon & Schuster, 2003. Story of the handful of Americans, led by President Dwight Eisenhower, who revolutionized spying and warfare, protecting the U.S. from surprise nuclear attack--told in full for the first time. Red covers and text crisp and unmarked; unclipped dustjacket has minor shelf wear; may have small remainder mark on bottom page edges; 441 pp.. Hard Cover. As New/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. ( more information) Offered by Cadron Books (United States)
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18)
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Secret Empire: Eisenhower, the CIA, and the Hidden Story of America's Space Espionage
Taubman, Philip
New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003 xx, 441 pp., [8] pp. of plates, illus., biblio., index; 25 cm. AS NEW. Dust jacket protected in a mylar book cover. "During the early and most dangerous years of the cold war, a handful of Americans, led by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, revolutionized spying and warfare. In great secrecy and beyond the prying eyes of Congress and the press, they built exotic new machines that opened up the Soviet Union to surveillance and protected the United States from surprise nuclear attack. Secret Empire is the dramatic story of these men and their inventions, told in full for the first time. In a brief period of explosive, top-secret innovation during the 1950s, a small group of scientists, engineers, businessmen, and government officials rewrote the book on airplane design and led the nation into outer space. In an effort no less audacious than the creation of the atomic bomb, they designed, built, and operated the U-2 and supersonic SR-71 spy planes and Corona, the first reconnaissance satellites -- machines that could collect more information about the Soviet Union's weapons in a day than an army of spies could assemble in a decade. Their remarkable inventions and daring missions made possible arms control agreements with Moscow that helped keep the peace during the cold war, as well as the space-based reconnaissance, mapping, communications, and targeting systems used by America's armed forces in the Gulf War and most recently in Afghanistan. These hugely expensive machines also led to the neglect of more traditional means of intelligence gathering through human spies. Veteran New York Times reporter and editor Philip Taubman interviewed dozens of participants and mined thousands of previously classified documents to tell this hidden, far-reaching story. He reconstructs the crucial meetings, conversations, and decisions that inspired and guided the development of the spy plane and satellite projects during one of the most perilous periods in our history, a time when, as Eisenhower said, the world seemed to be 'racing toward catastrophe.' Taubman follows this dramatic story from the White House to the CIA, from the Pentagon to Lockheed's Skunk Works in Burbank, from the secret U-2 test base in Nevada to the secret satellite assembly center in Palo Alto and other locations here and abroad. He reveals new information about the origins and evolution of the projects and how close they came to failing technically or falling victim to bureaucratic inertia and Washington's turf wars. The incredibly sophisticated spies in the skies were remarkably successful in proving that the missile gap was a myth in protecting us from surprise Soviet attack. But in some ways, the failure to detect the planning for the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, can also be attributed to these powerful machines as the government became increasingly dependent on spy satellites to the neglect of human agents and informants. Now, as we wage a new and more vicious war against terrorism, we will need both machines in space and spies on the ground to fight back. / Philip Taubman, deputy editorial page editor of the New York Times, has reported on national security and intelligence issues for more than twenty years. The recipient of two Polk awards, he was the Times's Moscow bureau chief in the late 1980s and directed the Washington bureau's coverage of the Persian Gulf War. He lives in New York City." - Publisher.. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. ( more information) Offered by Left Coast Books (United States)
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19)
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Secret Emprie: Eisenhower, the C.I.a. and the Hidden Story of America's Space Espionage
Taubman, Philip
NY: Simon & Schuster, 2003. Fine in Fine jacket Blue cloth at spine to cream boards. Tight, clean pages with no marks. B/W photo section. Book and unclipped DJ as new except for light bump and soiling to back cover near spine. A look at history and how it relates to the post-9/11 war on terrorism.. ISBN: 0684856999. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine. U.S. HISTORY; CIA; SPACE SURVEILLANCE. ( more information) Offered by Books Left Behind (United States)
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20)
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SECRET EMPIRE: Eisenhower, the CIA, and the Hidden Story of America's Space Espionage
Taubman, Philip
Riverside, New Jersey, U.S.A.: Simon & Schuster, 2003. Fine, in fine, mylar-protected dust jacket.. ISBN: 0684856999. First Edition, First Printing. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. COLD WAR UNITED STATES CENTRAL. ( more information) Offered by Joe Staats, Bookseller (United States)
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21)
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Secret Empire : Eisenhower, the CIA, and the Hidden Story of America's Space Espionage
Taubman, Philip
New York, NY, U.S.A.: Simon & Schuster, 2003. 441pp/photos. Traces the efforts of Cold War scientists to revolutionize American airplane designs- spying capabilities- and defense technologies- citing how their inventions made possible the systems and processes of current military campaigns. . First Edition. Cloth. Near Fine/Near Fine. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. ( more information) Offered by DBookmahn's Used and Rare Military Books (United States)
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