OSS

The Secret History of America's First Central Intelligence Agency

De: Richard Harris Smith

Narrado por: Joe Barrett

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 - America's first intelligence agency and the direct precursor to the CIA. When he charged William ("Wild Bill") 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 US 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 10,000 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.

Colorful personalities and truly priceless anecdotes abound in what may arguably be called the most authoritative work on the subject.

©2005 Richard Harris Smith (P)2019 Tantor

Interesting historical account on the development and management of the OSS, SOE and SIS.

The book covers a lot about the men, women and countries involved in the beginning and running of the OSS, SOE and SIS and their interpersonal relationships to each other.
It’s an interesting historical account on the management, funding, policy and administration side of things.
If you enjoy reading about actually operations and clandestine affairs than there are many other books and biographies out there.

Very through and insightful!

Excellent book very well researched! A must listen for anyone interested in espionage and in how it all began!

Evan's Review

The book wasn't what I expected. I thought the author would go more in the work of oss with operaterations during the WW11 but instead when more in personalities.

A book on political science of WWII

This book is more about the political atmosphere of WW2, and where the individuals of the OSS stood in that atmosphere, than what the OSS actually accomplished.