The devil's chessboard : Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the rise of America's secret government

The double agent -- Human smoke -- Ghosts of Nuremberg -- Sunrise -- Ratlines -- Useful people -- Little mice -- Scoundrel time -- The power elite -- The Dulles imperium -- Strange love -- Brain warfare -- Dangerous ideas -- The torch is passed -- Contempt -- Rome on the Potomac -- The parting glass -- The big event -- The fingerprints of intelligence -- For the good of the country -- "I can't look and won't look" -- End game -- Epilogue;An explosive, headline-making portrait of Allen Dulles, the man who transformed the CIA into the most powerful and secretive colossus in Washington, from the founder of Salon.com and author of the New York Times bestseller Brothers. America's greatest untold story: the United States' rise to world dominance under the guile of Allen Welsh Dulles, the longest-serving director of the CIA. Drawing on revelatory new materials, including newly discovered U.S. government documents, U.S. and European intelligence sources, the personal correspondence and journals of Allen Dulles's wife and mistress, and exclusive interviews with the children of prominent CIA officials, Talbot reveals the underside of one of America's most powerful and influential figures. Dulles's decade as the director of the CIA which he used to further his public and private agendas were dark times in American politics. Calling himself "the secretary of state of unfriendly countries," Dulles saw himself as above the elected law, manipulating and subverting American presidents in the pursuit of his personal interests and those of the wealthy elite he counted as his friends and clients colluding with Nazi-controlled cartels, German war criminals, and Mafiosi in the process. Targeting foreign leaders for assassination and overthrowing nationalist governments not in line with his political aims, Dulles employed those same tactics to further his goals at home, Talbot charges, offering shocking new evidence in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. An expose of American power that is as disturbing as it is timely, The Devil's Chessboard is a provocative and gripping story of the rise of the national security state and the battle for America's soul." An Explosive, Headline-making Portrait Of Allen Dulles, The Man Who Transformed The Cia Into The Most Powerful And Secretive Colossus In Washington, From The Founder Of Salon.com And Author Of The New York Times Bestseller Brothers. America's Greatest Untold Story: The United States' Rise To World Dominance Under The Guile Of Allen Welsh Dulles, The Longest-serving Director Of The Cia. Drawing On Revelatory New Materials, Including Newly Discovered U.s. Government Documents, U.s. And European Intelligence Sources, The Personal Correspondence And Journals Of Allen Dulles's Wife And Mistress, And Exclusive Interviews With The Children Of Prominent Cia Officials, Talbot Reveals The Underside Of One Of America's Most Powerful And Influential Figures. Dulles's Decade As The Director Of The Cia Which He Used To Further His Public And Private Agendas Were Dark Times In American Politics. Calling Himself The Secretary Of State Of Unfriendly Countries, Dulles Saw Himself As Above The Elected Law, Manipulating And Subverting American Presidents In The Pursuit Of His Personal Interests And Those Of The Wealthy Elite He Counted As His Friends And Clients Colluding With Nazi-controlled Cartels, German War Criminals, And Mafiosi In The Process. Targeting Foreign Leaders For Assassination And Overthrowing Nationalist Governments Not In Line With His Political Aims, Dulles Employed Those Same Tactics To Further His Goals At Home, Talbot Charges, Offering Shocking New Evidence In The Assassination Of President John F. Kennedy. An Expose Of American Power That Is As Disturbing As It Is Timely, The Devil's Chessboard Is A Provocative And Gripping Story Of The Rise Of The National Security State And The Battle For America's Soul.--provided By Publisher. The Double Agent -- Human Smoke -- Ghosts Of Nuremberg -- Sunrise -- Ratlines -- Useful People -- Little Mice -- Scoundrel Time -- The Power Elite -- The Dulles Imperium -- Strange Love -- Brain Warfare -- Dangerous Ideas -- The Torch Is Passed -- Contempt -- Rome On The Potomac -- The Parting Glass -- The Big Event -- The Fingerprints -- For The Good Of The Country -- I Can't Look And Won't Look -- End Game -- Epilogue. David Talbot. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [621]-661) And Index. "An explosive, headline-making portrait of Allen Dulles, the man who transformed the CIA into the most powerful and secretive colossus in Washington, from the founder of Salon.com and author of the New York Times bestseller Brothers. America's greatest untold story: the United States' rise to world dominance under the guile of Allen Welsh Dulles, the longest-serving director of the CIA. Drawing on revelatory new materials, including newly discovered U.S. government documents, U.S. and European intelligence sources, the personal correspondence and journals of Allen Dulles's wife and mistress, and exclusive interviews with the children of prominent CIA officials, Talbot reveals the underside of one of America's most powerful and influential figures. Dulles's decade as the director of the CIA which he used to further his public and private agendas were dark times in American politics. Calling himself "the secretary of state of unfriendly countries," Dulles saw himself as above the elected law, manipulating and subverting American presidents in the pursuit of his personal interests and those of the wealthy elite he counted as his friends and clients colluding with Nazi-controlled cartels, German war criminals, and Mafiosi in the process. Targeting foreign leaders for assassination and overthrowing nationalist governments not in line with his political aims, Dulles employed those same tactics to further his goals at home, Talbot charges, offering shocking new evidence in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. An expose of American power that is as disturbing as it is timely, The Devil's Chessboard is a provocative and gripping story of the rise of the national security state and the battle for America's soul."-- Provided by publisher An explosive, headline-making portrait of Allen Dulles, the man who transformed the CIA into the most powerful—and secretive—colossus in Washington, from the founder of Salon.com and author of the New York Times bestseller Brothers. America’s greatest untold story: the United States’ rise to world dominance under the guile of Allen Welsh Dulles, the longest-serving director of the CIA. Drawing on revelatory new materials—including newly discovered U.S. government documents, U.S. and European intelligence sources, the personal correspondence and journals of Allen Dulles’s wife and mistress, and exclusive interviews with the children of prominent CIA officials—Talbot reveals the underside of one of America’s most powerful and influential figures. Dulles’s decade as the director of the CIA—which he used to further his public and private agendas—were dark times in American politics. Calling himself “the secretary of state of unfriendly countries,” Dulles saw himself as above the elected law, manipulating and subverting American presidents in the pursuit of his personal interests and those of the wealthy elite he counted as his friends and clients—colluding with Nazi-controlled cartels, German war criminals, and Mafiosi in the process. Targeting foreign leaders for assassination and overthrowing nationalist governments not in line with his political aims, Dulles employed those same tactics to further his goals at home, Talbot charges, offering shocking new evidence in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. An exposé of American power that is as disturbing as it is timely, The Devil’s Chessboard is a provocative and gripping story of the rise of the national security state—and the battle for America’s soul. An explosive, headline-making portrait of Allen Dulles, the man who transformed the CIA into the most powerful and secretive colossus in Washington, from the founder of Salon.com and author of the New York Times bestseller Brothers. America's greatest untold story: the United States' rise to world dominance under the guile of Allen Welsh Dulles, the longest-serving director of the CIA. Drawing on revelatory new materials 4including newly discovered U.S. government documents, U.S. and European intelligence sources, the personal correspondence and journals of Allen Dulles's wife and mistress, and exclusive interviews with the children of prominent CIA officials Talbot reveals the underside of one of America's most powerful and influential figures. Dulles's decade as the director of the CIA which he used to further his public and private agendas were dark times in American politics. Calling himself "the secretary of state of unfriendly countries," Dulles saw himself as above the elected law, manipulating and subverting American presidents in the pursuit of his personal interests and those of the wealthy elite he counted as his friends and clients colluding with Nazi-controlled cartels, German war criminals, and Mafiosi in the process. Targeting foreign leaders for assassination and overthrowing nationalist governments not in line with his political aims, Dulles employed those same tactics to further his goals at home, Talbot charges, offering shocking new evidence in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. An expose of American power that is as disturbing as it is timely, The Devil's Chessboard is a provocative and gripping story of the rise of the national security state and the battle for America's soul From the founder of Salon and the author of the New York Times bestseller Brothers, an explosive, headline-making portrait of Allen Dulles, the man who transformed the CIA into the most powerful?and secretive?colossus in Washington America's greatest untold story: the United States' rise to world dominance under the guile of Allen Welsh Dulles, the longest-serving director of the CIA. Drawing on revelatory new materials?including recently discovered U.S. government documents, U.S. and European intelligence sources, the personal correspondence and journals of Allen Dulles's wife and mistress, and exclusive interviews with the children of prominent CIA officials?David Talbot reveals the underside of one of America's most towering and influential figures. Dulles's decade as the director of the CIA was a dark period in American politics. The spymaster saw himself as above the nation's laws and elected leaders, manipulating and subverting American presidents in the pursuit of his personal interests and those of the wealthy elite he counted as his friends and clients?colluding with Nazi war criminals and Mafiosi in the process. Talbot charges that Dulles utilized the same ruthless tactics he employed abroad?targeting foreign leaders for assassination and overthrowing nationalist governments not in line with his political aims?to further his goals at home, and offers shocking new evidence regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. An expos? of American power that is as disturbing as it is timely, The Devil's Chessboard is a provocative and gripping story of the rise of the national security state?and the battle for America's soul Dedication Epigraph Acknowledgments Prologue Part I 1 The Double Agent 2 Human Smoke 3 Ghosts of Nuremberg 4 Sunrise 5 Ratlines Part II 6 Useful People 7 Little Mice 8 Scoundrel Time 9 The Power Elite 10 The Dulles Imperium 11 Strange Love 12 Brain Warfare 13 Dangerous Ideas 14 The Torch Is Passed Part III 15 Contempt 16 Rome on the Potomac 17 The Parting Glass 18 The Big Event 19 The Fingerprints of Intelligence 20 For the Good of the Country 21 “I Can’t Look and Won’t Look” 22 End Game Epilogue Notes Index Photo Sections About the Author Also by David Talbot Credits Copyright About the Publisher