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The Ghost: The Secret Life of CIA Spymaster James Jesus Angleton Hardcover – October 24, 2017

by Jefferson Morley (Author)

33 customer reviews

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"The best book ever written about the strangest CIA chief who ever lived." - Tim Weiner, National Book Award-winning author of Legacy of Ashes

A revelatory new biography of the sinister, powerful, and paranoid man at the heart of the CIA for more than three tumultuous decades.

CIA spymaster James Jesus Angleton was one of the most powerful unelected officials in the United States government in the mid-20th century, a ghost of American power. From World War II to the Cold War, Angleton operated beyond the view of the public, Congress, and even the president. He unwittingly shared intelligence secrets with Soviet spy Kim Philby, a member of the notorious Cambridge spy ring. He launched mass surveillance by opening the mail of hundreds of thousands of Americans. He abetted a scheme to aid Israel’s own nuclear efforts, disregarding U.S. security. He committed perjury and obstructed the JFK assassination investigation. He oversaw a massive spying operation on the antiwar and black nationalist movements and he initiated an obsessive search for communist moles that nearly destroyed the Agency.

In The Ghost, investigative reporter Jefferson Morley tells Angleton’s dramatic story, from his friendship with the poet Ezra Pound through the underground gay milieu of mid-century Washington to the Kennedy assassination to the Watergate scandal. From the agency’s MKULTRA mind-control experiments to the wars of the Mideast, Angleton wielded far more power than anyone knew. Yet during his seemingly lawless reign in the CIA, he also proved himself to be a formidable adversary to our nation’s enemies, acquiring a mythic stature within the CIA that continues to this day.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“The best book ever written about the strangest CIA chief who ever lived. No screenwriter or novelist could conjure a character like Angleton, but Morley's stellar reporting and superb writing animate every page of this work. It's essential history and highly entertaining biography.” --Tim Weiner, National Book Award–winning author of Legacy of Ashes

“The Ghost is the compulsively readable, often bizarre true-life story of American spymaster James Jesus Angleton. Capturing the extent of Angleton’s eccentricity, duplicity and alcohol-fueled paranoia would have challenged the writing skills of a Le Carre or Ludlum, and Jeff Morley has done it with flair.” - Philip Shenon, author of A Cruel and Shocking Act

"James Angleton's real life is the most intriguing, moving, and at times shocking spy story in American history. In The Ghost, Jeff Morley has captured the man in all his brilliant and sometimes delusional eccentricity. Angleton is woven through many of the strangest episodes of the 1950s and 60s--including the Kennedy assassination--in what was invisible thread, until Morley's book. A 'must read' for anyone who wants to understand just how strange and secretive the CIA was at the height of the Cold War." --David Ignatius, columnist for The Washington Post and author of The Director

“Americans are finally coming to know the Cold War spymasters and other hidden figures who lived their lives in secrecy while shaping our national destiny. The Ghost reveals a fascinating chapter of this hidden history. It is a chilling look at the global power that is wielded in Washington by people who are never known―until a book comes out to spill their secrets.” –Stephen Kinzer, author of The Brothers

“Anyone interested in the CIA should not fail to read The Ghost. I encountered James Angleton time and again, not only in the course of research but, one memorable evening, literally. I say ‘memorable,’ but only because―amongst hundreds of interviews I have conducted―he indeed came over as a phantom, seemingly cooperative yet always inscrutable. Nobody has focused on him, mined what can be mined, as Jefferson Morley has now done. Essential reading for anyone intrigued by the vital mysteries of U.S. intelligence at a pivotal time in our history.” –Anthony Summers, Pulitzer Prize finalist for The Eleventh Day

“[Morley] does a fine job of filleting out [Angleton’s] talents and charisma from the dark deeds he committed…Morley adeptly builds a picture of a spymaster weaving a web in which his concept of duty gradually eroded his moral sense.” - Ben Macintyre, The Times of London

“A page-turning biography of an eccentric spy hunter...In Angleton, [Morley] has a character beyond the imagination of John LeCarré, perhaps even of Patricia Highsmith.” - StarTribune

"Scintillating... [the book] delves into an important and rarely visited terrain." - Mondoweiss

"Essential reading for anyone interested in how our intelligence network operated during the Cold War." - LewRockwell.com

About the Author

JEFFERSON MORLEY is a journalist and editor who has worked in Washington journalism for over thirty years, fifteen of which were spent as an editor and reporter at The Washington Post. The author of Our Man in Mexico, a biography of the CIA’s Mexico City station chief Winston Scott, Morley has written about intelligence, military, and political subjects for Salon, The Atlantic, and The Intercept, among others. He is the editor of JFK Facts, a blog. He lives in Washington, DC.

Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press (October 24, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1250080614
ISBN-13: 978-1250080615
Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.2 x 9.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 33 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #39 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > True Crime > Espionage
- #109 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Specific Topics > Intelligence & Espionage
- #333 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Political

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Peter Hillman

Terrific Book Weaving So Many Scattered Threads

November 8, 2017

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

What separates this compelling biography from many others about public figures of the 20th century is that Angleton left no letters, no diaries, no memoirs...a few self-serving videos survive after his disgraced exile from the CIA but invariably he never says anything revealing and falls back on biblical references, eg., "My father's mansion has many rooms..." Morley thus uses all his wits and journalist's skills (and the substantial knowledge from his excellent biography of Mexico City CIA Chief Winston Scott) and gets probably as close as one can get to the make-up of this "neurotic maniac." The reader will want to de-louse the room after finishing, for the evil and venality of this master of deceipt is pervasive and disturbing. Whether he's opening mail of innocent people, harassing anti-war protesters, ruining careers of officers as he searched in vain for a Russian "mole," rescuing Nazis and fascists after WWII thinking they could spy for us (they didn't) or deliberately concealing from the Warren Commission the CIA's active monitoring of Oswald and attempts to assassinate Castro, Angleton leaves a 40-year trail of powerful paranoia.

A couple of minor quibbles. Wonder if too much is made of the Yale English Lit influence, and not enough of his family background, ie, he referred to himself as a "Chicano" but the author never fleshes that out or wonders of its effects, if any, on Angleton. That he comes from family wealth--not fully explained. The behavioral effect, if any, of his conversion (with family) to mysticism, becoming swamis, changing names...

But those are minor concerns and given the total lack of a record as spoken by Angleton, this is a monumental achievement. It is essential reading for anyone interested in how our intelligence network operated during the Cold War. It also makes for an excellent companion to such seminal works as Tim Weiner's prize-winning "Legacy of Ashes" and P. Shenon's "A Cruel and Shocking Act."

0Comment 28 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

A Worthy Title—well worth the read.

November 5, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A ‘Ghost’ is exactly how I’ve come to think of Jim Angleton. He’s long been a fascinating figure, one I (and apparently many more) have never completely figured out.

I highly recommend The Ghost to anyone who is interested in history, government & of course, Mr. Angleton himself.

Redundant as it may be to refer to Mr. Angleton as a fascinating character, that’s exactly what he is. From his upbringing in Boise, Idaho to becoming an internationally educated young man to his career in intelligence,one certainly can’t say he lived a dull life.

The author makes comparisons of Angleton to Machiavelli, Svengali & others. I must say they are extraordinarily on the mark. What made this guy tick? Was it the power? The intellectual game—brilliantly mad as he may have been? Creating a world unto himself through which even his closest ‘friends’ & associates never appear to have fully penetrated?

I’m guessing the answer is most likely some combination of the above, yet even with that, I believe you’ve only got the tip of the iceberg.

The only thing I’d love to know more about was Angleton’s family. Granted, his family life appears nearly non-existent, yet you can’t help but want to picture his wife Cicely & their children. One can’t help but wonder what they made of this man. Of course, I also understand & respect why they would opt for their privacy to remain such.

In any event, you can’t help but want to delve deeper in to Angleton’s head. For the better & the worse, I believe he contributed more to the US government than many realize. Having been born around the time he passed, I have known James Angleton only through books & similar. As a history geek, this is one book I highly recommend.

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Russell H Walker JR

A portrait of the real deep state

January 7, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

There's no better person alive to write the biography of the CIA's fabled spymaster. I've known Jeff for years, and bonded over a shared fascination with the JFK assassination. What's most admirable is that Jeff is no "conspiracy theorist." He applies the principles of journalism to the problem of JFK's death, never leaping to conclusions when the evidence isn't there. He's fought for years to force the CIA to follow the law and release all of its JFK-related files.Some of his successes in that fight are part of The Ghost. Angleton was the model for "The Good Shepherd," and where that movie was frustratingly opaque, this book is clear. Anyone interested in the history of America's spy service should grab this book!

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Yes

Lionel Artom-Ginzburg

but brilliant guy who was the head of Counterintelligence for the ...

January 17, 2018

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A dark, gritty, and fascinating glimpse into the drunken, paranoid, but brilliant guy who was the head of Counterintelligence for the CIA (and simultaneously in charge of the Israel Desk) through most of the pre-Detente Cold War. He was involved with many of the most controversial, and sometimes downright illegal, actions of the CIA during that period, from the MK-Ultra experiments, to rigging the Italian elections in 1948, to Israel's still-largely-denied nuclear program, to various coups around the world. And oh, yeah, Lee Harvey Oswald's CIA file was mysteriously in his office from 1959 (when he defected to the USSR) onwards, making him a regular in JFK assassination theories.
If you're a fan of history, or even a fan of intellectual spy fiction a la Le Carre, this is a must-read.

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JS Mosby

.???

January 11, 2018

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Good read.
I don't know whether to love him or hate him.
I guess it's a grey, nebulous area, just like the CIA.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?

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Most recent customer reviews

David K. Colapinto

Angleton fooled everyone

A revealing portrait of the mysterious Cold War spymaster who was in charge of counterintelligence & top spy catcher for the CIA for a quarter century.Read more

Published 6 days ago

Compass

Couldn't put this book down!

Best book I've read in years. Probably would only be relavent to those in their 70's or older who have lived during this time.

Published 13 days ago

Conspirational in the extreme

I checked this out at my local library. Judging from Mr. Morley’s Twitter feed, one can readily see his conspirational leanings. I attempted to keep an open mind going into Mr.Read more

Published 14 days ago

Jane A. Clark

Great Read!!

This is such an incredible read, and with such detail of Angleton! Just unbelievable and reading it with great interest!Read more

Published 14 days ago

B. Hersh

At once devious and ruthlessly honest: Jim Angleton

In this concise treatment of the life and career of Jim Angleton, the Counterintelligence chief of the CIA, Jefferson Morley has managed to open up new elements of the legendary...Read more

Published 16 days ago

Amazon Customer

Five Stars

Nice addition to my library.

Published 17 days ago

Louis S. Menyhert

One expects a better description of how the agency operates

This is the usual trash job that betrays the author's beliefs rather than the data. The subject is protrayed as some sort of monster but compared to a Manchester who showed how...Read more

Published 21 days ago

Henry E. Lawrence

Did Oliver Stone Ghost write the book for Jefferson Morley?

The book was somewhat informative. It, however, has a definite liberal bias to it. First when it characterizes President Kennedy as a liberal it was way off the mark.Read more

Published 21 days ago

g3 from the UP

Kind of a Biography Lite

This is the first book I have read about James Angleton, and I think it was a decent introduction to the topic. It is kind of a biography lite, if you will.Read more

Published 22 days ago

Andrew T. Wilson

The pot calling the kettle black of conspiracy books

An obsessively researched work which adds little new to the JJA literature, this book exhibits a strange variety of double-think.Read more

Published 1 month ago

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