1 comments about Theodore Roosevelt's Letters to His Children.

1. Theodore Roosevelt not only wrote to his kids, but also drew great pictures. One of his best in here is a drawing of TR playing tennis. Before widespread telphones, and certainly prior to cell phones, people seemed to dash off notes to each other more frequently. One school of TR thought says Teddy simply loved writing to his kids in profusion. The revisionist school says, of course he did, since he was so frequently away.

   TR's letters to his son Quentin are especially touching, since later on Quentin took a German gunner's bullet through the head over France, driving TR into inconsolate murmerings lamenting the loss of his "Quentee-Quee." The development of these nicknames is chronicled in these letters.

   For whatever reason TR wrote them, they read very movingly. TR's own namesake, Ted Jr., tried to pull off the same thing with his kids, documented in another out-of-print book written by Ted Jr (before his early heart attack during WWII) called "All in the Family." Wherein little Ted's mistake is to too slavishly imitate big TR's way of organizing walks, going camping, and dashing off notes. So there is something inimitable here, which should also caution the modern reader from hankering too quickly to start writing letters-a-plenty. But the picture drawing might be OK. What kid wouldn't like a few more scribbled pictures from their dad?

   So at least look at the pictures here. Unlike Ronald Reagan's, these were done to and for TR's own kids. Not to dump on Ron, but to perhaps establish a reference point among competing versions of family dysfunction.

No comments about The Invincible Quest: The Life of Richard Milhous Nixon.

5 comments about Churchill Wanted Dead Or Alive: Wanted Dead or Alive.

1. I am a great admirer of Sir Winston Spencer Churchill, and so being I read nearly every book that is published. As I write this Mr. Churchill was on the cover of one of our National Magazines last week, and the title was "The Last Hero". A man who is completing another biography of Mr. Churchill's life wrote the story inside.

   A book by his Granddaughter Celia Sandys could be easily dismissed as a biased treatment, a work lacking objectivity. I believe The Authoress did a remarkable job of adding to the Historical Record without being a revisionist in her Grandfather's favor or to his detriment.

   I have read Churchill's own accounts of the adventures contained in this book, and many other books written about this amazing story and I still would recommend it be added to any existing collection of Churchill books.

   Mrs. Sandys manages to bring to light new bits of information that at times reinforce the contemporary accounts, and at other moments confirm what might have been an Historical Embellishment passed down through the years. She portrays her Grandfather with candor, and shares the information she collected while reconstructing herself the trip that her Grandfather made so many years ago.

   Sir Winston Spencer Churchill M.P. has already taken his place in History. He was a man who seemed to know what destiny held for him, and also what History would say. He once said, "I know how History will remember me, as I shall write it." He once described the human race in the following terms, "We are all worms, but I believe I am a glow worm."

   A well written, balanced account of a small part of a life that was full of momentous moments. Mr. Churchill is unique as he is not just part of our History, he is History. That he is still quoted almost daily, new books continue to be written, and a College is to be built confirm this is true.

   When confronted with "if you were my Husband I would put poison in your soup", the retort, "if you were my wife I would eat it." Oh to be at that dinner.

   Thank you Mrs. Sandys.




2. This book presents several interesting vignettes relating to Churchill's life and activities during the South African "Boer" war, but overall I was disappointed, and finished wanting more. Overall, I thought this was rather superficial, and I didn't feel as tho I had gained any substantial insight into the life of one of the giants of the late 19th/early 20th century.



3. This time last year, appropriately enough, I was reading this book of Churchill's epic escape from the States Model School in Pretoria, an event that had happened 100 years earlier to the very day.The 12 December 1999 was also a day in which I lost a friend in a road accident, thus, the centennial anniversary date becomes etched with the personal. Churchill was clearly a larger-than-life figure all of his life as his grandaughter and author Celia Sandys clearly shows in this historical work in which she followed in his footsteps, visiting campsites, battlefields etc and speaking to descendants of friends and foes alike. Contrary to the assertions of some other reviewers it is a well written and enjoyable book. Some of the interesting vignettes include the detective work the author did on tracking down the gold watches that Churchill had sent to various people for their assistance in his escape from the Boers (or Afrikaners as they are known today). At the time of publication Mrs Sandys had located 6 of the 8 watches. Mrs Sandys is not afraid to challenge Churchill's assertions that he was captured by Gen. Louis Botha himself (later the Union's first Prime Minister, 1910-19)and she rightly dismisses talk that there was ever a romantic entanglement with Helen Botha , the General's daughter. The author is partly correct when she records that Churchill's "huge political ambitions demanded a wife who would be a political asset..." However, that would cut both ways, something Helen Botha alluded to 60 years later when she said it was unlikely that she could fall for him as she was "a Transvaaler." Her father and Churchill may have "got along famously" but it is the author who is disingenous, not Helen Botha, in considering that a personal political rapport could see the leader of the Afrikaner volk, or a member of his family, contemplate such a marriage -particularly after the deaths of some 26,000 Boer women and children in the world's first concentration camps - British concentration camps. Nevertheless, this is a good read about a remarkable soldier-stateman in his younger days. Enjoy.



4. This is the first book that I have ever read about Churchill, so I was very surprised to read example after example of his arrogance and his "at all times" sense of entitlement. His granddaughter (an obviously biased author) recited many of Churchill's actions during the Boer War as examples of his bravery and courage. I, however, interpreted these actions in quite a different manner. One example of Churchill's "bravery" was when his train was ambushed by Boer troops. The author described his behavior as brave and heroic, whereas I viewed his actions as a very calculated tactic for self-advacement. In fact, it was Churchill's fault that the train went so far into Boer territory in the first place--he wanted more information for his newspaper, and his subsequent actions only put the British troops in more danger. The book was also not well written or organized; it reminded me of reading a high school book report.



5. The author, Celia Sandys, is the subject's granddaughter. As such, she had access to papers, people, and places that few individuals have. She presents a view of the early Churchill (age 20-25) that gives one an objective glimpse of his early life, ambitions, and personality. She has done much field research by access to original papers, actual locations, and descendants of those who knew Churchill in his early 20s. Much of her research is centered in South Africa where the young Churchill had a yen for being where the action was in the Boer War, and having an inordinate amount of luck escaping death and danger. Additionally, she gives detailed maps of his movements, and tries to bridle some of his self-sustaining writings that could not be independently verified. This work should give any reader an understanding that Churchill's early years were a prelude to his more famous leadership role during the dark days of World War II. An excellent read.

3 comments about The President's House: A History.

1. William Seale has put together an excellent historical perspective of the history of the White House, including it's construction, reconstruction, and many renovations. The book also recounts the evolution of Washington, D.C. relative to it's relationship with the White House and it's occupants.

   Along with describing the physical structure and it's many evolutions, Seale has managed to include a significant amount of history relative to the occupants of the White House, including their personal and political lives. This provides the reader with a good feel for life in the White House. Additionally, most will learn a significant amount about presidents who we simply know by name but not much else.

   Overall, I would highly recommend this book to those most interested in american history. Although it includes two volumes, the book is such an interesting read that it is hard to put it down.




2. Often, history is written in broad sweep narratives that can be static and boring to the reader. Although William Seale wrote more than 1,000 pages on the history of the White House, you can be assured that there is nothing static or boring about these volumes. He displays an understanding of the fact that history is about the human drama of real people facing real predicaments, and it's poignance is found in how they react to those predicaments.

   Whereas a history book will tell you that the British burned the White House in 1814, Seale tells us what was happening on the DAY the British marched into town. The hundred sentry guards who were supposed to defend the White House were gone, and they could easily have taken on the battalion of 150 British soldiers who marched in the mud down Pennsylvania Avenue, walked around the White House like tourists, ate Dolley Madison's dinner, and then torched the White House with precision. Then there is the even more dramatic moment when Lincoln looked out across the Potomac into Virginia to see the flags of the Confederacy flying, knowing that soon the capital would be surrounded if Maryland seceded from the Union.

   The book is a perfect match of comedy and drama with stories ranging from the infestation of rats in the basement to a presidential love story that rivals "The American President," and in places describes a house that you would never imagine to be destined as the symbol of the most powerful nation on earth.




3. It has been a while since I read it, so this will be short, but I can tell you that I loved this work. In fact, I read it twice.
   
   Seale takes you through the origins and changes in the house and the property, which is interesting enough to me. But he also takes you, with great detail, through the families and events that occupied and occurred in the President's House. You get a real sense of what life was like there, and how history was made. It is a very interesting story both from a historical house perspective, and a human perspective. I only wish I had bought the leather bound edition.

5 comments about Nixon Reconsidered.

1. This book would probably be a very interesting account if it wasn't bogged down with so many minute details that take away from the overall argument. Ms. Hoff has some great ideas but the book could realistically have been much more concise.



2. This is a complete whitewashing of Richard Nixon's political career written by an obviously pro-Nixon source. There is no attempt from the author to distance herself from Nixon or create an illusion of impartiality. Hoff is in Nixon's corner all the way and makes some incredible interpretive analyses. For example, Nixon's domestic agenda was actually "extremely liberal." Hoff makes this claim based upon Nixon's environmental agenda, but ignores his viscerally right-wing Supreme Court appointments and his Neanderthal approach to civil rights. Doesn't sound too "liberal" to me.

   Hoff also makes a series of implausible and ultimately ludicrous excuses for Nixon's involvement in Watergate. Predictably, she absolves the President from much involvement and any guilt. She points the finger of guilt at a dizzying array of Nixon suborindates (all of whom went to prison). Nixon is the epitome of grace, honesty and courage in Huff's eyes, a view which will delight those who revere the 37th President. But for those who have a less charitable view of him, this will be regarded as hagiography at its apex.




3. I've recently become a bit of a Nixon buff, reading a dozen biographies of the man, all of which portray him in very different ways, from a paranoid, racist sociopath to a misunderstood visionary. I honestly don't know where I'd place Ms. Hoff's portrayal of Nixon within those two extremes. Her book makes some excellent points, particularly in citing the frequently ignored strides that Nixon took in domestic policy. Overall, however, her odd writing style and seeming preoccupation with revisionism make the flow of the book pretty choppy, as well as all out boring in places...

   In my opinion, any book on Nixon is worth it if you are trying to figure out what he was all about. The fact is the guy was so complex, introverted, and troubled that all of them will be right and wrong at the same time...




4. Hoff tempers her examination of Nixon with balanced criticism and muted praise in places but remains quite impartial overall. Naturally, a reader may find anything he seeks in an interpretation of the words of the author yet there is no obvious bias or partisanship on the part of Joan Hoff in this work. The amount of revisionism, however, is quite substantial. Hoff seems to have as her purpose for writing this a decided motivation to revise the history of Nixon from the accounts given by fellows ranging from Ambrose to Wills. Granted, her work is more informed and well rounded compared to Ambrose and less agonizing than Wills' Nixon Agonistes yet there seem to be a lack of entirely new information, which would make this work a better choice for the average reader looking for an unbiased, middle of the road examination of Nixon.



5. Professor Hoff, late of Indiana University, tries to rise above the Watergate mania that tends to totally overshadow all the other accomplishments that occurred during the Nixon administration. Let there be no doubt that Nixon was NOT a doctrinaire conservative, if he was even one to begin with. Nixon's early cabinet and advisers included some liberal minds. It is now known that many economic policies that were implemented during this time were very injurious to the US economy (wage and price controls come to mind) and contributed to the awful economic times of the late 70's and early 80's.
   Nevertheless, this book is a good start if you want to learn a little bit about what went on besides Vietnam and Watergate.

No comments about Eisenhower's Heart Attack: How Ike Beat Heart Disease and Held on to the Presidency.

1 comments about Mr. Truman's War: The Final Victories of World War II and the Birth of the Postwar World.

1. I found this book compelling and insightful. It is loaded with more than just the facts. It includes a very basic analysis from an historians perspective on the people and events, both big and small, which shaped the end of the war and the post-war world. President Truman was keenly aware of the many influences on such monumental events as the Potsdam Conference, the diplomacy required to confront the problems of a devastated Europe, the competing views among his cabinet members, the French priority for dominating Indochina, and the multi-faceted dilemma posed by new discoveries in atomic power. Moskin is able to deftly capture the complexities of so many intersecting landmarks of history and tell the story in a way that brings the reader along through the uncertainties of the end of WWII.

No comments about Robert Mugabe and the Betrayal of Zimbabwe.

5 comments about Hitler Was a British Agent.

1. Whether Hallett's tomb on history is 100 percent accurate should not be the stumbling block for more mainstream people to understand the hidden hand that is and has always been behind human affairs on this planet. The pain, outrage and embarrassment of being mere puppets in a very well orchestrated play will cause those same people to turn a blind eye to Hallett's version. Brilliant discussions on Dunkirk, body doubles, compromising leaders by recording their sexual deviance, and mind control / physiological changes by remote electro-magnetic means. The description and function of Hitler's dental work alone will astonish you. Overall, one of the most fascinating books I have ever layed eyes on, of any genre. Endlessly relevant to today's political and economic climate. His general philosophy is that the World is run on shame, and that pedophilia / homosexuality / Satanic murder / drug use are the principle generators of human shame, thus the people who are into these avenues are incredibly important to the "controllers" because they can be profoundly compromised, which is why they are always promoted and positioned into powerful roles within our modern socities. By proxy then, gay drug-using Satanic pedophiles are the creme of the crop and often become Presidents, Prime Ministers, Cardinals, Generals, CEOs, and media moguls. So bloody true and seemingly obvious once said. Thus, the so-called "elite" of our modern societies are almost never self-made; rather they are selected, groomed, and then positioned so that they can do the bidding of the controllers, who masterfully use shame for total compliance. Diabolical in its brilliance, but ancient in application. My only critique is its repetitiveness on some themes / statements; in other words, it could have used a better editor.



2. Hallett's book has a racy, irreverent style not usually associated with history books - but it's not the usual pompous, pious history served up by the victors to their victuals!
   
   His hypothesis, if true, would explain many things and crack open many secrets of the "New World Order." Hallett attributes his original narrative to oral accounts by intelligence insiders. Hopefully other workers may be able to corroborate some of his data with written records of the period.
   
   Henry Makow Ph.D. had this to say about it:
   
   "Greg Hallett's book 'Hitler Was A British Agent' depicts war as a ghoulish illusion conjured by occult magicians in order to degrade and eventually enslave humanity in world government.
   
   Hallett's claim that Hitler was a 'British' agent is based on the testimony of a shadowy network of retired intelligence agents. While he fails to provide documentary proof, Hallett does offer persuasive circumstantial evidence.
   
   For example, Adolph Hitler was in England in 1912-1913, a fact supported by his sister-in-law's book: 'The Memoirs of Bridget Hitler'(1979). Many historians including Hitler biographer John Toland have ignored this startling information. (If Hallett is right, historians like Toland are guilty of sanitizing Hitler...)
   
   Hallett's hypothesis explains 1)Why Hitler was able to expand into the Rhineland etc. without fear of retaliation. 2) Why the Nazi war machine was financed and built by the Bank of England and a Who's Who of Anglo American corporations controlled by the Illuminati. 3) Why Hitler never sealed the Mediterranean at Gibraltar; and why the Spanish dictator Franco remained neutral, despite the huge debt he owed the Nazis from the Civil War. 4) Why I.G. Farben headquarters in Frankfurt was never bombed. This became CIA headquarters."



3. The sad thing about any book professing to be about top secret activities is that it is impossible to prove the author wrong. That said, time and again Mr. Hallett mentioned details that I knew to be correct and such incidences were not limited to things of common knowledge rather they were events that I have gleaned by years of living and working closely with the intelligence community.
   
   Although the author bats 1000 when it comes to those events that I can verify, I am not ready to jump on the band wagon and swallow the rest of the stories hook, line, and sinker - especially as some of his stories conflict with other source with equal reliability (or lack thereof). Even though one should not believe any of his stories without independent corroboration, it is a cornucopia of tantalizing tales that could be the foundation of some interesting research. Hallett adds to this potpourri a measure of New Zealand tongue-in cheek humor and an interesting perspective on the relationship of sexual perversion and positions of power.
   
   Regardless of the veracity of the content or ones alignment with the political views of the author, this is a book that can be enriching for those with an open mind.
   
   I was disappointed with the book in a couple of respects. Firstly, the material repeats itself many times over making for an overly long tome (of course, this has an advantage if one is reading only isolated chapters since they can stand independently) and some topics drift far from the central theme. Secondly, the thesis of sexual perversion being central to political advancement is somewhat tarnished by the derisive manner in which the topic is presented. Even a modern Western society that is accepting of what two consenting adults do in private will still condemn certain sexual acts, so maybe the author's attitude is proper, yet I found myself frequently questioning his motivations and prejudices.



4. After spending all that time and money on programming Hitler to 'rule the world' they (the secret, hidden forces) then allow him to enrol in the German army where, for 4 years he ducks bombs and bullets in the trenches, surviving against almost impossible odds.
   
   It's not Hitler who is a product of some ridiculous conspiracy theory, but this silly book itself! No hard evidence just explanations which can have other, and mind you, more complete, rival explanations.



5. As things stand, unfortunately the 2nd edition (October 2006) hasn't achieved the above goal yet. Despite the fact that the authors, conscious citizens from KiwiLand, argue their case rather convincingly by drawing on an array of printed sources and 'living libraries', that is intel insiders. The bulk of the text does a good job in explaining how abominable H. was groomed (being an alleged grandson of Lionel N. Rothschild's), deconstructed and then controlled via his Tavistock Psy-Ops conditioning (those 'missing years' of the government approved, politically correct biographies spent in Ireland(?) and Britain from February 1912 to April 1913)and by double agents in his coterie -- Dr. Morell with his drug cocktails among them.
   Did you know, for instance, that "Adolf Hitler had a radio receiver in his mouth wired straight to his hearing receptors. The upper palate was the main receiver and spoke directly to his subconscious brain. The two lower bridges transferred the audible sound to his ears and brought those messages into conscious thought. Hitler was a puppet with wooden and metallic strings (sex and teeth)." (p. 92)On one occassion this contributed to saving his rotten hide from a grenade blast while in WWI trenches.
   The usual suspect for puppetmaster, of course, is none other but the high-ranking, death- and blood-cultish Illuminazi Masonic brotherhood, closely intertwined -quite literally- with British royalty and the Rothschild & Co. criminal syndicate, with their power-junkie, wannabe minions in tow. Chapters discuss Hitler's sexuality (homosexual leanings, coprophilia); his psychological makeup; sickening elite deviances involving members of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha/Hannoverian dynasty, all of which were and are ideal vehicles for blackmail and manipulation in the hands of MI5-6 and related alphabet soup of spook agencies; the build-up to WWII and technology transfer between the allied and axis powers; self-sabotages; Hess's peace mission flight to and subsequent death in Britain at the hands of some military operative on 13th May, 1941; the Brits' whisking Bormann and Hitler out of Berlin under the cover of operation James Bond and Winnie the Pooh, respectively; and tons more.
   In sum, this title (bibliography, index, and scores of relevant photos included)has a lot to offer to conspiracy buffs, revisionist history enthusiasts, WWII researchers; yet -as usual- it should be taken with a spoonful of that proverbial salt. When dealing with the official version of concensus reality, even a cartload would not suffice, though!
   See also Henry Makow's review on savethemales.ca/001399.html. There are other books by the same authors in the series, such as 'Stalin's British Training', from greghallett.com.

No comments about Thomas Jefferson: Musician and Violinist.