1 comments about The Telegraph Goes to War: The Personal Diary of David Homer Bates, Lincoln's Telegraph Operator.

1. David Homer Bates experienced the Civil War from a desk in the telegraph office in the War Department. Bates received reports from battlefield commanders in all theaters of operation and conveyed them to President Abraham Lincoln, who often spent long hours in the telegraph office waiting for news of the latest campaign. The diary Bates kept from November 1863 until June 1865 is a remarkable record of the war as it happened.

   Editor Donald Markle opens the book with a short but informative overview of the military telegraph. Markle describes the transformation of military command and control abilities resulting from the advent of the telegraph, and the resources devoted to improving and expanding the telegraph during the Civil War.

   At the beginning of each chapter, Markle provides the historical context for the events Bates describes in his diary. For readers unfamiliar with the many names and places referred to by Bates, Markle supplies extensive endnotes that fill in the blanks. Markle also provides a fascinating appendix on Civil War cipher systems.

   What readers may find most fascinating is how events were first reported, or misreported, during the course of the war. Bates wrote on August 1st, 1864 that the cause for the Union disaster at the Petersburg crater was that "2 hours were allowed to elapse before any advance was made by Gen. Meade." Most historians concur that the true responsibility for the catastrophe rested on the shoulders of the drunken James Ledlie and the hapless Ambrose Burnside.

   On August 8th, Bates recorded that "A telegram...confirms death of rebel Gen. Forrest." Forrest was again reported killed on December 19th. On August 29th, "rebels say that Hood is killed & Longstreet is in command at Atlanta." Forrest and Hood would no doubt have chuckled at the reports of their deaths. On April 12, 1865, Bates received word that "Mrs. Gen. Lee is dying." Reports of her imminent death were greatly exaggerated.

   The most poignant passages of Bates' diary follow the assassination of President Lincoln. While the country grieved and raged, Bates mourned Lincoln's loss in a very personal way: "I have seen him and conversed with him nearly every day and have learned to love him for his many virtues & his few faults."

   David Homer Bates will in all likelihood never be a household name associated with the Civil War. Thanks to the expert editing of Donald Markle, however, Bates' absorbing diary provides readers with the unique experience of reliving the war's last eighteen months.

5 comments about Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev: Commissar (1918-1945).

1. a Don Quixote, the Ego, and a Sancho Panza, the Self."
   
   W.H. Auden's aphorism forms an appropriate framework for reviewing The Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev: Volume I. Although the Memoirs have more Don Quixote than Sancho Panza they are compelling, informative, and insightful.
   
   Volume I consists of two sections: Khrushchev's Memoirs from the early days of the Russian Revolution through the end of the Second World War and Sergei Khrushchev's (Nikita's son) essay on the creation of the memoirs and the decades long struggle to see it published in the USSR.
   
   Khrushchev's memoirs are fascinating for a number of reasons. As set out in Sergei's essay, these Memoirs were dictated and not written. As a result, the Memoirs have a very conversational tone whcih, for me, brought the Memoirs to life. Khrushchev had a prodigious memory and his Memoirs bear this out. Each chapter of Khrushchev's life is rich with the type of detail that one doesn't expect in a memoir written decades later. The bulk of Volume I is devoted to World War II. Khrushchev served as a member of the Military Council and as Commissar in the Ukraine (a political hierarchy that paralleled the military chain of command). Khrushchev played a critical role in the Ukraine during the war, lived and worked through the horrendous battle of Stalingrad, the enormous victory at Kursk, and the liberation of Kiev. Khrushchev is at his narrative best when describing these events. At the same time, Khrushchev does not shy away from discussing the chaos and confusion that reigned at the beginning of the war. Stalin (rightfully I think) bears the brunt of this criticism but Khrushchev did not shy away from brutal assessments of soldiers and political leaders who displayed cowardice or put their own interests above those of the state. Interestingly, Khrushchev does not stint in his praise for Marshall Zhukov, despite the fact that Khrushchev had Zhukov removed from a top party post in the 1950s when he became a threat to Khrushchev's power base.
   
   The Memoirs are fascinating not only for what is said but also what is left unsaid. George Orwell once wrote that "[a]utobiography is only to be trusted when it reveals something disgraceful." There is nothing to distrust in these Memoirs as they relate to Khrushchev's external life, most of which can easily be confirmed by the available records. However, missing from the Memoirs (at least in this Volume) is a detailed examination of Khrushchev's inner life. We know he survived the purges and we know he began to question Stalin's actions. Khrushchev writes convincingly of Stalin's mistakes but we never quite find out what he knew and when. Khrushchev was (seemingly) at the time a devoted servant to Stalin. He participated in party purges and in these Memoirs he ruefully acknowledges his then belief that many of his colleagues were enemies of the state. Yet this was the same Khrushchev who took a tremendous leap of faith in revealing Stalin's `crimes' at the famous Party Congress in 1956. What is missing is some indication of the inner reflections (the Sancho Panza-like reflections if you will) on the survival mechanisms that led an intelligent and clearly decent person to suspend disbelief for such a long period of time. However, Sergei Khrushchev's fascinating essay on the fight to publish these Memoirs leads to some valuable insights.
   
   Sergei's essay is an intriguing story in its own right. The Kremlin put pressure on the family to get Nikita to stop writing. They were followed and interrogated by the KGB. Khrushchev seethed at these attempts to suppress his memoirs. Khrushchev defended his rights as a Soviet citizen and fulminated against these affronts to his dignity and self respect. There is no small amount of irony in reading about Khrushchev's struggle with the Politburo. Despite the fact that he was primarily responsible for "the thaw", Khrushchev also managed to crack down on artists and writers who he thought "went too far". The illicit export of a copy of the manuscript placed him in the same company as such writers as Pasternak, Solzhenitsyn, Voinovich, and Grossman.
   
   More importantly, however, the essay portrays Khrushchev's struggle as one compelled in part by his sense of dignity and self-respect. The historical record and the Memoirs are filled with references to Khrushchev and other leaders abasing themselves before Stalin. I think Sergei's essay goes a long way toward fleshing out (at least implicitly) Important parts of Khrushchev's internal life that are missing from the Memoirs. Khrushchev was a figure of great substance and no small amount of talent (despite some glaring failures during his premiership). He was a man who with only four years of formal education but he had enough talent and ambition to lead a nation. But along the way he had to endure almost daily humiliations at the hands of his `master'. These humiliations, along with his participation in the development of the cult of Stalin all constitute part of what may be called `the sin of survival'. Although not uncommon in Gulag memoirs they strike a jarring note in the memoirs of the leader of a nation. Khrushchev's actions at the 20th-Party Congress and his fight during his last days to preserve his right to publish seem, to me at least, to be an attempt to reclaim some part of that dignity that was voluntarily (if by necessity) forfeited years ago.
   
   Nikita's Memoirs, together with Sergei's essay, provide a profoundly interesting and informative examination of one of the 20th-Cenntury's most complex and misunderstood leaders. The Memoirs of Nikita Khrushchev Volume I should be required reading for anyone with an interest in the history of the USSR and its place in world history.



2. Last week we listened to the `messages' given in the UN by many heads of states.
   Hugo Chavez president of Venezuela and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, in particular, have been quite interesting and extremely filled most of us with fun and enjoyment.
   
   They have spoken with great presumptuousness.
   
   Their intention has been to insult and accuse their opponent head of state - USA President Bush, and they did it in such a way that their words, taken literally, sounded innocent.
   Those who are not familiar with the background and meaning of `being garrulous' will find nothing odd about their sentences, until they could get the hidden implications.
   
   Perhaps we should `exhume' one simple example of what we are talking about.
   During the Cuban missile crises in the early sixties of the twentieth century, Nikita Khrushchev, the leader of the Soviet Union, used to pound his desk at the UN General Assembly to interrupt British and American heads of states from giving their speeches. The frustrated NK even pulled off and waved his shoe and banged it on his desk in front of shocked and amused world delegates occupying the large UN hall.
   Nevertheless, the annals of history has recorded that in 1964 Brezhenev ousted NK.
   Twenty-seven years later the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics was dissolved after some seventy-five years, since the Russian Revolution in 1917, of acting as the second principal world super power.
   
   You see, in the tug of will, the point is not in pronouncing words of strength, because at the end of the day what really counts is `Who' is able to bind the economic noose tighter until decided to pull the rope.
   
   This memoirs is not a Mrs Love's poem that we are talking of. This is a tough fight of crucial struggle for world supremacy; this is the tug of war, like a Greek salad, if one is not able to notice a dropped olive seed lurking beneath the cheese and the green succulent lettuce, and if one cannot realize how strong and durable the seed is, one will lose one's tooth.



3. Not a book for one trying to obtain a concise balanced history of one of the more important figures of the last century.
   
   But wonderful for anyone deeply interested in what was ticking in the mind of a top official of the USSR who served with, and immediately after, the tyrant Stalin. When done reading this book, one can only be amazed that the Communists held power for as long as they did given the flawed system they so resolutely defended, which failed at adequately sheltering, clothing, and feeding the common citizen.
   
   Khrushchev was at heart a mostly good man (he did serve at the murderous Stalin's knee and did arrange the death of his own rival, Beria). He wanted to, by strong management, energize the economic command and control system devised by Lenin and, thereby, bring a better life (measured against America) to the workers and peasants. His energetic, but ultimately futile, work in agriculture takes up much of this memoir.
   
   The book is enhanced by the writings provided in its appendix by an insightful Anatoly Strelyany and a very human Mrs. Khrushchev, as well as by the excellent detailed chapter notes provided by Sergei Khrushchev -- a most able editor and the type of son all major historical figures would be blessed to have.



4. Never one to mince words or gloss over difficulties, Nikita Khrushchev tells everything he remembers of international events during his time in power. His take on conflicts with the Western powers gives a refreshingly different approach from all the Western propaganda that filled our airwaves and newspapers at that time. From Gary Powers to the Cuban Missile Crisis, he calls all these events as he saw them.
   
   This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in the history of that time, from 1953 through 1964.



5. Be warned: with two companion volumes, these memoirs are a major undertaking for the average person. However, this book is essential reading for those with a keen interest in 1950s-60s world political history.
   
   The editors have done a very nice job here with thorough chapter notes, chronological listings of Mr. Khrushchev's comings and goings, and excellent references to further readings.
   
   Nikita Khrushchev was not a brilliant writer of prose (actually the book was dictated), but this is his straightforward account of his own foreign policy thoughts as a major world leader at a very critical time.

2 comments about Jefferson's Secrets: Death and Desire at Monticello.

1. I got the audio CD edition of "Jefferson's Secrets" for a recent cross-country drive. It made the journey much more enjoyable and rewarding -- even the endless landscape of Texas passed by in no time!
   
   
   ABOUT THE CD PRODUCTION QUALITIES:
   The narrator, Simon Vance, does a superlative job. His voice is very easy on the ear, and his pacing and enunciation are ideal. The only minor niggle is that he pronounces the name of Jefferson's home as "montisello" instead of "montichello". (Dictionaries endorse both pronunciations, but Jefferson's correspondence suggests that he used the Italian version.)
   
   The book lends itself to aural consumption very well -- I found myself listening in "page-turning mode" in some sections, and in others, I was pausing the CD frequently to take notes and reflect. It makes for very comfortable and efficient absorption.
   
   
   ABOUT THE CD CONTENTS:
   Unlike other reviewers, I don't believe that "Secrets" requires extensive familiarity with Jefferson and his politics. My rudimentary knowledge of American history (I'm an immigrant) did not hinder my comprehension or enjoyment of the book at all. On the contrary, I think "Secrets" makes an excellent Jefferson primer because it covers those aspects of the man that he deemed most important himself (according to his epitaph.)
   
   "Jefferson's Secrets" is an immensely satisfying book -- one that leaves you wishing for equally thorough and insightful works on other prominent figures. Alas, few people have made their souls as accessible as Jefferson did. Indeed, it appears that most of his words and deeds were intended with a view to his legacy. By bringing Jefferson's later writings to light, Burstein is therefore fulfilling the founder's fervent wish that his contributions and convictions be properly understood.
   
   The book has a very effective structure. The first two chapters serve as a prelude, presenting a miscellany of information about Jefferson: his decidedly physiological view of life, his activities and afflictions, his relationships with family and friends, his highly rational and scientific mindset, his voracious reading and writing habits, etc. There is also much information about Jefferson's times, including the prevailing medical and scientific knowledge, attitudes, conditions, personalities, and language usage.
   
   This groundwork places the reader squarely inside Jefferson's head, which helps a great deal in understanding his views on slavery, race, gender, sex, politics, literature, and religion. In subsequent chapters, Burstein explores each of these topics thoroughly and unflinchingly. His well-founded conclusions answered my questions in full. Having finished the book, I feel I know Jefferson as well as might a family member or a close friend. I am now better able to appreciate his virtues, and I have a clearer understanding of his shortcomings.
   
   Yes, Jefferson's legacy is clouded because he was not able to rise above his times to become the emancipator of Blacks and women. Yes, he was uncharacteristically close-minded about race and surprisingly vindictive towards his political enemies. And yes, he was fiscally irresponsible in living way beyond his means (the quintessential American!)
   
   However, the salient image that emerges from the book is that of a man who was indeed "a mindful practitioner of the art of living life." He provided the mantra for the nascent republic, and his vision and awareness guided it during its early vulnerability. He was understated, principled, caring, curious, industrious, resourceful, optimistic, and reasonable. In a more enlightened time, I have no doubt that he would have written "all people are created equal".
   
   I am awed and inspired by all that Jefferson was able to achieve -- has there ever been a better manager of time? On the other hand, I am saddened to think that one of this country's greatest presidents would have no chance of being elected today (a non-religious widower would be a nonstarter.)
   
   "Secrets" is a positive and uplifting work. In a world of sound bites, it's a pleasure discovering research as comprehensive, even-handed, and well-written as this. Highly recommended!



2. The narrator's voice is almost as annoying as his continual mispronunciation of Monticello. As to the 'book' itself, the prologue is endless and serves only as a monument to the author's colossal ego. I've read perhaps fifty Jefferson books yet have never before found one that attempts so much and delivers so little. Skip this one.

1 comments about Presidency of John Adams (American Presidency Series).

1. All U.S. presidents must confront and solve problems, some more unique than others. There are a few whose difficulties are unprecedented and will never recur again. John Adams was such a president and his effectiveness as a chief executive is often underestimated. When he took the oath of office, the nation was still young and in many ways not yet a nation. Regional differences, which sixty years later would explode into civil war, were powerful and could have led to a similar event during his administration. The governmental structure was idealistic, novel and untested. There were many who felt that it was unworkable, and with minimal communication infrastructure, it was difficult for the central government to project its' power quickly and effectively.
   The framers of this government were highly talented, ambitious men, who were now faced with the task of governing. As history has shown us so many times, the talented revolutionary is often mediocre at governing. Political parties began to form and like all births, involved a great deal of fits and starts. George Washington commanded such respect that no one could reasonably hope to challenge his authority, and yet he was wore down by the political battles. Succeeding such a towering figure would have been difficult for anyone. Europe was also currently engaged in a general war as a consequence of the revolution in France, and there were strong forces driving the United States towards involvement.
   Into this horrendous mix of conflicting forces, John Adams became president. There is no question that the crises he faced rank in the top five of all presidents. Forced to face and solve these problems, he performed admirably. There is no more telling measures of his success in that he angered many in both parties and one of his strongest enemies, Thomas Jefferson, continued his policies when he succeeded Adams.
   Brown does an outstanding job of describing these circumstances, for without this knowledge it is impossible to understand how successful Adams was. He also describes many of the details of John Adams' relationship with his wife Abigail. Although the times dictated that women play secondary roles in society, it is clear that many women wielded substantial power behind the scenes, if only to provide the strength for her husband to do what was right. After reading this book, you cannot help but be impressed with the power and intelligence of Abigail Adams, one of the most talented first spouses that this country has ever had.
   This book serves a necessary and overdue purpose. It shows John Adams as more than just an adequate successor to Washington, but as a president who stood firm and always placed the interests of the nation first. He was a great man, showing that many of the men who made the American revolution were also, and perhaps even more skilled, at making and executing a government. I will forever be in awe of their political genius.

2 comments about JFK (A&E Biography).

1. This is one of the best movie about JFK, it's very complete, and we can see him young. It's narrated by people who know him best. There are a lot of photos and films. The film speak not enough of his youth and too much about the Cuban missiles crisis but I recommended it too all people. I very enjoyed it.



2. I try not to read about the Kennedys. There is just way too much material out there relating the story of America's royalty. I thought I would read this short book to get greater insight into the Kennedy family and the book holds up. Not only is it concise, but it is packed with information both on the family and President Kennedy. Also, I feel it is very balanced in showing both the weaknesses and strenghts of this President and his family. It is probably one of the better short biographies of this President.
   I recommend this book to anyone wanting a snapshot of this President. As with all short books, it doesn't delve into great detail about JFK and his family. However it serves up enough of the dirt about the family and JFK. Such dirt as the adulteries of both Joe Senior (Gloria Swanson) and Jack (Marilyn Monroe, and many others). It also shows the family and JFKs strength. A nice portrait of the family and JFK.

1 comments about Presidents at War: From Truman to Bush, The Gathering of Military Powers To Our Commanders in Chief.

1. This book should really be titled 'Presidents at UNDECLARED War.' During the years since the founding of the republic, the United States has only been in five declared wars. During those same years the United States military forces have engaged in more than two hundred armed conflicts. It is not a new thing, Wikipedia says: 'The first United States military action overseas, executed by the U.S. Marines and Navy, was the storming of Derna, Tripoli in 1805 in an effort to bolster diplomatic efforts in securing both the freedom of American prisoners and an end to piracy on the part of the Barbary state. The opening line of the Marine's Hymn, From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli, refers to this action.'
   
   This is a very interesting book in how it looks at the conflicts fought since World War II. It covers not the conflict itself so much the interaction between the President and Congress. It further raises interesting questions about how Congress acts in these cases. For instance in the vote regarding Iraq, Congress voted 77 to 23 in favor of the Iraq war.
   
   With the current dissatisfaction regarding Iraq, it will be very interesting to see what happens, especially if the Democrats gain control of Congress.

5 comments about Slavemaster President: The Double Career of James Polk.

1. For American history buffs in general, and Civil War enthusiasts in particular, William Dusinberre has produced a volume worthy of your attention. Dusinberre argues with great vigor that James Polk helped to plant the seeds of civil war while he was President during the late 1840's. While pursuing the Presidency, Polk presented himself as a moderate on the issue of slavery. All the while, he was quietly engaged in the buying and selling of slaves for his Mississippi plantation. Dusinberre argues that throughout his four years in office, Polk advocated policies designed to perpetuate slavery for the forseable future. He cites in particular the annexation of Texas as a major issue. The book also chronicles the appalling working and living conditions many slaves were forced to live under and the total disregard that most slavemasters (Polk included) for the slaves family lives. In most instances, if it was a profitable transaction, slaves were sold off to the highest bidder and families were torn apart. Polk always portrayed himself as the benevolent master but the facts seem to dispute his claims. The book can be slow moving and at times I wondered if I would have the endurance to finish it. But I am glad I did. This book gives us an entirely new perspective on the events of that period and as such is a welcome addition.



2. I'm not sure if I would have been better off reading a general bio on Polk first, becuase this book is very biased, as the author admits. The argument is that Polk's policy was stronly influenced by him being a slaveowner. That Polk had conflicting interests because he ran several plantations in Tn and Miss and he was using the money from the plantations to secure himself a post-presidential retirement.

   The book is organized in an interesting way. It begins by describing Polk's plantations and what it was like for the slaves , plus gives details regarding the overseers,a nd Polk's policies regarding purchasing and selling of slaves. Polk endeavored to hide what he was doing from the general public and his reasons for selling and guying were definitley not always patriarchal, but monetary.

   Polk died a few months after leaving office, and none or few of his papers were destroyed, hence we have a record of what ocurred on the plantations.

   the second half of the book covers the main aspects of Polk's presidential career --annexation of Tx and the MX War. The author discusses the events through the lens of slavery and tried to argue Polk's descisions were heavily influenced by Polk being a slaveowner. the author presents many what-ifs, discussing a vairety of other scenarios that could have happened during Polk's presidency had he made other choices. I found these diversions to be a strength of the book instead of an irritant. The book gave me a lot to think about,a nd it was particulary interesting to learn the details of what Polk plantation life was like.




3. This book was not written by a fan or supporter of this Tennessee president, but released by a Yankee group who hides behind "Oxford" so we might think Mississippi or England. Not so, William Dusinberre must be fuddies with the university professors who tore apart Nathan Bedford Forrest in the same way. Overlooked completely he status and the part these Tennesseans played in the history of this nation. It's best to consider character assassination with the conflicting thins these writers emphasize while leaving out the real story, the facts of the matter. James K. Polk had been Governor of Tehhessee and Speaker of the House of Representatives before becoming U. S. president. It was not a secret that he owned slaves to work on his cotton plantation in Mississippi. We didn't have such in Tennessee, but I have an old post card of the 11th President's bust which stands in the State Capitol in Nashville. We visited Polk's ancestral home in downtown Columbia, Tennessee. It was not out in the country, though a famous one is in that county owned by a female physician. She did not have slaves. Forrest's family were fine, upstanding natives of Chapel Hill, not so far east from Columbia. It infuriates me when I innocently find weird subverted stuff like thos on the public library shelves. I wish the reference librarians who ordered these fiction pretending to be non-fiction before putting them out for just anybody to read. Polk was duly elected and in the White House from 1845 to 1849, before the Civil War. He was not responsible for that war.
   
   This person from Cape Town used the false writings of professor Wayne Cutler when he came to this Republican town, and thought that what he was reading was truth. Polk was a Southern Democrat. What would he write about Huey B. Long, George Wallace, and other governors who stood tall for what the South stands for. The politics of slavery did not have any substance whatsoever in the war which divided this country. It was states' rights -- the Southern states, which Northerners would not understand. I learned more than I had planned that there is a conspiracy going on to deride Southern leaders and presidents. They were statesmen and war heroes and lived to be a part of the history of America. Modern history-writing is all wrong, when the author makes up "facts" as he is inclined, and not factually.



4. This is a not uninteresting, well written and well researched look at a very narrow aspect of the life and career of James Polk, detailing very thoroughly his role as an owner of a deep-south plantation and his relationships with his slaves. If that interests you, this is an ideal book for you to read. If you're looking for an in-depth full life biography of James Polk, or even a book that gives much insight into his career as a politician and president, or any other facet of his life than that of slaveowner, this is definitely NOT what you're looking for.



5. I give it four stars because this is a very interesting book, but I felt it was little about Polk and more about his slaves and their overseers. I need to read another Polk book if I want a better look at his Presidency. The book is true to its name, I just need to research the content better.

No comments about Presidential Cookies: The Lure and the Lore: Cookie Recipes of the Presidents of the United States.

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. [...]So bloody true and seemingly obvious once said. T[...]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.

1 comments about The Nixon Years 1969-1974: White House to Watergate.

1. A very insider's view of the nixon white. the photographers' access is unlike any other's and the text accompanying each photoe reveals the photographers innermost thoughts of his subjects. this is an excellent photo book.