Review - American Spy : My Secret History In The CIA, Watergate, & Beyond
AMERICAN SPY: MY Secret History in The CIA, Watergate & Beyond (Wiley) constructed from detailed notes, tapes and photos amounts to E. Howard Hunt deathbed confessional, written with author Greg Aunapu. Hunt died just weeks before the publication of the book. Known as one of the infamous "Watergate plumbers", he details his own history in the spy game, rising from a young sailor, to the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) during World War II, to his 21-year career with the Central Intelligence Agency.
Hunt discloses his role in the successful overthrow of the Guatemalan government, and later, the Bay of Pigs fiasco, a scenario hatched during the Kennedy's admistration to overthrow Fidel Castro. Hunt describes how communication problems and Kennedy's uncertainty ultimately led to the failure of the plan and resentment of the young president. Hunt, however, disputes with great vigor any assertion that he may have later had some role in the assasination of JFK and defends the CIA against similar allegations.
On the subject of Watergate, Hunt paints an incredibly vivid, down-to-the-minute picture of the attempted burgulary of the Democratic National Committee HQ that reads like you're right there in the room. He also deftly recalls the great unraveling that soon followed, resulting in the resignation of Richard Nixon from the presidency and the death of his own wife.
Hunt also opens up about Operation Mockingbird, his agency successful plan to become a part of mainstream media. The list of media organizations that "cooperated" included each of the alphabet news networks and a who's who of magazines and newspapers across the country; a list that included presidents and founders of these various media entities.
Hunt expresses concern with the ominous parallels in the current administration use of warrantless wiretaps to spy domestically and Nixon's pursuit of same during his tenure. American Spy is Hunt's final act and possibly best service to his country, offering a warning about the dangers of the corruption of power to those in government and the American people.
