First published 2011
Robert Gates climbs from entry-level CIA analyst to agency director while serving four presidents during America's five-decade struggle against Soviet communism. Gates reveals how the United States conducted hidden operations worldwide to counter Moscow's influence. He exposes Carter's foundation work for Reagan's later covert campaigns and details CIA forecasts of both a conservative coup against Gorbachev and the Soviet collapse. The narrative unveils black operations between CIA and KGB operatives, the covert relationship between Pope John Paul II and Soviet leadership, and three classified summits between American and Soviet intelligence chiefs. Gates provides direct assessments of presidents and senior officials who shaped Cold War policy. His unique position spanning multiple administrations and rising through CIA ranks gives him access to classified materials and policy discussions that remained secret for decades. The account demonstrates how the threat of nuclear war influenced every American strategic decision during this period.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, 21st-century, military-history, espionage, academic, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, political-intrigue
Setting: Moscow, Soviet Union, United States
Period: Cold War, Five-Decade Struggle Against Soviet Communism
608 pages · Kindle Edition · Simon Schuster