In a brief period of explosive; top-secret innovation during the 1950s; a small group of scientists; engineers; businessmen; and government officials rewrote the book on airplane design and led the nation into outer space. Led by President Dwight D. Eisenhower; they invented the U-2 and SR-71 spy planes and the first reconnaissance satellites that revolutionized spying; proved that the missile gap was a myth; and protected the United States from Soviet surprise nuclear attack. They also made possible the space-based mapping; communications; and targeting systems used in the Gulf War; Afghanistan; and Iraq. Veteran New York Times reporter and editor Philip Taubman interviewed dozens of participants and mined thousands of previously classified documents to tell this hidden; far-reaching story. He reconstructs the crucial meetings; conversations; and decisions that inspired and guided the development of the spy plane and satellite projects during one of the most perilous periods in our history; a time when; as President Eisenhower said; the world seemed to be "racing toward catastrophe." This is the story of these secret heroes; told in full for the first time.
#398849 in Books 1995-12-01 1995-12-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.60 x 6.12l; 2.28 #File Name: 0684826372896 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Brilliant work about the father of our country....By David R. SwaffordThis volume condenses a much larger work into a manageable read that does not gloss over the mistakes and human shortcomings of Washington; while at the same time illuminating the elements of the General's character that made him great. I found it refreshingly candid and extremely interesting; in fact; I couldn't put it down once I dug into it in earnest.I live 10 minutes from Mount Vernon and I've been to West Point; Trenton; Princeton; Philadelphia; and other places where Washington fought the American Revolution and carried out the earliest business of our nation. Reading this book after seeing these historic sites makes Washington real and causes me to want to return to these places and walk in his footsteps again. If you are looking for an excellent; well-written summary of the life of one of the greatest leaders who ever lived; look no further.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Amy J.Very interesting bio!1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Written by a man who knew Washington well. Very informative and interesting. Left me sad when he died.By American PrideIt was written by a man who knew Washington. It is somehow more intriguing because George Washington died before photographs and movies. I enjoyed learning about this amazing man.
