Official Secrets: The Secret History of the National Security Agency

A gripping account of the National Security Agency's (NSA) rise to power and its role in shaping the modern world.

In this meticulously researched and thrillingly written book, Richard Breitman tells the inside story of the NSA, from its humble beginnings as a small intelligence agency to its current status as a global surveillance behemoth. Drawing on a wealth of previously classified documents and interviews with key figures, Breitman reveals the NSA's secret history of spying on Americans, its role in the Cold War, and its involvement in some of the most controversial events of the past century.

A must-read for anyone interested in American history, intelligence, and the future of privacy.

Official Secrets is a tour de force of investigative journalism that will change the way you think about the NSA and its impact on our world. Breitman's book is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, intelligence, and the future of privacy.

Praise for Official Secrets

"A gripping and meticulously researched account of the NSA's rise to power. Breitman's book is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the role of intelligence in American history." —David Ignatius, The Washington Post

"A fascinating and disturbing look at the NSA's secret history. Breitman's book is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of privacy." —Glenn Greenwald, The Intercept

"A tour de force of investigative journalism. Breitman's book is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, intelligence, and the future of privacy." —Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs

About the Author

Richard Breitman is a professor of history at American University and the author of several books on American intelligence, including The CIA and the Vietnam War and U.S. Intelligence and the Nazis. He is a frequent commentator on intelligence issues for the media, and he has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, and NPR.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• The Birth of the NSA
• The Cold War and the NSA
• The NSA and the Vietnam War
• The NSA and the Watergate Scandal
• The NSA and the War on Terror
• The Future of the NSA
• Conclusion

Appendix

• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index