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OSS: The Secret History of America's First Central Intelligence Agency Paperback – August 1, 2005

by Richard Harris Smith (Author)

31 customer reviews

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“The best book about America’s first modern secret service.”
--Washington Post Book World

In the months before World War II, FDR prepared the country for conflict with Germany and Japan by reshuffling various government agencies to create the Office of Strategic Services--America’s first intelligence agency and the direct precursor to the CIA. When he charged William (“Wild Bill”) Donovan, a successful Wall Street lawyer and Wilkie Republican, to head up the office, the die was set for some of the most fantastic and fascinating operations the U.S. government has ever conducted. Author Richard Harris Smith, himself an ex-CIA hand, documents the controversial agency from its conception as a spin-off of the Office of the Coordinator for Information to its demise under Harry Truman and reconfiguration as the CIA.
During his tenure, Donovan oversaw a chaotic cast of some ten thousand agents drawn from the most conservative financial scions to the country’s most idealistic New Deal true believers. Together they usurped the roles of government agencies both foreign and domestic, concocted unbelievably complicated conspiracies, and fought the good fight against the Axis powers of Germany and Japan. For example, when OSS operatives stole vital military codebooks from the Japanese embassy in Portugal, the operation was considered a success. But the success turned into a flop as the Japanese discovered what had happened, and hastily
changed a code that had already been decrypted by the U.S. Navy.
Colorful personalities and truly priceless anecdotes abound in what may
arguably be called the most authoritative work on the subject.

OSS: The Secret History of America's First Central Intelligence Agency

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The best book about America's first modern secret service . . . Smith, combining the style of a journalist with the scholarly approach of the political scientist, has provided an excellent overview of the role of OSS during the two-front war against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan . . . Tracing the names, the half-submerged links between the intelligence community and what Richard Rovere has called the American Establishment, is what makes Smith's book so fascinating and valuable."--Washington Post Book World

"Smith's absorbing book is really an introduction to what the OSS and its crew of generally exceptionally able and imaginative employees was all about."--Foreign Service Journal

"He describes how the OSS figured in, and was related to, the whole diplomatic and military history of the war."--Annals

From the Back Cover

In the months before World War II, FDR prepared the country for conflict with Germany and Japan by reshuffling various government agencies to create the Office of Strategic Services-America's first intelligence agency and the direct precursor to the CIA. When he charged William ("Wild Bill") Donovan, a successful Wall Street lawyer and Willkie Republican, to head up the office, the stage was set for some of the most fantastic and fascinating operations the U.S. government has ever conducted. Author Richard Harris Smith, himself an ex-CIA hand, documents the controversial agency from its conception as a spin-off of the Office of the Coordinator for Information to its demise under Harry Truman and reconfiguration as the CIA.
During his tenure, Donovan oversaw a chaotic cast of some ten thousand agents drawn from the most conservative financial scions to the country's most idealistic New Deal true believers. Together they usurped the roles of government agencies both foreign and domestic, concocted unbelievably complicated conspiracies, and fought the good fight against the Axis powers of Germany and Japan. For example, when OSS operatives stole vital military codebooks from the Japanese embassy in Portugal, the operation was considered a success. But the success turned into a flop as the Japanese discovered what had happened, and hastily changed a code that had already been decrypted by the U.S. Navy.
Colorful personalities and truly priceless anecdotes abound in what may arguably be called the most authoritative work on the subject.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product details

Paperback: 456 pages
Publisher: Lyons Press; 1st edition (August 1, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1592287298
ISBN-13: 978-1592287291
Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
Average Customer Review: 31 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,078,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #819 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > True Crime > Espionage
- #9681 in Books > History > Military > World War II
- #13647 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Political Science

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Top customer reviews

Why isn't this book more compelling?

ByCapt. Jackon June 25, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

With a subject that is so intriguing, why isn't this book a page turner? Somehow, I find it tedious to read. The first part required self discipline to get through and then I finally got into the book to a somewhat greater degree. I think the reason is that it comes off as a laundry list of many characters who were involved in very interesting missions but the author has little time to delve into the individuals themselves. What I learned was that there was much more infighting among the allies than I was aware of. We must have lengthened the war by at least a year due to turf protection and misunderstandings, as well as our desire to set prior colonies free and the British desire to regain their empire after the war. All that waste of effort gave the Nazis more time. The other interesting point is that even though the way to enter the OSS often was to be an alum of an Ivy League school, there were quite a few interesting characters who got in via language/cultural know how or friendships with well connected people. Capt. Peter Ortiz is one of the most interesting. A Marine officer with prior service in the Foreign Legion, he spoke fluent French and knew his way around the German controlled area. His brave and very daring actions would fill a book. Another Marine who might have served in the Pacific was instead running a small sailboat fleet to supply Yugoslav partisans in their efforts against the Nazis. That was the actor Sterling Hayden.
The book appears to be very well researched and contains information not found in other books I have read. It does a thorough job of demonstrating the somewhat valid yet frustrating nature of our disagreements with the British and French over policy, strategy and even tactics. I just wish that the author had edited the material down and focused on key points rather than attempting to cover everything more shallowly.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

It is written like a school history book so it is very difficult ...

ByStymie26on August 3, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a hard read. It is written like a school history book so it is very difficult to get into. Perfect as a reference book for your personal library.

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I recommend this book for anyone interested in WWII

By2 Wheelon October 10, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

It is a little more of a liberal writing than I expected with regards to Special Forces and CIA history, but it is very informative and intriguing. Smith focuses on the personalities and activities of the senior-most members of the organization and strategic planning and execution of the secret plans that ultimately defeated the Axis powers.
I recommend this book for anyone interested in WWII, Special Operations, Special Forces (especially if you know the difference between the two), and Intelligence Community histories, or want a non-fiction book that reads almost like a political intrigue novella.

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E#ntertaining Peek at Donovans OSS

ByTaoiseach Da Caiselon June 16, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Took a while to arrive but I did not suffer.

Intrigued that author missed Artillery officer Joseph Bernard Kelly and "his" Nationalist Chinese in the "indo-Chinese" boonies broadcasting weather once per day and then running like hell. Joe attended Ho's birthday party in '45 before Joe took "his" Chinese out between threatening Nationalist Chinese and (prematurely arrived but usually arrogant) French lines.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Relevant History

Bychatonon July 18, 2011

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book is a must for anyone interested in the part Intelligence plays in the history of
our country- and its ramifications in the rest of the world . It is well researched, factual,
and presented to the readers clearly. Not only does it throw light on the importance of the
work done by the OSS during WW2, but lessons can be learned about the present time, especially
about the relationship between the different branches of our Intelligence System , as well
as that of Great Britain's . It is a great reference book, as well as a challenging one.
The roles played by the different heads of the Intelligence Agencies , even to petty
competing among them, are quite interesting - and give much food for thought. Recommended
reading , easy but revealing .

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

This is a very complex and detailed book that is ...

Bydiroccoon July 3, 2015

Verified Purchase

This is a very complex and detailed book that is most likely of interest to those who were either in the OSS or have a close relative who did serve, for discussion purposes. I read it to learn a lot about the situations my father encountered during his time in the service and OSS.

0Comment One person found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Save your time -- and money

ByWard W. Milleron February 13, 2014

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

This republished version begins with an essay of how wonderful the author feels about what he wrote many years ago. It was totally unnecessary. The original book itself was obviously written by an amateur. It is choppy, jumps around, is not smooth to read. Far from being a page-turner I would expect from the title. Sentence structure is sloppy, often with misplaced modifiers. Many sentences are excessively long. Paragraphing is poor. I'm surprised he claims it was professionally edited.

I'll admit I finally gave up while in the early part of the book. It was an awful read. I sincerely regret paying $9.09 for the Kindle version. A rip off. I wish I could get my money back.

In my 86 years, I can count on my two hands the books I did not finish reading. I'm sad to add this one to that count. I am astounded some readers gave this 5 stars. I charitably rated it 2 stars.

0Comment 6 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Unfortunately 20-20 hindsight is always the best. This book should definitely be made into a ...

ByLJKon September 26, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book shows that the "Allies" during World War 2 were not in lock step all of the time. Politics, imperialism, racism, and military egos were impediments to the war effort. The information in the book tells how the world got to where it is today. Unfortunately 20-20 hindsight is always the best. This book should definitely be made into a documentary series.