The government is hiding information from its citizens-or so most
Americans believe. While even some members of Congress now call for
greater access to classified documents, federal agencies continue
to withhold a massive amount of information in the name of national
security, maintaining a culture of secrecy rooted in the Cold War.
This new book examines who in government is hiding what from the
rest of us, how they're doing it, and why it should matter to all
of us. Contributing scholars, journalists, and attorneys survey the
policies of federal intelligence agencies and presidents-notably
Nixon, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton-to keep information secret. They
show how these agencies have gone far beyond legitimate security
needs to withhold information, and they describe the frustrations
and costs encountered in their own efforts to obtain classified
information.
The authors review important cases exemplifying State
Department, agency, and presidential efforts to withhold, destroy,
or delay release of these records. In chapters centering on the
Kennedy assassination, the Nixon tapes, and the FBI's files on John
Lennon and the Supreme Court justices, readers will find an
abundance of startling and disturbing revelations. By citing some
of the methods used by agencies like the CIA, NSA, NSC, and FBI to
circumvent the Freedom of Information Act-often with the
cooperation of the judicial system-these essays clearly show that
abuses of secrecy aren't limited to the withholding of information
but extend to the absurd lengths taken to avoid disclosure.
With the Cold War over and in the wake of challenges to the
status quo from the Moynihan Commission, A Culture of Secrecy is
particularly timely reading for a concerned public. Its cases will
instruct others seeking access to classified material, and its
exposure of government practices may lead to greater openness that
will facilitate historical research and guarantee the public's
right to know.
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