Secret Empire

Eisenhower, the CIA, and the Hidden Story of America's Space Espionage

By: Philip Taubman

Write A Review

Paperback | 1 March 2004 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Paperback
472 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
21.59 x 13.97 x 3.56

Paperback

$58.75

or 4 interest-free payments of $14.69 with

Ships in 5 to 10 business days

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.

Industry Reviews

Tom Wolfe Author of The Right Stuff It's hard to believe that the story of the biggest and most radically conceived espionage operation of the twentieth century hasn't been told before now....In this absorbing book, Philip Taubman shows us the entire Secret Empire for the first time.

Shipping

	Standard Shipping	Express Shipping
Metro postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Regional postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95
Rural postcodes:	$9.99	$14.95

How to return your order

At Booktopia, we offer hassle-free returns in accordance with our returns policy. If you wish to return an item, please get in touch with Booktopia Customer Care.

Additional postage charges may be applicable.

Defective items

If there is a problem with any of the items received for your order then the Booktopia Customer Care team is ready to assist you.

For more info please visit our Help Centre.

Preface	p. xi
Cast of Characters	p. xvii
Reimagining Reconnaissance 1946-1954
"Racing Toward Catastrophe,"	p. 3
The Origins of Strategic Intelligence	p. 35
Stargazing in Santa Monica	p. 57
Seeing Air	p. 72
"I Think I Have the Plane You Are After,"	p. 84
A New Spy Plane Takes Flight 1954-1956
The Role of a Lifetime	p. 113
"This Thing Is Made Out of Toilet Paper,"	p. 128
Photographing the President's Cattle	p. 149
Big Game Hunting	p. 169
Vaulting Into Space 1956-1976
Earthbound	p. 193
Creating Corona	p. 212
"Go Off and Build That Thing,"	p. 241
Heartbreak	p. 270
"Capsule Recovered Undamaged,"	p. 298
A Stradivarius, Not a Cracker Box	p. 325
Epilogue: Losing the Inventive Spark	p. 356
Notes	p. 371
Bibliography	p. 403
Acknowledgments	p. 421
Index	p. 427
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Secret Empire

Eisenhower, the CIA, and the Hidden Story of America's Space Espionage

At a Glance

Paperback

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

More in History

Waves of Plenty

Immigration and the Making of Australia

Old Vintage Melbourne, a culinary chronicle

Fighting for Country

The extraordinary life of Reg Saunders, Australia's first Indigenous military officer, hero of two wars

Don't Say Palestine

How the Media Manufactured Consent for Genocide

Betrayal

Trump, Putin and The New Age of Conquest

A History of the World in 51 Heroes and Villains

The rip-roaring new book from the hosts of The Rest is History

A Suitable Man

The Eccentric Empire of Fletcher Jones

Queens and Kings

An Unusually Personal History

Redwood

The Untold Story of the Cold War's Most Extraordinary Spy

The Cauldron

The Making of the Modern Middle East - The No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller

Profits, Prophets, Coaches and Kings

(When) Do Leaders Make a Difference?

The Counterrevolution

The Fall and Rise of Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement

The Revolutionists

The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s

Italian Folklore

Rituals, Celebrations, and Ancient Traditions

The Golden Menhir

An Illustrated Asterix Album

The Finest Hotel in Kabul

WOMEN'S NON FICTION PRIZE 2026 WINNER - A People's History of Afghanistan

PIX

The Magazine That Told Australia's Story

Nuclear Archipelago

Secrets, Power and the Biggest Atomic Blast in Australia

The Most Interesting People You've Never Heard Of

Matthew Flinders

A definitive and indisputable history of the man who mapped Australia

My Place: Young Readers Edition

An abridged edition of the award-winning Australian classic

The Burning Blue

Stories of the Navy's warriors in the skies

Major Hashida's Notebook

A Japanese spy's mission to Australia in World War II

Great Australian Bush Festival Stories

Weird, wacky & wonderful tales from the heart of Australia

This product is categorised by