Desperate Deception: British Covert Operations in the United States, 1939-44

by Thomas E. Mahl

- Reveals the widespread use of front groups, agents, and collaborators- Details how British agents manipulated polling data and influenced election campaigns

It was a desperate time for England. Faced with the growing prospect of war with Germany in 1939, the British government mounted a massive secret political campaign in the United States to weaken the isolationists, bring America into the war, and then influence U.S. war policy in England's favor. Desperate Deception details a vast program that not only helped change the course of World War II but also the face of American politics in succeeding decades.

Genres: History, World War II

257 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1997

Reviews

[Edward]

“Opinion surveys showed that some 80% of the American public strongly opposed involvement in the European war. Thus, Roosevelt’s prospects for an unprecedented third term in 1940 might have seemed very difficult, since he would either be forced to strongly commit himself to that position or else risk defeat against his Republican opponent, drawn from a party that was wholeheartedly anti-interventionist. But in one of the most unlikely twists in all of American political history, the June 1940 Republican convention held in Chicago selected as its nominee the obscure Wendell Willkie, a strongly pro-interventionist individual who had never previously held any public office and until just a few months earlier had been a committed lifelong Democrat.

Two decades ago, historian Thomas E. Mahl thoroughly documented that British intelligence agents played a crucial role in that extremely unexpected turn of events, quite possibly even employing lethal means. The resulting Roosevelt-Willkie race thus provided voters with virtually no choice on foreign policy matters, and FDR was reelected in a huge landslide, thereby largely freeing his hands to pursue a much more aggressive foreign policy.”
-Ron Unz, “The True History of World War II”

[Jeff Elliott · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not nearly as exciting as I had hoped. Mahl seems greatly pleased with providing names and addresses but thin on providing the what and how. Unless you are familiar with many 1930-1940 British figures the book is not of great value.

It could be summarized best by the sentence on pgs. 32-33: The tactic of British intelligence was to find people with useful views, then fund them, counsel them, guide them, and promote them. These people, given the proper guidance and proper coordination, were then used to attack Britain's enemies, namely the American isolationists, and move the United States toward war.

Really the only two figures that play any significant role in this story are Wendell Wilkie and Hamilton Fish in promoting the former and smearing the latter.

[Jared Hemphill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Think House of Cards. Seriously. I understand that England is by far the US’s greatest ally. I 100% that the US had to enter the war and break from their isolationist views in order to save Europe from the tyranny of Nazi Germany. But the motives of British intelligence? Sheesh. There is a reason spy movies are made about MI-6. What if I told you the British Security coordination infiltrated the Gallup polls to rig biased questions regarding the presidential election in the 40’s? What if I told you Intrepid, Britain’s greatest spy, got his men Inside of Hollywood to help produce films showcasing British propaganda? Or that female British spies SLEPT WITH US isolationists congressmen to sway their views? Absolutely insane.

[JW · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating book. The author shows how easily a foreign power can influence a nation when that nation’s government is collaborating with the foreign power. After reading this, you won’t see polling and journalism in the same way (or you’ll just be confirmed in what you already know).

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mind blower. Essential reading for anyone interested in WWII, the Cold War, or American foreign policy in the 20th century.