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

by Philip Taubman

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.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Audiobook, Science, Space, Military Fiction

472 pages, Paperback

First published January 14, 1999

Reviews

[Jerome Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A readable and well-researched history of the early years of American reconnaissance platforms, particularly the U-2 spyplane and the CORONA satellites (which makes up the bulk of Taubman’s book).

I’m not sure Taubman provides any new information, and he doesn’t provide any background on the systems that preceded CORONA (Samos) or on the GAMBIT satellite that complemented CORONA’s capabilities. Taubman stresses the role that President Eisenhower played in the development of these reconnaissance platforms, although his treatment of Richard Bissell is more critical than usual for books covering this topic.Taubman also notes the scale of these achievements as the US produced, tested, and successfully deployed revolutionary technologies in a matter of a few years.

Taubman assesses the many benefits that these new platforms provided; one of which was that US policymakers no longer had to worry about the alleged “bomber” and “missile” gaps, and US intelligence analysts were finally able to bury this concern once they received the platforms’ take. Taubman also repeats the old canard that the US relies too much on satellite-collected intel and does not have a good enough HUMINT capability; Taubman does not provide much background or support for this statement, nor does he really define success here. And much of the text appears to be missing needed citations.

There’s a few quibbles as well that you might catch if you’ve read newer books on these programs. The first U-2 is called Article 351 (it was 341). Taubman writes that Eisenhower approved Project Genetrix on December 27, 1953 (it was December 17). He writes that 46 balloon payloads from Genetrix were recovered (it was 47) Lionel Crabb is also called “Crabbe.”

A thorough, accessible, and well-written book, although it may not have too many new revelations if you’ve read up on the subject before.

[Al Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at the CIA’s espionage surveillance under The Eisenhower administration; specifically the U2 and corona satellite.

A clear enjoyable read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opened my eyes to the importance of technology in intelligence, and the ways that Eisenhower as well as Cambridge influenced it.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent summary of the early days of spy satellites and how the US became the technology leader. The conclusion is precautionary with the new threat of terrorism that complicates the effective gathering of intelligence. Very enlightening. President Eisenhower was a visionary leader in this field and deserves the credit for our early successes.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had some really interesting moments -- usually when talking about the science and testing of the new surveillance systems -- but was bogged down by lengthy, excruciatingly boring passages and brow-beating repetition. The parts about Skunk Works were really interesting, as were parts at the end about the development of a Science & Technology directorate at the CIA.

The epilogue--which claims that successes in aerial reconnaissance were responsible for the US short-changing human intelligence--is preachy and ignores a lot of other factors that contributed to the under-resourcing of human intelligence ahead of 9-11.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Philip Taubman's well-researched account of how the Eisenhower administration harnessed scientific, engineering, and military talent to innovate aerial and space reconnaissance systems is eminently readable for laymen and quite informative. The book centers primarily on the challenges regarding development and utilization of the U-2 spy plane, as well as the Corona spy satellite; while there is coverage of the SR-71 "Blackbird" and KH-11 spy satellite (among other satellites), those instruments take a relative backseat in the final fourth part of the book.

The book is at its best when describing the engineering challenges that Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works at Lockheed and other contractors had to face and the strategic calculations of President Eisenhower in deploying these espionage systems. Taubman gives fairly objective accounts of the personalities involved in the development of these systems, though Curtis LeMay depicted as an initial obstructionist to these systems comes out a little worse for wear, as does the National Reconnaissance Office. Taubman provides most of the scientific background information needed to understand how the systems worked, as well as the historical development of key ideas and concepts that underlay these systems. Taubman also notes how these systems were in a sense too successful; the CIA put more emphasis on imagery intelligence more suited to the Cold War than human intelligence, which Taubman blames in part for intelligence failure regarding al-Qaeda's September 2001 terrorist attacks.

The primary issue with the book is less with its substance and more with its organization and editing, as other reviewers have noted. There are a multitude of passages that are essentially repeated, as if the book had been written as separate stand-alone chapters that were all stitched together at the end. This might prove useful if one is reading the book over a long period of time, where the relations between personalities and certain key ideas behind development might have been forgotten, but going the whole way through was more tedious than it should have been.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in intelligence, the military-industrial-scientific complex, the Eisenhower administration, and a good real-life story.

[Caden James Howlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful book that goes far beyond outlining some Cold War era satellite missions--to me, it primarily served as a history of the very earliest space program, which laid the foundation for humans walking on the Moon, Hubble, etc. Without the work of the Eisenhower administration, CIA, NRO, and outside companies (such as Lockheed), none of this would have gotten off the ground. From the initial proposal titled "Preliminary design of an experimental world-circling spaceship" to the ability to image license plates from 100 miles away, the history of space imagery and its role in national defense is underappreciated. I recommend!

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best and most complete book on the history of US satellite reconnaissance I have run across over the years. Not overly technical, but just right. History of programs an developers in light of current events at the time is spot on.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

It should no longer come as a surprise what our government, and other goverments, are doing under the guise of national security. Yikes.

[Danny Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very much a history book on spying during the Eisenhower administration, which can be very interesting if espionage fascinates you, but if you're not into it I can see it being a bit slow.
It gives a lot of detail on spy technology during that time - development of the U2 and the first spy satellites. It also gives an interesting take on the political battles of introducing new technology (and developing it). It also gives a very good prelude to the how the Russians got Sputnik into the air before the US.
It presents all of this in an interesting and engaging way (again assuming you're interested in the topic). I found the book The Falcon and the Snowman from a reference in this book.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because I really enjoy this topic, I wanted to give it a higher rating, but I just couldn't. Despite the fascinating historical drama with the highest stakes imaginable, the writing kept the book from being all it could be. It was repetitive, as if he wrote the chapters separately at different times and then threw them together without regard to whether or not he had used some of the material earlier. A competent editor could delete 90 pages from this book and no one would notice.

That aside, the material is fascinating, and rightly gives credit to some unsung heroes of the Cold War. America got its money's worth from the CIA's scientific and technical programs in the 1950s and 60s.

If you are interested in Cold War history, grit your teeth and wade in. It's worth the trouble.

[Shea Mastison · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure if the guy who wrote this is a journalist, historian, or propaganda shill for the military industrial complex; some how, this book combines all the worst facets of each profession. I'm not sure how, but the parts of this book that should have been fascinating and exciting come across as boring. The historical characters come off as incredibly two-dimensional (which is astonishing considering these were REAL people).

Don't even bother reading this. Even if you are a history buff. Don't do it. Seriously.

[Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taubman provides a sympathetic but not uncritical portrait of the scientists, engineers, and military and political leaders who made American overhead reconnaissance - the U-2, the SR-71, and the Corona satellites - possible. He covers the technology without getting bogged down in details, and offers a measured call for the US to continue its investment in satellites, but not to the exclusion of other forms of intelligence gathering.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting overview of the era and the players involved.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much more detailed about the U2 than Corona or the SR71 programs. Would have benifitted from that

[Gary Pearson]

Very interesting and eye opening. Eisenhower was not asleep at the switch. He grew greatly in my eyes after reading this. Read this with "Skunk Works" as a tandem.

[Matt Singer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great cold war history.