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Whistleblowers: Honesty in America from Washington to Trump
A "brisk and interesting" exploration of exposing misconduct in America--from the Revolutionary War era to the Trump years (Jill Lepore, The New Yorker).
PROSE Award winner in the Government, Policy and Politics category
Misconduct by those in high places is always dangerous to reveal. Whistleblowers thus face conflicting by challenging and exposing transgressions by the powerful, they perform a vital public service--yet they always suffer for it. This episodic history brings to light how whistleblowing, an important but unrecognized cousin of civil disobedience, has held powerful elites accountable in America.
Analyzing a range of whistleblowing episodes, from the corrupt Revolutionary War commodore Esek Hopkins (whose dismissal led in 1778 to the first whistleblower protection law) to Edward Snowden, to the dishonesty of Donald Trump, Allison Stanger reveals the centrality of whistleblowing to the health of American democracy. She also shows that with changing technology and increasing militarization, the exposure of misconduct has grown more difficult to do and more personally costly for those who do it--yet American freedom, especially today, depends on it.
"A stunningly original, deeply insightful, and compelling analysis of the profound conflicts we have faced over whistleblowing, national security, and democracy from our nation's founding to the Age of Trump." --Geoffrey R. Stone, award-awinning author of Perilous Times
"This clear-eyed, sobering book narrates a history of whistle-blowing, from the American Revolution to Snowden to Comey, and delivers the verdict that the republic is at risk--a must read." --Danielle Allen, award-winning author of Our Declaration
PROSE Award winner in the Government, Policy and Politics category
Misconduct by those in high places is always dangerous to reveal. Whistleblowers thus face conflicting by challenging and exposing transgressions by the powerful, they perform a vital public service--yet they always suffer for it. This episodic history brings to light how whistleblowing, an important but unrecognized cousin of civil disobedience, has held powerful elites accountable in America.
Analyzing a range of whistleblowing episodes, from the corrupt Revolutionary War commodore Esek Hopkins (whose dismissal led in 1778 to the first whistleblower protection law) to Edward Snowden, to the dishonesty of Donald Trump, Allison Stanger reveals the centrality of whistleblowing to the health of American democracy. She also shows that with changing technology and increasing militarization, the exposure of misconduct has grown more difficult to do and more personally costly for those who do it--yet American freedom, especially today, depends on it.
"A stunningly original, deeply insightful, and compelling analysis of the profound conflicts we have faced over whistleblowing, national security, and democracy from our nation's founding to the Age of Trump." --Geoffrey R. Stone, award-awinning author of Perilous Times
"This clear-eyed, sobering book narrates a history of whistle-blowing, from the American Revolution to Snowden to Comey, and delivers the verdict that the republic is at risk--a must read." --Danielle Allen, award-winning author of Our Declaration
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 26, 2019
Five stars for, if nothing else, the most fortuitous publication date imaginable.
What are the odds that a book - published by a University press (which, as a general rule, isn't in the business of rushing pulp to the big box bookstore shelves) - titled Whistleblowers would land on the front-of-the-bookstore tables ON THE DAY that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi would announce that the House would commence impeachment proceedings against the President of the United States based upon a whistle blower complaint, and the day before Congressional calls on the White House to release the (National Security) whistle blower complaint to the Congress, and the during the same week in which the complaint would become public and the Director of National Intelligence would testify before Congress about the handling of that whistle blower complaint? .... Oh, and that's not even the topic of the book!
Apologies, but, given the timing, it's impossible to be objective about the book - a serious (yet accessible), thought-provoking, examination of a very difficult question, authored by a proven, respected academic.
I may return to to supplement this review at a later date, but ... at this point ... all I can say is that ... given everything else going on this week, I really enjoyed reading the book, which is chock full of thought-provoking history and analysis, but, which I expect, will polarize readers, pleasing some and flummoxing/frustrating others.
What are the odds that a book - published by a University press (which, as a general rule, isn't in the business of rushing pulp to the big box bookstore shelves) - titled Whistleblowers would land on the front-of-the-bookstore tables ON THE DAY that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi would announce that the House would commence impeachment proceedings against the President of the United States based upon a whistle blower complaint, and the day before Congressional calls on the White House to release the (National Security) whistle blower complaint to the Congress, and the during the same week in which the complaint would become public and the Director of National Intelligence would testify before Congress about the handling of that whistle blower complaint? .... Oh, and that's not even the topic of the book!
Apologies, but, given the timing, it's impossible to be objective about the book - a serious (yet accessible), thought-provoking, examination of a very difficult question, authored by a proven, respected academic.
I may return to to supplement this review at a later date, but ... at this point ... all I can say is that ... given everything else going on this week, I really enjoyed reading the book, which is chock full of thought-provoking history and analysis, but, which I expect, will polarize readers, pleasing some and flummoxing/frustrating others.
September 5, 2019
It’s no secret that whistleblowers are self-sacrificers. They get blackballed, fired, their pensions get revoked, and their careers ended. But Allison Stanger’s book Whistleblowers is not really about those risks or the profile of these good Samaritans. Instead, it is about the history of American whistleblowers as seen through the corruption they witnessed, starting right at day one. The USA produces so many whistleblowers because it is so corrupt.
George Washington’s first Naval chief, Commodore Esek Hopkins, couldn’t be bothered following orders. He had personal business and his own agenda to attend to. There were profits to be made. He also tortured prisoners. He personally sued two whistleblowers, and Congress itself voted to foot their legal bills. It was not an auspicious beginning. Congress had to move to protect whistleblowers right off the top.
During the civil war, profiteers racked up fortunes gypping the military, selling it bullets filled with sawdust, shoes of paper and uniforms without buttonholes or buttons. The navy took delivery of ships so rotten they couldn’t hold a nail in place. It forced Congress to pass laws of accountability and safeguard whistleblowers. It allows whistleblowers to sue on their own behalf and on behalf of the victimized government.
Whistleblowers know they’re in for it. Despite all the laws, inspectors general and boards set up to protect them, they are seen as sneaky, disloyal, unworthy of trust or of their positions – or any others. For example, between 2007 and 2017, the OSHA whistleblower board threw out 30,000 claims (54%), upholding only 2%, Stanger says.
But the real meat of the book comes with the arrival of the internet. The flow of communications data has given birth to an enormous surveillance industry. The government employs hundreds of thousands to spy on the rest. It spends $50 billion of taxpayer money to spy on them. Personal privacy has long disappeared. If they want to know about you, they have the tools.
This has given rise to Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, and Chelsea Manning, three completely different cases with different approaches, that Stanger shows need to be differentiated. But ultimately the result is the same. The security establishment does not look kindly on whistleblowers, and they have to plan in advance to save themselves, fleeing to Russia or the Ecuadorean embassy in London. Otherwise, it’s prison.
The security establishment, being secretive to begin with, has difficulty defending itself. Even dealing with its own employees is tricky. When top secret documents were published in the New York Times, the NSA had to warn its own that anyone downloading a top secret document to an NSA computer, even though it was now public, would have to be prosecuted.
There is also hypocrisy, of course. While Barak Obama was hot to nail Edward Snowden as a traitor rather than whistleblower, General David Petraeus walks free even though he delivered top secret “black books” to his mistress and co-author of his autobiography. There wasn’t even a whiff of whistleblowing about it.
For reasons I don’t recall her explaining, Stanger limits her whistleblowing to exposing corruption in the government. But there is all kinds of it outside government as well. One major tragedy was the Madoff case, the largest Ponzi scheme in history at $50 billion. A whistleblower named Harry Markopolos tried for years to show the emperor had no clothes, but government agencies kept their blinders on regardless. Madoff’s scam imploded (as it eventually had to) on its own.
Stanger gets frustrated over it all as we come to the present – the Trump administration. Trump has made the police, security and justice admin jobs all but impossible. He demands loyalty not to the constitution, but to himself personally. He tries to influence and woo all kinds of officials he should have nothing to do with, and fires anyone who won’t do his bidding despite the laws of the land.
Whistleblowing on Donald Trump would be laughable. With all his profiteering from his properties, his manipulation of the stock market, and his appointment of people to do his bidding rather than their jobs, he has made corruption normal and acceptable. Stanger spends the entire Conclusion lamenting what has become of the security establishment and the rule of law under Trump. Whistleblowing doesn’t really enter into it.
She quotes Richard White: “Gilded Age reformers decried corruption. Today, plagued by financial scandals, we seem both fearful of corruption and resigned to it. We seem uncertain about who it actually hurts and what difference it ultimately makes. The Republic seems perpetually corrupted, but instead of being outraged, we are not sure it matters.” It’s the new normal in the USA.
So the book is only nominally about the fine art of whistleblowing. It is really another attack on the sad state of the federal government, thanks to Donald Trump. It is in and out of focus, with corruption history on top, followed by surveillance and security, followed by whistelblowers.
David Wineberg
George Washington’s first Naval chief, Commodore Esek Hopkins, couldn’t be bothered following orders. He had personal business and his own agenda to attend to. There were profits to be made. He also tortured prisoners. He personally sued two whistleblowers, and Congress itself voted to foot their legal bills. It was not an auspicious beginning. Congress had to move to protect whistleblowers right off the top.
During the civil war, profiteers racked up fortunes gypping the military, selling it bullets filled with sawdust, shoes of paper and uniforms without buttonholes or buttons. The navy took delivery of ships so rotten they couldn’t hold a nail in place. It forced Congress to pass laws of accountability and safeguard whistleblowers. It allows whistleblowers to sue on their own behalf and on behalf of the victimized government.
Whistleblowers know they’re in for it. Despite all the laws, inspectors general and boards set up to protect them, they are seen as sneaky, disloyal, unworthy of trust or of their positions – or any others. For example, between 2007 and 2017, the OSHA whistleblower board threw out 30,000 claims (54%), upholding only 2%, Stanger says.
But the real meat of the book comes with the arrival of the internet. The flow of communications data has given birth to an enormous surveillance industry. The government employs hundreds of thousands to spy on the rest. It spends $50 billion of taxpayer money to spy on them. Personal privacy has long disappeared. If they want to know about you, they have the tools.
This has given rise to Edward Snowden, Julian Assange, and Chelsea Manning, three completely different cases with different approaches, that Stanger shows need to be differentiated. But ultimately the result is the same. The security establishment does not look kindly on whistleblowers, and they have to plan in advance to save themselves, fleeing to Russia or the Ecuadorean embassy in London. Otherwise, it’s prison.
The security establishment, being secretive to begin with, has difficulty defending itself. Even dealing with its own employees is tricky. When top secret documents were published in the New York Times, the NSA had to warn its own that anyone downloading a top secret document to an NSA computer, even though it was now public, would have to be prosecuted.
There is also hypocrisy, of course. While Barak Obama was hot to nail Edward Snowden as a traitor rather than whistleblower, General David Petraeus walks free even though he delivered top secret “black books” to his mistress and co-author of his autobiography. There wasn’t even a whiff of whistleblowing about it.
For reasons I don’t recall her explaining, Stanger limits her whistleblowing to exposing corruption in the government. But there is all kinds of it outside government as well. One major tragedy was the Madoff case, the largest Ponzi scheme in history at $50 billion. A whistleblower named Harry Markopolos tried for years to show the emperor had no clothes, but government agencies kept their blinders on regardless. Madoff’s scam imploded (as it eventually had to) on its own.
Stanger gets frustrated over it all as we come to the present – the Trump administration. Trump has made the police, security and justice admin jobs all but impossible. He demands loyalty not to the constitution, but to himself personally. He tries to influence and woo all kinds of officials he should have nothing to do with, and fires anyone who won’t do his bidding despite the laws of the land.
Whistleblowing on Donald Trump would be laughable. With all his profiteering from his properties, his manipulation of the stock market, and his appointment of people to do his bidding rather than their jobs, he has made corruption normal and acceptable. Stanger spends the entire Conclusion lamenting what has become of the security establishment and the rule of law under Trump. Whistleblowing doesn’t really enter into it.
She quotes Richard White: “Gilded Age reformers decried corruption. Today, plagued by financial scandals, we seem both fearful of corruption and resigned to it. We seem uncertain about who it actually hurts and what difference it ultimately makes. The Republic seems perpetually corrupted, but instead of being outraged, we are not sure it matters.” It’s the new normal in the USA.
So the book is only nominally about the fine art of whistleblowing. It is really another attack on the sad state of the federal government, thanks to Donald Trump. It is in and out of focus, with corruption history on top, followed by surveillance and security, followed by whistelblowers.
David Wineberg
May 14, 2021
When reading reviews, you often see that something "should be required" reading. Few books truly earned that praise though, Stanger's book does.
The book is a quick, yet informative, rundown of whistleblowers and whistleblowing in/originating in the U.S.. Stanger doesn't pick a (political party) side, she swings in all directions, manages to not fall into sensationalism or demonization, and does a great job of giving credit where credit is due. She covers a lot, but the book is well-written and easily digestible (well, unless you end up choking on the subject matter and its implications).
A detail that I particularly valued was that Stanger provides a great service in differentiating between whistleblowing and simply leaking. The difference between the two are, far too often, lost in the midst of reactionary image managing, blame gaming, persecution, prosecution, and hero-worship. It is a differentiation that should be fiercely guarded!
The only real issue I have with the book, is that Stanger has sacrificed detail for succinctness. She focuses mainly on the proverbial big ticket items. Admittedly, this makes the world she describes more recognizable. After all, we've all heard of, watched, or read about one or more of the cases. However, with so much focus on the big splashes, she misses the "little" people. Some, of whom, are suffering the unfortunate consequences of their moral compass to this day.
In conclusion then, why do I think this should be required reading?
Well, the book is a very good illustrator of why it's important to not allow ourselves to get swept up in reactionary fears; A reminder that we should all consider what "safety" might actually mean. As Stanger points out, trading privacy for safety sometimes end up making us all less safe.
The book is a quick, yet informative, rundown of whistleblowers and whistleblowing in/originating in the U.S.. Stanger doesn't pick a (political party) side, she swings in all directions, manages to not fall into sensationalism or demonization, and does a great job of giving credit where credit is due. She covers a lot, but the book is well-written and easily digestible (well, unless you end up choking on the subject matter and its implications).
A detail that I particularly valued was that Stanger provides a great service in differentiating between whistleblowing and simply leaking. The difference between the two are, far too often, lost in the midst of reactionary image managing, blame gaming, persecution, prosecution, and hero-worship. It is a differentiation that should be fiercely guarded!
The only real issue I have with the book, is that Stanger has sacrificed detail for succinctness. She focuses mainly on the proverbial big ticket items. Admittedly, this makes the world she describes more recognizable. After all, we've all heard of, watched, or read about one or more of the cases. However, with so much focus on the big splashes, she misses the "little" people. Some, of whom, are suffering the unfortunate consequences of their moral compass to this day.
In conclusion then, why do I think this should be required reading?
Well, the book is a very good illustrator of why it's important to not allow ourselves to get swept up in reactionary fears; A reminder that we should all consider what "safety" might actually mean. As Stanger points out, trading privacy for safety sometimes end up making us all less safe.
September 25, 2019
Very readable considering the detail and the amazing bibliography. It certainly gave me all the information I wanted to know on dishonesty and corruption in government and the businesses connected to it from the Civil War to the present. The historic panoramic works to inform. From the more recent Watergate, Daniel Ellsburg, Wikilinks, Edward Snowden, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, there is added information I found elucidating. I certainly understand the way of corruption better now than I did before with even a glimmer of hope.
September 18, 2020
Interesting look at the history of whistleblowing in the US, from the Revolutionary War until the Trump administration. The more contemporary cases are the most interesting ones for me but also the ones I'm most familiar with, so there wasn't really anything new there. Nevertheless, a worthwhile read.
April 1, 2022
Whistleblowers: Honesty in America From Washington to Trump, by Allison Stanger (2019, 209pp). This started out promisingly, identifying Revolutionary commodore Esek Hopkins as the first target of American whistleblowers who, despite no supportive laws, were subsequently protected by the foresight of the Continental Congress from retaliation for identifying their commander’s misconduct. Stanger turns then to government corruption (among others New York Boss Tweed, military misspending during the Civil War, massive corruption by builders of railroads and congressional accomplices), allegations of treason against those revealing government misdeeds during the Vietnam War (Daniel Ellsberg) and the Watergate coverup (Deep Throat Mark Felt) among others, and some private sector misdeeds. The author takes pains to distinguish between whistleblowing and government leaks as she wandered heavily into areas of national security and the fight against terrorism. Unfortunately, she was seduced by the long, sensational, and sometimes continuing tales of Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning, and Julian Assange, devoting nearly half the book to these latter topics. Moreover, she concludes by writing about President Trump and some of his alleged misdeeds—ugh. Unfortunately, I think her time writing would have been better spent noting cases of true whistleblowing across the federal government (and other levels as appropriate), the outcomes of those activities, and repeatedly underscoring how difficult it is to succeed in identifying illegal government acts and actors, the woefully inadequate protections afforded whistleblowers, and things that ought to be done to protect the righteous among us. Instead, she dug into some of the most high profile cases of leaking and whistleblowing without bringing much new information to the table. It is nice to know/learn that we have a long tradition of whistleblower protections, but extraordinarily depressing to learn how ineffective those protections have been and how much of what the government does in the area of national security is nearly altogether outside the purview of whistleblower protections. I’m not opposed to the author noting some high profile cases to whet our appetite, but would have preferred that she tell we mere mortals dealing with everyday corruption or other illegalities how we can bring them to light without torching our careers and losing our families and friends. But that’s just me.
February 10, 2020
Thorough, rigorous & detailed exploration of whistleblowers & whistleblowing from the American Revolutionary War up to & including the tRump administration. Whistleblowing in the US began with a high ranking officer in the Continental navy who ignored & disobeyed orders & tortured captive prisoners of war. It was the latter act that got him in trouble but he had his defenders too & to this day is considered a hero in his home state's annals. Numerous later cases are cited. It is explained that in order to qualify as whistleblowing, illegal activity (crimes) must be exposed, anything less is not whistleblowing - it is merely leaking - & the person airing the information is not protected by federal whistleblower protection statutes.
Especially noteworthy & valuable in this expose is the contemporary, objective & balanced material on Edward Snowden, Julian Assange & wikileaks, & Bradley/Chelsea Manning. The author findings point to the conclusion that only Snowden can legitimately claim whistleblower status.
This is essential reading!
Especially noteworthy & valuable in this expose is the contemporary, objective & balanced material on Edward Snowden, Julian Assange & wikileaks, & Bradley/Chelsea Manning. The author findings point to the conclusion that only Snowden can legitimately claim whistleblower status.
This is essential reading!
November 14, 2020
A very interesting book on the history of whistleblowing from the Revolutionary War(Yes!) to the Civil War graft and corruption of supplying the troops to Boss Tweed and his crooked politics in NY to Daniel Elsberg and the Pentagon Papers, to Watergate to Julian Assange and Wikileaks to Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning! Whistleblowers endanger their careers, their pensions, their personal security and their well-being to bring to light fraud, bad practices and greed in our American governmental systems. While we all want smaller government, the contracting out of much government work to private contractors often results in huge cost overruns, corruption and tasks not well done. And because there are so many private contractors, including private prisons, immigration control, security operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to mention a few, the graft is incredible. Whistleblowers are needed to balance democracy.
March 7, 2020
Allison Stranger has made a thoughtful contribution to a thorny challenge in a democracy. She catalogues in Whistleblowers those who came forward from the Revolutionary War navy to civil war scammers, Credit Mobilier, Boss Tweed, to Teapot Done, Watergate and Edward Snowden. The wiki-Leaks revelations of purloined e-mails from the DNC were a coordinated effort, with Russian collusion, to assist Trump and damage Hillary Clinton.not whistleblowing. It is frightening to see what Trump has done to whistleblowers during his term in office. Much will have to be restored after he leaves office.
October 11, 2023
This book had a good premise but a disappointing execution. There was no consistent thread in this book - it jumped from stories of whistleblowers to the author's opinions of the NSA to a conclusion that was pretty much exclusively about Donald Trump. The stories themselves were often confusing, with names thrown around that hadn't been introduced yet. For instance, Edward Snowden was referenced several times before his chapter of the book. I think the author had some great points, but the book was a slog to get through.
January 25, 2025
A very important book as we move into a dangerous age.For example, an update. On January 24th,
President Trump fired at least 12 inspectors general late on Friday night, three people with knowledge of the matter said, capping a week of dramatic shake-ups of the federal government with a purge of independent watchdog officials created by Congress to root out abuse and illegality within federal agencies. In this book the author warns about the possibility of this happening and the consequences to society.
President Trump fired at least 12 inspectors general late on Friday night, three people with knowledge of the matter said, capping a week of dramatic shake-ups of the federal government with a purge of independent watchdog officials created by Congress to root out abuse and illegality within federal agencies. In this book the author warns about the possibility of this happening and the consequences to society.
March 8, 2021
This was a thorough and comprehensive history of whistle-blowing in our country since its inception. The book was well thought out and brought together many instances of whistle-blowing that I had forgotten about. Our country depends on whistle-blowers to right wrongs, but it is the whistle-blowers themselves who often end up in a worse situations. While so important, whistle-blowers often do it at a real cost to their lives.
December 30, 2019
In comparison, the Mueller book on whistleblowing is better. I agree with the author's premise of this book, but wish the book's author had more thoroughly researched the law surrounding whistleblower protections.
April 21, 2020
Extremely interesting book on the history of whistleblowers in the US and how the term has been muddied by recent cases such as Snowden and WikiLeaks. I would be curious about a sequel on whistleblowing in the private sector.
October 3, 2019
Now more than ever this is a must read .
February 10, 2021
More accurate title would be ‘A close look at US government Whistleblowers in the 21st century’. Still an interesting read though.
January 6, 2024
Interesting book chronicling various whistleblowers throughout American history. Takes an objective stance and highlights the importance of whistleblower protection in order to find truth. Also covers recent incidents like Edward Snowden, Wikileaks, and Chelsea Manning.
February 20, 2020
Eye opening and inspiring (author and whistleblowers)
April 4, 2025
If interested in American politics and surveillance and international security then you will enjoy this well-researched book!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews