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Dark Quadrant: Organized Crime, Big Business, and the Corruption of American Democracy
From Truman to Trump, the deep corruption of our political leaders unveiled.
Many critiques of the Trump era contrast it with the latter half of the twentieth century, when the United States seemed governed more by statesmen than by special interests. Without denying the extraordinary vigor of President Trump’s assault on traditional ethical and legal norms, Jonathan Marshall challenges the myth of a golden age of American democracy. Drawing on a host of original archival sources, he tells a shocking story of how well-protected criminals systematically organized the corruption of American national politics after World War II.
Marshall begins by tracing the extraordinary scandals of President Truman, whose political career was launched by the murderous Pendergast machine in Missouri. He goes on to highlight the role of organized crime in the rise of McCarthyism during the Cold War, the near-derailment of Vice President Johnson’s political career by two mob-related scandals, and Nixon’s career-long association with underworld figures. The book culminates with a discussion of Donald Trump’s unique history of relations with the traditional American Mafia and newer transnational gangs like the Russian mafiya—and how the latter led to his historic impeachment by the House of Representatives.
Many critiques of the Trump era contrast it with the latter half of the twentieth century, when the United States seemed governed more by statesmen than by special interests. Without denying the extraordinary vigor of President Trump’s assault on traditional ethical and legal norms, Jonathan Marshall challenges the myth of a golden age of American democracy. Drawing on a host of original archival sources, he tells a shocking story of how well-protected criminals systematically organized the corruption of American national politics after World War II.
Marshall begins by tracing the extraordinary scandals of President Truman, whose political career was launched by the murderous Pendergast machine in Missouri. He goes on to highlight the role of organized crime in the rise of McCarthyism during the Cold War, the near-derailment of Vice President Johnson’s political career by two mob-related scandals, and Nixon’s career-long association with underworld figures. The book culminates with a discussion of Donald Trump’s unique history of relations with the traditional American Mafia and newer transnational gangs like the Russian mafiya—and how the latter led to his historic impeachment by the House of Representatives.
398 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 6, 2021
Jonathan Marshall has crafted an exceptional, riveting but disturbing book. Meticulously researched and documented, Dark Quadrant is an American Nightmare. The worst nightmares are the ones you cannot wake up from. Corruption,bribery, kleptocracy, thuggery, crimes, coverups, injustices, gangland hits - Marshall deftly traces the legacy from Truman to Trump. The rot infects the right and the left, Democrats and Republicans. This book should be read and remembered and re-read.
Minor minor criticisms: Jon delves into jaw-dropping detail on Harry Truman’s ties to the Kansas City Pendergast Machine but fails to mention Truman’s early career as a haberdasher. He sold men’s clothes.
Jon might have added a bit more color on one of the most blatant abuses of Presidential authority-the Presidential Pardon. Think Marc Rich, Scooter Libby, Susan MacDougak, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon ad nausea. Lots of dirt there on both sides of the Street.
The references and footnotes are comprehensive and pleasantly distracting. This explains why the book took longer to read. Side excursions into detailed stories on casino histories, mistresses, investment scamsetc doubled the reading time.
Note and disclosure: I just finished this book after a sleep-deprived marathon read, a kind of literary equivalent of a Netflix binge. After catching up on some sleep, I will attempt to write a proper review and highlight some of the book’s most compelling insights.
I first met Jon Marshall in the 1970s and lived in the same freshman dormitory. He is one of the most intelligent and well-read people I have encountered. This book has completely reinforced and updated my opinion.
Minor minor criticisms: Jon delves into jaw-dropping detail on Harry Truman’s ties to the Kansas City Pendergast Machine but fails to mention Truman’s early career as a haberdasher. He sold men’s clothes.
Jon might have added a bit more color on one of the most blatant abuses of Presidential authority-the Presidential Pardon. Think Marc Rich, Scooter Libby, Susan MacDougak, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon ad nausea. Lots of dirt there on both sides of the Street.
The references and footnotes are comprehensive and pleasantly distracting. This explains why the book took longer to read. Side excursions into detailed stories on casino histories, mistresses, investment scamsetc doubled the reading time.
Note and disclosure: I just finished this book after a sleep-deprived marathon read, a kind of literary equivalent of a Netflix binge. After catching up on some sleep, I will attempt to write a proper review and highlight some of the book’s most compelling insights.
I first met Jon Marshall in the 1970s and lived in the same freshman dormitory. He is one of the most intelligent and well-read people I have encountered. This book has completely reinforced and updated my opinion.
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March 7, 2021First, I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!
I certainly appreciate all the work the author put into compiling all this evidence on corrupt politics, especially as it pertains to government relations with criminal groups. Being the first book I've read on this topic, this feels like a comprehensive review on political corruption within the last 70 years. However, I found myself being overwhelmed by the number of incidents covered in this book - though that was probably the author's intention - and by the many names and their relationships with one another. Overall, I think this a very interesting topic and one that should NOT be overlooked, I just found the writing a bit dry and sometimes had difficulty staying focused. Also, I was rather surprised at how short the final chapter on Trump was. For the vast length the author spent covering Nixon's ordeals, I think he could've spent just as much time (at least) covering those of Trump's.
I certainly appreciate all the work the author put into compiling all this evidence on corrupt politics, especially as it pertains to government relations with criminal groups. Being the first book I've read on this topic, this feels like a comprehensive review on political corruption within the last 70 years. However, I found myself being overwhelmed by the number of incidents covered in this book - though that was probably the author's intention - and by the many names and their relationships with one another. Overall, I think this a very interesting topic and one that should NOT be overlooked, I just found the writing a bit dry and sometimes had difficulty staying focused. Also, I was rather surprised at how short the final chapter on Trump was. For the vast length the author spent covering Nixon's ordeals, I think he could've spent just as much time (at least) covering those of Trump's.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews