Library Journal
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The FBI has had a substantial impact on U.S. society from its inception in 1908 through the advent of the war on terror. Theoharis (history, Marquette Univ.; The FBI and American Democracy: A Brief Critical History) inquires into its myths and realities. He criticizes the bureau for frequent abuses of power and its failure to meet its stated law enforcement or intelligence goals-especially regarding Soviet espionage in the 1940s and 1950s and recent terrorist threats. Theoharis outlines the FBI's deception about its activities with other government agencies and demonstrates its use of extralegal and illegal means to conduct criminal investigations and damage reputations of agency critics. He shows how the FBI advanced its own political agenda, especially practices that promoted McCarthyism and secretly undermined dissident organizations in the 1960s and 1970s. This clear, thoughtful presentation is strongly recommended for both public libraries and academic institutions.-Steven Puro, St. Louis Univ. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.