Overview

Many Americans believe that their own government is guilty of shocking crimes. Government agents shot the president. They faked the moon landing. They stood by and allowed the murders of 2,400 servicemen in Hawaii. Although paranoia has been a feature of the American scene since the birth of the Republic, in Real Enemies Kathryn Olmsted shows that it was only in the twentieth century that strange and unlikely conspiracy theories became central to American politics. In particular, she posits World War I as a critical turning point and shows that as the federal bureaucracy expanded, Americans grew more fearful of the government itself--the military, the intelligence community, and even the President. Analyzing the wide-spread suspicions surrounding such events as Pearl Harbor, the JFK assassination, Watergate, and 9/11, Olmsted sheds light on why so many Americans believe that their government conspires against them, why more people believe these theories over time, and how real conspiracies--such as the infamous Northwoods plan--have fueled our paranoia about the governments we ourselves elect.

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With twenty-five-plus years of corporate and educational experience, Marie Hoffman brings wisdom and warmth to each and every project. Her voice has been described as articulate, friendly, and believable. Marie's corporate background includes publishing, investment banking, and years in the pharmaceutical industry, but she is well-versed in all business jargon. Marie also taught elementary school for many years, so adjusting the tone and tempo for children's books is a breeze. Marie is devoted to supporting and volunteering at the JBI Library (established in 1931 as the Jewish Braille Institute) in New York City. She sets aside time to record books so that those who are visually impaired can also enjoy published works of art. She also participates as a member of The Online Stage, a volunteer collective of narrators and actors who create high quality productions of classic dramatic works in audio format. Marie is an active member of the Audio Publishers Association and a founding member of the World-Voices Organization. Kathryn S. Olmsted is a professor of history at the University of California, Davis.

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