As perhaps might be expected, release of the book was fraught with controversy. Bamford was first attracted to the subject of international espionage after reading the u2 affair by david wise and thomas b. For 30 years, james bamford obsessively documented the secretive national security agency. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. The puzzle palace by james bamford is basically a novel about with the advancement of technology, the ways to obtain information have become more advanced and easy to get. This was the first major investigation of the nsa since james bamford s 1982 book the puzzle palace. It dwarfs the cia in budget, manpower, and influence. As a result of the decades of illegal surveillance by the nsa, in 1978 the foreign intelligence surveillance act fisa was signed into law and the foreign intelligence surveillance court fisc came into existence. James bamford is the nation s foremost expert on the national security agency nsa. Bamford has taught at the university of california, berkeley, as a distinguished visiting professor and has written for the new york times magazine, the atlantic, harper s, and many other. Bamford has been writing about the inner workings of the nsa since his first book, the shadow factory.
On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. Aug 31, 2010 but he was also one of the first jfk researchers to go public with his suspicions about bamford s posturing and clearly had problems with bamford s tip off. Bamford was an intelligence analyst during the vietnam war, and earned a j. Tron 1982 the ultimate in predictive programming 21st. Top 200 books published in 1982 that people have added on goodreads. James bamford, author of the puzzle palace viking penguin, 1982, about the national security agency, is currently at work on a second book about the agency. As of 29 september 1982, further information has become available in. Apr 25, 2001 in 1982, james bamford published the puzzle palace, his first expose on the national security agency. James bamford responds to charges made in secrecy news. Bamford describes the origins of the supersecret agency during the first world war, and takes the reader through all key events and personnel into the early years of the. The latest book by james bamford, an expert on the national security agency, reconstructs the agencys recent history.
I read bamfords first book on nsa in 1982, shortly after it was published, and it was excellent. The list of his reportorial coups to the present day is long and impressive. The title refers to a nickname for the nsa, which is headquartered in fort meade, maryland. James bamford born september 15, 1946 is an american bestselling author, journalist and documentary producer widely noted for his writing about united states intelligence agencies, especially the national security agency nsa. Its staff numbers 25,000, almost half the 45,000 reported in v. Bamford has taught at the university of california, berkeley, as a distinguished visiting professor and has written for the new york times magazine, the atlantic, harpers. The puzzle palace by bamford, james and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
The news about grand central is only one small nugget buried in the gold mine that james bamford s astonishing book on what is correctly subtitled america s most secret agency. For the september 2014 issue of wired magazine bamford spent three days in moscow interviewing edward snowden, the most time any journalist has spent with him there. Three decades later, james bamfords pronouncement feels. The ideas acquired from others can help advance the civilization or ultimately to keep the threat of competition at a minimal. The book the nsa tried to suppress with a startling new afterword on the geoffrey arthur prime spy case. In 1982, james bamford published the puzzle palace, his first expose. Essential reading still for anyone wanting the definitive public history of the nsa, the only caveat to that statement is that you should also buy and read bamford s other books on the subject too. The central security service was established by presidential directive in 1972 to promote full partnership between the nsa and the cryptologic elements of the armed forces. James bamfords 1982 classic is an eyeopening exploration of the national security agency the nsa. Connect with users and join the conversation at wired. Inside the national security agency, americas most secret intelligence organization exposed a 1976 justice department criminal investigation into massive illegal domestic nsa wiretapping, a nightmare that reemerged into public consciousness during the george w. Edgar hoover, seth rosenfeld, the author of subversives, picks his. In 1947, the governments of the united states, the united kingdom, canada, australia, and new zealand signed a secret treaty in which they agreed to cooperate in. As the nsa s surveillance technology expands and many americans grow disenchanted with the.
James bamford books list of books by james bamford. Our relations with him since that initial contact, though proper, have been conducted at arms length. Pam zekman, andy segal, sandy bergo and jack murphy wbbmtv chicago an investigation of how chicago police were covering up the extent of crime. Author james bamford, a former naval security group communications technician and an investigative producer for abcs world news tonight, first publicized the agencys operations in his 1982 book. The shadow factory, published in 2008, was a new york times bestseller.
A report on americas most secret agency, was published in 1982. A report on americas most secret agency by james bamford 1982, hardcover at the best online prices at ebay. Body of secrets by james bamford schneier on security. James bamford the puzzle palace an investigation of the national security agency. This book, dating from 1982, is a description of the current and past activities of the. James bamford has done more than any other individual to shed light on the national security agency and to promote public accountability of this intensely secretive organization, dating back to his landmark 1982 book the puzzle palace. He is a white, non hispanic male registered to vote in escambia county, florida. A report on americas most secret agency by james bamford 1982, hardcover.
Jun 03, 2001 author james bamford, a former naval security group communications technician and an investigative producer for abc s world news tonight, first publicized the agency s operations in his 1982 book. James bamford on nsa spying and edward snowden 12 june 2014. Read james bamfords bio and get latest news stories and articles. This was far too long a lapse for bamford to claim any scoop. As the nsas surveillance technology expands and many americans grow disenchanted with the agencys activities since 911, bamford. From james bamfords revelations about the nsa to an oral history of j. Author of the puzzle palace, the definitive book on the nsa, which was published under dire threat in 1982 from the nsa. James michael bamford age 75 is listed at 4830 andrade st pensacola, fl 32504 and is affiliated with the republican party. Feb 11, 2020 in 1982, james bamfords book on the nsa, puzzle palace, identified references to the boris project in letters from hagelins nsa liaison, william friedman, which friedmanwhom the post describes as the father of american cryptologyhad donated to the george marshall foundation at the virginia military institute in 1969.
Published in 1982, it was the first book ever written about the national security agency and it became an immediate bestseller. But its a fair bet that bamford will find a way to work the bloodbath at the taj mahal hotel into the long n. Author james bamford answers viewer questions about the national security agency, the 911 attacks, and more. Obtaining information for my first book, the puzzle palace, was the most. On march, 20, sitting at his desk in the tunnel surrounded by computer screens, snowden read a news story that convinced him that the time had come to act. Bamford, working as an investigative producer for abc news, had been intending for a while to write a chapter to update his 1982 book the puzzle palace, working in his spare time. Our salerooms offer a great service and a fun antiques buying or selling experience. They know much more than you think by james bamford. Inside the national security agency, americas most secret intelligence. A report on nsa, americas most secret agency by bamford, james and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
One of the main protagonists in the book was a dissident and political prisoner andrei mironov. So it is with nsas secrecy now that james bamford, a lawyer turned investigative reporter and writer, has given us the puzzle palace. Anatomy of the ultrasecret national security agency. The book is impressive not just for its breadth, but also its depth. The puzzle palace a report on nsa americas most secret agency. Buy puzzle palace by james bamford online at alibris. Bamfords is a family run business based in two derbyshire locations. Aug 14, 2014 his first book, the puzzle palace in 1982, was the first book published about the national security agency, nsa. Sep 23, 1982 the puzzle palace by james bamford is basically a novel about with the advancement of technology, the ways to obtain information have become more advanced and easy to get. Bamford describes the origins of the supersecret agency during the first world war, and takes the reader through all key events and personnel into the early years of the reagan administration.
Bamfords 1982 book is a reminder to anyone who thinks that domestic. James bamford first penetrated the wall of silence surrounding the nsa in 1982, with the muchtalkedabout us bestseller the puzzle palace. The book is impressive not just for its breadth, but also. Jun 10, 20 bamfords 1982 book is a reminder to anyone who thinks that domestic eavesdropping is a necessary part of a post911 world that the n. James bamford has written two newer and especially postsnowden important books but this remains a fascinating and gripping read even in the historical context it now exists in. September 1946 in atlantic city, new jersey ist ein us amerikanischer. Bamford knows how to pique your interest, as if you were peeking under the covers at some of the us closely guarded secrets. Bamford writes, a macbook air loaded only with sophisticated encryption package. Folio nsa first became aware of bamfords intentions to write a book in march 1978 when we received the first of 11 foia requests. Bamford s second major work on nsa has brought forth the same kind of strong feelings as accompanied his earlier the puzzle palace 1982. He noted that the full body of the document was available from january 29 th, 1998. Certainly, there was awareness, from disclosures such as those in james bamfords 1982 book the puzzle palace, that agencies such as the national security agency nsa were employing advanced and highly secret technologies to spy upon foreign governments and their agents who might attempt to harm the united states and its citizens, but their.
Sep 29, 2014 also significant was james bamfords 1982 book the puzzle palace, which revealed the existence of the nsa at that time. James bamford born september 15, 1946 is an american bestselling author and journalist noted for his writing about united states intelligence agencies, especially the national security agency nsa. For the first time, he tells of his turn as an nsa whistleblower. Discount prices on books by james bamford, including titles like the chinese black chamber an adventure in espionage.
Body of secrets by james bamford houston chronicle. Bamford has a lengthy, august, 2014 with the title above. The puzzle palace is a book written by james bamford and published in 1982. James bamford s 1982 classic is an eyeopening exploration of the national security agency the nsa.
The spy factory pbs nova special on the nsa written and directed by bamford 03 february 2009. James bamford is a writer and producer, known for nova 1974, no end in sight 2007 and the national security forum 2015. Why uncle sams ears are burning the washington post. Sep 28, 2014 also significant was james bamfords 1982 book the puzzle palace, which revealed the existence of the nsa at that time. In 1995, he and tom bowman wrote series of six articles on the national security agency. Bamford, a former producer with abcs world news tonight with peter jennings, has written about the nsa in two previous books, the puzzle palace. James bamford s the puzzle palace was a national bestseller when it was first published and now regarded as a classic.
James bamford was born on february 26, 1967 in victoria, british columbia, canada. For bamford, there is only black and white when it comes to the foreign intelligence surveillance act, a 1978 law that specifically requires warrants for any nsa wiretapping of u. Meanwhile, the public has only now come to realize there is such an organization, while the media was denying the existence of such an entity into the late 90s. In 1995, he cowrote a sixpart explanatory series of articles on the national security agency, the first major investigation of nsa since james bamford s 1982 book the puzzle palace. Jan 11, 2009 but its a fair bet that bamford will find a way to work the bloodbath at the taj mahal hotel into the long n.
He is known for his work on watchmen 2009, the butterfly effect 2004 and the chronicles of riddick 2004. James bamford is the nations foremost expert on the national security agency nsa. He was threatened with prosecution in 1982 for revealing the secrets of. His new expose on the nsa is called body of secrets. The national security agency is the largest, most secretive, and potentially most intrusive american intelligence agency. In 1982, long before most americans ever had to think about warrantless eavesdropping, the journalist james bamford published the puzzle palace. It is the first major, popular work devoted entirely to the history and workings of the national security agency nsa, a united states intelligence organization. His series on a public health project in nepal won the nation s top sciencewriting award from the american association for the advancement of science in 2001. James bamfords 1982 book the puzzle palace, which revealed the existence of the nsa at that time. James bamford has been the preeminent expert on the national security agency since his reporting revealed the agencys existence in the 1980s.
In body of secrets he offers shocking new details about the inner workings of the agency, gathered through unique access to thousands of internal documents and interviews with current and former officials. Its purpose was, for the first time, to require the nsa to get judicial approval for eavesdropping on americans. Body of secrets by james bamford the author of a pioneering work on the nsa delivers a new book of revelations about the mysterious agencys coverups, eavesdropping and secret missions. Although the book is much more than a new interpretation of the israeli attack on the uss liberty, bamford s handling of that incident has dominated much of the discussion. In 1982, he released the puzzle palace, the first major book on the nsa. The author of a pioneering work on the nsa delivers a new book of.