Book Discussion: The Ghost by Jefferson Morley

Discussion questions are below book description.

Book Description:
A revelatory new biography of the sinister, powerful, and paranoid man at the heart of the CIA for more than three tumultuous decades.

CIA spymaster James Jesus Angleton was one of the most powerful unelected officials in the United States government in the mid-20th century, a ghost of American power. From World War II to the Cold War, Angleton operated beyond the view of the public, Congress, and even the president. He unwittingly shared intelligence secrets with Soviet spy Kim Philby, a member of the notorious Cambridge spy ring. He launched mass surveillance by opening the mail of hundreds of thousands of Americans. He abetted a scheme to aid Israel’s own nuclear efforts, disregarding U.S. security. He committed perjury and obstructed the JFK assassination investigation. He oversaw a massive spying operation on the antiwar and black nationalist movements and he initiated an obsessive search for communist moles that nearly destroyed the Agency.

In The Ghost, investigative reporter Jefferson Morley tells Angleton’s dramatic story, from his friendship with the poet Ezra Pound through the underground gay milieu of mid-century Washington to the Kennedy assassination to the Watergate scandal. From the agency’s MKULTRA mind-control experiments to the wars of the Mideast, Angleton wielded far more power than anyone knew. Yet during his seemingly lawless reign in the CIA, he also proved himself to be a formidable adversary to our nation’s enemies, acquiring a mythic stature within the CIA that continues to this day.

1. James Angleton's paranoia and obsession:

Jefferson Morley portrays James Angleton as a complex figure whose paranoia and obsession with counterintelligence shaped the CIA's Cold War operations.

• What does the book suggest about the psychological and moral costs of living in a world of constant suspicion and deception?

• To what extent do you think Angleton's actions, such as his pursuit of Soviet moles and his involvement in covert operations, were justified by the geopolitical realities of the time?

2. Government Secrecy and Individual Liberty:

Morley explores the CIA's involvement in global politics and its secretive operations.

• How does the book illustrate the tension between government secrecy and the libertarian principle of transparency and individual liberty?

• Should there be limits to government secrecy, and if so, what should they be?

3. The Role of Intelligence Agencies in a Free Society:

The book delves into the CIA's influence on foreign and domestic affairs.

• What role, if any, should intelligence agencies play in a free society?

• How can we ensure these agencies do not overstep their boundaries and infringe on individual rights?

4. Moral Responsibility and Accountability:

Morley raises questions about the moral responsibility of individuals within powerful institutions like the CIA.

• How do libertarian principles of personal responsibility and accountability apply to those who carry out or enable covert operations?

• Should individuals within such institutions be held accountable for actions taken under orders?

5. The Impact of Covert Operations on Democracy:

The book highlights how covert operations can undermine democratic processes both abroad and at home.

• How do these actions align with or contradict libertarian ideals of self-determination and non-intervention?

• What steps can be taken to prevent intelligence agencies from undermining democratic institutions?

6. Legacy of the Cold War:

Angleton's career was deeply tied to the Cold War and its ideological battles.

• How does his story reflect the broader consequences of the Cold War on government power and individual freedoms?

• Do you think the Cold War shaped the intelligence agencies or vice versa?

• What parallels can libertarians draw to modern-day geopolitical conflicts?