Skip to content Skip to navigation
University of Warwick
  • Study
  • |
  • Research
  • |
  • Business
  • |
  • Alumni
  • |
  • News
  • |
  • About

University of Warwick
Publications service & WRAP

Highlight your research

  • WRAP
    • Home
    • Search WRAP
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse WRAP by Year
    • Browse WRAP by Subject
    • Browse WRAP by Department
    • Browse WRAP by Funder
    • Browse Theses by Department
  • Publications Service
    • Home
    • Search Publications Service
    • Browse by Warwick Author
    • Browse Publications service by Year
    • Browse Publications service by Subject
    • Browse Publications service by Department
    • Browse Publications service by Funder
  • Help & Advice
University of Warwick

The Library

  • Login
  • Admin

Secrets, spooks and ghosts : memoirs and contested memory at the CIA

Tools
- Tools
+ Tools

Aldrich, Richard J. and Gaspard, Jules (2021) Secrets, spooks and ghosts : memoirs and contested memory at the CIA. Journal of American Studies, 55 (3). pp. 551-575. doi:10.1017/S0021875819001798 ISSN 0021-8758.

[img]
Preview
PDF
WRAP-secrets-spooks-ghosts-memoirs-CIA-Aldrich-2019.pdf - Accepted Version - Requires a PDF viewer.

Download (738Kb) | Preview
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021875819001798

Request Changes to record.

Abstract

The CIA is increasingly symbolic of major controversies in American foreign policy. It also presents the academic researcher with a fascinating paradox – since it is simultaneously secret and yet high-profile. In part, this is due to the CIA's willingness to allow former operatives to write memoirs. We argue that the memoir literature, authored by CIA personnel both high and low, together with others who worked alongside them, is now so dense that this allows us a degree of triangulation. Yet these memoirs are increasingly collective productions, involving censors, ghostwriters and teams of researchers, introducing conflicting voices into the text, and adding layers of separation between author and reader. We suggest that these ghosted memoirs, therefore, operate on several levels. For good or ill, these books shape the American public's perception of the CIA and should be studied closely, especially by those interested in the subjectivities of image management. This essay seeks to explore these issues by comparing four memoirs by CIA directors and acting directors who have served since 9/11.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: J Political Science > JK Political institutions (United States)
Divisions: Faculty of Social Sciences > Politics and International Studies
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): United States. Central Intelligence Agency, Intelligence officers -- United States -- Biography, United States -- Foreign relations, Intelligence service -- United States, United States. Central Intelligence Agency -- Officials and employees -- Biography, Intelligence service -- United States -- History -- 20th century, Intelligence service -- United States -- History -- 21st century
Journal or Publication Title: Journal of American Studies
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISSN: 0021-8758
Official Date: July 2021
Dates:
DateEvent
July 2021Published
8 January 2020Available
19 September 2019Accepted
Volume: 55
Number: 3
Page Range: pp. 551-575
DOI: 10.1017/S0021875819001798
Status: Peer Reviewed
Publication Status: Published
Reuse Statement (publisher, data, author rights): This article has been accepted for publication in a revised form for publication in Journal of American Studies https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-american-studies
Access rights to Published version: Restricted or Subscription Access
Copyright Holders: Copyright © Cambridge University Press and British Association for American Studies 2020
Date of first compliant deposit: 11 October 2019
Date of first compliant Open Access: 11 October 2019
RIOXX Funder/Project Grant:
Project/Grant IDRIOXX Funder NameFunder ID
UNSPECIFIEDLeverhulme Trusthttp://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000275
Is Part Of: 1
Related URLs:
  • Publisher

Request changes or add full text files to a record

Repository staff actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics

twitter

Email us: wrap@warwick.ac.uk
Contact Details
About Us