Nonfiction book about kermit roosevelt jrs role in the 1953 iranian coup detat. He left the cia in 1958 to work for american oil and defense firms, often visiting former operatives, and the shah, in iran. In the book roosevelt argued that mohammed mossadegh had to be removed to prevent a communist takeover of iran. According to stephen kinzer, author of the book all the shahs men. Five books on the legacy of the 1953 coup in iran iran the guardian. Kermit roosevelt is an assistant professor of law at the university of pennsylvania law school. Kermit roosevelt american intelligence official britannica. The son of theodore roosevelt, the 26th president of the united states, kermit was a graduate of harvard college, served in both world wars in world war i with both the british and american armies, and explored two continents with his father. He frequently serves as a media expert and keynote speaker on issues concerning national security, the supreme court, civil rights, and us presidential history. He was the son of kermit roosevelt and the grandson of president theodore roosevelt. As the iranian revolution crested in 19781979, the cia approved a memoir by kermit roosevelt, one of the architects of the 1953 coup against irans nationalist prime minister, mohammad mosaddeq. It is ironic that cia agent kermit roosevelt, the grandson of theodore roosevelt, published his book on the 1953 cia coup in iran and the return. Countercoup, the struggle for the control of iran kermit roosevelt. Though the title has a contemporary ring, former cia agent roosevelt s tale is actually a distant background to recent events in iran, the countercoup in question being the 1953 ciaengineered installation of shah reza pahlevi.
But for all roosevelt s attempt to demonstrate that. In his diabolical plans to wage war on iran, bolton is taking a page from roosevelt s playbook. The first of these attempts, which occurred almost 50 years ago to this day, is the subject of stephen kinzers riveting new book. Just as the cia operative used venal iranian politicians and fake news to. And from the shadows emerged a man who had, unbeknownst to many, played a key role in the life of the shah and. Although the americans assumed that mossadeq had become an ally or instrument of the russians, the book provides no. Kermit roosevelts memoir of the 1953 countercoup, with addendum, countercoup ii, by nikki k. To a fault and the detriment of the readers attention span, roosevelt captured nuances in the plot unknown to the general public at the time. Control of iran kermit roosevelt also by kermit roosevelt arabs, oil and history a sentimental safari war report of the o.
In the 1950s, when iran voted unanimously to nationalize their oil wells and created an international crisis, kermit was a senior officer in the central intelligence agencys. Jun 08, 2000 senior central intelligence agency officer and author. He had two brothers, joseph willard roosevelt and dirck roosevelt, and a sister, belle wyatt roosevelt. Cia, secrecy agreement, signed by kermit roosevelt, april 6, 1949, restricted.
Jun 22, 2000 kermit roosevelt kermit roosevelt, who has died aged 84, was the cia mastermind behind the overthrow in 1953 of iran s prime minister, muhammad mossadeq. By signing this secrecy agreement, kermit roosevelt agreed to abide by the provisions of the espionage act of 1917 pertaining to disclosure of defenserelated information, and acknowledged the penalties for violating the act. He slipped into iran on july 19, 1953 and immediately began his subversive mission. In his diabolical plans to wage war on iran, bolton is taking a page from roosevelts playbook. How the cia overthrew irans democracy in 4 days its no secret that iran and the u. The title is humorously absurd, implying that if we hadnt done our coup, they would have done theirs. He also appears fleetingly in a dream in william boyd s novel an icecream war. Sep 21, 2012 when the shah of iran died in egypt after a long battle with cancer on july 27, 1980, commentators lined up to assess his legacy. Despite the cia sending roosevelt a telegram to flee iran immediately, he began work on the second coup. Penn law professor, legal scholar, and novelist kermit roosevelt iii is doing his best to live up to the family nameincluding, in his latest book, by tackling cousin franklins executive order authorizing the confinement of more than 100,000 japanese americans in internment camps during world war ii. Kermit roosevelt books list of books by kermit roosevelt. Jun 20, 2017 64 years later, cia finally releases details of iranian coup new documents reveal how the cia attempted to call off the failing coup only to be salvaged at the last minute by an insubordinate spy. Louis san francisco dusseldorf london mexico sydney toronto.
Autographed seller antiquarian book shop published 1979 condition very good in very good dust jacket edition first edition. The book was first published incoinciding with the iranian revolution. Countercoup the struggle for the control of iran by roosevelt, kermit. Aug 18, 2003 it is ironic that cia agent kermit roosevelt, the grandson of theodore roosevelt, published his book on the 1953 cia coup in iran and the return of the shah in the same year that his majesty. The book recounts his role in overthrowing democratically elected iranian prime minister mohammad mossadegh with triumphant zeal. Countercoup, the struggle for the control of iran kermit. The book heroically recounts roosevelts adventures supervising a 1953 coup in iran. And from the shadows emerged a man who had, unbeknownst to many, played a key role in the life of the shah and his rise to absolute power kermit roosevelt, jr.
National security archive electronic briefing book no. Arrives in iran and the revolution begins posted on 07012009 by rhapsodyinbooks in 1901, the shah of persia the country was renamed iran in 1935 granted the angloiranian oil company the corporate predecessor of todays bp a monopoly on extracting, refining, and selling iranian oil. If roosevelt were to recount his iranian experience, this book would prove to be a loyal transcript. For at the time it was believed that iran, under the leadership of prime minister mossadegh, was slipping under russian domination and control. Kermit roosevelt, teddys grandson, was a cia operative and spearheaded the task of overthrowing the elected government of mohammed mossadegh in iran in.
Kermit roosevelt is a professor of constitutional law at the university of pennsylvania law school and a writer of fiction and nonfiction. Shah and cia director george bush okayed memoir idea. Mcgrawhill book company, 1979 political science 217 pages. Having worked at law firms in new york city, washington, d. Five books on the legacy of the 1953 coup in iran world. Discount prices on books by kermit roosevelt, including titles like war in the garden of eden. According to roosevelt, he slipped across the border under his cia cover as james lochridge on july 19, 1953.
After attending an episcopalian college preparatory school, groton, in groton, massachusetts, he completed a. The struggle for the control of iran is the controversial memoir of cia man kermit roosevelt aka kim roosevelt, grandson of former u. Kermit roosevelt was allowed to write this book by the cia because his grandfather was former president teddy roosevelt, so they gave him leeway in writing this book they would not have given. The strange odyssey of kermit roosevelts countercoup. The shah supposedly told the cia conspirator kermit roosevelt he owed his kingdom to him as well as to god, my people, my army, and he. The struggle for the control of iran by roosevelt, kermit isbn. According to stephen kinzer, author of the book all the shahs men, roosevelt quickly seized control of the iranian press by buying them off with bribes and circulating antimossadegh propaganda. Kermit roosevelt was allowed to write this book by the cia because his grandfather was former president teddy roosevelt, so they gave him leeway in writing this book they would not have given anyone else. When the shah of iran died in egypt after a long battle with cancer on july 27, 1980, commentators lined up to assess his legacy. Jun 11, 2000 kermit roosevelt, who was a member of the famous american political family but who made his contributions to the nation in the shadowy world of spy craft, died thursday at a retirement community. Kermit roosevelt, one of the leading figures in the cia and mi6backed coup against mohammad mosaddeq in 1953. Discover book depositorys huge selection of kermit roosevelt books online. Senior central intelligence agency officer and author. If roosevelt were to recount his iranian experience, this book would prove to be.
The book roosevelts beast by louis bayard is a fictitious story of the rondonroosevelt expedition. He left the cia in 1958 to work for american oil and defense firms. Kermit roosevelt, kim, american intelligence officer born 1916, buenos aires, arg. Countercoup, the struggle for the control of iran book, 1981. Supreme court justice, a graduate of yale law school, and a member of the human rights advisory board of harvards kennedy school of government. Written by kermit roosevelt, the cia agent who headed the mosaddeq coup. At the center of planning from 1951 and operations was kermit roosevelt, acting with the backing of the highest officials of the u.
He was the second child of president theodore roosevelt and his second wife, edith kermit carow roosevelt. Kermit roosevelt iii is a professor for law school in the university of pennsylvania with seven videos in the cspan video library. Kermit kim roosevelt, jr 19162000 find a grave memorial. Though the title has a contemporary ring, former cia agent roosevelts tale is actually a distant background to recent events in iran, the countercoup in question being the 1953 ciaengineered installation of shah reza pahlevi. Twentysix years after the mossadeq coup, kermit roosevelt wrote a book about how he and the cia carried out the. After attending an episcopalian college preparatory school, groton, in groton, massachusetts, he completed a fouryear course at harvard in twoandahalf years. Kermit roosevelt appears as a minor character in the wilbur smith novel assegai on safari in east africa with his father. Kermit roosevelt, jr project gutenberg selfpublishing. The former head of the middle east department of the cia during the 1950s, details his involvement in iranian politics. Twentysix years after the mossadeq coup, kermit roosevelt wrote a book about how he and the cia carried out the operation, called countercoup. The struggle for the control of iran, was published in 1979. Kermit roosevelt kermit roosevelt, who has died aged 84, was the cia mastermind behind the overthrow in 1953 of irans prime minister, muhammad mossadeq. Kermit roosevelt explains the rise and fall of the shah of iran. This books gives inside details on the 1953 cia overthrow of the popularly elected iranian government.
Kermit roosevelt, mc october 10, 1889 june 4, 1943 was an american businessman, soldier, explorer, and writer. But for all roosevelts attempt to demonstrate that. Keddie, middle east studies association bulletin, vol. Kermit roosevelt was the cia director in charge of the. May, 2014 kermit roosevelt, one of the leading figures in the cia and mi6backed coup against mohammad mosaddeq in 1953. The struggle for the control of iran kermit roosevelt. The shah supposedly told the cia conspirator kermit roosevelt he owed his kingdom to him as well as.
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