Casey: 2the Lives and Secrets of William J. Casey: From the OSS to the CIA

The late William Casey's (1913-1987) multifaceted career in law, investment banking, publishing and writing included serving as chairman of the SEC and as undersecretary of state for economic affairs. In 1980 he took over the flagging presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan, later earning an appointment as director of the CIA. Working from interviews and exclusive access to Casey's papers, Persico ( Edward Murrow ) here writes a detailed, firmly three-dimensional biography covering each phase of a controversial life. The author describes how Casey restored the morale and effectiveness of the CIA, but shows that, due to his role in the Iran- contra affair, Casey left the Agency in virtually the same demoralized state in which he found it in 1981. The final quarter of the biography offers an account that notably clarifies the Iran- contra fiasco. 50,000 first printing; $50,000 ad/ promo; author tour. (Oct.)