President Truman signs the National Security Act, merging military departments into the National Military Establishment (later Department of Defense), creating the CIA and National Security Council, and establishing the National Security Resources Board to coordinate military, industrial, and …
Harry S. TrumanU.S. CongressDepartment of DefenseCentral Intelligence AgencyNational Security Councilmilitary-industrial-complexnational-security-stateintelligence-agenciesdefense-industryinstitutional-capture
President Harry Truman signs the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 on August 1, establishing the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) to control the development and production of nuclear weapons and to develop nuclear power. The act creates unprecedented peacetime secrecy powers and establishes the framework for …
CongressHarry TrumanBrien McMahonAtomic Energy CommissionDavid Lilienthal+2 morenational-security-stateregulatory-capturesecrecynuclear-industrymilitary-industrial-complex+1 more
The Joint Chiefs of Staff authorize Operation Paperclip on September 3, 1945, establishing a secret program to recruit German scientists, engineers, and technicians for American military and intelligence agencies. The program ultimately brings over 1,600 German scientists and their families to the …
Joint Intelligence Objectives AgencyWar DepartmentWernher von BraunState DepartmentOffice of Strategic Services+1 moreintelligence-apparatusnational-security-stateinstitutional-corruptionwar-crimescold-war+1 more
President Franklin D. Roosevelt issues a military order on June 13, 1942, establishing the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) under William “Wild Bill” Donovan, a Wall Street lawyer, Medal of Honor recipient, and well-connected Republican. The OSS becomes America’s first …
William DonovanFranklin D. RooseveltAllen DullesOffice of Strategic ServicesWall Street+1 moreintelligence-apparatusnational-security-stateelite-networkscovert-operationswall-street-government-revolving-door