Nixon's War at Home

The FBI, Leftist Guerrillas, and the Origins of Counterterrorism

By Daniel S. Chard | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

During the presidency of Richard Nixon, homegrown leftist guerrilla groups like the Weather Underground and the Black Liberation Army carried out hundreds of attacks in the United States. The FBI had a long history of infiltrating activist groups, but this type of clandestine action posed a unique challenge. Drawing on thousands of pages of declassified FBI documents, Daniel S. Chard shows how America’s war with domestic guerrillas prompted a host of new policing measures as the FBI revived illegal spy techniques previously used against communists in the name of fighting terrorism. These efforts did little to stop the guerrillas—instead, they led to a bureaucratic struggle between the Nixon administration and the FBI that fueled the Watergate Scandal and brought down Nixon. Yet despite their internal conflicts, FBI and White House officials developed preemptive surveillance practices that would inform U.S. counterterrorism strategies into the twenty-first century, entrenching mass surveillance as a cornerstone of the national security state.

Connecting the dots between political violence and “law and order” politics, Chard reveals how American counterterrorism emerged in the 1970s from violent conflicts over racism, imperialism, and policing that remain unresolved today.

Editions of Nixon's War at Home

Hardcover
ISBN 9781469664507
Paperback
ISBN 9781469696102
EBook
ISBN 9781469664521
EBook
ISBN 9798890855572
EBook
ISBN 9781469664514
PDF
ISBN 9798890855565

Read an Excerpt

During the presidency of Richard Nixon, homegrown leftist guerrilla groups like the Weather Underground and the Black Liberation Army carried out hundreds of attacks in the United States. The FBI had a long history of infiltrating activist groups, but this type of clandestine action posed a unique challenge. Drawing on thousands of pages of declassified FBI documents, Daniel S. Chard shows how America’s war with domestic guerrillas prompted a host of new policing measures as the FBI revived illegal spy techniques previously used against communists in the name of fighting terrorism. These efforts did little to stop the guerrillas—instead, they led to a bureaucratic struggle between the Nixon administration and the FBI that fueled the Watergate Scandal and brought down Nixon. Yet despite their internal conflicts, FBI and White House officials developed preemptive surveillance practices that would inform U.S. counterterrorism strategies into the twenty-first century, entrenching mass surveillance as a cornerstone of the national security state.

Connecting the dots between political violence and “law and order” politics, Chard reveals how American counterterrorism emerged in the 1970s from violent conflicts over racism, imperialism, and policing that remain unresolved today.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Nixon's War at Home about?

During the presidency of Richard Nixon, homegrown leftist guerrilla groups like the Weather Underground and the Black Liberation Army carried out hundreds of attacks in the United States. The FBI had a long history of infiltrating activist groups, but this type of clandestine action posed a unique challenge. Drawing on thousands of pages of declassified FBI documents, Daniel S. Chard shows how America’s war with domestic guerrillas prompted a host of new policing measures as the FBI revived illegal spy techniques previously used against communists in the name of fighting terrorism. These efforts did little to stop the guerrillas—instead, they led to a bureaucratic struggle between the Nixon administration and the FBI that fueled the Watergate Scandal and brought down Nixon. Yet despite their internal conflicts, FBI and White House officials developed preemptive surveillance practices that would inform U.S. counterterrorism strategies into the twenty-first century, entrenching mass surveillance as a cornerstone of the national security state.

Connecting the dots between political violence and “law and order” politics, Chard reveals how American counterterrorism emerged in the 1970s from violent conflicts over racism, imperialism, and policing that remain unresolved today.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Nixon's War at Home?

History and Archaeology > History > History of the Americas

Where can I read a sample of Nixon's War at Home?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781469664507

How long is Nixon's War at Home and how many pages does it have?

Nixon's War at Home has 384 page(s)

Is Nixon's War at Home part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Justice, Power, and Politics

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Nixon's War at Home?

Daniel S. Chard

Who is the Publisher of the book Nixon's War at Home?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Nixon's War at Home is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781469664507) and paperback(ISBN 9781469696102) and ebook(ISBN 9781469664521) and ebook(ISBN 9798890855572) and ebook(ISBN 9781469664514) and pdf(ISBN 9798890855565)

Where can I buy Nixon's War at Home online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Nixon's War at Home from below

Where can I buy Nixon's War at Home?