A “succinct and well-written” look at how presidents use secrecy to protect the nation, foster diplomacy—and gain power (The Wall Street Journal). Ever since the nation’s most important secret meeting—the Constitutional Convention—presidents have struggled to balance open, accountable government with necessary secrecy in military affairs and negotiations. For the first one hundred and twenty years, a culture of open government persisted, but new threats and technology have long since shattered the old bargains. Today, presidents neither protect vital information nor provide the open debate Americans expect. Mary Graham tracks the rise in governmental secrecy that began with surveillance and loyalty programs during Woodrow Wilson’s administration, explores how it developed during the Cold War, and analyzes efforts to reform the secrecy apparatus and restore oversight in the 1970s. Chronicling the expansion of presidential secrecy in the Bush years, Graham explains what presidents and the American people can learn from earlier crises, why the attempts of Congress to rein in stealth activities don’t work, and why presidents cannot hide actions that affect citizens’ rights and values. “Engrossing . . . chilling and fascinating.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Publisher description

A collection of brief stories coordinated with the actual events in a calendar year. Excerpt: ""Just because it was the first day of the year," commenced daddy, "and because parties were about the nicest things in the world to the mind of a little girl named Ella, her mother decided to give her one. "'It certainly does seem like the first of the year, or the first of something,' said Ella. 'It's a new day, a new year and we have new toys and new games. We are even going to have supper out of new dishes.' "For among the presents Santa Claus had brought to Ella was a fine set of dishes. They were pink and white and there were six cups and saucers, six little plates, a teapot, sugar bowl and cream jug. It was really a very complete set.

This book explores how policymakers, businesses, and citizen groups are using environmental pragmatism to resolve conflicts and begin shaping the next generation of environmental policy.

Stalking is a distinctive form of criminal activity composed of a series of actions (rather than a single act) that taken individually might constitute legal behavior. In domestic situations, stalking typically occurs after the woman has attempted to leave the relationship. The man, unable to accept rejection, and unwilling to let the woman leave, begins to follow, threaten, harass, or assault her. The term "separation assault" has been coined to describe this behavior. This is the 1996 annual report providing information concerning the incidence of stalking and the effectiveness of State antistalking efforts and legislation.

In December 1999, the Institute of Medicine shocked the nation by reporting that as many as 98,000 Americans died each year from mistakes in hospitals--twice the number killed in auto accidents. Instead of strict rules and harsh penalties to reduce those risks, the Institute called for a system of standardized disclosure of medical errors. If it worked, it would create economic and political pressures for hospitals to improve their practices. Since the mid-1980s, Congress and state legislatures have approved scores of new disclosure laws to fight racial discrimination, reduce corruption, and improve services. The most ambitious systems aim to reduce risks in everyday life--risks from toxic pollution, contaminants in drinking water, nutrients in packaged foods, lead paint, workplace hazards, and SUV rollovers. Unlike traditional government warnings, they require corporations and other organizations to produce standardized factual information at regular intervals about risks they create. Legislated transparency has become a mainstream instrument of social policy. Mary Graham argues that these requirements represent a remarkable policy innovation. Enhanced by computers and the Internet, they are creating a new techno-populism--an optimistic conviction that information itself can improve the lives of ordinary citizens and encourage hospitals, manufacturers, food processors, banks, airlines, and other organizations to further public priorities. Drawing on detailed profiles of disclosure systems for toxic releases, nutritional labeling, and medical errors, Graham explains why the move toward greater transparency has flourished during a time of regulatory retrenchment and why corporations have often supported these massive raids on proprietary information. However, Democracy by Disclosure, sounds a cautionary note. Just as systems of financial disclosure have come under new scrutiny in the wake of Enron's collapse, systems of social disclosure deserve car

The ancient Tongva people lived in the area that is now known as the city of Los Angeles. This book provides readers with a fascinating look into the culture and traditions of the Tongva. Primary sources make this a great resource for learning about the history of these American Indians of California. Students will learn about the religion and social structure of the Tongva, their interactions with Europeans, and the struggles they face today. Important topics from early elementary curricula of California are covered in rich detail alongside full-color images on each page.