Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The incredible true story of the dissident journalist who went from being a 13 year-old resistance fighter in Nazi-occupied Greece, to a Washington insider who -- according to Christopher Hitchens -- uncovered the secret behind Watergate. Elias Demetracopolous (1928-2016) is perhaps one of the most overlooked figures in 20th century political history.
As a 13 year-old in occupied Greece he was tortured and imprisoned for his daring resistance efforts against the Nazis. After his life was miraculously spared he became a journalist, covering the American Embassy in Greece and gaining access to powerful figures in both governments.
When the military junta seized control of Greece in 1967, he escaped the country and for seven years was the leading advocate in Washington for restoring democracy in Greece. Over the years, his scoops and pursuit of uncomfortable truths put him at odds with the Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter administrations. He became the object of CIA, FBI, and State Department surveillance and smear campaigns. There were Greek plots to kidnap and eliminate him.
Demetracopolous's lifetime of standing up for democracy and a free press against powerful special interests has much to teach us about our own era of journalist intimidation, dark money, and international intrigue.
Synopsis
The first-ever biography of Elias Demetracopoulos, a relentless freedom fighter and journalist who held the secret behind Watergate Elias Demetracopoulos (1928-2016) is among the most fascinating yet overlooked figures in 20th-century political history. As a precocious twelve-year-old in occupied Athens, he engaged in heroic resistance efforts against the Nazis, for which he was imprisoned and tortured.
After his life was miraculously spared, he became a journalist, covering American affairs in Greece. A clever and scoop-hungry reporter, Elias soon gained access to powerful figures in both governments . . . and attracted many enemies. When the Greek military dictatorship took power in 1967, he narrowly escaped to Washington where he would lead the fight to restore democracy in his homeland--while running afoul of the American government, too.
Now, after a decade of research and original reporting, James H. Barron uncovers the story of a man caught between the military junta in Greece and Cold War America--dangerous places about which Elias knew valuable secrets.
Throughout his life, Elias's tireless pursuit of uncomfortable truths would put him at odds with the Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan administrations, making him a target of CIA, FBI, and State Department surveillance and harassment.
A stunning feat of biographic storytelling that reads like a real-life cold war thriller, The Greek Connection is about a lifetime of standing up for democracy and a free press against powerful special interests. It has much to teach us about our own era of journalist intimidation, dark money, and international intrigue.
Synopsis
"This is a magnificent work, a triumphant combination of exhaustive research and fine narrative writing. The story of the Greek Connection to the Watergate saga is told through a sweeping biography of a compelling figure who captures our attention from beginning to end."
--Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Leadership: In Turbulent Times He was one of the most fascinating figures in 20th-century political history. Yet today, Elias Demetracopoulos is strangely overlooked--even though his life reads like an epic adventure story . . .
As a precocious twelve-year-old in occupied Athens, he engaged in heroic resistance efforts against the Nazis, for which he was imprisoned and tortured. After his life was miraculously spared, he became an investigative journalist, covering Greece's tumultuous politics and America's increasing influence in the region. A clever and scoop-hungry reporter, Elias soon gained access to powerful figures in both governments . . . and attracted many enemies. When the Greek military dictatorship took power in 1967, he narrowly escaped to Washington DC, where he would lead the fight to restore democracy in his homeland--while running afoul of the American government, too.
Now, after a decade of research and original reporting, James H. Barron uncovers the story of a man whose tireless pursuit of uncomfortable truths would put him at odds with not only his own government, but that of the Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan administrations, making him a target of CIA, FBI, and State Department surveillance and harassment--and Greek kidnapping and assassination plots American authorities may have purposefully overlooked.
A stunning feat of biographic storytelling, sweeping from World War II to the Cold War, Watergate and beyond, The Greek Connection is about a lifetime of standing up for democracy and a free press against powerful special interests. It has much to teach us about our own era's abuses of power, dark money, journalist intimidation, and foreign interference in elections.
Synopsis
"This is a magnificent work, a triumphant combination of exhaustive research and fine narrative writing."
--Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Leadership: In Turbulent Times
He was one of the most fascinating figures in 20th-century political history. Yet today, Elias Demetracopoulos is strangely overlooked--even though his life reads like an epic adventure story . . .
As a precocious twelve-year-old in occupied Athens, he engaged in heroic resistance efforts against the Nazis, for which he was imprisoned and tortured. After his life was miraculously spared, he became an investigative journalist, covering Greece's tumultuous politics and America's increasing influence in the region. A clever and scoop-hungry reporter, Elias soon gained access to powerful figures in both governments . . . and attracted many enemies. When the Greek military dictatorship took power in 1967, he narrowly escaped to Washington DC, where he would lead the fight to restore democracy in his homeland--while running afoul of the American government, too.
Now, after a decade of research and original reporting, James H. Barron uncovers the story of a man whose tireless pursuit of uncomfortable truths would put him at odds with not only his own government, but that of the Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan administrations, making him a target of CIA, FBI, and State Department surveillance and harassment--and Greek kidnapping and assassination plots American authorities may have purposefully overlooked.
A stunning feat of biographic storytelling, sweeping from World War II to the Cold War, Watergate and beyond, The Greek Connection is about a lifetime of standing up for democracy and a free press against powerful special interests. It has much to teach us about our own era's abuses of power, dark money, journalist intimidation, and foreign interference in elections.
Synopsis
Spanning from WWII to the Cold War and beyond, this is the "magnificent . . . triumphant" biography of the investigative journalist, resistance fighter, and whistle blower who helped expose the Watergate scandal (Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of Leadership)
He was one of the most fascinating figures in 20th-century political history. Yet today, Elias Demetracopoulos is strangely overlooked--even though his life reads like an epic adventure story . . .
As a precocious twelve-year-old in occupied Athens, he engaged in heroic resistance efforts against the Nazis, for which he was imprisoned and tortured. After his life was miraculously spared, he became an investigative journalist, covering Greece's tumultuous politics and America's increasing influence in the region. A clever and scoop-hungry reporter, Elias soon gained access to powerful figures in both governments--and attracted many enemies. When the Greek military dictatorship took power in 1967, he narrowly escaped to Washington DC, where he would lead the fight to restore democracy in his homeland--while running afoul of the American government, too.
Now, after a decade of research and original reporting, James H. Barron uncovers the story of a man whose tireless pursuit of uncomfortable truths would put him at odds with not only his own government, but that of the Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan administrations, making him a target of CIA, FBI, and State Department surveillance and harassment--and Greek kidnapping and assassination plots American authorities may have purposefully overlooked.
A stunning feat of biographic storytelling, sweeping from World War II to the Cold War, Watergate and beyond, The Greek Connection is about a lifetime of standing up for democracy and a free press against powerful special interests. It has much to teach us about our own era's abuses of power, dark money, journalist intimidation, and foreign interference in elections.