“The most revelatory book ever written on current American intelligence, espionage and covert action.”
—Michael R. Beschloss, The Boston Globe
“A revealing and important book…. Casey emerges in these pages as an American original, a feisty, profane, pugnacious, dogmatic old man, determined to bull his way past the Congress, the press, the secretary of state, the ‘bean counters’ in his own agency, and any other obstacles to his brand of big-stick jingoism…. Woodward remains one of the best reporters of his generation, a man who knows how to play the subtle access game as well as anyone, and who emerges not only with his integrity intact, but with one hell of a story.
—J. Anthony Lukas, The Washington Post Book World
“VEIL was the code word for all covert action in the later years of the Reagan administration…. In Veil, Casey emerges as a passionate anti-communist and wily strategic thinker, albeit with the cloak-and-dagger mind-set he developed as spy-master for the OSS during World War II…. Woodward paints a rich portrait of the hands-on director determined to affect policy…. Much of what [Casey] might have said—and some of what he might never have admitted—has been uncovered by Watergate reporter Bob Woodward.”
—Newsweek
“Veil is an intimate, inside look…an intriguing book that deserves the attention of anyone interested in government, history, intelligence, or just plain good reading. One of Veil’s key strengths is its insight into Casey’s overall strategy…. Woodward uses Casey’s CIA years to take a chronological tour of the Reagan administration’s intelligence and foreign policy apparatus. And what a tour it is.”
—Business Week
“A sweeping, alarming investigation of the government’s most hyperactive spy agency…. Woodward, America’s most remarkable reporter, has done another job equal to his reputation…. Veil is a great book.
—Chicago Sun-Times
“Superbly written…. Veil has all the ingredients of a real-life spy thriller. It is a fascinating, engrossing and very informative insider’s look into America’s covert intelligence operations…. The book is full of fascinating stories about some of our country’s most sensitive secrets.”
—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Woodward’s shocking new book…turns out to be super reading…. With Veil, he’s done the almost impossible—he’s topped himself…. A wild story.”
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram
“Reading Veil is something like watching the Iran-contra hearings on TV. If you were hooked on them, as I was, you’ll gobble up Veil, as I did.
—USA Today
“Veil is a masterful, behind-the-scenes narrative of political intrigues at the highest levels of the federal intelligence bureaucracy…. It is investigative high gossip and a damn good read.”
—The Village Voice
“No matter whether they love or hate the book, intelligence professionals can’t ignore Veil—its wealth of detail about U.S. spying activities is unprecedented.”
—The Christian Science Monitor
“Veil makes for fascinating, backside-glued-to-the-chair reading. The world of deception, double-dealing and dirty tricks—among top Washington bureaucrats as much as cloak-and-dagger types abroad—comes to vivid life.”
—Newsday
“Veil is a literary sensation of the first magnitude.”
—New York Post
“An impressive gathering of information…. This is a broad, deep and tantalizing glimpse into what drove the Reagan administration from one crisis to another.”
—The Milwaukee Journal
“Woodward has provided a valuable primer on what can happen when an over-zealous CIA director decided to make policy…. The value is in Woodward’s ability to capture the details of how Casey blended intelligence with ideology…. The country’s best investigative reporter in the hottest political book of the year.”
—The Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
“The revelations are merely the bold strokes in a penetrating, profane, and sometimes brilliant portrait…. Woodward has got into the belly of the beast. It’s all here…. This is no archeological dig through the skeletons of the past. This is real-time intelligence.”
—The New York Times Book Review
“Veil’s credibility rests partly on Woodward’s reputation for accuracy—he has a way of being right—but even more, it rests on its own cumulative impact…. Much of Veil is like taking the case off a watch and observing its mechanism, the mechanism being the top levels of government…. Why did Casey talk? What’s the good of knowing secrets if you can’t tell anybody? The man’s temperament explains it. Wild Bill’s heir wanted a Boswell.”
—Houston Chronicle