Almost History : Close Calls, Plan B's and Twists of Fate in American History

New York: Hyperion, 2000. Bright, shiny, clean, square, tight, unmarked copy. Sharp corners. No owner's name or bookplate. No remainder mark. Illustrated with photos and document facsimiles. Includes Eisenhower's planned apology in case of D-Day failure; Nixon's cancelled speech on the possible death of Apollo XI astronauts; etc. From the publisher: "Almost History is a fascinating collection of speeches, memos, and other archival material that reveals how our government would have handled moments that almost - but didn't - come to be: JFK's prepared address justifying his bombing of Cuba during the 1962 missile crisis; Abraham Lincoln's plans for post-Civil War Reconstruction; the authorization for the use of American nuclear weapons in the Vietnam War; the CIA's memo discussing the use of Americans as guinea pigs in drug tests, the FBI's memo on deporting John Lennon, and much more. Compiled by a Deputy Director of the National Archives, this extraordinary and often provocative material demonstrates, in handwritten notes, telegrams, memos, and photographs, just how close we came to defeat, disaster, and distress - and provides chilling proof that the course of history can change in an instant." . First Printing of the First Edition. Hardcover. Fine condition/Near Fine jacket (price clip). 8vo. xviii, 282pp.