The Triumph of Fear: Domestic Surveillance and Political Repression From McKinley to Eisenhower.

The article discusses "The Triumph of Fear: Domestic Surveillance and Political Repression From McKinley to Eisenhower," a book by Patrick G. Eddington that examines the development of the American surveillance state. Eddington utilizes newly declassified federal records to argue that the laws and policies enabling surveillance pose a significant threat to personal liberties and constitutional protections. The book spans from the early twentieth century to the end of the Eisenhower administration, highlighting how the mentality behind surveillance often targets groups perceived as threats to those in power rather than genuine threats to state security. Eddington emphasizes the importance of understanding this mentality over the technologies that facilitate surveillance. [Extracted from the article]