Three Days at the Brink: FDR’s Daring Gamble to Win World War II

Description and narrations of interaction between the most powerful leaders of the time, and the fateful decisions they had to make.

I think Bret Baier is one of the 'GOOD GUYS', in all respects. He is the Fair and Balanced gold standard. Having said that, I would have rated his book a 5+++ if it wasn't missing one essential piece, John Frank Wilson. Wilson was the Chief of the Secret Service ("SS") from December 1936 through 1946. Prior to the SS, Frank had worked with Herbert Hoover during WW 1 as a Special Agent (Investigator) for the Food Administration. With the end of WW 1 and the start of the Roarin'20s', Wilson joined the Special Intelligence Unit of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (since 1978 IRS- Criminal Investigation ("IRS-CI")). He was PIVOTAL in cleaning up corruption in the Prohibition Agency from 1920 - 1927; and after the Manly Sullivan Supreme Court Decision (1927- ill gotten gains were taxable), he fought the fight (Tax Evasion) against the Criminal Elite and other tax dodgers. He, along with some other peers, coined the modern day phrase Follow the Money and as a group were the first Fathers of Forensic Accounting. He and some of his peers (including my Great Uncle, Michael Francis Malone) took down Capone, solved the Lindbergh baby kidnapping and that was just for starters!. While head of the SS, he created the Know Your Money campaign to thwart Hitler's attempt to infuse counterfeit (as Hitler did in England) to undermine our economy. He also established presidential protection protocols that are still used today. This latter was essential for the safe care of FDR. I KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS TRIP SINCE I HAVE MANY, MANY DOCUMENTS FROM THE WILSON ARCHIVES. I'm talking the original Treasury Department AND SS documents as well as field notes by the agents. These documents would add 'flavor' to Baier's story-telling. It would also recognize this Band of Brothers (IRS-CI) from then to now- from Capone to Usama and along the way- Agnew, the Cartels, Terrorism, Varsity Blues and even Avenatti. MY DOCUMENTS ALSO GIVE CREDENCE TO THE MAJOR ROLES WILSON PLAYED IN SECURING AMERICA'S DESTINY FROM WW1 THROUGH THE EARLY 1950s. I also mention Wilson's "Chief", Elmer Lincoln Irey. Irey led the IRS-Intelligence Unit from its formation in 1919 thru the mid 1940s; and in 1939, FDR and Monengthau (Secretary of Treasury) charged Irey with also being Chief of the SS, Customs, Coast Guard and with what is now DEA and ATF. Thus it was IREY and WILSON who set the presidential protection FDR needed. I would think both would be mentioned in Baier's story-telling!

I've enjoyed all of Brett Baier's work. This was another interesting look at a crucial time in history. It focuses on FDR giving insights i never knew. It has as a good pace and is difficult to put down. Well done.

Este es un libro clave para conocer al presidente FDR y particularmente para aproximar al entendimiento de la repartición de Europa tras la WWII y cuales fueron los factores que le permitieron a Stalin quedarse con la mitad del continente. El análisis final sobre el caso de Trump, es bien sugestivo.paria haber sido mas analítico sobre las conferencias de Teheran y Yalta, pero no se si esa limitación se deba a la dificultad para consultar las fuentes, pues no hay comentarios sobre la consulta de los archivos de la antigua URSS o las dificultades con estos en otros países fuera de los EEUU. Pueden aun estar cerrados al publico.

Bret Baier nails it again with a gripping account of little-known historical events that shaped our world as it is today. Three Days at the Brink is a must-read for those who love World War II history.Little known facts, well-researched anecdotes and events of the era make this tome hard to put down. Researchers, history lovers and non-fiction readers will delight in its pages. Told in a unique way that only a leading hard news journalist can, Baier brings to light insights on these critical “three days” that, if they had taken a different turn, would have significantly changed modern world history.All Baier’s “Three Days” series of books have been some of the most insightful, well-written and researched books I have read on some of my favorite historical topics. Three Days at the Brink again, delivers. I highly recommend.

5-star for the third of the "Three-Day" series. Thanks to Bret Baier (and to Brian Kilmeade, for that matter), for compiling interesting and enlightening "short histories." This third release in the "Three-Day " series is the best.Interesting side notes: 1) As I was reading on page 176, my wife interrupted me and asked if I wold like to watch the movie "Darkest Hour?" What a great coincidence. 2) I was reading this during the coronovirus, panic induced, stock market drop. When I arrived at page 83 and read about the Stock Market crash leading to the Great Depression, I was unsure if I was reading history or current events!Dr. Stanley E. Toompas, Optometrist& author of, "I'm the One the Other Isn't"

I am over halfway through and enjoying this book. I really enjoyed his book on Ike! Will read the Reagan one next. Sadly, I would have thought that Brett would know simple things like military sites. Alas , he states that Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is in Seattle. It is not nor ever has been there. It is across the Sound in Bremerton, WA. It was most of the workers who lived and commuted by ferry from the Seattle-Tacoma area. My father, who could not serve due to horrible eyesight, worked there and helped build the smaller “pocket” carriers that were the decisive ships at Midway! He was always proud of that!

I am a big fan of history and historical fiction. This book is a gem. The research that had to be done to flesh out the personalities, venues and competing interests of Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt made this an intimate picture of the meeting. It provides a honest account of the gains and failures that arise from the meeting. Roosevelt was the driving force and achieved much; but the author also exposes Roosevelt’s unwillingness to see Stalin’s lust for European domination. Franklin let his dreams of a world where everyone got along cloud his perception of Soviet ambitions.Well researched; well written and very worthwhile.