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Strategic intelligence and the shape of tomorrow
spies
191 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1974
About the author
William Montgomery McGovern
51 books6 followersWilliam Montgomery McGovern was an American adventurer, Northwestern University professor, anthropologist and journalist. He was possibly an inspiration for the character of Indiana Jones. McGovern's life may be more incredible than the fictional character he spawned. By age 30, he had already explored the Amazon and braved uncharted regions of the Himalayas, survived revolution in Mexico, studied at Oxford and the Sorbonne and become a Buddhist priest in a Japanese monastery. He became a beloved lecturer, war correspondent and military strategist.
His formative years were spent in Asia. McGovern graduated with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from the Buddhist monastery of Nishi Honganji in Kyoto, Japan at age 20 before going on to study at the Sorbonne and University of Berlin. He received his D.Phil. from Christ Church College, Oxford in 1922—working his way through school by teaching Chinese at the University of London. Shortly after graduation he began his first great expedition, to the remote mountain kingdom of Tibet. Another expedition to Peru and the Amazon would follow a few years later.
In 1937, McGovern was named Far East correspondent by the Chicago Times, arriving in Tokyo with his wife as war began with China.
When the United States joined what had become World War II, McGovern joined the United States Naval Reserve, serving from 1941 to 1945. His most important job was not martial in nature however. Throughout the war he would rise at 5:30 AM to prepare a top-secret newspaper on enemy capabilities and intentions. This paper was considered required breakfast reading for President Roosevelt and the Joint Chiefs.
At age 30, McGovern became assistant curator of the anthropology department at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History. Two years later, was appointed a professor of Political Science at Northwestern, a position he would hold for the rest of his life.
Between his time as a war correspondent during the Sino-Japanese War and the entry of the United States into World War II, McGovern lectured on government at Harvard University. During the post-War years, he lectured on military intelligence and strategy at the Naval, Air and Army War Colleges.
Reputed to speak 12 languages and deaf in one ear, McGovern was an academic celebrity known for outlandish foreign dress and holding court in Northwestern's University Club.
McGovern married his second cousin, Margaret Montgomery, and fathered four children—three daughters and a son. His granddaughter is actress Elizabeth McGovern.
His formative years were spent in Asia. McGovern graduated with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from the Buddhist monastery of Nishi Honganji in Kyoto, Japan at age 20 before going on to study at the Sorbonne and University of Berlin. He received his D.Phil. from Christ Church College, Oxford in 1922—working his way through school by teaching Chinese at the University of London. Shortly after graduation he began his first great expedition, to the remote mountain kingdom of Tibet. Another expedition to Peru and the Amazon would follow a few years later.
In 1937, McGovern was named Far East correspondent by the Chicago Times, arriving in Tokyo with his wife as war began with China.
When the United States joined what had become World War II, McGovern joined the United States Naval Reserve, serving from 1941 to 1945. His most important job was not martial in nature however. Throughout the war he would rise at 5:30 AM to prepare a top-secret newspaper on enemy capabilities and intentions. This paper was considered required breakfast reading for President Roosevelt and the Joint Chiefs.
At age 30, McGovern became assistant curator of the anthropology department at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History. Two years later, was appointed a professor of Political Science at Northwestern, a position he would hold for the rest of his life.
Between his time as a war correspondent during the Sino-Japanese War and the entry of the United States into World War II, McGovern lectured on government at Harvard University. During the post-War years, he lectured on military intelligence and strategy at the Naval, Air and Army War Colleges.
Reputed to speak 12 languages and deaf in one ear, McGovern was an academic celebrity known for outlandish foreign dress and holding court in Northwestern's University Club.
McGovern married his second cousin, Margaret Montgomery, and fathered four children—three daughters and a son. His granddaughter is actress Elizabeth McGovern.
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