Negotiator

The Life and Career of James B. Donovan

By: Philip J. Bigger

Narrated by: Robertson Dean

The first and only biography of intrepid attorney James B. Donovan, who was recruited by the CIA during the Cold War to broker near-impossible negotiations - now the basis for Steven Spielberg's Cold War film Bridge of Spies.

Charming, bold, and good humored, James Donovan was a larger-than-life figure who led a fascinating and magnificently varied career, primarily as a negotiator on behalf of prisoners. When fresh out of law school, Donovan enrolled in the United States Navy during World War II and, toward the end of the war, was charged with collecting and recording evidence of Nazi atrocities, a role that then transitioned into his becoming a prosecutor at the Nuremberg trials. Once returned to the United States, he set up a private legal practice, and his reputation grew rapidly.

In 1957 he became involved with defending the captured Russian spy Rudolf Abel and then rapidly became embroiled in a much larger international political melee as he attempted to secure the release of the captured American U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers. Working privately but sanctioned by the CIA, he made many trips to East Berlin until his eventual success. His career would then see another twist as he was entrusted with negotiating directly with Fidel Castro over the fate of the prisoners from the Bay of Pigs fiasco. In the midst of his international negotiating career, he found time to run for the US Senate and become a university president.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2016 Philip J. Bigger (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Remarkable man

More people should know about this remarkable man. His early death was a big loss.

brilliant story

This is an exquisite book about a fascinating man. Old school, old money but a very moral, dedicated, hard working family man and the things he accomplished in his tragically short life. Seems like he just knew who was--a very well educated man who happened to come from a little money but he was also kind of a regular guy. He was also a lawyer who seemed to be able to cut through all the garbage and get right to the heart of the matter in plain terms. He wanted to know the truth and respected it when he got it. His life is so much more than just Bridge of Spies. I'm so happy I listened. What an amazing man. through his work in Ww2 he gets a reputation as a hard worker, smart. One thing leads to another and before you know it he's negotiating wth Fidel Castro for some peoples freedom. He gets way more than expected because he was so DAMN GOOD! Read this fantastic book!