My thanks to both NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing Trade for an advance copy on this history of the effort of one man's efforts to stop war profiteering and waste during the Second World War.

War is big business. As the Pentagon can not account for billions of dollars spent, and never seems to be asked too, preparing for war can also be a clever way of making money. I remember when I first started reading history and was always amazed at sections showing poor food, spoiled food, shoddy equipment, or even worse dangerous equipment given to navys and armies who were exploring or even fighting wars in far flung places. How could anyone justify letting people die, just for a few dollars. Or losing a war, for a few dollars more. Then I started working part-time and saw this happened all the time, even in my little town. Every war has a winner, most of the time its those involved in the machinery of making war. Harry S. Truman, a junior senator from Missouri knew this. He might be new to higher office, but his time working in machine politics are shown him that if people can steal money, they will. Truman created a bipartisan committee that went after those that wasted money, or put those fighting the Axis in danger from its own equipment. And his plain speaking secured Truman his legacy. The Watchdog: How the Truman Committee Battled Corruption and Helped Win World War Two by journalist and NPR editor Steve Drummond tells the history of Truman and his committe, the enemies made, and the impression Truman made on both the public, and his own party.

Harry S. Truman was a man who found his place after many starts and failures. Truman loved his wife, his daughter, his part of Missouri, America and helping people. Truman started in politics as part of the Democratic machine that controlled most of the Missouri government, though he tried to not be a part of it. When Truman had to compromise it bothered him deeply, however this gave him the training to see graft and motivation to skirt the law that would later help him in his time in the Senate. Truman narrowly won his second election to the US Senate, and needed something to prove himself both to his party and his supporters. And Washington preparing for war was the perfect cause. Truman knew that spending for war lead to a lot of money going nowhere, or being spent badly, or even into pockets of business men, and certain members of government. Truman decided to look into this, and soon his life would never be the same.

A very good look at both Truman, and the way the government first prepared for war, and finally paid for war. Drummond is very good at making things flow well, and even what should be dry material, senate hearings, has all the tension and interest of a good thriller. What surprised me was the amounts of money, even today, this seems like real money, though it is quaint to see that Truman was making $10,000 a year in the Senate. Truman comes across well, but Drummond is quick to point out Truman's less than PC comments about minorities. Though for his time Truman really did stand out on many issues. The book is very well written, and clearly. There is a large cast, and most of their stories are told well, and their contributions are noted, and frankly should be celebrated. Truman's committee did very good work, and helped saved lives.

A different look at World War II discussing both how this country began to prepare for war, those Americans who wished to profit from it, and those who said, no we are better than this. A perfect Father's Day gift for readers of both history, and biography.