Heavy Radicals: The FBI's Secret War on America' - The Revolutionary Union / Revolutionary Communist Party 1968-1980

The FBI's Secret War on America's Maoists is a history of the Revolutionary Union/Revolutionary Communist Party, the largest Maoist organization in the US, from its origins in 1968 to its decline in the 1980s. The group was the focus of J. Edgar Hoover and other top FBI officials for an array of operations, including informant penetration, setting organizations against each other, planting phony communist collectives, and using FBI 'friendly journalists.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 392 pages
Publication date: 28 October 2022
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing

The FBI's Secret War on America's Maoists is a comprehensive history of the Revolutionary Union/Revolutionary Communist Party, the largest Maoist organization to emerge in the United States. Spanning from its origins in the tumultuous year of 1968 to its eventual decline in the 1980s, this book delves into the organization's expansion into a national entity in the early 1970s, its penetration into major industries throughout the early part of that decade, and the devastating schism that followed the death of Mao Tse-tung.

From the very beginning, the Revolutionary Union/Revolutionary Communist Party (RU/RCP) became the focal point of J. Edgar Hoover and other top FBI officials. These officials launched an unrelenting array of operations aimed at dismantling the organization. These operations included:

Informant penetration: The FBI employed various tactics to gain access to the RU/RCP, including recruiting informants within the organization.

Setting organizations against each other: The FBI attempted to create divisions and conflicts within the RU/RCP by encouraging rival factions to engage in infighting.

Setting up phony communist collectives: The FBI created fake communist groups to infiltrate and disrupt the RU/RCP. These groups were often led by FBI agents or informants.

Planting of phone taps and microphones in apartments: The FBI used surveillance techniques to monitor the activities of RU/RCP members by installing phone taps and microphones in their homes.

Break-ins to steal membership lists: The FBI conducted illegal break-ins to steal membership lists and other sensitive documents from the RU/RCP.

The use of FBI 'friendly journalists: The FBI employed journalists who were sympathetic to their cause to undermine the RU/RCP by publishing negative articles and spreading misinformation.

These operations were just a few of the many tactics used by the FBI to combat the RU/RCP. The organization's radicalism did not disappear at the end of the 1960s, and the FBI's largest and, until now, untold campaign against it was launched.

The RU/RCP was a significant force in the American left-wing movement during the 1960s and 1970s. The organization was founded by a group of young radicals who were influenced by the Chinese Communist Revolution and the Marxist-Leninist ideology. The RU/RCP advocated for a socialist revolution in the United States and believed that the working class was the oppressed and exploited majority.

The RU/RCP's influence extended beyond the United States. The organization had a strong presence in Europe and Asia, and its members played a significant role in the global communist movement. However, the RU/RCP's radicalism also attracted the attention of the FBI, which saw the organization as a threat to national security.

The FBI's campaign against the RU/RCP was marked by a combination of covert operations and public propaganda. The agency used its vast resources and power to undermine the organization's credibility and disrupt its activities. The FBI also employed a range of tactics, including surveillance, infiltration, and disruption, to target the RU/RCP's leadership and members.

One of the most significant aspects of the FBI's campaign against the RU/RCP was its use of informants. The agency recruited a number of RU/RCP members who were willing to sell out their organization for a price. These informants provided the FBI with valuable information about the organization's activities, including its membership lists, financial records, and internal communications.

The FBI also used its relationships with other government agencies, including the CIA and the NSA, to gather information about the RU/RCP. These agencies were often willing to share their intelligence with the FBI in exchange for access to the RU/RCP's network.

Despite the FBI's efforts, the RU/RCP was able to survive for several decades. The organization's radicalism continued to attract a dedicated following, and its members continued to engage in political activism and social activism. However, the RU/RCP's decline began in the 1980s, as the Cold War began to wind down and the United States shifted its focus away from socialist and communist ideologies.

The RU/RCP's decline was also influenced by a number of internal factors, including the organization's inability to adapt to changing political and social conditions. The RU/RCP's ideology was increasingly seen as outdated and out of touch with the needs of the working class. The organization's leadership was also plagued by internal conflicts and power struggles, which weakened its ability to effectively manage and govern the organization.

In conclusion, The FBI's Secret War on America's Maoists is a comprehensive history of the Revolutionary Union/Revolutionary Communist Party, the largest Maoist organization to emerge in the United States. Spanning from its origins in the tumultuous year of 1968 to its eventual decline in the 1980s, this book delves into the organization's expansion into a national entity in the early 1970s, its penetration into major industries throughout the early part of that decade, and the devastating schism that followed the death of Mao Tse-tung. The FBI's campaign against the RU/RCP was marked by a combination of covert operations and public propaganda, and the agency used its vast resources and power to undermine the organization's credibility and disrupt its activities. Despite the FBI's efforts, the RU/RCP was able to survive for several decades, but its decline began in the 1980s, as the Cold War began to wind down and the United States shifted its focus away from socialist and communist ideologies.

Weight: 440g
Dimension: 215 x 142 x 30 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803413174