"Secrecy Wars presents a startling array of information from formerly classified files on the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy, the U.S. nuclear testing program, CIA covert operations, and other major historical events and government programs. Melanson discusses how the wall of secrecy has often led to abuses of power, such as when J. Edgar Hoover's FBI kept intelligence files on prominent persons, celebrities, and ordinary citizens. The book also examines how government agencies, especially those concerned with foreign policy, routinely cover up mistakes and avoid embarrassing disclosures by denying FOIA requests on the grounds of national security." "With its perspective that of a political-legal drama, this important new book will not only entertain but also serve as an excellent primer for anyone who wants to understand the U.S. secrecy system and citizens' right to request information from the government."--BOOK JACKET.