Voices Behind the Curtain

by Gordon Zuckerman

Overview

In 1946, peak military industrial contracting has been cut by 400 billion dollars. Some of the same industrial organizations responsible for creating a military arsenals capable of supplying six different wars on four separate continents have become concerned. The economic impact of converting their-war time manufacturing to peace-time production represents risks they are not willing to accept. A consortium of these companies determine they must find a new way to restore the lost military contracting. Their plan calls for them to manipulate the Congressional military appropriations process for their own self-interests.

Hearing of the plot, the Sentinels decide to challenge. “Voices Behind the Curtain” is a story about powerful and resourceful people, those who endeavor to implement their plan of corruption, and those who oppose.

Jacques Roth and Mike Stone return to lead the Sentinel opposition and devise a plan capable of opposing one of the world’s largest conglomerates.

Meet Miss Mercedes, a former Miss Universe winner, who's ambition to become a celebrated actress have led to her downfall. Follow her life as she re-invents herself and influence those around her.

Natalie Cummins, the retired star of the London and New York musical stages, is determined to use her entertainment experience to find British employment for “Back Listed” Hollywood actors, writers and directors.

Marco Tanfredi and Don Cerreta, two second-generation Sicilians, who have learned to it is necessary to resist the ‘temptations of the street’, if they wish to pursue their American Dream”

The reader is allowed to ride side-saddle with these principal characters as they proceed to protect the integrity of Congressional Appropriations process. Their journey leads them through the entertainment industry in Mexico, Southern California, London and New York.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780998007014
Publisher:	DSI Publications
Publication date:	01/10/2017
Series:	Sentinels Series , #4
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

From June 1963, following the author's graduation from the Harvard Business School, until April 2005, when he sold his Resort Hotel company, Mr. Zuckerman enjoyed the privilege of working for forty-two years as a entrepreneurial problem solver during what many people regard as the Golden Age of American Commerce.

Through-out his career he would witness, hear, or become aware of major events that had a significant influence over people's lives, some positive and some not so beneficial. Provided with the free time of retirement, Mr. Zuckerman has concentrated his attention on researching different contemporary events of interest. He concluded, while the history of free enterprise is clearly dominated by the many stories of high-minded success, there have instances where the privileges of free-enterprise have been abused in the pursuit of self-serving agendas, often accomplished at the expense of others.

Zuckerman believes the democratic free enterprise system represents the goose that lays the ‘golden eggs’ and needs to be protected from those who would abuse its privileges. He has uses his writing easel to illustrate what can happen when a small fictional group, “The Six Sentinels” decide to help make-happen the constructive efforts required to oppose those of questionable intentions.

To create the plot for each of his books, the author has chosen to connect the dots of history. Any book describing the support or opposition to self-serving agendas must necessarily be a story about people. The stories are told through the evolving lives of fictional, high-minded, high-energy, creative problem solvers. The intrigue in their lives has been added to generate added interest for the reader. This genre allows the reader to ride ‘side-saddle’ with each of the principal players, to know of their thoughts, feelings, aspirations and reactions.

Table of Contents

Prequel v

Preface vii

Prologue ix

Cast of Characters xiii

Chapter 1 Manuel's Club 1

Chapter 2 Mike Stone & Jacques Roth 11

Chapter 3 Richard Allen Bailey 16

Chapter 4 Movie Night 20

Chapter 5 Mary Wheeler Clarke 26

Chapter 6 Marco's Notes 32

Chapter 7 The Mighty Warrior 37

Chapter 8 Who Is Marco Tancredi? 46

Chapter 9 Natalie Cummins 53

Chapter 10 Attacking Mr. Bill 58

Chapter 11 Natalie's New Mission 64

Chapter 12 Dinner Is Served 71

Chapter 13 Call Gloria 76

Chapter 14 Going Their Separate Ways 80

Chapter 15 Stacking the Deck 84

Chapter 16 Gloria's Finest Performance 89

Chapter 17 Plaything of the Year 95

Chapter 18 Plan 99

Chapter 19 Mercedes Exits Mexico 106

Chapter 20 Target Manuel 110

Chapter 21 New News 118

Chapter 22 A Quiet Evening with Cecelia 121

Chapter 23 Dr. Tom Burdick 126

Chapter 24 Myron Goldman 131

Chapter 25 Don Meets Mercedes 135

Chapter 26 The Pieces Fit 140

Chapter 27 White Box, Red Ribbon 147

Chapter 28 Least Bad Decision 151

Chapter 29 Cecelia's Big Dance 154

Chapter 30 Building a Bridge 157

Chapter 31 Dinner at Claridges 162

Chapter 32 A Little Chat 167

Chapter 33 Something of Importance 173

Chapter 34 Across the Atlantic 176

Chapter 35 An Alternate Approach 179

Chapter 36 Mercedes Returns 182

Chapter 37 A New, Clear Voice 188

Chapter 38 Fall from Grace 191

Chapter 39 The Head of the Serpent 194

Chapter 40 The Fifth Estate 197

Chapter 41 Aren't You Going to Say Hello to an Old Friend? 201

Chapter 42 Dinner at Sardi's 206

Chapter 43 Impending Doom 210

Chapter 44 Gift from a Friend 212

Chapter 45 Tony Garibaldi, a Fellow Dreamer 218

Chapter 46 Jordan Sails 221

Chapter 47 The Retreat 225