Gifts of Deceit
Encyclopedia
Gifts of Deceit: Sun Myung Moon, Tongsun Park, and the Korean Scandal is a non-fiction
book on Koreagate
and the Fraser Committee, a congressional subcommittee which investigated South Korean influence in the United States by the KCIA and the Unification Church
, authored by Robert Boettcher, with Gordon L. Freedman. The book was published in paperback and hardcover editions, in 1980.
Robert Boettcher graduated with an M.S.
in international relations
, from Georgetown University
. Boettcher served the United States as a Foreign Service
officer. Boettcher later was the staff director to the House Subcommittee on International Relations, which headed the investigation into Tongsun Park, Sun Myung Moon
and the Unification Church
. In this capacity, Boettcher served under the Congressional Committee's chair, Congressman
Donald Fraser
.
In addition to political books, Gifts of Deceit is cited in books which analyze new religious movement
s, including Another Gospel
, The Future of New Religious Movements, Crime, Values, and Religion, Spiritual Warfare, and more recently in Jenkins' Mystics and Messiahs, in 2000.
, entitled: "Cults and New Religious Movements".
The book was also referenced in the Nomination hearing before the United States Senate
, for Edward J. Derwinski. Portions of the book were quoted and read into the public record.
recommends Gifts of Deceit and states that it is "very revealing", and deals with the "questionable conduct" of Sun Myung Moon. The New Republic
called it a "most complete account" of Moon. The Washington Post
reviewed the work, but stated that portions of the Koreagate Scandal may have been due to media hype.
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
book on Koreagate
Koreagate
"Koreagate" was an American political scandal in 1976 involving South Korean political figures seeking influence from 10 Democratic members of Congress. An immediate goal of the scandal seems to have been reversing President Richard Nixon's decision to withdraw troops from South Korea...
and the Fraser Committee, a congressional subcommittee which investigated South Korean influence in the United States by the KCIA and the Unification Church
Unification Church
The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church...
, authored by Robert Boettcher, with Gordon L. Freedman. The book was published in paperback and hardcover editions, in 1980.
About the author
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
, from Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. Boettcher served the United States as a Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
officer. Boettcher later was the staff director to the House Subcommittee on International Relations, which headed the investigation into Tongsun Park, Sun Myung Moon
Sun Myung Moon
Sun Myung Moon is the Korean founder and leader of the worldwide Unification Church. He is also the founder of many other organizations and projects...
and the Unification Church
Unification Church
The Unification Church is a new religious movement founded by Korean religious leader Sun Myung Moon. In 1954, the Unification Church was formally and legally established in Seoul, South Korea, as The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity . In 1994, Moon gave the church...
. In this capacity, Boettcher served under the Congressional Committee's chair, Congressman
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Donald Fraser
Donald M. Fraser
Donald MacKay Fraser is an American politician from Minneapolis, Minnesota.-Early life:Donald Fraser played a critical role in making human rights an important part of U.S. policy. Fraser was born on 20 February 1924 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Everett and Lois Fraser. His parents were émigrés...
.
Cited by secondary works
Boettcher's work is cited extensively in Farrell's Tip O'Neill and the Democratic Century. The book itself was noted in United States Congressional investigations on "The Cult Phenomenon in the United States", in 1979. Gifts of Deceit is also cited in Breen's The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies, Anderson's Inside the League, and is recommended reading by Olsen's Korea, the Divided Nation and Kim's Dictionary of Asian-American History.In addition to political books, Gifts of Deceit is cited in books which analyze new religious movement
New religious movement
A new religious movement is a religious community or ethical, spiritual, or philosophical group of modern origin, which has a peripheral place within the dominant religious culture. NRMs may be novel in origin or they may be part of a wider religion, such as Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism, in...
s, including Another Gospel
Another Gospel (book)
Another Gospel: Cults, Alternative Religions, and the New Age Movement is a non-fiction book discussing cults, new religious movements, and the New Age movement, written by Ruth A. Tucker. The book was published in 1989 by Zondervan, a Christian publishing house. Another edition was released by...
, The Future of New Religious Movements, Crime, Values, and Religion, Spiritual Warfare, and more recently in Jenkins' Mystics and Messiahs, in 2000.
Usage as reference
Gifts of Deceit was referenced in a 1989 Task Force Report by the American Psychiatric AssociationAmerican Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the most influential worldwide. Its some 38,000 members are mainly American but some are international...
, entitled: "Cults and New Religious Movements".
The book was also referenced in the Nomination hearing before the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, for Edward J. Derwinski. Portions of the book were quoted and read into the public record.
Reception
In his work, The Ethics of Citizenship, James StockdaleJames Stockdale
Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale was one of the most highly decorated officers in the history of the United States Navy.Stockdale led aerial attacks from the carrier during the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident...
recommends Gifts of Deceit and states that it is "very revealing", and deals with the "questionable conduct" of Sun Myung Moon. The New Republic
The New Republic
The magazine has also published two articles concerning income inequality, largely criticizing conservative economists for their attempts to deny the existence or negative effect increasing income inequality is having on the United States...
called it a "most complete account" of Moon. The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
reviewed the work, but stated that portions of the Koreagate Scandal may have been due to media hype.
External links
See also
- KoreagateKoreagate"Koreagate" was an American political scandal in 1976 involving South Korean political figures seeking influence from 10 Democratic members of Congress. An immediate goal of the scandal seems to have been reversing President Richard Nixon's decision to withdraw troops from South Korea...
- Fraser Committee
- Tongsun Park