The Watchdog Audiobook By Steve Drummond cover art

The Watchdog

How the Truman Committee Battled Corruption and Helped Win World War Two

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

$8.99/mo. after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Get this deal
Offer ends on July 15, 2026 at 11:59 PT.
More purchase options

The Watchdog

By: Steve Drummond
Narrated by: Steve Drummond
Get this deal

$8.99/mo. after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends July 15, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.

Buy for $26.09

Buy for $26.09

The story of how a little-known junior senator fought wartime corruption and, in the process, set himself up to become vice president and ultimately President Harry Truman.

Months before Pearl Harbor, Franklin D. Roosevelt knew that the United States was on the verge of entering another world war for which it was dangerously ill-prepared. The urgent times demanded a transformation of the economy, with the government bankrolling the unfathomably expensive task of enlisting millions of citizens while also producing the equipment necessary to successfully fight—all of which opened up opportunities for graft, fraud and corruption.

In The Watchdog, Steve Drummond draws the reader into the fast-paced story of how Harry Truman, still a newcomer to Washington politics, cobbled together a bipartisan team of men and women that took on powerful corporate entities and the Pentagon, placing Truman in the national spotlight and paving his path to the White House.

Drawing on the largely unexamined records of the Truman Committee as well as oral histories, personal letters, newspaper archives and interviews, Steve Drummond—an award-winning senior editor and executive producer at NPR—brings the colorful characters and intrigue of the committee’s work to life. The Watchdog provides readers with a window to a time that was far from perfect but where it was possible to root out corruption and hold those responsible to account. It shows us what can be possible if politicians are governed by the principles of their office rather than self-interest. Americas Biographies & Memoirs Military Politicians Politics & Activism Presidents & Heads of State United States Wars & Conflicts World War II War Franklin D. Roosevelt
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
Meticulously Researched Content • Riveting Storytelling • Excellent Narration • Vivid Personalities • Balanced Judgments

Highly rated for:

All stars
Most relevant
I've read a bunch of World War II books and a heck of a lot on Harry Truman, but this is a new take on how Truman got in the position to be selected as FDR's running mate in 1944. It is a great book!

It dives pretty deep into the weeds of congressional rules and procurement regulations but it moves fast and is an easy listen. it also sheds new light on Harry Truman and who he was as a leader and a man.

Everyone In Washington Today Should Read This Book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I learned so many new things about the war effort at home. Amazing the level of effort and the speed at which it was done. Did not know Harry Truman’s involvement and what vaulted him to the vice presidency.

Interesting Take On the War Effort Stateside

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I was pleased to see a book on a fresh topic about Harry Truman. It was also a fresh topic about WWII. And the author does a terrific job of deep research, balanced judgements and good writing. The narration was excellent. Highly recommended fire those who want a deeper dive on Truman and American efforts in WWII.

Fresh topic well executed

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Liked it all particularly the epilogue following the characters after the work they did on the committee.

The emphasis on how people from different political parties can and did work in the best interests of of the country

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I have read other books about Truman.This was an interesting precursor to his being named as Roosevelts Vice President

Interesting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews