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From Publishers Weekly ---------------------- Written by a Los Angeles Times reporter who covered the story, this absorbing historical narrative chronicles the 1000-day period from the start of Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos's second term in 1969 to his declaration of martial law in 1972. Drawing on Marco's diary--which "offers illusion as fact, paranoia as genuine menace, personal ambition as the will of God"--Rempel recounts the turbulent events leading up to the "ambush" of Marcos's defense secretary during a time of civil unrest. It was a staged provocation that opened the way for the arrest of Benigno Aquino, Marcos's powerful political foe, and the imposition of martial law. The diary exposes Marcos's towering ego (he viewed himself as a conbination of Caesar and Napoleon), his fears of betrayal and his refusal to deal realistically with the escalating sition to his rule. Rempel briefly relates the up: Aquino's assassination after his return from exile and the subsequent "People Power" movement that forced Marcos out of office to make way for the martyr's widow, Corazon Aquino. An enlightening account of the transformation of a democratically elected leader into a despot. Photos. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) From Library Journal -------------------- Los Angeles Times reporter Rempel gained access to the secret diaries of former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, which he began shortly after his reelection in 1969. Although the time span is very limited, it marks his transition from president to dictator in 1972. Marcos's greed for power and wealth and the means he used to gain them are well demonstrated. Rempel amply documents the events of that era, also showing how Marcos chose to perceive them. Unfortunately, Marcos's 13 years as dictator are only hinted at in the concluding chapter. Still, anyone who wonders why American foreign policy is not liked in most of the world should read this book, for the U.S. government supported Marcos virtually to the day he fled the country for exile in Hawaii. Recommended for larger collections. - Donald Clay Johnson, Univ. of Minnesota Lib., Minneapolis Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) See all Editorial Reviews ( /dp/product-description/0316740152/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&isInIframe=0 )