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In the wake of
World War II\, four agents were critical in helping build a new organizat
ion that we now know as the CIA. Adelaide Hawkins\, Mary Hutchison\, Elois
e Page\, and Elizabeth Sudmeier\, called the &ldquo\;wise gals&rdquo\; by
their male colleagues because of their sharp sense of humor and even quick
er intelligence\, were not the stereotypical femme fatale of spy novels. T
hey were smart\, courageous\, and groundbreaking agents at the top of thei
r class\, instrumental in both developing innovative tools for intelligenc
e gathering&mdash\;and insisting (in their own unique ways) that they rece
ive the credit and pay their expertise deserved.
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p\; \; \; \;Throughout the Cold War era\, each woman had a vit
al role to play on the international stage. Adelaide \;rose through th
e ranks\, \;developing new cryptosystems that advanced how spies \
;communicate with each other. \; Mary worked overseas in Europe and As
ia\, building partnerships and allegiances that would last decades. Elizab
eth would risk her life in the Middle East in order to gain intelligence o
n deadly Soviet \;weaponry. Eloise would wield influence on scientific
and technical operations worldwide\, ultimately exposing global terrorism
threats. \;Through their friendship and shared sense of purpose\, the
y rose to positions of power and were able to make real change in a tradit
ionally &ldquo\;male\, pale\, and Yale&rdquo\; organization&mdash\;but not
without some tragic losses and real heartache along the way. \;
\;
\; \; \; \; \;Meticulously researche
d and beautifully told\, Holt uses firsthand interviews with past and pres
ent officials and declassified government documents to uncover the stories
of these four inspirational women. \;Wise Gals \;sheds a light on
the untold history of the women whose daring foreign intrigues\, domestic
persistence\, and fighting spirit have been and continue to be instrument
al to our country&rsquo\;s security.