The Enemy Within by Robert F. Kennedy is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. It offers an in-depth, highly readable account of the Senate committee hearings into organised crime’s infiltration of American trade unions during the 1950s. The exploration of Jimmy Hoffa and the Teamsters is particularly fascinating. Hoffa comes alive on the page, a figure of bravado and slippery deflections, oddly reminiscent of certain contemporary political figures in the US (wink-wink, nudge-nudge)

If you’ve watched The Irishman, this serves as the perfect companion piece, offering a rich background on Hoffa, the Teamsters, and their Mafia connections. One of the book’s unexpected pleasures is Bobby Kennedy’s hilariously petty remarks about individuals such as Roy Cohn and others with whom he had infamous rivalries. If you’ve read other books on the Kennedys, these moments are oddly iconic!

The book also provides valuable insight into how complex investigations come together, with lawyers, investigators, accountants, and law enforcement all playing their part. It sheds light on the early formation of relationships between the Kennedy Brothers and unions such as the UAW. These ties would go on to quietly influence future campaigns. 

Additionally, it’s fascinating to see how the committee became increasingly politicised as the presidential election approached, with Republicans seeking to discredit pro-Democrat unions as figures like Goldwater and McGovern emerged on the scene.

Altogether, it’s a layered, sharp, and revealing read that brilliantly captures both the public spectacle and private rivalries of the era. 

So, so good!