Throughout the 1920's, Yardley (1899-1958) directed The Cryptographic Bureau, funded by the US Army and the Department of State, and the predecessor of the National Security Agency. His 1931 account of its work, published by Bobbs-Merrill, set off a controversy about the right to freedom of expression versus national security. It is reproduced in facsimile. There is no index or bibliography. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)