Author’s Note

This narrative account of historic events in the Philippines draws extensively on information and insights from the diary of Ferdinand E. Marcos. His journal is not always accurate, so the author has relied upon many independent sources to corroborate or correct the record. These include interviews with key participants in the Philippines and the United States and voluminous presidential palace documents - many of them never officially released - that were obtained by the author while investigating allegations about the Marcos wealth for the Los Angeles Times.

The story could never have been told without the vital contributions of people who cannot accept public thanks. At considerable risk, politically and professionally, they opened the Marcos diary to this American journalist with only one publishing condition: that those who provided access to the pages would never be identified. They must know I will always be deeply grateful.

In Manila, I received gracious assistance from the Lopez Museum research staff. Philippine journalist Kristina Luz Rose was an invaluable guide and expert research assistant. I am also very grateful to Philippines historian Belinda Aquino of the University of Hawaii at Manoa for her always-insightful consultations.

Many colleagues and editors at the Los Angeles Times contributed to the journalism that was the foundation of this book, especially Tim Rutten, Nina Green, and D’jamila Salem. I am most indebted to the assistance and friendship of National Correspondent Richard E. Meyer.

Special thanks as well to writer Jeffrey Robinson, whose enthusiasm sparked the original book project; to its original shepherds, Robert Ducas, Roger Donald, and Irv Goodman; to Barbara Pierce, whose editorial counsel and encouragement were special gifts; and to Lara and Jason, who spent too many weekends watching Dad write.

This revised and updated e-Book version is the result of generous help from Arielle Asher and David Halpern and the great crew at The Robbins Office in New York City.