In an attempt to stop the legendary Barbary pirates of North Africa from hijacking American ships, William Eaton set out on a secret mission to overthrow the government of Tripoli - an operation sanctioned by President Thomas Jefferson. At the last minute Jefferson grew wary of meddling with a foreign power and withdrew his support. Eaton forged ahead anyway, recruiting a band of European mercenaries in Alexandria and capturing Tripoli's city of Derne. America's first cover operation is brought vividly to life by Richard Zacks.