Red Spies in the UN-Pierre J Huss-George Carpozi JR-1965-297pgs-POL

8/3/2019 Red Spies in the UN-Pierre J Huss-George Carpozi JR-1965-297pgs-POL

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RED SPIES IN THE UN


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UN P i e r r e J . H u s sa n d G e o r g e C a r p o z i , J r .

Coward-Mc Cann, Inc .

New York


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I d e d i c a t e t h i s b o o k , f o r m y p a r t , t o m y d a u g h t e r s

M a r i a n n e a n d J a c q u e l i n e H u s s , t o c o u ns e l t h e m f o r e v e r

t o c h e r i s h w i t h c o u r a g e t h e g r e a t n e s s o f ou r l a n d

a n d t h e b l e s s i n g s of t h e i r h e r i t a g e .

-PIERRE J . H u s s

C o p y r i g h t 1 9 6 5

b y P i e r r e J . H u s s a n d G e o r g e C a r p oz i , J r .

A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d . T h i s b o o k , o r p a r t s t h e r e o f , m a y n o t b e r e p r o d u c e d

i n a n y f o r m w i t h o u t pe r m i s s i o n i n w r i t i n g f r o m t h e P u b l i s h e r . P u b l i s h e d o n

the same day in the Dominion of Canada by Longmans Canada Limited, Toronto .

Library of Cong ress Catalog Card Number : 6 5 - 1 3 2 7 8

PRINTED IN TH E UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


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Contents

1 : S e r p e n t s i n t h e H o u s e , 9

2 : V a l e n t i n G u b i t c h e v , t h e F i r s t U N S p y , 1 6

3 : O u r E a s t e r n S e a b o a r d D e f e n s e s U n d e r a R e d S p y g l as s , 4 1

4 : The Sperry Bombsight -A "Bargain" at Six Thousand, 55

5 : T h e R e d C o l o n e l a n d O u r G e n e r a l S t a f f S c h o o l , 7 6

6 : T h e F r i e n d l i e s t o f A l l R u s s i a n S p i e s , 9 5

7 : L a n d, S e a , a nd N o w O u r A i r S e c r e t s , 1 1 0

8 : V i c e P r e s i d e n t N i x o n L e t s a S p y O u t of t h e B a g , 1 2 5

9 : A K h r u s h c h e v V i s i t , 1 4 1

1 0 : S a t e l l i t e E s p i o na ge - M u r d e r C z e c h S t y l e , 1 5 7

1 1 : T h e S o v i e t W a r - o f - N e r v e s P l o t A g a i n s t t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , 1 7 8

1 2 : T h e F B I N a i l s t h e C u b a n S a b o t e u r s , 1 8 7

1 3 : S o v i e t s " B u y " t h e G O P C a n d i d a t e , 2 0 2

1 4 : T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s S a i l o r W h o F e l l f o r t h e L i n e , 2 1 5

1 5 : " . . . And They Seemed L ike Such Nice, Quiet People," 2 40

1 6 : T h e E l e c t r o n i c s E n g i n e e r a n d t h e R u s s i a n C h a u f f e u r , 2 5 6

1 7 : Espionag e : H e r e t o S t a y , 2 7 5

I n d e x , 2 7 9

I l l u s t r a t i o n s f o l l o w p a g e 6 4 a n d p a g e 2 2 4 .


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1 :S e r p e n t s i n t h e H o u s e

ON t h e b a n k s o f t h e E a s t R i v e r i n M a n h at t a n , i n t h e a r e a o ft h e c i t y k n o w n i n t h e d a y s o f t h e A m e r i c a n R e v o l u t i o n a s T u r t l e B a y ,

a c a m p i n g g r o u n d f o r t h e B r i t i s h A r m y ' s f o r c e s f a c i n g t h e v a l i a n t

"rabble in arms" commanded by George Washingt on, stands now a

c o m p l e x o f b u i l d i n g s w h i c h i s w o r l d h e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e U n i t e d N a -

t i o n s .

I n a D u t c h a p pl e o r c h a r d s e v e r a l b l o c k s u p t h e s t r e e t , N a t h an H a l e

was hange d a s a s p y i n 1 7 7 6 .

T o d a y , n e a r l y 2 0 0 y e a r s l a t e r , h i s g h o s t w o u l d b e i n g o o d c o m pa n y

among an unprecedented swarm of diplomat ically cloaked profes-

s i o n a l s p l y i n g t h e a n c i e n t c r a f t o f e s p i o n a g e f r o m w i t h i n t h e U N ' s

m a s s i v e a r c h i t e c t u r a l c l u s t e r .

I t i s a s t r a n g e a n d p a r a do x i c a l s i t u a t i o n w h i c h , m o r a l l y a n d le g a l l y ,

h a s n o p l a c e i n t h i s f o r u m . T h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s i s a n o r g a n i z a t i o n

d e d i c a t e d t o k e e p i n g t h e p e a c e o f t h e w o r l d ; i t f u n c t i o n s b y v i r t u e o f

the contrib utive membership of o ne hundred and twelve large and

s m a l l n a t i o n s o f al l r a c e s , c o l o r s , r e l i g i o n s , a n d po l i t i c a l i d e o l o g i e s .

A c h a r t e r s i g n e d b y f i f t y o r i g i n a l a l l i e d n a t i o n s i n S a n F r a n c i s c o i n

1 9 4 5 p r o v i d e d t h e g r o u n d r u l e s a n d b a s i c p r i n c i p l e s b y w h i c h t h i s

d e t e r r e n t t o t h e " s c o u r g e o f w a r " o pe r a t e s .

A voluminous t reaty signed between the United States and the

U n i t e d N a t i o n s n a m e s a n d g u a r a n t e e s t h e r i g h t s a n d p r i v i l e g e s o f t h e

w o r l d o r g a n i z a t i o n . T h e t r e a t y , s u b j e c t n o w a d ay s t o a w i d e r a n g e o f


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10 : Red Spies in th e UN

critic ism in t he United States-and elsewhere from ti me to time-

creates an "internationa l" enclave within the perimeter of 42nd

S t r e e t , 4 8 t h S t r e e t , l s t A v e n u e a n d t h e b an k s o f t h e E a s t R i v e r . New

Y o r k C i t y h a s n o ju r i s d i c t i o n i n t h i s t i n i e s t o f w o r l d s t a t e s e x c e p t b y

c o n s e n t o f t h e S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l . The Mayor and the City Council

h a v e n o c o n t r o l o v e r t h i s c h o i c e p i e c e o f M a n h at t a n r e a l e s t a t e ; n o r

d o e s t h e G o v e r n o r n o r S t a t e L e g i s l a t u r e n o r , f o r t h a t m a t t e r , t h e

P r e s i d e n t a n d t h e C o n gr e s s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . I n th e o r y , t h os e w h o

s t e p t h r o u g h t h e U N ' s g a t e s h a v e g a i n e d s a n c t u a r y . A f u g i t i v e f r o m

t h e F e d e r a l B u r e a u o f I n v e s t i g a t i o n o r c i t y p o l i c e c a n b e h a n de d o v e r

t o t h e l a w o nl y i f t h e S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l s a ys s o . Y e t i t i s i m p r o b a b le

t h a t t h e r e w i l l e v e r b e a t i m e w h e n a J o e V a l a c h i o r a W i l l i e S u t t o n

w i l l e s c a p e t h e l a w b y t a k i n g as y l u m a t t h e U N .

N e v e r t h e l e s s , a s t h i s b o o k w i l l s h o w , a s p y s e n t h e r e w i t h d i p l o-

m a t i c c r e d e n t i a l s b y a f o r e i g n p o w e r t o s t e a l m i l i t a r y o r d e f e n s e s e -

c r e t s c a n t a k e r e f u g e b e h i n d t h e r a m p a r t s o f t h e U N , r e m a i n i n g t h e r e

i n a b s o l u t e s a f e t y u n t i l t h e m a c h i n e r y o f o u r S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t gr i n d s

i n t o m o t i o n an d e f f e c t s n o t h i s a r r e s t b u t h i s d e p o r t a t i o n t h r o u g h

" c h a n n e l s . "

T h i s p r i v i l e g e o f i m m u n i t y d e s c e n d s f r o m t r a d i t i o n a l a g r e e m e n t s

and understandings enacted between governments, g iving diplomats

and consular employees carte blanche immunities f rom the laws of

t h e l a n d w h e n t h e y a r e s t a t i o n e d o n e a c h o t h e r ' s s o i l . T h o s e e n j o y i n g

t h i s s t a t u s a r e s e c u r e f r o m a r r e s t o r p r o s e c u t i o n w h i l e r e p r e s e n t i ng o r

w o r k i n g f o r t h e i r o w n g o v e r n m e n t s a b r o a d - r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e c r i m e .

T h e y c a n o n l y b e d e c l a r e d p e r s o n a e n o n g r a t a a nd e x p e l l e d .

T h e e x t e n s i o n o f d i p l o m a t i c i m m u n i t y t o m e m b e r s o f m i s s i o n s a c -

c r e d i t e d t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s h a s b e c o m e a n i n c r e a s i n g s o u r c e o f

i r r i t a t i o n. P a r t i c u l a r l y t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d t h e c i t y o f N e w Y o r k .

O v e r t h e y e a r s , p r i v i l e g e s g r a n t e d t o a n u m b e r o f d i p l o m a t s h a v e

been mis used and abused . T h e v i o l a t i o n s h a v e r a n g e d f r o m i n f r a c -

t i o n s o f p a r k i n g l a w s t o d o u b t f u l b e h a v i o r i n h o t e l s a n d pu b l i c p l a c e s ;

f r o m e x c e e d i n g s p e e d l i m i t s a n d d r u n k e n d r i v i n g o n p u b l i c h i g h w a y s

t o h i t - a n d - r u n d r i v i n g - a n d e v e n m u r d e r .

B u t t h e u l t i m a t e c r i m e , i n t h a t i t c a n h av e t h e m o s t f a r - r e a c h i n g

a n d w i d e s t e f f e c t s , i s t h a t o f e s p i o n a g e . O n l y a s m a l l h a n d f u l o f n a -

t i o n s i s k n o w n t o h a v e t a k e n a d v a n t a g e o f t h e f r e e d o m a f f o r d e d a t


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1

S er p e n t s i n t h e H o u s e : 11

the UN to engage in subversion . Yet one nat ion- the Soviet Unio n

-has m anaged to put the entire western hemisphere under a spy

g l a s s a nd h a s c om m i t t e d s u b v e r s i v e a c t s r e p e a t e d l y on U . S . s h o r e s .

I t i s t h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s b o o k t o f o c u s A m e r i c a ' s a nd t h e w o r l d ' s

a t t e n t i o n o n S o vi e t a n d s a t e l l i t e n a t i o n e s p i o n a ge a s i t e m a n a t e s f r o m

t h e U N , a n d e s p e c i a l l y t o s h o w , b y c a s e h i s t o r i e s o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e

F B I , t h e S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t , t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s , a n d o t h e r s o u r c e s ,

h o w t h e R u s s i a n s o p e r a t e t h i s c l a n d e s t i n e o p e r a t i o n . T h e s e c a s e s pr e -

s e n t d o c u m e n t e d p r o o f t h a t t h e R u s s i a n s :

a) seized, with the help of the notorious Judith Coplon, a

h i g h l y c o n f i d e n t i a l f i l e o f F B I r e p o r t s o n t h e R e d c o n s p i r a c y i n

t h e U. S . ;b ) l a u n c h e d a v a s t s p y i n g o p e r a t i o n d i r e c t e d a t g a t h e r i n g d a t a

a n d s e c r e t s o f m i l i t a r y a n d s e a p o r t f a c i l i t i e s o n t h e A t l a n t i c C o a s t ;

c ) p e n e t r a t e d a l l b u t i n v u l n e r a b l e s e c u r i t y m e a s u r e s i n o r d e r

t o s e i z e i n t e l l i g e n c e m a n u a l s a t t h e U . S . G e n e r a l S t a f f S c h oo l i n

Leavenworth, Kans as ;

d ) o b t a i n e d a e r i a l p h o t os a n d m a ps o f m i l i t a r y i n s t a l l a t i o n s i n

the Midwest w here some of America's key defense bases agai nst

S o v i e t n u c l e a r - m i s s i l e a t t a c k a r e s i t u a t e d ;

e ) s t o l e t o p s e c r e t i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e l o c at i o n o f m i s s i l e a n d

r o c k e t l a u n c h i n g s i t e s a n d b a s e s i n t h e U. S . ;f ) p l o t t e d a m a s t e r p l a n t o b l o w u p o u r e a s t e r n s e a b o a r d v i a a

t e r r i f y i n g c a m p a i g n o f s a b o t a g e t h a t w o u l d h a v e d e s t r o y e d m u c h

o f o u r r e s o u r c e s a n d i m p e r i l e d t h e l i v e s o f m i l l i o ns .

A l l o f t h e s e p l o t s a n d s u c h o t h e r s a s w e s h a l l d i s c u s s i n t h i s b o o k

w e r e i n i t i a t e d i n o n e c e n t r a l l o c a t i o n - t h e s o - c a l l e d M o s c o w " h i g h

com mand p os t," ce ntere d in a bu s y hou se not many bl ock s away

from th e United Nations : t h e S o v i e t M i s s i o n t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s .

Soviet nationals at th e UN and staff employees from Iron Curtain

s a t e l l i t e s a r e p a r t a n d p a r c e l o f t h i s " h i g h c o m m a nd p o s t " h o u s e d i n

t h a t u n pr e p o s s e s s i n g b u i l d i n g j u s t of f f a s h i o n a b l e P a r k A v e n u e a t 1 3 6

E a s t 67 t h S t r e e t .

I t i s t h e n e r v e c e n t e r o n t h i s s i d e o f t h e A t l a n t i c O c e a n f o r a l mo s t

e v e r y p h a s e o f t h e K r e m l i n ' s s u b v e r s i v e a c t i v i t i e s i n N o r t h a nd S o u t h

Ameri ca . T h e f a n g s o f t h i s s p y n e t w o r k r o o t e d i n t h e S o v i e t M i s s i o n


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a n d i n t h e U N , a s w e s h a l l s h o w , e x t e n d m i l e s b e y o n d t o t h e S o v i e t

E m b a s s y i n W a s h i n g t o n a n d i t s s a t e l l i t e d i p l o m a t i c m i s s i o n s t h e r e ,

a n d b e y o n d t o M e x i c o , P a n a m a C i t y , C u b a , B r a z i l , a n d C a n a d a .

While we abhor the methods employed and g ains scored by theU. S . S .R . o v e r t h e y e a r s i n g at h e r i n g s e c r e t s f r o m u s , w e a r e f o r c e d t or e c o g ni z e t h e u n f o r t u n a t e t r u t h t h a t e s p i o n a ge i s a n e c e s s a r y e v i l o f

i n t e r n a t i o n a l p o l i t i c s . T o pr e t e n d th a t e s p i o n a ge i s a c r i m e e x c l u s i v e l y

o f R u s s i a n o r i g i n w o u l d b e h y p o c r i s y , f o r w e a r e d e a l i n g w i t h a p r a c -

t i c e t h a t i s a s o l d a s r e c o r d e d h i s t o r y .

T h e E g y p t i a n s w e r e p e r h a p s t h e f i r s t t o r e a l i z e t h e n e e d f o r e s p i -

onage when they o r g a n i z e d a s e c r e t s e r v i c e a n d e s t a b l i s h e d s c h o ol s t o

t r a i n s p i e s . T h e f i r s t p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n ap p a r e n t l y c a m e d u r i n g t h e

reign of Egyptia n King Tuthmos is III, when a Captain Thute man-

a g e d , w i t h t h e h e l p o f h i s s p i e s , t o s m u g g l e i n t o J a f f a t w o h u n d r e d

a r m e d s o l d i e r s w h o w e r e s e w n i n s a c k s a n d c a r r i e d i n t o t h e c i t y a s a

s h i p m e n t o f f l o u r .

P e r h a p s t h e g r e a t e s t o f al l e s p i o n a ge s t o r i e s i s t o b e f o u nd i n t h e

I l i a d, i n w h i c h H o m e r s i n g s o f t h e T r o j a n h o r s e .

D o w n t h r o u g h t h e a g e s s p y i n g g a i n e d i m p e t u s a n d i m p o r t a n c e . We

know Joan of Arc was betrayed by a spy, Bis hop Pierre Cauchon of

B e a u v a i s , w h o w a s i n t h e p a y o f t h e E n gl i s h k i n g .

There was Benedict Arnold, of cours e, and during World Wars I

and U we saw women such as Marth a Cockaert of Belgium and Anne

M a r i e W a l t e r s o f F r a n c e s e r v e t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c o u n t r i e s a s s p i e s

a g a i n s t G e r m a n o c c u p a t i o n f o r c e s .

I t a p pe a r s t h a t R u s s i a ' s f i r s t s e r i o u s a t t e m p t t o e n g a ge i n e s p i o n a ge

-domestic s tyle--occurred in 1881 when th e Okhrana or defensive

police was organized to combat terrorism . By devious methods it

s u c c e e d e d i n f o i l i n g n o t on l y t h e d e s p e r a d o e s t h r e a t e n i n g t h e c z a r , b u t

t h e p l o t t e r s i n t h e g o v e r n m e n t a s w e l l .

W h e n t h e B o l s h e v i s t s s e i z e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t i n 1 9 17 , L e n i n o r g a n -

ized the Extraordinary Commissi ons to Combat Counter-Revolution,

S a b o t a g e , a n d S p e c u l a t i o n . B e c a u s e i t w a s s u c h a m o u t h f u l e v e n t o

t h e R u s s i a n s , t h e y c a l l e d i t C h e k a . N e v e r t h e l e s s , i t w a s O k h r a n a u n -

d e r a d i f f e r e n t na m e .

I n 1 9 2 2 , C h e k a w a s r e p l ac e d b y t h e S t a t e P o l i t i c a l A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ,

c a l l e d t h e G P U , w h i c h g r e w i n t o a f a r m o r e f e a r s o m e s e c r e t p o l i c e

a n d s p y o r g a n i z a t i o n . In 1934, the People's Comm issari at of Home


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Serpents in the Hou se : 13

A f f a i r s t o o k o v e r f r o m t h e G P U a n d b e c a m e a t o o l o f w o r l d - w i d e

e s p i o n a g e . R e a d e r s m a y b e m o r e f a m i l i a r w i t h t h a t s p y m a c h i n e ' s

nom de guerre-the infamous NKVD which, in subsequent years,

c h a ng e d i t s n a m e b u t n e v e r i t s o b j e c t i v e s .

B e f o r e L a v r e n t i B e r i a , i t s c h i e f , w a s e x e c u t e d i n 1 9 5 3 , t h e N K V D

s l i p p e d t h r o u g h a t i t l e c h a n g e t o M V D o r M i n i s t r y o f H o m e A f f a i r s ;

t h e n , i t s b u l l - f a c e d b o s s e l i m i n a t e d b y a f i r i n g s q u ad , i t b e c a m e t h e

K V D o r C o m m i t t e e f o r S t a t e S a f e t y - a n d f i n a ll y t h e K G B .

T h e a g e n ts o f t h i s h i g h l y t r a i n e d s e c r e t s e r v i c e f o r m t h e n u c le u s o f

t h e C o m m u n i s t e s p i o n a g e c o n s p i r a c y e n c i r c l i n g t h e g l o b e t o d a y a n d ,

w i t h a g e n t s o f t h e C o m i n t e r n a n d C om i n f o r m , t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l a g e n -

c i e s o f t h e C o m m u n i s t P a r t y , h a v e b e e n c a r r y i n g o u t t h e K r e m l i n ' s

g o a l o f s p y i n g i n s u c h d i v e r s e a r e a s a s p o li t i c s , i n d u s t r y , b u s i n e s s ,

c o m m e r c e , a g r i c u l t u r e , l a b o r , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , a n d - m o s t i m p o r t a n t

i n t h e m i l i t a r y .

W i t h s o m a n y s e l f - c o n f e s s e d f o r m e r C o m m u n i s t s t e l l i n g u s r e -

p e a t e dl y a b ou t t h i s , t h e r e i s l i t t l e d o u bt t h a t t h e o v e r r i d i n g i n te r e s t

a n d a i m o f S ov i e t s p i e s c e n t e r s c h i e f l y i n t h at l a s t ar e a - t h e m i l i t a r y .

W e a l s o k n o w t h a t t o b e t r u e b e c a u s e o f t h e i n c r e a s i n g n u m b e r o f

s p i e s u n c o v e r e d i n t h i s c o u n t r y a n d , m os t e s p e c i a l l y , t h e p r e p o nd e r -

a n c e o f a g e n t s c a u g h t o pe r a t i n g o u t o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s .

The USSR has never admitted engaging in espionage, not even

w h e n i t s a g e n t s h a v e b e e n t r a p p e d r e d - h a n d e d w i t h s t o l e n s e c r e t d a t a .

On the contrary, t hey laugh at every unmasking and jibe us by

s a y i n g : " Y o u s e e a C o m m u n i s t s p y b e h i n d e v e r y b u s h . "

T h i s i s g o o d f o r m . A n u n w r i t t e n l a w o f e s p i o n a g e i s t h a t o n e d o e s

n o t a d m i t t h a t o n e e m p l o y s s p i e s . I t i s n o t a qu e s t i o n o f e t i q u e t t e .

F o r m a x i m u m e f f i c i e n c y , a s p y s y s t e m m u s t b e e n t i r e l y s e c r e t . An

a d m i s s i o n o f o w n e r s h i p i s a n a d m i s s i o n o f f a i l u r e ; a n d i n a w o r l d o f

s e c r e c y , r e p u t a t i o n i s b u i l t u p on w h a t i s unknown .

I n t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s t h e d y n a m i c s o f S o v i e t m e m b e r s h i p t a k e s o n

s p e c i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e m a n y c a s e s o f e s p i o n a g e i n v o l v -

i n g M o s c o w ' s d i p l o m a t i c a n d c o n s u l a r c o r p s , a s w e l l a s i t s c i t i z e n s

w h o s e r v e i n t h e S e c r e t a r i a t 's e m p l o y .

T h e U N C h a r t e r d e m a n d s t h a t s t a f f e m p l o y e e s , r e g a r d l e s s o f w h a t

c o u n t r y t h e y c o m e f r o m o r w h a t c a p ac i t y t h e y h o l d , m a i n t a i n a s t a t u s

as " i n t e r n at i o n al c i v i l s e r v a n t s . " T h a t s t a t u s i s a c h i e v e d b y t h e s i g n i n g

o f a l o y a l t y o a t h b e f o r e s t a r t i n g w o r k i n a n y UN pos t . T h e o a t h


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14 : Red Spies in the UN

p l e d g e s t h e e m p l o y e e t o s e r v e t h e U N f a i t h f u l l y a n d i m p a r t i a l l y . I t

b i n d s h i m t o t h e w o r l d b o d y a nd p r o h i b i t s i n f l u e n c e s o r a c t s o f t h e

h o m e g o ve r n m e n t t o d e f l e c t t h e e m p lo y e e f r o m h i s t r u s t .

The oath obligates th e entire UN staff f r o m t h e S e c r e t a r y G e n -

e r a l d o w n t o t h e m o s t o b s c u r e f i l e c l e r k - t o w o r k i n a c c o r d a nc e w i t h

t h e U N r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s . S t r i k i n g ly , t h e r e i s n o s u g g e s t i o n i n t h e

o a t h f o r d i s l o y a l t y t o o n e ' s o w n c o u n t r y . Y e t , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , a

U N s t a f f e r i s n o t a l lo w e d t o e x e r c i s e l o y al t y t o c o u n t r y b y p a s s i n g ,

f o r e x a m p l e , U N do c u m e n t s t o c o n t a c t s o n t h e d i p l o m a t i c d e l e g a t i o n

o f h i s n a t i v e l a n d o r l o b b y i n g a r o u n d U N d e p a r t m e n t s f o r p r o j e c t s

a f f e c t i n g h i s c o u n t r y .

T h e f i r s t n i n e t e e n y e a r s o f t h e U N d e m o n s t r a t e d f a i r l y c o n c lu s i v e l y

t h a t t h e " i n t e r n a t i o n al c i v i l s e r v a n t " c a n b e c o m e e n o u g h of a r e a l i t y

to make a ponderous machi ne like the world orga niza tion wo rk de-

s p i t e c e r t a i n f l a w s a n d h a za r d s i n t h e l o y a l t y s y s t e m .

B u t t h e s p a n o f y e a r s a l s o d e m o n s t r a t e d t h a t t h e S o v i e t U n i o n ,

w h i l e s u b s c r i b i n g t o t h e l o y a lt y r u l e a t S a n F r a n c i s c o , a s i t d i d t o a l l

Charter princi ples, had other ideas about th e UN and the way it

m i g h t s e r v e t h e K r e m l i n .

Although until 1962 Soviet and satellite country UN employees

s i g n e d t h e l o y a l t y o a t h , i f s o m e w h a t g r u d g i n g l y , t h e y n e v e r t h e l e s s

c a r r i e d m a n i f e s t instructions from Moscow . T h e y w e r e p u t i n t h e U N

n o t o nl y t o d o t h e i r p a r t f o r t h e K r e m l i n i n w o r l d a f f a i r s , b u t a l s o t o

c a r r y o u t t h e s e c r e t o r d e r s i s s u e d b y s u p e r i o r s s e a t e d i n t h e S o vi e t

Mi s s ion to t he UN . S o m e o f t h e s e S o v i e t n a t i o na l s w e r e t r a i n e d a s

s p i e s a n d s a b o t e u r s , y e t c a m e d i s g u i s e d a s s e c r e t a r i e s , c l e r k s , t y p i s t s ,

o r o f f i c i a l s f r o m h i g h M o s c o w p o s t s t o h e a d U N d e p a r t m e n t s .

We may be understat ing wh en we say "so me" of the Soviet na-

t i o n a ls a r e t r a i n e d s p i e s . The FBI prepared a report n ot lon g ago

w h i c h i t s u b m i t t e d t o t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l f or u s e b y t h e S u b c o m m i t -

t e e t o I n ve s t i g a t e t h e A d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e I n t e r n a l S e c u r i t y A c t a n d

O t h e r I n t e r n a l S e c u r i t y L a w s .

I n s p e a k i n g of t h e U n i t e d N at i o n s , t h e r e p o r t s t a t e d : " A t t e n t i o n i s

c a l l e d t o t h e f a c t t h a t m a n y o f t h e i n c i d e n t s a n d c a s e s [ o f s p y i n g ]

p r e v i o u s l y c i t e d i n v o l v e d S o v i e t e m p l o y e e s o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s .

T h e y a r e g u e s t s o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d a r e s u p p o s e d l y d e d i c a t e d t o

t h e c a u s e o f i n t e r n a t i o n al p e a c e b u t t h e y a r e , i n f a c t , c a r e f u l l y s e -


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S e r p e n t s i n the Hou se : 1 5

l e c t e d e n v o y s o f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l C o m m u n i s t c o n s p i r a c y , t r a i n e d i n

t r i c k e r y a n d d e c e i t a n d d e d i c a t e d t o t h e c o n c e p t o f f u l l y e x p l o i t i n g

t h e f r e e d o m s o f t h e c o u n t r i e s t h e y s e e k t o d e s t r o y . I t i s t o o m u c h t o

e x p e c t t h a t t h e y w o u l d n ot p r o s t i t u t e t h e U n i t e d N a t i o ns . "


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2 : V a l e n t i n G u b i t c h e v ,

t h e F i r s t U N S p y

THE shapely young woman d ressed neatly but i nconspicu-

o u s l y i n b l a ck s k i r t a n d ta n s w e a t e r w i t h p e a r l n e c k l a ce a t h e r t h r o a t

s a t m e d i t a t i v e l y i n h e r s e a t a s t h e P e n n s y l v a n i a R a i l r o a d ' s W a s h i n g-

ton-to- New York express rolled towards i ts destinat ion-Pennsyl-

v a n i a S t a t i o n . H e r b l a c k c l o t h c o a t w a s n e a t l y f o l d e d i n t h e e m p t y

a i s l e s e a t b e s i d e h e r .

N o w a n d t h e n s h e l o o k e d o u t c a s u a l l y a t t h e p a s s i n g c o u n t r y s i d e .

N o w a n d t h e n s h e t u r n e d a n d g l an c e d a t t h e o t h e r p a s s e n g e r s i n t h e

h a l f - f i l l e d c o a c h .

Her name was Judith Coplon .

O n t h a t F r i d a y , M a r c h 4 , 1 9 4 9 , o n t h e t r a i n w h i c h h a d l e f t t h e

c a p i t a l a t 1 p .m . , two men in the same coach reclined in their own

seats near the young woman . J u d i t h C o p l on , a p la i n - f a c e d g i r l w i t h

i n t e n s e d a r k e y e s a n d b r u n e t t e h a i r , w a s a n a n al y s t i n t h e I n t e r n a l

Security Section of th e Department of J ustice in Washingt on . A l -

t h o u g h t h e y w e r e e m p l o y e d i n t h e s a m e s e r v i c e , t h e 2 7 - y e a r - o l d M i s s

C o p lo n d i d no t k n o w t h a t t h e t w o m e n n e a r h e r w e r e F B I a g e n t s .

N o r d i d s h e k n ow t h a t t h e y w e r e t r a i l i n g h e r .

J u d i t h C o pl o n h a d b e e n u n d e r s u r v e i l l a n c e f o r s e v e r a l w e e k s . T h e

hist ory of the case went back to late December, 1948, when Miss


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V a l e n t i n G u b i t c h e v , t h e F i r s t U N S p y : 1 7

C o p l o n f i r s t d r e w t h e s u s p i c i o n o f h e r s u p e r i o r s . A form er fellow

e m p l oy e e i n t h e o f f i c e o f F o r e i g n A g e n t s R e g i s t r a t i o n i n t h e I n t e r n a l

Security Division of t he Justice Department reported that Judith

C o p lo n h a d b e e n s l a n t i n g h e r a n a l y s e s a n d o t h e r r e p o r t s s o t h a t t h e y

b e n e f i t e d t h e S o v i e t U n i o n , f av o r i n g i t s f r i e n d s a n d condemning i t s

f o e s .

A loyalty investig ation was begun and the springboard was the

young woman's background . T h e p r o b e r s f o u n d s h e w a s a n a t i v e o f

New York City, born in Brooklyn . S h e w a s t h e d a u g h t e r o f S a m u e lM. a n d R e b e c c a C o p l o n a n d h a d b e e n a s t u d e n t a t B r o o k l y n ' s M a d i -s o n H i g h S c h o o l w h e r e s h e a v e r a g e d w e l l a b o v e n i n e t y p e r c e n t f o r a l l

s u b j e c t s i n h e r f o u r y e a r s t h e r e . S h e t h e n w e n t o n t o B a r n a r d C o l l e g e

w h e r e s h e p r o v e d h e r s e l f a n e q u a l l y b r i l l i a n t s t u d e n t , w i n n i n g t w o o ne -

h u n d r e d - d o l l a r s c h o l a r s h i p s i n c o m p e t i t i v e e x a m i n a t i o n s t h a t t e s t e d

b o t h h e r a c a d e m i c p o t e n t i a l a n d h e r c h a r a c t e r . S h e w a s g r a d u at e d i n

1 9 4 3 c u m l a u d e a n d w a s l i s t e d b y B a r n a r d ' s p l a c e m e n t b u r e a u i n t h e

t o p c a t e g or y f o r a b i l i t y , a p p li c a t i o n , i n t e g r i t y , p u b l i c s p i r i t , l e a d -

e r s h i p , a n d g oo d b r e e d i n g .

A l m o s t i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r g r a d u at i o n , J u d i t h C o pl o n o b t ai n e d a j o b

as an economic journalist i n the Economic Warfare Section of t he

J u s t i c e D e p a r t m e n t ' s N e w Y o r k C i t y o f f i c e . S h e r e m a i n e d t h e r e u n t i l

J a n u a r y , 1 9 4 5 , a nd t h e n , w h i l e W o r l d W a r I I w a s s t i l l o n , w a s t r a n s -

f e r r e d t o W a s h i n g t on a n d a s s i g n e d t o t h e F o r e i g n A g e n t s R e g i s t r a t i o n

S e c t i o n a s a n a s s i s t a n t p o li t i c a l a n al y s t . H e r s a l a r y w a s $ 4 , 4 7 9 a y e a r .

I n h e r s p a r e t i m e i n t h e c a p i t al , M i s s C o p lo n a ls o e n r o l l e d a t A m e r -

i c a n U n i v e r s i t y t o e a r n a m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e i n i n t e r n a t i o na l r e l a t i o n s .

T h i s o p e n e d a n e w p h a s e i n h e r l i f e , g i v i n g h e r a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o

learn languages, and s he was soon s peaking French, German, and

Russian .

H e r w o r k f o r t h e J u s t i c e D e p a r t m e n t w a s r e g a r d e d h i g h l y , a n d i n

o n e i n s t a n c e , d u r i n g F e b r u a r y , 1 9 4 6 , J e s s e M . M a c K n i g h t , c h i e f o f

h e r J u s t i c e D e p a r t m e n t b u r e a u , h a d o c c a s i o n t o r e p o r t o n t h e y o u n g

woman's employment ability . H e s a i d s h e " s h o w e d h e r s e l f a c a p ab l e ,

i n d u s t r i o u s , a n d i n t e l l i g e n t r e s e a r c h w o r k e r . . . . H e r l a n g u ag e s k i l l s

were more than adequate in French, and go od in German and Rus-

s i a n . . . "

W h i l e t h e r e p o r t s o n h e r b a c k g r o u n d w e r e l a u d a to r y , s u f f i c i e n t i n -

f o r m a t i o n t o r a i s e s o m e d o u b t s a b o u t h e r l o y a l t y w a s d e v e l o p e d i n


14/297


j u s t t w o d a y s o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n , p r o m p t i n g t h e J u s t i c e D e p a r t m e n t t o

assi gn special ag ents of th e FBI to keep Miss Coplo n under close

s u r v e i l l a n c e .

A l t h o u g h n o t h i n g u n t o w a r d h a d y e t h a p p e n e d , t h e J u s t i c e D e p a r t -

m e n t n e v e r t h e l e s s a l s o t o ok i m m e d i a t e s t e p s t o m a k e c e r t a i n s h e n o

l o n ge r h a d ac c e s s t o i m p o r t a n t s e c r e t d e f e n s e i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e G o v -

e r n m e n t ' s f i l e s . T h e r o u t i n e o f h e r w o r k , h o w e v e r , d i d n o t c h a n g e :

s h e c o n t i n u e d t o r e c e i v e d a t a s h e h a d b e e n h a nd l i n g , b u t i t w a s a l -

t e r e d s o as t o m a k e i t w o r t h l e s s i n t h e e v e n t i t f e l l i n t o t h e w r o n g

hands .

T h e a g e n t s w h o w e r e p u t o n h e r t r a i l c a m e t o k n o w t h e s u s p e c t ' s

h a b i t s q u i t e i n t i m a t e l y ; o n e o f t h e m w a s m a k i n g w e e k l y t r i p s t o N e w

Y o r k t o v i s i t h e r p a r e n t s w h o w e r e b o t h a i l i n g a t t h e t i m e .

The pattern of Judith Co plon's conduct remained virtually un-

c h a n g e d ov e r t h e n e x t f e w w e e k s , b u t i n m i d - J a n u a r y o f 1 9 4 9, t h e G -

men assig ned to keep an eye on h er detected a vari ation . Miss

C o pl o n 's r o u t i n e o n t h i s 1 4 t h d a y o f J a n u a r y h a d s t a r t e d l i k e a l l t h e

o t h e r d a y s . S h e r e p o r t e d f o r w o r k i n t h e J u s t i c e D e p a r t m e n t B u i l d i n g

i n t h e c a p i t a l , p u t i n a n e i g h t - h o u r d a y , t h e n l e f t f o r U n i o n S t a t i o n

w h e r e s h e c a u g h t a P e n n s y l v an i a t r a i n f o r N e w Y o r k .

B u t t h i s t i m e , i n s t e a d o f g o i n g t o t h e a p ar t m e n t o f h e r f a t h e r a n d

mother in th e Flatbush section of Brooklyn, Judith Coplon headed

from Pennsylvania Station t o the Independent Subway system's 8th

A v e n u e l i n e s t a t i o n a t 3 4 t h S t r e e t a n d b o ar d e d a n u p t ow n e x p r e s s .

The two G-me n who had fol l owe d he r from Was h in g ton, Agents

Rich ard T . Hradsky and Richard E . B r e n n a n , w e r e m e t b y o t h e r F B I

m e n a t P e n n S t a t i o n a n d t h e y , t o o , b e c a m e s h a d o w s o f M i s s C o p l o n .

The G-men all boarded the same subway train, t hen jammed by the

rush hour crowds , and rode uptown . W h e n s h e g o t o f f a t t h e F o r t

T r y o n P a r k s t a t i o n a t 1 9 0 t h S t r e e t a n d O v e r l o o k T e r r a c e i n t h e s e c -

t i o n o f M a n h a t t a n k n o w n a s W a s h i n g t o n H e i g h t s , t h e a g e n t s f o l l o w e d

h e r o f f t h e t r a i n , i n t o t h e e l e v a t o r , a nd u p t o t h e s t r e e t .

I t w a s pr e c i s e l y 7 :10 p .m . o n H r a d s k y ' s w r i s t w a t c h w h e n J u d i t h

C o p l o n m e a n d e r e d o u t t o t h e s t r e e t a n d b e g a n l oo k i n g i n a l l d i r e c -

tions a s though she were planning t o meet someone there and was

i m p a t i e n t a t t h e p e r s o n 's l a t e n e s s .

M o m e n t s l a t e r , s h e w a l k e d e a s t f o r t w o b l o c k s t o B r o a d w a y , t h e n


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turned the oth er corner into Dyckman Street and headed to 143,

w h i c h w a s t h e D e L u x e I t a l i a n R e s t a u r a n t .

A s t h e a g e n t s w a t c h e d d i s c r e e t l y f r o m t h e o u t s i d e , t h e y s a w J u d i t h

C o p l o n w a l k t o a t a b l e a n d s i t d o w n b e s i d e a s o m b e r - f a c e d b u t h a n d -

some man with a receding hai rline who looked to be in h is early

t h i r t i e s . Beside the 5-foot, 100 pound Miss Cop lon, the stranger

seemed not much b igger . H e w a s p e r h a p s 5 f e e t 4 , o n t h e s t o c k y s i d e ,

about 165 pounds .

T h e r e w a s l i t t l e o p p o r t u n i t y f o r t h e a g e n t s t o o b s e r v e f r o m t h e

o u t s i d e w i t h o u t a t t r a c t i n g at t e n t i o n t o t h e m s e l v e s . A t m o s t t h e y c o u l d

o n l y pa s s t h e r e s t a u r a n t i n r e l a y s , m i n g l i n g i n t h e c r o w d s o f pe d e s -

t r i a n s , c a s t i n g q u i c k g l an c e s i n s i d e u n t i l t h e y h a d d e t e r m i n e d w h a t

was going on . They soon found out . Miss Coplon and the man she

h a d m e t w e r e o r d e r i n g f r o m t h e m e n u .

Special Agent T. S c ot t M i ll e r , J r . , w a s d e s i g n a t e d t o g o i n t o t h e

r e s t a u r a n t a nd t a k e a b o o t h ne a r t h e c o u p l e t o o b s e r v e t h e i r a c t i v i t y

f r o m c l o s e r a n g e . M i l l e r n o t i c e d t h e w a i t e r b r o u g h t f o o d t o t h e m a n

b u t o n l y a c u p o f c o f f e e f o r M i s s C o p l o n . A s s h e s i p p e d t h e c o f f e e ,

Miss Coplon drop ped nickels in the musicbox coi n machine at the

t a b l e .

Agent Miller was unable to hear their conversation through the

b l a r e o f t h e j u k e - b o x m u s i c . Even during t he moments of quiet he

c o u l d n o t p i c k u p a n y o f t h e t a l k b e c a u s e t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n , a l t h o u g h

a n i m a t e d , w a s c on d u c t e d i n w h i s p e r s .

F i n a l l y J u d i t h C o p l o n a n d h e r c o m p a n i o n r o s e f r o m t h e t a b l e a n d

w a l k e d o u t o f t h e r e s t a u r a n t . T h e i r t r a i l o u t s i d e w a s p i c k e d u p b y t h e

other G-men-Agents Hrads ky, Brennan, and Daniel Garde-who

f o l l o w e d M i s s C o p l on a n d t h e s t i l l u n i d e n t i f i e d m a n b a c k t o t h e I N D

s u b w a y s t a t i o n e n t r a nc e w h e r e t h e y s t o p pe d .

Miss Coplon, who was holding a folded newspaper, raised it and

g e s t i c u l a t e d . I t s e e m e d f o r a m o m e n t t h a t s h e w a s g o i n g t o s t r i k e t h e

man, for s he appeared angry now as she spoke with him . B u t t h e y

soon ended their heated conversation and went down into th e

subway . A g e n t s f o l l o w e d t h e m a n d r o d e o n t h e t r a i n w i t h t h e c o u p l e .

At the 116th Street sta tion t he man suddenly got up a nd left the

t r a i n . Agents Hradsky and Brennan fo llowed him whi le the other

o p e r a t i v e s r e m a i n e d o n M i s s C o p l on ' s t r a i l , w h i c h l e d t o B r o o k l y n, t o

t h e h o m e o f h e r p a r e n t s .


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Meanwhile, her companion h ailed a taxi and went east on 116th

S t r e e t . H r a d s k y a n d B r e n n a n f o l l o w e d i n a n o t h e r c a b . T h e r i d e e n d e d

at Broa dway an d 116th Street where the pursued man headed to

a n o t h e r s u b w a y , t h e I R T ' s B r o a d w a y - 7 t h A v e n u e l i n e .

The G-men were about to follow h im, but just t hen their quarry

t u r n e d a nd l oo k e d i n t h e i r d i r e c t i o n . T h e a g e n t s w e r e s t a n d i n g l e s s

than ten feet away . Afraid th e man might suspect he was being

t r a i l e d , H r a d s k y a n d B r e n n a n d e c i d e d o n d i s c r e t i o n a n d e n d e d t h e i r

s u r v e i l l a n c e .

B u t t h e n e x t m o r n i n g o n e o f t h o s e f o r t u i t o u s s t r o k e s t h a t o f t e n

s e e m s t o g u i d e t h e d e s t i n i e s o f t h e F B I f o u n d H r a d s k y a n d B r e n n a n

s t a n d i n g o u t s i d e t h e o l d S o v i e t M i s s i o n t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s a t 6 8 0

Park Avenu e. Lo and behold, whom should they see but the man

w h o h a d m e t M i s s C o pl o n t h e n i g h t b e f o r e !

To this day t he FBI insists Hradsky and Brennan had no insid e

inform ation but were only playing a hunch when they went to the

Mission . A s h e w a s t o e x p l ai n l a t e r , w h e n h e f i r s t s a w t h e m a n a t t h e

t a ble in the re stau rant wi t h Mi s s Cop l on, Hradsky thou g h t he

" l oo k e d l i k e a R u s s i a n . " A n d w h e r e b u t a t t h e R u s s i a n Mi s s i o n t o t h e

U N d o e s o n e g o l oo k i n g f o r a R u s s i a n i n N e w Y o r k ?

T h e o p e r a t i v e s p i c k e d u p t h e i r p r e y ' s t r a i l . I t l e d t o a f a s h i o n a b l e

s i x - s t o r y a p a r t m e n t h o u s e a t 6 4 W e s t 1 0 8 t h S t r e e t , b e t w e e n M a n h a t -

tan and Amsterdam Avenues . I n t h e l o b b y , t h e a g e n t s c h e c k e d n a m e s

on the mailboxes . T h e n a m e s m e a n t n o t h i n g t o t h e m , s o t h e y c a l l e d

o n t h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t w h o l i v e d o n t h e g r o u n d f l oo r .

F r o m t h e a g e n t s ' d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e m a n t h e y h a d t r a i l e d , t h e s u p e r -

i n t e n d e n t t o l d t h e m h e p r o b a b l y w a s V a l e n t i n G u b i t c h e v , w h o l i v e d

w i t h h i s w i f e i n a $ 6 3 . 2 5 - a - m o n t h f o u r - r o o m a p a r t m e n t o n t h e f i f t h

f l o o r o f t h e f o r t y - t w o - f a m i l y h o u s e .

"He works at the United Nations," th e superintendent said as

c a s u a l l y as i f h e w e r e t a l k i n g a b ou t a s h i p p i n g c l e r k . What immedi-

a t e l y l i f t e d h i m a b o v e t h e o r d i n a r y t o t h e F B I a g e n t s , t h o u g h , w a s t h e

s u p e r i n t e n d e n t ' s c o nf i r m a t i o n t h a t Gu b i t c h e v w a s a R u s s i a n a n d t h a t

he was employed at th e UN . T o g e t h e r w i t h w h a t t h e a g e n t s a l r e a d y

s u s p e c t e d ab o u t J u d i t h C o p lo n , t h e J u s t i c e D e p a r t m e n t g i r l , h e r a s s o -

c i a t i o n w i t h G u b i t c h e v t o o k o n a n o m i n o u s c o n f i g u r a t i o n .

A g e n t s H r a d s k y a n d B r e n n a n n ot i f i e d t h e i r s u p e r i o r s i m m e d i a t e l y

a n d a s t a k e o u t w a s o r d e r e d f o r G u b i t c h e v ' s a p a r t m e n t h o u s e . G-men


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i n c a r s k e p t a d a y - ni g h t v i g i l o u t s i d e t h e b u i l d i n g . I n t h e m o r n i n g , a s

G u b i t c h e v c a m e o u t a n d s t a r t e d d o w n t o w n f o r h i s j o b a t t h e U N , t h e

a g e n t s s h a d o w e d h i m a l l t h e w a y t o w o r k . H e w e n t b y b u s a n d , w h i l e

some of th e FBI men followed in their cars , one agent, John F .

Malley, boarded the Broadway bus and rod e to 42nd Street in the

s e a t r i g h t b e s i d e t h e s u s p e c t . When Gubitchev trans ferred to a 42nd

S t r e e t c r o s s t o w n b u s f o r t h e r i d e a c r o s s M a n h a t t an t o t h e U N B u i l d -

i n g , M a ll e y w a s s t i l l w i t h h i m .

During th at day, t he FBI, making dis creet inquiries at th e UN,

whos e headquarters at t he time were sti ll out in Lake Success on

L o n g I s l a n d , d e t e r m i n e d j u s t w h a t G u b i t c h e v ' s f u n c t i o n w a s a t t h e

world o r g a n i z a t i o n . He was a civili an engineer, employed as thi rd

s e c r e t a r y o f t h e S o v i e t d e l e g a t i o n . H e h a d c o m e t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

from t he Soviet Union in July, 1946, as a member of the Soviet

D e l e g a t i o n , b u t s u b s e q u e n t l y h a d s e v e r e d h i s c o n n e c t i o n s t o b e c o m e

a $ 6 , 6 0 0 - a - y e a r t a x - f r e e m e m b e r o f t h e S e c r e t a r i a t w h i c h g a v e h i m

i n t e r n a t i o n a l c i v i l s e r v a n t s t a t u s . This was d one, the FBI found, t o

e n a b l e G u b i t c h e v t o c o n t r i b u t e h i s t a l e n t s a s a n e n g i n e e r i n t h e p l an -

ning of the new United Nations skyscraper headquarters on First

Avenue which was now nearin g completio n .

When he resig ned from th e Soviet delegatio n on September 26,

1 9 4 6, G u b i t c h e v h a d s i g n e d t h e o a t h r e q u i r e d o f a l l S e c r e t a r i a t m e m -

b e r s . I t r e a d : " I s o l e m n ly s w e a r ( u n de r t a k e , a f f i r m , p r o m i s e ) t o e x e r -

c i s e i n a ll l oy a l t y , d i s c r e t i o n a nd c o n s c i e n c e t h e f u n c t i o n s e n t r u s t e d t o

m e a s a m e m b e r o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l S e r v i c e o f t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s ,

t o d i s c h a r g e t h o s e f u n c t i o n s a n d r e g u l a t e m y c o n d u c t w i t h t h e i n t e r -

ests of my dut ies from any g overnment and not to seek or accept

i n s t r u c t i o n s i n r e g a r d t o t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o f m y d u t i e s f r o m a n y g o v-

e r n m e n t o r ot h e r a u t h o r i t y e x t e r n a l t o t h eorgan i za t ion."

This was th e same oath taken by t he more than score of other

S o v i e t n a t i o n a l s w h o w e r e c a u g h t i n e s p i o n a g e a c t i v i t y i n s u b s e q u e n t

y e a r s ; i t w a s t h e s a m e o a t h t h a t K h r u s h c h e v w o u l d r e p u d i a t e f i f t e e n

y e a r s l a t e r .

In the days th at followed in the unmasking of Judith Coplon' s

compani on, every step Gubitchev took was watched ploddingly .

E v e r y t i m e h e c a m e o u t o f t h e m a z e o f c o n s t r u c t i o n t h a t w a s s h a p i n g

t h e U N B u i l d i n g , F B I a g e n t s w e r e s t a n d i n g b y t o f o l l ow h i s t r a i l . He

never walked or rode in a pub lic conv eyance alone . Even when he


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2 2 : Red Spies i n th e UN

took a cab or rode in a car, h e was shadowed by FBI men in their

o w n ve h i c l e s .

T h e F B I ' s i n v e s t i g a t i o n r e v e a l e d t h a t G u b i t c h e v a l s o h a d a c h i l d , a

g i r l o f t h i r t e e n , w h o h a d l i v e d i n N e w Y o r k C i t y w i t h h e r p a r e n t s

until the previous sum mer when the Russian Consulate, where the

f a m i l y h a d b e e n s t a y i n g , w a s c l o s e d . T h a t a c t i o n w a s f o r c e d o n t h e

S o v i e t U n i o n a s a n a f t e r m a t h o f t h e c e l e b r a t e d M m e . Oksana Ko sen-

k i n a c a s e . M m e . K o s e n k i n a w a s a t e a c h e r a t a R u s s i a n s c h o o l c o n -

d u c t e d b y t h e R u s s i a n Co n s u l at e , a t 7 E a s t 6 1s t S t r e e t , f o r c h i l d r e n

o f S o vi e t o f f i c i a l s a n d e m i s s a r i e s i n t h e N e w Y o r k C i t y a r e a . Amo ng

t h e c h i l d r e n w h o a t t e n d e d t h e s c h o o l w a s G u b i t c h e v ' s d a u g h t e r . B u twhen Mme. K o s e n k i n a ' s h u s b a n d w a s s l a i n b y t h e R e d s , r a t h e r t h a nr e t u r n t o R u s s i a , M m e . K o s e n k i n a w e n t i n t o h i d i n g w i t h t h e C ou n t e s s

A l e x a n d r a T o l s t o y i n R o c k l a n d C o u n t y , j u s t n o r t h o f N e w Y o r k C i t y .

But Russian agents kidnapped Mme . K o s e n k i n a a n d t o o k h e r t o t h e

S o v i e t C on s u l a t e . W h i l e b e i n g k e p t a p r i s o n e r t h e r e p e n d i n g h e r r e -

t u r n t o R u s s i a , s h e e s c a p e d b y l e a p i n g f r o m a w i n d o w . S h e w a s b a d l y

injured and spent several months in Roosevelt Hospit al, but she

a c h i e v e d h e r g o al : a s y l u m i n t h i s c o u n t r y .

The FBI learned tha t in the same mont h as the Kosenkina

i n c i d e n t , A u g u s t , 1 9 4 8 , G u b i t c h e v a n d h i s f a m i l y h a d g o n e b a c k t o

R u s s i a b r i e f l y . W h e n t h e y r e t u r n e d a f e w w e e k s l a t e r , t h e i r d a u gh t e r

d i d n o t c o m e b a c k w i t h t h e m .

"We put her in school in Moscow," Gubitchev told one of his

n e i g h b o r s .

D i g g i n g f u r t h e r i n t o h i s b a c k g r o u n d , t h e F B I f o u n d t h a t G u b i t c h e v

w a s b o r n i n O r e l , R u s s i a , o n J u n e 2 4 , 1 9 1 6 . H e w a s a s t u d e n t a t t h e

Moscow School of Constr uction, th en went into th e employ of th e

S o v i e t M i n i s t r y o f C on s t r u c t i o n . H e r o s e t o d e p u t y c h i e f o f t h e U r a l

C o ns t r u c t i o n T r u s t i n C h e l y a b i n s k . A f t e r w a r d h e w a s t r a n s f e r r e d t o

t h e S o v i e t F o r e i g n O f f i c e a n d c a m e t o t h e U . S . i n J u l y , 1 9 4 6 , a s t h e

t h i r d s e c r e t a r y o f t h e S o v i e t M i s s i o n t o t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s .

When the Soviet Union was allotted a quota to fill on t he UN

S e c r e t a r i a t s t a f f , G u b i t c h e v w a s d e s i g n a t e d a nd h e r e s i g n e d f r o m t h e

S o v i e t M i s s i o n t o a c c e p t t h e n e w p o s t w h i c h b r o u g h t h i m b a c k i n t o

t h e f i e l d o f h i s f i r s t l o v e - c o ns t r u c t i o n e n g i n e e r i n g .

Secre tary General Trygve Lie p rov ide d t he infor ma t ion tha t

G u b i t c h e v w a s o n e o f t h e o u t s t a nd i n g f i g u r e s i n t h e p l an n i n g an d d e -


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Valentin Gubit chev, the First UN Spy : 2 3

s i g n o f t h e n e w U N B u i l d i n g . " H e i s a g o o d m a n w h o h a s w o r k e d b o t h

i n s i d e a n d o u t s i d e u n d e r t h e d i r e c t i o n o f C o n s t r u c t i o n C o - o r d i n a t o r

J a m e s D a w s o n , " L i e t o l d t h e F B I .

While Gubitchev was kept under rigid surv eillance, no less an

e f f o r t w a s e x e r t e d t o m a i n t a i n a c h e c k o n J u d i t h C o p l o n 's m o v e m e n t s

a n d a c t i v i t i e s . G-men followed her everywhere she went . When she

left her parents' h ome the night aft er her furtive meeting with

G u b i t c h e v a n d w e n t b a c k t o W a s h i n g t o n, a g e n t s r o d e o n t h e t r a i n t o t h e

c a p i t a l a nd k e p t h e r i n t h e i r s i g h t s c o n s t a nt l y . T h e y f o l l o w e d h e r c a b

t o M c C l e a n Ga r d e n s , a s u b s t a n t i a l h o u s i n g d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e c a p i t a l

where Miss Coplon resided in a two-room , $34 . 5 0 - a - m o n t h a p a r t -

ment .

The next morni ng when she went to work, G-men were right b e-

h i n d h e r a g a i n . And when sh e sat down at her desk in the Justi ce

Department, agents made it their busi ness to know what Judith

Coplon was doing at work .

So it went through th e rest of Ja nuary and int o the middle of

Februa ry . N o t h i n g u n u s u a l o c c u r r e d i n t h i s p e r i o d . But o n February

18, once again Mi ss Coplon headed for New York and once again

s h e m e t G u b i t c h e v i n t h e s a m e g e n e r a l l o c a l e i n W a s h i n g t on H e i g h t s

a s t h e i r f i r s t m e e t i n g . B u t t h e p a t t e r n t h i s t i m e t o o k on m a r k e d v a r i a -

t i o n .

I n s t e a d o f c o m i n g f a c e t o f a c e i n t h e r e s t a u r a n t , G u b i t c h e v a n d

Miss Cop lon, with t heir respective FBI shadows behind t hem, ap-

p e a r e d t o c o m e t o g e t h e r f o r a r e n d e z v o u s a t t h e n o r t h e a s t c o r n e r o f

193rd Street and Broadway . Y e t t h e y d i d n ot q u i t e m e e t t h e r e . T h i s

t i m e t h e i r a c t i o n s w e r e s t r i c t l y c l o ak - a n d - da g g e r .

Gubitchev, who was being followed by Agent Malley and other

o p e r a t i v e s , h a d t a k e n a b u s f r o m h i s h o m e a n d r e a c h e d t h e W a s h i n g -

ton Heights corner at 7 : 05 p . m . H e l o i t e r e d b r i e f l y t h e r e , l oo k i n g

a r o u n d a t t h e p e o p l e p a s s i n g . A f t e r a m i n u t e o f t h i s , h e b o a r d e d a

downtown Broadway bus . M a l l e y a n d t h e o t h e r a g e n t s f o l l o w e d i n

t h e i r c a r a n d w a t c h e d a s G u b i t c h e v g ot o f f a t 16 6t h S t r e e t . T h e r e h e

crossed Broadway and immediately got aboard an uptown bus that

t o o k h i m b a c k t o 1 9 2 n d S t r e e t , w h i c h i s o n t h e f r i n g e o f F o r t T r y o n

Park .

Meanwhile, agents following Judith Coplon rode with her on the

I R T s u b w a y t o t h e 1 9 1 s t S t r e e t s t a t i o n , w h e r e s h e g o t o f f a n d w e n t


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u p t o t h e s t r e e t . S h e , t o o , m e a n d e r e d a b o u t a s t h o u g h s e a r c h i n g f o r

someone .

T h e a g e n t s f i n al l y f o c u s e d i n o n t h e p l ay . G u b i t c h e v h a d c r o s s e d

the street and was standing on the west side of Broadway . M i s s

C o pl o n, o n t h e e a s t s i d e , l o ok e d a c r o s s t h e s t r e a m o f c a r s a n d b u s e s

p a s s i n g , s e e m e d t o s p ot G u b i t c h e v a n d c r o s s e d o v e r . A s s h e r e a c h e d

t h e s i d e w a l k , s h e s t a r t e d u p B r o a dw a y , p as s i n g G u b i t c h e v b y a s i f h e

w e r e a t o t al s t r a n g e r . T h e G - m e n w a t c h i n g t h e a c t i o n n o t i c e d t h a t a s

M i s s C o p l o n p a s s e d t h e R u s s i a n , s h e s h i f t e d h e r p o c k e t b o o k t o h e r

left arm. A second later, as i f that movement were a signal,

G u b i t c h e v s t a r t e d a f t e r M i s s C o p l on . F o r a t i m e , h e s t a y e d b e h i n d s e v -

e r a l p a c e s , t h e n f i n al l y h u r r i e d h i s s t e p . A s h e d r e w a l o ng s i d e o n h e r

l e f t , h e h e l d h i s r i g h t h a nd i n f r o n t o f t h e g o v e r n m e n t g i r l a n d t h e y

w a l k e d t o g e t h e r l i k e t h a t f i v e o r s i x s t e p s . T h e n G u b i t c h e v s l o w e d h i s

pace while Miss Coplon walked on .

Only one FBI man was close enough to see what was h appening .

He was Roger B Robinson, a form er Rose Bowl football star, ab l o c k i n g b a c k o n t h e 1 9 3 8 D u k e U n i v e r s i t y e l e v e n w h i c h w e n t u n d e -

f e a t e d , u n t i e d , a nd u n s c o r e d o n , a nd w h i c h b e a t S o u t h e r n C al i f o r n i a

7 t o 3 i n t h e T o u r n a m e n t o f R o s e s . Robins on saw Miss Coplon open

he r handba g a s s h e l i f t e d i t u p o n h e r a r m . T h e n p a s s e r s b y w e r e i n

t h e w a y a n d t h e G - m a n c o u l d no t s e e i f G u b i t c h e v t o o k a n y t h i n g o u t

o f t h e b a g a s h e w a l k e d a l o n g s i d e t h e g i r l w i t h h i s a r m s t r e t c h e d

a c r o s s h e r . N o r c o u l d h e s e e i f M i s s C o p l o n h a d p a s s e d a n y t h i n g t o

the Russia n .

B u t Agent Mil le r, who had ridde n u p town on the su bwa y wi t h

Miss Coplon, knew what she was carrying in her handbag-certain

f o l d e d on i o n - s k i n pa p e r s . H e h a d s e e n t h e m w h e n s h e o p e n e d h e r b a g

w h i l e h e w a s s t a n d i n g b e s i d e h e r i n t h e t r a i n . Such papers-they

c o n t a i n e d s e c r e t b u t e r r o n e o u s i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e A m t o r g T r a d -

i n g C or p o r a t i o n , t h e R u s s i a n pu r c h a s i n g m i s s i o n i n t h e U. S . , a n d d a t aa b o u t t h e u s e o f g e o ph o n e s t o m e a s u r e p r e s s u r e i n U . S . atomic bomb

t e s t shad been prepared as decoys and routed through Miss Cop-I o n' s d e s k i n t h e J u s t i c e D e p a r t m e n t t h e d a y b e f o r e s h e m e t G u b i t c h e v .

F o r n o v al i d r e a s o n , t h e p a p e r s h a d r e m a i n e d o n h e r d e s k f a r l o n g e r

t h a n t h e y s h o u l d h a v e . While no one could observe what was goi ng

o n , t h e a s s u m p t i o n w a s t h a t M i s s C o p l o n h a d c o p i e d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n

o n h e r o w n t y p e w r i t e r o n t h e s a m e k i n d of p a pe r a t h e r d e s k .


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After his bri ef encounter with Mi ss Coplon, Gubi tchev turned,

walked to the comer of 192nd Street, and took a Broadwa y bus

d o w n t o w n . H e g o t o f f a t 1 0 8 t h S t r e e t a n d w e n t i n t o a s u p e r m a r k e t .

The agents watched the Russian as he filled a shopping cart with

p u m p e r n i c k e l b r e a d , c a k e , a n d a v a r i e t y o f m e a t s , i n c l u d i n g a l e n g t h

o f b o l o g n a . Then he went home .

Miss C oplon's movements were tracked by other FBI men . When

G u b i t c h e v h a d t a m e d b a c k a f t e r h i s b r i e f a n d f u r t i v e e n c o u n t e r w i t h

t h e g i r l , s h e w a l k e d t o t h e c o m e r o f 1 9 3 r d S t r e e t , s t o p p e d m o m e n -

t a r i l y , l o o k e d a r o u n d, t h e n w a l k e d b a c k , e n t e r e d t h e s u b w a y s t a t i o n ,

a n d t oo k a t r a i n t o h e r p a r e n t s ' h o m e i n B r o o k l y n .

T h e p a t t e r n o f t h i s g e t - t o g e t h e r i n w h i c h G u b i t c h e v a n d M i s s C o p -

I o n c a u t i o u s l y a vo i d e d a l l s i g n s o f r e c o g n i t i o n w a s r e m i n i s c e n t o f t h e

t a c t i c s u s e d b y t h e C a na d i a n a t o m s p y r i n g . I n t h a t c a s e , t h e s t a n d ar d

o p e r a t i n g p r o c e d u r e w a s n e v e r t o l o i t e r a t a n a p p o i n t e d s p o t i f a

f e l l o w c o n s p i r a t o r w a s l a t e , b u t t o r e t u r n l a t e r . T h e G - m e n w h o

followed Gubitchev and Miss Coplon were convinced that the Rus-

sian had taken his short b us jaunt downtown because the Justice

D e p a r t m e n t g i r l w a s l a t e f o r h e r a p p o i n t m e n t . B u t w h a t p u z z l e d t h e m

w a s t h e c h a n g e i n p r o c e d u r e ; t h e y h ad p r e v i o u s l y m e t r a t h e r o p e n l y

i n t h e r e s t a u r a n t , as p e r h a p s a c o u p l e o f l o v e r s m i g h t d o o n a d a t e ,

b u t t h i s t i m e t h e y e x h i b i t e d t h e b i z a r r e t a c t i c s o f a c o u pl e o f s e c r e t

a g e n t s . W h y t h e c h a n g e ?

The FBI decided that Gubi tchev and Miss Coplon had prob ably

b e g u n t o s u s p e c t t h e y w e r e b e i n g f o l l ow e d . T h a t t h i s w a s s o c o u l d n o t

b e d i s c o u n t e d b e c a u s e a g e n t s h a d m a d e s o m a n y i n q u i r i e s a b o u t M i s s

Coplon among her friends . I t w a s d e e m e d w e l l w i t h i n t h e r e a l m o f

p r o b a b i l i t y t h a t s o m e w o r d o f t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n h a d s e e p e d b a c k t o

t h e s u s p e c t .

M i s s C o p l o n ' s F B I s h a d o w s f o u n d t h a t h e r t r i p s t o N e w Y o r k C i t y

did not always lead to rendezvous with Gubitchev . O n a t l e a s t f i v e

o t h e r o c c a s i o n s G - m e n f o u n d h e r i n v ol v e d i n o t h e r s i t u a t i o n s .

On the nig ht of January 19, FBI Agent Richard E . B r e n n a n f o l -

l o w e d J u d i t h C o p l o n t o t h e H o t e l P i c c a d i l l y o f f T i m e s S q u a r e . T h e r e ,

a f t e r a l o n g an d i m p a t i e n t w a i t , h e s a w h e r c o m e o u t o f a n e l e v a t o r i n

the lobby with a tall, handsome, dark-haired man who certainly

w a s n ' t G u b i t c h e v .

F r o m t h e h o t e l , B r e n n a n f o l l o w e d t h e c o u p l e t o t h e A l p s R e s t a u -


22/297

2 6 : Red Spi es in t he UN

r a n t a t t h e A v e n u e o f t h e A m e r i c a s a n d 58 t h S t r e e t , a n d t h e n t o t h e

Colony Theater where they watch ed the stage performance of Kiss

Me Kate .

F o r t h e n e x t t h r e e d a y s , B r e n n a n a n d o t h e r a g e n t s t r a i l e d M i s s

Coplon around Manha ttan but s he never met Gubitchev . M o s t o f t h e

t i m e s h e w a s i n t o w n s h e w e n t s h o p p i n g - w i t h a d i p l o m a t i c a l l y d i s -

tant escort of thr ee FBI men, including Br ennan . B u t a l l t h a t t h e

agents saw Miss Coplon buy on those days-she had four days off

f r o m h e r j o b b e c a u s e o f P r e s i d e n t T r u m a n ' s i n a u g u r a t i o n c e r e m o n i e s

in Washington-was a scarf .

On one more occas ion, Mi s s Cop l on we nt ou t wi t hou t meetin g

Gubitch ev . I t w a s t h e n i g h t a f t e r t h a t F e b r u a r y 1 8 w h e n s h e h a d t h e

b r i e f a n d c l a nd e s t i n e e n c o u nt e r w i t h t h e S o v i e t e n g i n e e r u p i n W a s h -

i n g t o n H e i g h t s . M i s s C o p l o n w e n t f r o m h e r p a r e n t s ' h o m e i n B r o o k -

lyn to visi t friends in th e Fresh Meadows housi ng development in

Queens . T h e s e f r i e n d s a l s o w e r e l a t e r q u e s t i o n e d b y t h e F B I .

While agents conti nued to keep tabs on Gubitchev and Miss Cop.

Ion, other FBI men sought to determine what dealings were being

t r a n s ac t e d b e t w e e n t h e t w o s u s p e c t s , w h at s e c r e t s t h e J u s t i c e D e p a r t -

m e n t g i r l w a s p a s s i n g t o t h e R u s s i a n - i f , i n d e e d , s h e w a s s e l l i n g o u t .

E v e r y t h i n g b e g a n t o p o i n t t o w a r d t h a t p r o b a b i l i t y . F o r o n e t h i n g ,

t h e i n v e s t i g a t o r s l e a r n e d t h a t M i s s C o p l on , f o r n o a p p ar e n t r e a s o n ,

h a d b e e n c a l l i n g f o r F B I d a t a o n e m b a s s i e s a n d c o n s u l a t e s a n d e m -

b a s s y p e r s o n n e l . T h e n , f i n al l y , s h e a s k e d h e r s u p e r i o r i n t h e J u s t i c e

Department, Wi lliam Foley, fo r a secret fi le marked INTERNAL

SECURITY-R . T h e " R " s t o o d f o r R u s s i a n . A n d t h e d a ta w a s c l a s s i f i e d

i n f o r m a t i o n de a l i n g w i t h R e d ag e n t s a n d n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y.

F o r a n o t h e r t h i n g , t h e m e e t i n g s b e t w e e n G u b i t c h e v a n d M i s s C o p -

I o n p a r a l l e l e d i n m a n y r e s p e c t s t h e f a n t a s t i c a c c o u n t b a r e d d u r i n g

the previous summer of 1948 by Elizabeth Bentley and Whittaker

C h a m b e r s , t h e c o n f e s s e d c o u r i e r s f o r C o m m u n i s t e s p i o n a g e n e t w o r k s.

Miss B entley had told the House Un-American Activ ities Com mitt ee

the details of clandesti ne meetings wi th government employees on

s t r e e t c o m e r s , m e e t i n g s a t w h i c h s h e a d m i t t e d t u r n i n g o v e r v i t a l g ov -

e r n m e n t s e c r e t s . The FBI was convin ced Miss Coplon was sim ilarly

e n g a g e d i n e s p i o n a ge .

N o w t h e y d e c i d e d t h e t i m e h a d c o m e t o c l o s e i n .


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Valentin Gubi tchev, th e First UN Spy : 2 7

Late on Mar ch 3 th e FBI in New York learned that Ju dith Cop-

I o n a ga i n p l a nn e d t o v i s i t t h e c i t y . How did they learn that ? From

a p h o n e c o n v e r s a t i o n M i s s C o p l o n ' s m o t h e r i n B r o o k l y n h a d w i t h h e r

daughter in Washington . The FBI had put a tap on the Coplons'

phone .

That information prompted a teletype alarm to Washingt on which

r e a d i n p a r t : " D u e t o t i m e J u d y s t a t e d [ i n t h e p h o n e c o n v e r s a t i o n

w i t h h e r m o t h e r ] s h e w o u l d b e h o m e [ o n M a r c h 4 ] s t r o n g p o s s i b i l i t y

she may meet Gubitchev at 7 p .m . W a s h F i e l d s h o u l d s u r v e i l h e r t oN.Y . a s i n p a s t . N .Y . c o v e r a g e w i l l b e s a m e . "William Foley, her superior in t he Justic e Department, was i n-

s t r u c t e d t o n o t i f y t h e F B I w h e n J u d i t h C o p l o n w a s l e a v i n g s o t h e t a i l

c o u l d b e p u t o n h e r . L a t e o n t h e a f t e r n o o n o f M a r c h 3 , F o l e y t i p p e d

the FBI that th e suspect had made arrang ements to go to New York

t h e n e x t d a y .

At 1 p .m . Friday , March 4, Mis s Coplon left Union Terminal i n

Was h in g ton ab oard a Penns yl v an ia Rail road train for New York .

And sitt ing alone beside the window looking out at the landscape

whizzing b y, Judith had no idea that two seats behind her on the

o p po s i t e s i d e o f t h e a i s l e , t h e t w o m e n s i t t i n g t o g e t h e r h a d o ne o v e r -

r i d i n g m i s s i o n - n e v e r t o l e t t h e i r e y e s o f f h e r . They were the sam e

t w o a g e n t s w h o h a d f o l l o w e d h e r o n a n u m b e r o f p r e v i o u s o c c a s i o n s ,

Agents Hrads ky and Brennan . T h e y f e l t r e a s o n a b l y s a f e t h a t M i s s

C o p l o n h a d n o t s p o t t e d t h e m b e f o r e a n d t h a t s h e c o u l d n o t s u s p e c t

t h e y w e r e f o l l o w i n g h e r n o w .

In New York, elaborate and p ainstaking preparations had b een

m a d e f o r h e r a r r i v a l an d e x pe c t e d m e e t i n g w i t h G u b i t c h e v . T h e r e w a s

l i t t l e d o u b t b u t t h a t J u d i t h C o pl o n w o u l d m e e t t h e R u s s i a n o f f i c i a l ,

b e c a u s e t h i s t i m e t h e F B I s t r o n g l y s u s p e c t e d s h e h a d m a d e o f f w i t h

data slips containing extracts of FBI reports relating to Soviet

a f f a i r s ; w o r d s k e t c h e s o f t h r e e g o v e r n m e n t e m p l o y e e s , a n d e x t r a c t s

f r o m a d e c o y m e s s a g e p r e p a r e d b y t h e F B I a n d m a d e a v a i l a b l e t o h e r

b y h e r s u p e r i o r , F o l e y , o n t h a t F r i d a y m o r n i n g . The FBI was a lmos t

c e r t a i n t h e p e t i t e M i s s C o p l o n w a s g o i n g t o t r a n s m i t t h i s d a t a t o

Gu b i tc he v .

The preparations were more elaborate than before because this

time the FBI was prepared to close in and make arrests . Twent y


24/297


a g e n t s a n d s e v e n r a d i o - e q u i p p e d c a r s w e r e p r e s s e d i n t o s e r v i c e i n

N e w Y o r k . F i v e a g e n t s w e r e a s s i g n e d t o w a t c h G u b i t c h e v - t h r e e a t

t h e U n i t e d N a t i o ns a n d t w o at h i s 1 0 8 t h S t r e e t h o m e .

Anoth er car with t wo agents co vered the DeLuxe Restauran t on

D y c k m a n S t r e e t w h e r e M i s s C o p l o n a n d G u b i t c h e v h a d h a d t h e i r f i r s t

known meeting . Two more G-men were at the Broadway IRT s u b -w a y ' s 19 1 s t St r e e t s t a t i o n . A n o t h e r t w o w e r e p u t i n a s t at i o n e r y s t o r e

a t B r o a d w a y a n d W e s t 1 9 3 r d S t r e e t t o w a t c h t h e c o r n e r t h e s u s p e c t s

h a d u s e d p r e v i o u s l y f o r t h e i r h u r r i e d c l o a k - a n d - d a g g e r r e n d e z v o u s .

T w o o th e r a g e n t s w e r e p o s t e d a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t .

D o w n t o w n , t w o c a r s , a n a g e n t i n e a c h , w e r e d e s i g n a t e d t o p a t r o l

o u t s i d e P e n n s y l va n i a S t a t i o n, w h i l e f i v e o t h e r a g e n t s - o n e a t a l l , w i l -

lowy brunette named Sappho Manos, chief clerk in the New York

C i t y F B I o f f i c e - w e r e i n a nd a r o u n d t h e s t a t i o n o n f o o t .

A s t h e t r a i n b r i n g i n g J u d i t h C o p l o n t o N e w Y o r k p a s s e d t h r o u g h

t h e t u n n e l u n d e r t h e H u d s o n R i v e r a n d s l o w e d d o w n i n i t s a p p r o a c h

to Pennsylv ania Stati on, the slender, dark-eyed Miss Coplon ros e

f r o m h e r s e a t a nd s t r a i g h t e n e d t h e w r i n k l e s i n h e r b l a c k s k i r t , a d -

j u s t e d h e r s w e a t e r , t h e n r e a c h e d f o r t h e b l a c k c l o t h c o a t w h i c h h a d

b e e n o n t h e s e a t b e s i d e h e r . S h e p u t o n t h e c o a t , t h e n w a l k e d f o r w a r d

t o t h e c a r ' s v e s t i b u l e .

A g e n t s H r a d s k y a n d B r e n n an r e m a i n e d i n t h e i r s e a t s b u t t h e i r e y e s

w e r e g l u e d t o th e s u s p e c t .

W h e n t h e t r a i n c a m e t o a h a l t a n d t h e d o o r s o p e n e d , J u d i t h C o p -

l o n s t e p p e d o n t o t h e p l a t f o r m a n d w a l k e d t o w a r d t h e s t a i r s . R i g h t

behind were the two agents wh o had followed her from Washi ngton .

A n d w h e n s h e r e a c h e d t h e m a i n t e r m i n al l e v e l , o t h e r a l e r t b u t i n v i s i -

b l e h o st s w e r e t h e r e t o g r e e t h e r .

Miss Manos an d FBI Agents Robert Granville and Edward Scheidt

q u i c k l y t a r g e t e d i n o n M i s s C o p l on a n d, w i t h s e v e r a l p a c e s s e p a r a t i n g

e a c h o pe r a t i v e , f e l l i n b e h i n d h e r a s s h e t h r e a d e d h e r w a y t h r o u g h th e

i n c i p i e n t e v e n i n g r u s h h o u r c r o w d t o t h e IND's 3 4 t h S t r e e t s t a t i o n a t

t h e f a r w e s t e r n e n d o f t h e g i a n t t e r m i n a l .

Unknown to Judit h Coplon, this s ame trio followed her through

t h e t u r n s t i l e t o t h e p l a t f o r m a nd i n t o a n u p t o w n W a s h i n g t o n H e i g h t s

e x p r e s s . Agents Hradsky and Brennan, on a s ignal from Granville

t h a t h i s t e a m h a d t a k e n ov e r , d r o p p e d o u t o f t h e p i c t u r e a t t h e s u b -


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V a l e n t i n G u b i t c h e v , t h e F i r s t U N S p y : 29

way entrance . T h e y c o u l d n o t c o n t i n u e t o t a i l t h e s u s p e c t w i t h o u t

r i s k i n g t h e c h a n ce t h a t s h e w o u l d r e c o g n i z e w h a t t h e y w e r e d o i n g .

N e v e r t h e l e s s , M i s s C o p l o n w a s i n t h e c l u t c h e s o f a f o r m i d a b l e a r -

r a y o f o p e r a t i v e s . A t n o t i m e c o u l d s h e e l u d e t h e s c r u t i n y of a t le a s t

o n e o r a l l t h r e e o f h e r w a t c h e r s , e v e n w h e n t h e h o m e b o u n d c r o w d

g r e w a t e a c h s u b s e q u e n t s t o p o n t h e t r i p u p t o w n .

T h e r i d e l a s t e d l e s s t h a n a h al f h o u r . S h o r t l y b e f o r e 5 p . m . , Miss

C o p lo n w o v e h e r w a y t o t h e t r a i n ' s d o o r a n d s t e p p e d o u t o n t o t h e

p l a t f or m a t t h e 1 9 0 t h S t r e e t s t a t i o n . A g e n t G r a n vi l l e w a s r i g h t b e h i n d

h e r . A t t h e s a m e t i m e M i s s M a n o s a n d A g e n t S c h e i d t s t e p p e d o f f

t h r o u g h a d o o r a t t h e o t h e r e n d o f t h e c a r . T h e y t u r n e d a n d w a l k e d

toward Miss Cop lon as she, seeming som ewhat confused on the

c r o w d e d p l a t f o r m , m o v e d t o w a r d t h e m .

T h e n c a m e o n e o f t h o s e i n c i d e n t s t h a t i f w r i t t e n i n t o f i c t i o n w o u ld

s u r e l y h a v e b e e n di s c o u n t e d a s t o o m e l o d r a m a t i c a l l y i m p l a u s i b l e .

M i s s C o p l o n s t u m b l e d a n d l i t e r a l l y b u m p e d i n t o M i s s M a n o s . " E x -

c u s e m e , " t h e g i r l s a i d , " I ' m s o r r y . " T h e n a s s h e r e c o v e r e d , s h e

a d d e d , " E x c u s e m e a g a i n , b u t I s e e m t o b e l o s t . C a n y o u t e l l m e h o w

I c a n g e t t o B r o a d w a y ? "

H e a r t i n m o u t h b u t d e a d p a n , a s t h o u g h n o t h i n g i n t h e w o r l d c o u l d

b e a m i s s , M i s s M a n o s t u r n e d a q u i c k s m i l e a n d an s w e r e d i n a s t e a d y

v o i c e , " T h a t ' s q u i t e a l l r i g h t . I ' m s o r r y w e c a n 't h e l p . " S h e g a z e d a t

S c h e i d t a n d t h e n a t M i s s C o p l on a g a i n . " W e s e e m t o b e l o s t , t o o . We

w e r e j u s t t r y i n g t o ge t o u r b e a r i n g s . So r r y . . . "

A n d w i t h t h a t , M i s s M a n o s a n d S c h e i d t w a l k e d i n t h e o p p o s i t e

d i r e c t i o n , r e f u s i n g e v e n t o g l a n c e a t A g e n t G r a n vi l l e w h o , o f c o u r s e ,

h a d s t a y e d b a c k d u r i n g t h e b r i e f e n c o u n t e r a n d n ow h a d t o g o i t

a l o n e .

G r a n v i l l e t a i l e d t h e d i m i n u t i v e s u s p e c t t o t h e s t r e e t a n d w a t c h e d a s

s h e w a l k e d a i m l e s s l y , o r s e e m i n g l y s o , f r o m O v e r l o o k T e r r a c e e a s t o n

1 9 0 t h S t r e e t t o F o r t W a s h i n g t o n A v e n u e a n d on t o B r o a d w a y . A f t e r

l o n g m i n u t e s o f t h i s w a n d e r i n g , G r a n v i l l e s e n s e d t h i s p a r t o f t h e t r i p

m i g h t b e a d e c o y . H e q u i c k l y s l i p p e d i n t o a p h o n e b o o t h w h i c h g a v e

h i m a v i e w o f t h e s t r e e t a n d s o l e t h i m k e e p a n e y e o n h i s q u a r r y , a n d

c a l l e d a s p e c i a l F B I n u m b e r . H e g a v e h i s l o c a t i o n a n d a s k e d f o r

r e i n f o r c e m e n t s . T h e n h e s t e p p e d o u t a n d p i c k e d u p J u d i t h C o p l o n ' s

t r a i l .


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M i n u t e s l a t e r G r a n v i l l e s p ot t e d t h e h e l p h e w a s l o o k i n g f o r i n t h e

person of Agent John R Murphy who f ell in behind Granvi lle asJ u d i t h C o p l o n ' s s e c o n d s h a d o w . A t 1 9 1s t S t r e e t a n d B r o a d w a y , G r a n -

v i l l e v e e r e d o f f i n an o t h e r d i r e c t i o n a nd c i r c l e d a r o u n d t h e b l o c k . S t i l l

m o r e m i n u t e s l a t e r , G r a n v i l l e c a m e b a c k t o s t a l k t h e s u s p e c t a s M u r -

p h y p e e l e d o f f .

At 5 : 5 5 p .m . Valentin Gubitchev all at on ce appeared on the

s c e n e . Two agents had followed him from the UN Building to the

H e i g h t s , b u t n o w a s t h e y s p o t t e d G r a n v i l l e a n d M u r p h y n e a r b y , t h e y

f e l l b a c k a n d l e t t h e s e t w o a g e n t s d o t h e s p o t t i n g .

As Gubit chev rounded 191st Street into Broad way, h e walked to-

ward Ju di t h Cop l on-and ri g h t p as t he r . N e i t h e r g a v e a n y s i g n o f

r e c o g n i t i o n . The G-men, expecting s omething of the sort, split up

a g ai n , e a c h t a k i n g u p t h e t r a i l o f a s u s p e c t .

F o r m o r e t h a n a n h o u r , G u b i t c h e v a n d J u d i t h C o p l on w a n d e r e d t h e

s t r e e t s o f W a s h i n g t o n H e i g h t s , o c c a s i o n a l l y p a s s i n g o n e a n ot h e r , o c c a -

s i o n a l l y w a l k i n g i n t h e s a m e d i r e c t i o n , b u t n e v e r l o o k i n g a t e a c h

o t h e r d i r e c t l y , n e v e r e x c h a n g i n g a g l a n c e , n e v e r h a n d i n g a n y t h i n g

o v e r , n e v e r s i g n al i n g e a c h o t h e r .

I t w a s n o w a p p a r e n t t h e J u s t i c e D e p a r t m e n t g i r l a n d t h e R u s s i a n

e n g i n e e r w e r e f o l l o w i n g a n e l a b o r a t e c l o a k - a n d - d ag g e r r o u t i n e .

F i n a l l y , a f t e r a n h ou r a n d m o r e o f s e e m i n g l y a i m l e s s p r o m e n a d i n g ,

Miss C oplon headed back to the IND subway at 190th Street and

boarded a downtown express that ultimat ely deposit ed her at the

42nd Street st ation on 8th Avenue. It was 7 : 3 0 p .m . whe n she

c l i m b e d t h e s t a i r s t o t h e b u s y s t r e e t , j u s t a b l o c k w e s t o f T i m e s

Square . A g e n t M u r p h y h a d n e v e r l e t h e r o u t o f h i s s i g h t o n t h e t r a i n

r i d e a n d h e w a s s t i l l s t a l k i n g h e r n o w o n t h e s t r e e t . But he had no

idea where Gubitchev was . N o r A g e n t G r a n v i l l e .

M i s s C o p l o n h e a d e d e a s t o n 4 2 n d S t r e e t , p a s t t h e b r i g h t b l i n k i n g

l i g h t s o f t h e a l l - ni g h t m o v i e h o u s e s t h a t i l l u m i n a t e t h e s t r e e t i n t o an

i n c a n de s c e n t b r i l l i a n c e , p a s t t h e m u l t i t u d e o f h o t d o g s t a nd s , p i z z a

p a r l o r s , a r m y a n d na v y s t o r e s , p a s t t h e t h r o n g s o f b l a c k - j a c k e t e d

t e e n a ge r s w h o m a k e t h e g a u d y s t r e e t t h e i r c o n s t a n t h an g ou t .

M u r p h y c l u n g t o J u d i t h t h r o u g h t h e c r o w d s a n d s o on t h e b l i n d i n g

lights of Times Square burst upon them . J u d i t h C o p l o n t u r n e d t h e

c o r n e r i n t o S e v e n t h A v e n u e w h e r e i t m e r g e s i n t o B r o a d w a y , w a l k i n g

i n t o t h e p u l s e c e n t e r o f t h e b i g c i t y . H e r e h i s q u a r r y s u d d e n l y s l o w e d


27/297


h e r p a c e , a l m o s t a m b l i n g a l o n g n o w . T h e c r o w d s w e r e f a i r l y t h i c k i n

T i m e s S q u a r e b e c a u s e c u r t a i n t i m e w a s a p p r o a c h i n g i n t h e m o r e t h a n

s c o r e o f l e gi t i m a t e t h e a t e r s t h at d ot t h e a r e a . I t w a s e a s y t o l o s e h e r

i n t h o s e t h r o n g s , s o M u r p h y m o v e d c l o s e r.

I n f r o n t o f t h e P a r a m o u n t T h e a t e r a t t h e c o r n e r o f 4 3 r d S t r e e t ,

J u d i t h s u d d e n l y t u r n e d a n d s t a r t e d b a c k . Murphy stepped into the

d o or w a y o f a v a r i e t y s t o r e a n d w a i t e d u n t i l h i s p r e y h a d p a s s e d , t h e n

h e p i c k e d u p h e r t r a i l a g ai n . I t l e d a r o u n d t h e c o m e r i n t o 4 2 n d S t r e e t

once more . A s M i s s C o p l o n w a l k e d w e s t t o w a r d E i g h t h A v e n u e , M u r -

phy suddenly became aware of Gubitchev . He had popped up about

f i f t y f e e t b e h i n d M i s s C o p l o n a n d w a s g o i n g i n t h e s a m e d i r e c t i o n .

Murphy had been about seventy-five feet behind Mi ss Coplon wh ich

p u t G u b i t c h e v o nl y t w e n t y - f i v e f e e t i n f r o n t o f t h e G - m a n - a l m o s t t o o

c l o s e f o r M u r p h y ' s c o m f o r t .

M u r p h y t u r n e d a n d l o o k e d i n d e s p e r a t i o n f o r A g e n t G r a n v i l l e w h o

h a d h a d t h e j o b o f t a i l i n g G u b i t c h e v . There was no sign of him . I t

was up to Murphy now to follow bot h suspects, who now walked on

p a s t E i g h t h A v e n u e a n d h e a d e d t o w a r d N i n t h .

About mi d-block, Gubitch ev suddenly looked back over his left

s h o u l d e r , h e l d t h e g l a n c e , t h e n t u r n e d h i s h e a d f r o n t w a r d a g a i n . A

f e w p a c e s o n , G u b i t c h e v t o s s e d a n ot h e r q u i c k l o o k o ve r h i s l e f t s h o u l -

d e r , t h e n h i s r i g h t . H e s t r a i g h t e n e d a g a i n an d qu i c k e n e d h i s p a c e .

T h e n , a s h e d r e w a b r e a s t o f M i s s C o p l o n , G u b i t c h e v b r o k e i n t o a

run . A l l a t o n c e M i s s C o p l o n b e g a n r u n n i n g , t o o . As Murph y took

a f t e r t h e m , G u b i t c h e v a n d t h e g i r l s p r i n t e d a c r o s s N i n t h A v e n u e a n d

hopped aboard a downtown bus .

I n s t e a d o f r a c i n g f o r t h e b u s h i m s e l f , M u r p h y d a r t e d i n t o a b a r -

a n d - g r i l l a n d p h o n e d t h e F B I t o r e p o r t w h a t h a d h a p p e n e d . A r a d i o

f l a s h w e n t o u t i m m e d i a t e l y t o a l l FB I c a r s t o c o n v e r g e o n t h e b u s .

F r o m s c a t t e r e d d i r e c t i o n s , t h e u n m a r k e d c a r s g a t h e r e d s p e e d a n d

h e a d e d c r o s s t o w n , d o w n t o w n , u p t o w n , a l l t a r g e t i n g i n o n t h e s o u t h -

bound bus . One FBI car, far uptown, raced along t he West Side

H i g h w a y , a n e l e v a t e d e x p r e s s w a y t h a t s n a k e s a l o n g t h e H u d s o n R i v e r

s h o r e , an d as i t n e a r e d t h e s c e n e c a m e t o gr i e f - w i t h a f l at t i r e . T h a t

p u t f o u r a g e n t s o u t o f a c t i

Red Spies in the UN-Pierre J Huss-George Carpozi JR-1965-297pgs-POL

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