It's nice to hear discussion of how embassy staff thought of Vassall, in relation to his post and the pecking order. Such subtleties and nuance are often overlooked or simply reduced by some commentators to "delusions of grandeur." Whilst this is true, it does not paint an accurate picture of social attitudes or hierarchies, class etc at the time.
I'm an American who was born in 1949. I don't remember hearing about Vassal back then but the news here about the Parfumo Scandal & Christine Keeler saturated the American news for weeks. Looking back now, the news here seemed to savor every salacious detail about Parfumo, et al and seemed quite happy to embellish them. I was 13, and my sister was 12. We joked about SO Much about the Parfumo & Keeler that our father threatened to smack the both of us if we mentioned it again. Looking back, I can understand my father now because the news coverage about Parfumo, et al was really Trashy and it stands out in my memory because of that. It's sad that even in the case of National Security all the newspapers cared about was increasing circulation. 😢
Elwell took Vassall out without handcuffs for four drives around Vassall's old meeting sites with his Russian handlers, with three more men in the car, and meals or tea at the end of the drive before Vassall was turned over to the Scrubs for a probable strip search and lock up. Vassall was almost flirting with Elwell at times. Elwell on various occasions gave him apples and expensive chocolates. Elwell did write a note to the file about seeing what they could do for Vassall. Vassall also told Elwell that he didn't feel drunk during the compromise events at the Hotel Berlin. And described what happened as "assault" on another occasion. Both were before the date where he said someone suggested he had been drugged. I've seen two cases (Vassall's and Robert Hanssen's) where the Russians' pay started as equal to what the person was getting from their other job (haven't done further research on that). That apparently could be negotiated upwards, and at least one ideological spy (a British woman) turned down any pay. A gay newspaper that reported on Vassall's release said that wasn't much money for the dangers he faced. It was like going from $40,000 a year now to $80,000 a year, nice bump, but not from lower middle class to rich. Vassal's bank statements didn't show huge deposits. Russians paid him in pounds and he probably spent that on things he could pay cash for (couple of clothing stores said he paid in cash, and food would be paid in cash, maybe even rent in those days). Enjoyed this and the Willie Fisher podcast part one.
As someone who works in government, I'll assume "doesn't understand the political importance of a paper he was asked to draft" is code for "refuses to uncritically adopt the government's narrative as a prior truth in a paper he was asked to draft".
An entirely disturbing episode of British history. Clearly those in power made systematic, huge mistakes which made this whole ordeal possible, and used Vassal's homosexuality to drive the attention away from them.
Security is a funny thing. If you're the reference expert, you get need-to-know info. If you're IT support, you get admin credentials. Also, if you don't a) make sure your security guards have great work conditions (comfort, nourishment, sleep, leisure, etc.), and 2) instill in them the trust that doing their job is not 'harassing', it will be like having no security at all.
What! A wanna be spy that lies! Pass me the smelling salts Hilda. Oh no an incompetent spy for the future, not incompetent enough yet Johnson keep him on a back burner. Sorry, my sympathies are very limited with this sort. This spy got money from Russians, not a lot, just enough to go on a round the world holiday, several times round. What? The smugness regarding their incompetence is breathtaking.
I knew about John Vassall, but this was the first documentary on the matter I have ever seen. Very interesting!
Rewatching this and there's so much I already forgot. I've probably watched over 100 episodes now, and this really holds up as one of the best.
It's nice to hear discussion of how embassy staff thought of Vassall, in relation to his post and the pecking order. Such subtleties and nuance are often overlooked or simply reduced by some commentators to "delusions of grandeur." Whilst this is true, it does not paint an accurate picture of social attitudes or hierarchies, class etc at the time.
Thanks for the kind comment.
I'm an American who was born in 1949. I don't remember hearing about Vassal back then but the news here about the Parfumo Scandal & Christine Keeler saturated the American news for weeks. Looking back now, the news here seemed to savor every salacious detail about Parfumo, et al and seemed quite happy to embellish them. I was 13, and my sister was 12. We joked about SO Much about the Parfumo & Keeler that our father threatened to smack the both of us if we mentioned it again. Looking back, I can understand my father now because the news coverage about Parfumo, et al was really Trashy and it stands out in my memory because of that. It's sad that even in the case of National Security all the newspapers cared about was increasing circulation. 😢
Elwell took Vassall out without handcuffs for four drives around Vassall's old meeting sites with his Russian handlers, with three more men in the car, and meals or tea at the end of the drive before Vassall was turned over to the Scrubs for a probable strip search and lock up. Vassall was almost flirting with Elwell at times. Elwell on various occasions gave him apples and expensive chocolates. Elwell did write a note to the file about seeing what they could do for Vassall.
Vassall also told Elwell that he didn't feel drunk during the compromise events at the Hotel Berlin. And described what happened as "assault" on another occasion. Both were before the date where he said someone suggested he had been drugged.
I've seen two cases (Vassall's and Robert Hanssen's) where the Russians' pay started as equal to what the person was getting from their other job (haven't done further research on that). That apparently could be negotiated upwards, and at least one ideological spy (a British woman) turned down any pay. A gay newspaper that reported on Vassall's release said that wasn't much money for the dangers he faced. It was like going from $40,000 a year now to $80,000 a year, nice bump, but not from lower middle class to rich. Vassal's bank statements didn't show huge deposits. Russians paid him in pounds and he probably spent that on things he could pay cash for (couple of clothing stores said he paid in cash, and food would be paid in cash, maybe even rent in those days).
Enjoyed this and the Willie Fisher podcast part one.
As someone who works in government, I'll assume "doesn't understand the political importance of a paper he was asked to draft" is code for "refuses to uncritically adopt the government's narrative as a prior truth in a paper he was asked to draft".
An entirely disturbing episode of British history. Clearly those in power made systematic, huge mistakes which made this whole ordeal possible, and used Vassal's homosexuality to drive the attention away from them.
Buggery doesn't pay.
Security is a funny thing. If you're the reference expert, you get need-to-know info. If you're IT support, you get admin credentials. Also, if you don't a) make sure your security guards have great work conditions (comfort, nourishment, sleep, leisure, etc.), and 2) instill in them the trust that doing their job is not 'harassing', it will be like having no security at all.
What! A wanna be spy that lies! Pass me the smelling salts Hilda. Oh no an incompetent spy for the future, not incompetent enough yet Johnson keep him on a back burner. Sorry, my sympathies are very limited with this sort. This spy got money from Russians, not a lot, just enough to go on a round the world holiday, several times round. What? The smugness regarding their incompetence is breathtaking.
Similar happened in the US with their alphabet group and gay men. They could blackmail them use them in their covert work.
Gave up on watching. Way too many ads.
Lopez Scott Jones Donna Brown Jose
Martinez Amy Thomas Frank Hall Daniel
Wilson Jose Johnson Linda Anderson Betty
Davis Jeffrey Allen Mary White Michael