The Cold War Spy Who Got Away | True Life Spy Stories
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Listen to my spy stories on the Heroes & Traitors with Philip Thompson podcast!
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Primary sources and further reading (afiiliate links):
📕 The Spy Who Got Away - amzn.to/46dQRuh
📘 Safe House: The Compelling Memoirs of the Only CIA Spy to Seek Asylum in Russia - amzn.to/3SgtfQ1
In the sun-drenched streets of the Vatican in the summer of 1985, a high-ranking KGB officer slipped away from his group touring the Vatican Museum. He disappeared without trace, only to reemerge a few weeks later in the United States.
Vitaly Yurchenko’s defection was an intelligence coup for the CIA. In a secure, dimly lit room in a safehouse in northern Virginia, Yurchenko faced his American interrogators. The air was thick with tension as he began to divulge KGB secrets. The CIA’s glee turned to dismay as Yurchenko began to speak of a mole within their ranks. He didn’t know his name, only his codename. Agent ‘Robert’ had been preparing for a posting to the CIA’s Moscow station before abruptly being taken off the assignment.
The CIA agents’ blood ran cold. Agent ROBERT could be only one man - a disgruntled former CIA employee who had been fired from the Agency 2 years prior. Ever since, the CIA had done their best to conceal the affair from the FBI.
The man’s name was Edward Lee Howard.
#philipthompson #truelifespystories #thespywhogotaway
Your narration is perfectly fine I have no idea why people would think it’s a problem. It honestly even fits the theme… great video I’m happy to be a subscriber
Thank you so much!
Yeah, it's great I think. 👍
I don't even see any comments about it. Regardless, I love the vids.
@@PhilipThompsonlove the narration voice man keep it up, thank you for uploading for us , these videos bring me peace
It’s just missing a music bed in the back.
Don't mind those clowns commenting about the narrator's accent. They're watching a vid about spies and investigation but can't figure out what country the accent comes from 😂 Great upload as always thanks, keep em coming!
Some people think they should complain about something given to them for free...
Says the person complaining about someone else complaining… get a life
@@smokeykitty6023 kind of like what you’re doing now just complaining just to complain
On the contrary, it was a lighthearted comment which I suspect went stratospherically over your head. I bid you good day...complainer 😁
I am here to complain that there is no place for me to register a complaint about the number of people complaining.
This is great, thank you. Only one small issue, Americans who work for the CIA are called officers, not agents, CIA agents are exclusively reserved for foreign nationals working on behalf of the CIA. But besides that i loved this video!
Thank you, I need to correct my nomenclature!
I wonder why that's an issue with you but everybody else can let that slid,I believe you are one arrogant human.
You are one arrogant human,how come that's an issue with you? Your the issue and im so glad I don't know you. People can sure tell alot about a human on the youtube comments.
Wow. Great information. I have never made that observation. 😊
Phillip you are a great narrator and I very much appreciate you taking the effort and not using the AI narrators that's have take over RUclips.
Thank you, I really appreciate that!
@@PhilipThompson I like your narrative stye. As stated it feels totally right for the subject matter.
Excellent video. Don't change at thing about your production values or narration. You are so close to breaking through the 100K barrier now.
I might be a dumb American but I can understand you just fine. Keep up the good work man 💪
Why are people griping about an accent? I'm about as tone deaf as they come and I had no problem understanding him.
@@dukecraig2402 I have no idea. I guess some people just don't get out much?
Your scripting, timing, music choices, are all so good! Great voice over as well.
no alarms ringing at the CIA after confessing to the theft of $40? Poor character, addiction to risks and a drinking problem made him a hire in 80s. Nobody had learned from Philby. Another wonderful piece PT
They don't call it the Clowns, Idiots and Assholes agency for no reason...
They fired him. So it finally rang an alarm. But they failed either assign him a harmless domestic position or at least do proper surveillance to avoid defecting.
Another great video Philip.
the 'obvious watch' strategy is hilarious cause i can just imagine a car following him literally everywhere or even just agents in broad daylights with large cameras following him around
So close to the well deserved 100k subs mate, so excited for you!
Never considered the idea of an intended fall guy for Aimes. That really puts a spin on things. Maybe if they weren't spies in the first place, it would be easier to know who's word to really take.
Your videos are really inspiring Philip! I've been watching since your AI voice over ones, and had just started dating my now girlfriend who is from South Africa! I had never really heard a South African accent until I met her, so imagine my surprise when one of my favorite RUclipsrs started doing voice overs, and they had a South African accent as well! It makes me feel very at home and reminds me of my lovely girlfriend and her family. Keep up the amazing work!
P.S. I'm trying to learn Afrikaans to surprise her one day, you're an inspiration. :)
Love the S.African accent. Great narration and content.
Thank you Philip, very sad true story. It always amazes me when an ego , that is out of control runs your life! The damage he left for the United States to deal with was repulsive.
tbh, it doesn't compare to the damage Congress has done a little at a time for decades.
Excellent as usual. Thank you.
I don't know where or how you find the time to be so informed and knowledgeable about the individuals you cover including decades of history on nearly all of them. This one was particularly interesting and steeped in background information that it feels like you almost know the man by the time the video concludes. Another spectacular example of just how well researched and produced you video's always are. This one was fascinating from the very start, and I am still a fan of the personal narration rather than some bot doing it; it is far more intimate and engaging with you reading your own script.
Amazing work as always Philip, I still am totally obsessed with your content and hope it continues long into the future. I am still hoping for Bletchley Park episode as there is so much to cover in that are of counter intelligence, but I will always be happy with a RUclips alert that I have a new video from your channel to watch. Still loving all of your content.
Thank you Philip
@@Son_of_Mandalore thank you as always for your kind words and support! Bletchley Park is most certainly a topic I intend to cover in the not too distant future. 😎
When teaching foreign students our South African accents are actually preferred. It's neutral and clear. You have a new subscriber. 🇿🇦
Oh wow, I never knew that!
@@PhilipThompson he lied
Thank you Philip for yet another captivating and awesome spy story! I can't even imagine the amount of research, script writing, and editing your videos require. I'm looking forward to the next video!❤
@@EJ-V8Bikes thank you EJ! The next video is already in the works 🕵️
Another Masterful production by PT'. The end of this and others defectors of the past reminds me of the CIA's birth movie, a line by "Mother"(Matt Damon)- The Good Shepard: "Your greatest fear has come true...Alone and friendless...without a Country of your own" Damn that was a cold line at the end.
Falls down stairs cases and out of open windows seems to be an awfully common occurrences in Russia.
W video love these spy documentaries
I find your narration and your accent very soothing. Im an American and can understand you perfectly fine. I actually prefer your accent. 😄
Your narration is perfect and very clear, you have a very, very slight accent that's barely noticeable and so what if it is? The parochialism of people who are astounded that, yes, believe it or not the world consists of lots and lots of different people who aren't the same! Your English is excellent - also thank-you for not using background music, it's a reason I love your videos 🙏
Excellent work Philip. So well researched, illustrated and narrated as always.
Now that's employee satisfaction mess up😂
Happens at big corporations all the time. Suddenly the competitor has the blueprints of the new prototype.
Falls are the leading cause of death in Russia. I would have suspected Alcoholism.
Even tho it is a real peoblem in russia, remember its cold as fuck there. I have never personaly traveled to russia, but my family has and slipping is a real threat outside the bigger cities.
@@lukeonuke If I heard this correctly
1- He fell inside his home.
2- Most high ranking/wealthy Russians die by falling out of a Window or down the steps.
Yea, Putin's goons that pushed him down those stairs were drinking Vodka on the way there.
That's how alcohol was involved.
@@iq-ride9329Or up the steps....
Those reasons are not mutually exclusive.
I thought this narrator's dry and somewhat slow delivery was well suited to the subject matter. Well done and thankyou.
Excellent and interesting video, Philip. Thanks for posting!
Interesting mustache on Phillip Parker!! There are cats who look at that and want to play with it.
13:00 'Hey embassy, yeah um... Is your refrigerator running?'
Thank you for switching back to full length vids
Crazy life. Thanks for the great video.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting your next spy video😂
Finally, it's relax time and I get to watch. Twice.
A very fine South African accent. Thanks
This was really brilliant, just like all of your videos. Excellent work champ.
Thanks Trav! I'm always pleased to see you around these parts!
In virtually all these situations of traitors, we see a series of mind-boggling blunders along the way. I guess the CIA screening process doesn't or then didn't pick up on, or select out, narcissists. This guy had to be a textbook case. Not to mention an obvious addiction issue, noticed early on in his tenure. Interesting tale, I'd never heard about this guy, for whatever reason. The Yurchenko thing another weird twist - since, even if he was a double agent, he gave a critical heads up on 'Robert'.
Lekker video mate, enjoyed it thoroughly
Enjoy your vids ! I subscribed after watching just one of them!
@@karenshadle365 thank you Karen. Hope you enjoy what's to come on the channel. 👍
I love spy stories, reading their books and hearing the same stories over told from different perspectives. Ive watched almost everyone of your videos now and just subbed to your podcast on Spotify! Keep the spy stories coming we love it! 🫶💙🫶💙🫶
@@1989TaylorsVersiom thanks so much for supporting me!
Yuchenko did for health reason. He realised US health system was crazy, he did the rgith thing
Love the "sith ifricun" accent.
Interesting. The accent you describe, but slightly different again, I associate with New Zealanders who eat fash and chaps.
i’ve been waiting for a video on edward lee howard for so so so long from you🙏🏾🙏🏾amazing thank you sm
Moscow prefers to use windows nowadays.
Great narrating ❤️
Another amazing doc. Thanks for your time and effort.
I’m disappointed in the CIA for making him promise he wouldn’t do drugs once hired. If someone in the private sector would not be hired at all.
I love your narration and all of your videos. Thank you for all you do.
First time I hear about this story. Hollywood never made a movie of it, I wonder why. You have a like and a new suscriber, Phillip Thompson.
Cool video, thank you.
Always suspicious of 'sudden death' by lethal stairs for more than a few spies
Great video as always 👍
First video I have seen by you, came down to provide some praise.
Well researched and produced mate.
@@jimmytalking thank you Jimmy!
South African accents rule!
Thank you
22:03 Not Gs "Gees", it's GS, as designated by the General Schedule (GS) classification. GS-15 for example would be an Intelligence officer.
Nothing wrong bro. Keep on trucking.
Amazing work always! Thank you!
Wow!! Super interesting story! 👊🏼😎
This video was great very well narrated, are there people who seriously have never heard an SA accent before
I hadn't, actually! If you asked me I would've placed it somewhere in Europe. Truly though, as far as accents go, I've both heard much stronger and more difficult to understand ones that I nonetheless didn't mind at all, no idea why it's even a conversation! I've been loving all these videos from the last year :)
Great video. Good voice.
Fell my ass😂
"Broken neck from a fall"
Thank you for another interesting video!
I wish I could speak as well as this man. I've been trying to make videos and no matter how many times I remake them or try something different… They all suck. I can write OK maybe even well but when it comes to speaking out loud I just fumble all over myself. Good show mate good show.
@@CampingWithCats don't give up!
The whole agency is a Defector
Nothing wrong with the narration. I believe the accent is South African. Brilliant video by the way.
can you please do a video on vitaly yurchenko his story is fascinating
The CIA had done its best to conceal the affair from the FBI
?
As suggested, the CIA should not have fired him given him some Mickey Mouse job within the organization.
Great video.Many thanks.
Vrystaat!
Great video
Your a great narrator mate, I thought you were a kiwi for a second.. 😉
Spy vs. Spy!
Thank you! Such an ass...stealing from the woman on the airplane. ❤ This vid was fabulous 🎉
Yes that was the worst of his crimes, not getting people killed.
"So called 'Evil Empire'".
good narration:D
u could do audiobooks
Bucaramunga. Possibly where we get the "Cucamunga" we hear in Looney Tunes/Bugs Bunny cartoons
How do you "cash in" your own life insurance policy without being dead?
You surrender the policy. No further premiums, and you get back some of what was paid in. You do have to apply, not just stop paying. When I was in grade school, there was a very aggressive sales of life insurance for children. I had to pick up the premiums as an adult. No thanks!
Whole life policies have cash value.
I have known many Peace Corps volunteers over many decades, most of which served from the mid-60s to mid-70s. They all have states on many occasions over many years, unprompted how they were always told to keep clear of CIA personnel or even suspected because it would effectively prevent the PC from performing its mission. Your statement here of PC being recruiting ground for CIA is in direct contradiction to all of this. What is your source for this claim?
I always find it even funnier imagening guys like this actually dying in a stupid and unlikely way, and all the relent players just thinking it was each other. Meanwhile he guys ghost just hopes no one realizes he actually just got drunk and fel
150k? Went cheap
$430,000 in today's money
As a fellow Howard (no relation), I apologize on behalf of all Howards in the world.
@@AndyHoward 😅
Even Howard Cossel?
@@dukecraig2402 no relarion
Welll
The Mythbusters show did an episode with polygraph testing. The expert conceded up to 1 in 5 are inaccurate.
Once hired, he became a CIA officer, not agent.
Why do you feel the need to correct someone every? Everybody in the brother knew what he was saying.
Wow.
@@Robertroadtrip His channel is great, I very much enjoy the stories. No so many actually know this particular title, and any CIA officer will be the first to correct someone about it. These stories are great, and have nice details for us, so let's help get the facts right. Now maybe PT is more aware, since he didn't know before (obviously). Certainly not a knock on PT or his content, I am a subscriber to his channel and very much enjoy the content. Enjoy there too!
🤣 deceptiveness was the deal breaker for the CIA?
make it make sense!!
(jk, I know they're only allowed to be deceptive to us not to their -owners- superiors😋).
must be vivaldi, but sounds like purcell
By any chance think you can find a El Salvador spy I’d love to see that since it’s where my parents are from
When the options are imprisonment for life or exile in the Soviet Union, it's debatable, which is worse for a westerner.
I'm trying to figure out why people have an issue with the narration, at the worst the sound leveling could be a little better to make the vocal level crisper and a bit louder but like what... he's Welsh or something? Who cares???
I cant even find the comments
@@ford-wp1yq RIGHT??? just the remarks from others... its actually weird
@@ironyelegy”if we make outselves victims then people will defend us and be more on our side than normal”
@@CyrusChennault but for this? Weird.
How does a video about a traitor get the title of "CIA's First Director"?
@@hypnophonz *DeFector
I think the way all the intelligence game and espionage game has changed through the years and how people wage war is not ever going to be the same
Sun Tzu's terms
Aren't so basic anymore
The future tools modern tools
Create compound terminologies in the intelligence game
Local informants or locals spy's
Infiltrators
Moles
Doomed agents
The spy that survives
I mean look at a movie like hardcore Henry
He's an operator
And unwittingly mole
Technology changes things
Why would he have been pushed down the stairs? He wasn’t going back to the States, he had burned that bridge. Just asking
There wasn't an open window nearby.
He was no longer of use to them.
The KGB distrusted all ilk of traitors , especially double agents.
Research how Kim Philby was treated when he defected.
3:38 Forgive me if someone already asked this question, but I heard recently and verified online that if you join the CIA then you cannot be eligible to join the Peace Corps. In reverse, if you have been away from the peace corps for at least 5 years you are not automatically rejected but only top quality prospects are encouraged to join. It seems more like a detractor than a stepping stone. Am I wrong or did that change?
Al Bundy?
It’s illegal to be in oeacecore and cia
…ok? When have they ever had concern for legality?
First viewer ❤
this might be the most embarrassing CIA/FBI story ive ever heard. mistakes and gross errors at every turn
If Howard wasn't weak and a drunken druggie, he would have had a better role and espionage revenge. 😂