67. The Great Betrayal: Defecting to Moscow (Ep 2)

The Rest Is Classified

Goalhanger

History

4.6 • 732 Ratings

🗓️ 22 July 2025

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How do you switch sides and become a spy for the KGB? When the FBI is tracking you, how do you escape the country? And what is life like for a traitor on the other side of the Iron Curtain? Join David McCloskey and Gordon Corera as they discuss the life of Edward Lee Howard, his defection, and whether recent events mean there may soon be more like him. ------------------- Order a signed edition of Gordon's latest book, The Spy in the Archive, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠via this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order a signed edition of David's latest book, The Seventh Floor, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠via this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------- Email: [email protected] Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@triclassified⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Assistant Producer: Becki Hills Producer: Callum Hill Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	For exclusive interviews, bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to series,
0:09.0	first look at live show tickets, a weekly newsletter, and discounted books, join the Declassified
0:14.1	Club at the rest is classified.com.
0:17.4	Oh, that's my prime delivery.
0:19.1	Huh, already?
0:20.1	Only one thing can match the buzz of Prime's fast delivery. And that's the buzz of Prime's entertainment. What are we watching? Heads of State. That new action comedy with Idris Elbert as the Prime Minister, John Sina as the President, and Priyanka Chopra Jonas as their only hope. It looks like a blast. From fast delivery to explosive entertainment, it's on Prime. for only $ looks like a blast from fast delivery to explosive entertainment it's on prime for only 899 a month join now content includes limited ads subscription or to reneuse for more information go to amazon.com. UK slash prime I'm going to give it some drama get rid of it some twang yeah I can't do twang I'm not doing accents. I'll give it drama rather than accents.
0:56.2	Here we go.
0:56.6	Do a German accent for no reason.
0:58.6	Viener Trey Junction of Canada.
1:00.5	I can do it.
1:03.5	Okay.
1:16.9	We need the junction of Canyon Road and Old People's Trail near St John's College in Santa Fe.
1:24.0	This was where the road dipped, turned to the right, with substantial hedges planted along the right side.
1:29.8	As we came up to the jump point, I turned and looked at Mary. Her face was serious,
1:37.2	and her eyes were moist with tears. Our marriage and our love were both on the line.
1:47.8	Goodbye, babe, I said, and Mary slowed to five miles an hour. I moved to the outboard side of the seat, flipped up the dummy, put my hat on it, opened the door,
1:51.2	jumped out and shoved the door closed as I jumped.
1:56.4	I tried to hit the ground running, but landed hard and rolled into the bushes.
1:59.2	Well, welcome to the rest is classified.
2:00.4	I'm Gordon Carrera.
2:01.5	And I'm David McCloskey.
2:10.6	And that was Edward Lee Howard in his memoir describing a dramatic moment we're going to be coming to in this episode.
	...

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