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SpyCast

The Rosenbergs: The Definitive Debate

SpyCast

SpyCast

Education, News, History

4.4 • 1.7K Ratings

🗓️ 30 April 2015

⏱️ 87 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

More than sixty years after their execution in June 1953 for conspiring to steal atomic secrets for the Soviet Union, debate still rages about the Rosenbergs. Mike Meeropol, the son of Julius and Ethel, has spent his life in pursuit of the real story behind his parents’ secret lives, their trials, their convictions for espionage, and ultimately their executions. Sam Roberts, journalist for The New York Times, is the author of The Brother, a book written with exclusive access to David Greenglass, Ethel’s brother, whose testimony almost single-handedly convicted the couple. In this extraordinary debate, these renowned Rosenberg scholars— with very different perspectives—take on the divisive issues and key questions that remain despite the declassification of intelligence files from the United States and the Soviet Union. Dr. Vince Houghton, historian and curator of the International Spy Museum and an expert on nuclear intelligence, moderated this authoritative debate on the Rosenberg case. This event took place April 21, 2015.

Transcript

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0:00.0

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0:07.0

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0:54.6

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1:00.9

and put an end to cybercrime that affects your bottom line and brand reputation.

1:06.0

That's spycloud.com slash cyberwire and we thank spy cloud for sponsoring our show. Hello and welcome to SpyCast from the Secret Files of the

1:35.0

Museum in Washington, D.C. I'm Dr. Vince Hote, the museum's historian and curator.

1:36.0

Every month, the museum brings you interesting talks

1:39.0

with authors, scholars, and practitioners who live in the world of global espionage.

1:44.0

Join us as we take a closer look at the secret world of intelligence.

1:49.0

As you all know, that's why you're here.

1:52.8

We're talking about the case of Julius Nelpa Rosenberg tonight.

1:56.8

And it's an appropriate time to talk about this.

2:00.6

We are now, this summer, it will be the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the atomic age.

2:05.0

1945, the first explosion of an atomic bomb in Alma Gorga,

2:09.0

New Mexico, this coming July, will be the 7th anniversary.

2:12.0

And of course, four years later, you get the first this coming July will be the seventh anniversary.

2:12.5

And of course, four years later, you get the first Soviet bomb

2:16.0

in August of 1949, almost exactly four years later.

...

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