Traitors | The Atomic Spies | 3

American History Tellers

Wondery

Society & Culture, Kids & Family, History, Education For Kids

4.7 • 18.3K Ratings

🗓️ 17 November 2021

⏱️ 43 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In September 1949, the world was shocked to learn that the Soviet Union had conducted its first nuclear weapons test, just four years after the United States dropped the first atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. U.S. authorities thought there was only one way the Soviets could narrow the nuclear arms gap so quickly -- by stealing atomic secrets from the U.S.

In 1950, the FBI arrested a young Jewish couple, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, for running a spy ring and passing nuclear secrets to the Soviet Union. At their trial, the Rosenbergs became lightning rods for controversy and anti-communist hysteria. But the true extent of their guilt would remain shrouded in mystery for decades to come.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to American History Tellers add free on Amazon music,
0:05.6	download the app today.
0:08.8	Imagine its February 1952 at Sing Sing Prison in upstate New York.
0:23.6	You're a lawyer, up from the city to meet with your client, Ethel Rosenberg.
0:27.1	It's been nearly a year since she and her husband Julius were convicted of passing nuclear
0:32.3	secrets to the Soviets and put on death row.
0:35.9	You've been appealing their case, and yesterday the second circuit court came to a decision.
0:41.0	The guard is escorting you to Ethel Cell so you can deliver the news.
0:49.7	The guard usheres you through a door into another dark cramped hallway.
0:53.4	It's quiet here in the women's wing of what they call the death house.
0:57.5	After the recent execution of another prisoner, Ethel has the place all to herself.
1:02.4	The guard stands back at the door and you walk on alone to Ethel Cell.
1:07.4	You peer through the bars to see her sitting on a narrow iron bed on top of thin mattress.
1:13.1	Hello Ethel, how are you holding up?
1:15.9	As well as can be expected?
1:17.8	Tell me how are my boys?
1:19.4	Michael and Robert are just fine.
1:20.9	I checked on them a few days ago.
1:23.0	Their foster parents seem nice enough.
1:25.2	They miss you though, I mean they have to.
1:27.7	Have they let you speak to Julius lately?
1:29.9	No.
	...

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