The Billion Dollar Spy - David Hoffman

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2015
  • While getting into his car on the evening of February 16, 1978, the chief of the CIA's Moscow station was handed an envelope by an unknown Russian.
    Its contents stunned the Americans: details of top secret Soviet research and development in military technology that was totally unknown to the United States.
    From David Hoffman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Dead Hand, comes the riveting story of the CIA's most valuable spy in the Soviet Union and an evocative portrait of the agency's Moscow station, an outpost of daring espionage in the last years of the Cold War. Drawing on previously secret documents obtained from the CIA, as well as interviews with participants, Hoffman will reveal how the depredations of the Soviet state motivated one man to master the craft of spying against his own nation until he was betrayed to the KGB by a disgruntled former CIA trainee.
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ความคิดเห็น • 110

  • @jaykay1053
    @jaykay1053 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Hoffman has a wonderful TH-cam channel on which he posts beautifully sensitive photos and little stories. A history buff, to me, he comes across to me as a generous man with his desire to include everyone in the experience. I think that’s why he is making sure to make eye contact with as many people as possible. I like his style of storytelling because his genuine passion for telling the story comes across so beautifully. What a wonderful interview. Thank you, David Hoffman, for your stories and interesting facts. You’re a wonderful storyteller. Cheers.

  • @JustMe911
    @JustMe911 4 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    Oh!! Jonna Mendez is also here, asking questions!!! Oh wow!!😁😁

    • @techiemomma887
      @techiemomma887 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      Right? That was cool.

    • @ccolumbus21113
      @ccolumbus21113 ปีที่แล้ว

      No Way Bro?!? Send ny best regards, looking forward to our meeting… I have lost of cool stories to share 😈

  • @krissy7342
    @krissy7342 4 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Thanks for your service, kind sir!
    Edit: the 9 “dislikes” are from KGB

    • @daryljonesfoster4102
      @daryljonesfoster4102 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      God you're blessed with the beauty of an angel 😇

    • @zf9069
      @zf9069 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@daryljonesfoster4102 u wacky

    • @daryljonesfoster4102
      @daryljonesfoster4102 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@zf9069 you're a nobody . Go back to your cave

    • @MJ-fj9yv
      @MJ-fj9yv ปีที่แล้ว

      Its SVR not KGB.

  • @philbyd
    @philbyd 5 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Great presentation, thanks for posting

  • @jvgomez
    @jvgomez 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Thanks for this. Truly enjoyed it

  • @jeanhawken4482
    @jeanhawken4482 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Shame on the system for not caring more about the man and his family. The greed.

    • @MJ-fj9yv
      @MJ-fj9yv ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Its not the system, it the leaders, the people elected and appointed. Blaming it on the system is avoidance. Every American is responsible for his tragedy. It was OUR system.

    • @MJ-fj9yv
      @MJ-fj9yv ปีที่แล้ว

      @@topherthe11th23 leaders represent country as a whole not segments. You broke it you own it.

  • @abc_13579
    @abc_13579 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Fabulous video. Hoffman is a great speaker!

  • @alswann2702
    @alswann2702 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    Great story thanks!

  • @beltigussin81
    @beltigussin81 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    In telling the story of Tolkachev's wife's reaching out to the agency for help when she had cancer he left out something. She sent a letter describing her husband's work and sacrifice and asked for medical assistance. This was post Soviet collapse. The US response: Tolkachev? Never heard of him. Apparently there are limits to memory and gratitude

    • @quantumfineartsandfossils2152
      @quantumfineartsandfossils2152 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      if this is true we need to remember how disgustingly flawed all people are. Picasso was never actually a 'painter' he is single handedly responsible in many books papers fro destroying the arts because he was a narcissistic factory he was actually a bad illustrative painter and he stole from African art the Yoruba Masai etc ++ who have made far more sophisticated works he was a massive domestic abuser a 'painter 'of colonialist kitch a factory of shitty hotel art but his 'paintings' which are garbage and 'bad luck' are worth millions and millions of dollars he detested and brought women to ruin and pitted them against each other any article mentioning 'art' always uses him as an example 'picasso' is a massive clusterfuck way to see how the world is not rational even sapolsky refers to his Guernica when talking about terrorism not understanding how much damage he is doing by using a bad artist who savagely abused women as an example of anti war anti terrorist art when picasso was only a terrorist these are all facts but you might not see them so how can anyone see your facts either Dont justify that these organizations are the same as they were it is possible that with the advent of computers that for a long time now those who are live in living generations with climate change biometrics qm problems to worry about that these issues have been discussed as central to the survival of the species Does this mean exposing the bias flaws? yes let them do that but if they do pay attention dont invent a deep state and a pathology Does this mean we should expose picasso as a garbage artist? yes but we have to do that but maybe first we need to re establish the arts as central to all sciences and spying is no exception just as surkov

    • @pinklady7184
      @pinklady7184 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Agency might have suspected her of being impersonator posing as Tolkachev's wife.

    • @lynnhauenstein4136
      @lynnhauenstein4136 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@pinklady7184 that's BS, Just US typical use and throw away. What could be lost in getting this wife medical treatment.
      Well we Americans have sorted can't trust any agency.

    • @MJ-fj9yv
      @MJ-fj9yv ปีที่แล้ว

      @@pinklady7184 And? We pissed away trillions on wars they go nowhere. Couldn’t gamble verifying her? If she was fake, it would’ve been good propaganda that US cares.

    • @916Pashok
      @916Pashok ปีที่แล้ว +1

      That's CIA for you...they will betray you if it profits them

  • @parkers3280
    @parkers3280 4 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Jonna Mendez is in the audience what a badass

    • @KevinConlon69
      @KevinConlon69 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I saw that too. She acted like just another person asking a question.

  • @James_Bowie
    @James_Bowie 4 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    A painting of Tolkachev by Kathy Krantz Fieramosca hangs in the CIA's Langley headquarters.

    • @MJ-fj9yv
      @MJ-fj9yv ปีที่แล้ว

      Great, wonder if the picture had Lee Howard and his Jack in the box. You know, CIA’s massive screw up letting that one slip away with blood on his hands.

  • @titaniumdiveknife
    @titaniumdiveknife 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Awesome work

    • @thegatestoavalon
      @thegatestoavalon 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      l couldn't put the book down, a really fantastic book.

  • @chasepalumbo2929
    @chasepalumbo2929 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is awesome, thanks.

  • @MrWonszBoa
    @MrWonszBoa ปีที่แล้ว

    Great lecture and a great book. thanks!

  • @simonboland
    @simonboland ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The book is a masterpiece. It's a great read.

  • @lallen4999
    @lallen4999 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    God Bless that man

  • @Teekles
    @Teekles 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    48-0 air superiority record....damn USA, get it!

  • @MJ-fj9yv
    @MJ-fj9yv ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Adolf was a pragmatist, knew he was going to die sooner or later. Thanks to CIA bureaucrats and lack of empathy used him up. Seems very similar to Iraq and Afghanistan, people left to fend for themselves after the ride is over.

  • @johnbaugh2437
    @johnbaugh2437 8 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Great book!

    • @thegatestoavalon
      @thegatestoavalon 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      l shouldn't watch this, l am actually reading the book at the moment.

  • @bertiballermann5812
    @bertiballermann5812 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    With so many attempts to contact the CIA station chief out in the open while so many KGB agents followed them, how did these first contacts remain undetected?

  • @ninirema4532
    @ninirema4532 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    very great gentleman
    very goodnoon and good luck
    super interesting lecture.🌍🌋🐷

  • @patrickvitori3467
    @patrickvitori3467 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    I remember Jonna Mendez talking about the JIB method

    • @MJ-fj9yv
      @MJ-fj9yv ปีที่แล้ว

      An excellent method, as successfully employed by Edward Lee to make the CIA look stupid.

  • @kevkeary4700
    @kevkeary4700 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    That is a really sad story actuallly.

    • @MJ-fj9yv
      @MJ-fj9yv ปีที่แล้ว

      Agree, Adolf was a pragmatist knew he didn’t have long. Gave the greedy west all he could, in the end they let one of their drunk trainees end his life.

  • @DanNguyen-xd6wg
    @DanNguyen-xd6wg 4 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    To find more about Jack in the box trick. Search for The Moscow Rules by Antonio and Jonna Mendez. Husband and wife who worked for CIA.

  • @rfa8966
    @rfa8966 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Seems to me the CIA in its pathetic handling of Howard cost a man his life! What a shame and tragedy. That's what stands out for me.

    • @christine6059
      @christine6059 ปีที่แล้ว

      You might want to read his book for a deeper understanding. There seemed to be nothing “pathetic” in the CIA’s handling of Howard. He was an inadequate agent with a drinking problem and needed to go. He wasn’t summarily “fired.” He was given a cover story for his departure.

    • @MJ-fj9yv
      @MJ-fj9yv ปีที่แล้ว

      Read the book, and CIA is still screwed up. Howard complained ceaselessly about his firing, didn’t care anything about the bs CIA cover. He was a ticking bomb, CIA let him explode. Look up Yurchenko, another CIA hilarity in action.

  • @DanielFlores-hn9bd
    @DanielFlores-hn9bd 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Great friend of mine

  • @xdude57
    @xdude57 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Tells you everything you want to know about how cia treats its sources and their families .

  • @roymaduro571
    @roymaduro571 ปีที่แล้ว

    I see a big difference in the US spies and the Soviets, one for money and the other as a principle

  • @giuseppenero110
    @giuseppenero110 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Mr Rogers talks to his audience

  • @DanielFlores-hn9bd
    @DanielFlores-hn9bd 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Let’s get the “great ayolla of iran!! “.. him and I were discussing missile trajectory online just 2 weeks ago for his nuclear program!!

  • @markschafer509
    @markschafer509 5 ปีที่แล้ว +15

    Mr Interviewer, please just let your guest talk. Your questions and comments just interrupt the flow of his story.

    • @lydia55ification
      @lydia55ification 4 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      ya hush ---stop crowing what you know n let the guy tell his story

    • @techiemomma887
      @techiemomma887 4 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Actually, this is the one time I think his questions were on point. There are other interviews where he does half or more of the talking.

    • @cahuenga8153
      @cahuenga8153 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@lydia55ification !

    • @obcl8569
      @obcl8569 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Scrolling through comments for anyone else that was a tad bothered by the interviewer -
      He seemed arrogant to the point it became blatant he felt intimidated & was reacting to his own feelings of inadequacy.
      GTFO with "i have to give you credit...this was maybe in the top couple of layperson attempts to explain tradecraft" LMAO. WHO IS THIS DUDE?

    • @MJ-fj9yv
      @MJ-fj9yv ปีที่แล้ว

      Interviewer is tone deaf.

  • @vmatthews9437
    @vmatthews9437 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Hoff's audio's terrible, irritating ! ====== Matts'

  • @DanielFlores-hn9bd
    @DanielFlores-hn9bd 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thanks David Hoffman ur super awsoem I’m unarmed.. u can arrest me if needed

  • @icarustheother8591
    @icarustheother8591 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    That's a lot of batteries. Make sure there's no Gatorade involved and I think everything should be okay watch out for that though according to your previous video. Go get some 🇺🇸

  • @DanielFlores-hn9bd
    @DanielFlores-hn9bd 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    I got no gun

  • @thevinenetwork
    @thevinenetwork 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    His body language is so incredibly uncomfortable and he is very nervous. I suspect there are reasons for that.

    • @pinklady7184
      @pinklady7184 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      His eyes moving look like they are sweeping the room for bugs. Lol. He must be looking for spies inside audience, detecting any in guises.

    • @pinklady7184
      @pinklady7184 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Dewayne Allday There are good and evil everywhere. Rogue politicians are numerous in every government too, while the upright ones with moral conscience are few. I notice that Chinese have been stealing *TONS* of intellectual properties from around the world, many from even NASA. . They (or sources) are easily getting their claws on them and also the classified files from overseas military. What's very shocking are the spies' children in USA learning to spy for Russia and China. That is actually happening now.

    • @pinklady7184
      @pinklady7184 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Dewayne Allday I do believe that China and Russia are working together. I even believe that Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin are playing each other for fools.
      I have a stinking feeling that most computers in the west are *hackable* to spies from outside. Through internet, they must be able to see everything inside computers belonging to CIA, FBI, NASA, military, tech corporations, etc, even TH-cam. For some works like engineering, it would be much safer to *switch off modem* and *work offline.*

    • @pinklady7184
      @pinklady7184 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Dewayne Allday No worries. Your comments get deleted probably by A.I. inside TH-cam, namely if you write comments with keywords or key phrases that get picked up by A.I. So, that is why I use symbols in my spellings so to deter detection and deletion by A.I. For example, I write $h!t. I used to love watching war documentaries on TV, long time ago. Now I have other interests like math puzzles. I cannot understand how most of humanity can be so vile, greedy and corrupt. Greed is sickening. Same with materialism.

    • @pinklady7184
      @pinklady7184 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Dewayne Allday I treat math puzzles as a hobby and I prefer them to boring crosswords. I hope you didn't fall victim to honeytrap. Tight morals have never gotten anybody into trouble, whereas vices have their social costs.

  • @icarustheother8591
    @icarustheother8591 2 ปีที่แล้ว

    Jonna know what I mean 😘

  • @Green-zw9pv
    @Green-zw9pv 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    If a book goes through filters before being allowed to be published, whats the point of it anyway? What good does it have?

    • @James_Bowie
      @James_Bowie 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      That's the process. If it isn't cleared the publishers won't handle it. However, it's usually an adversarial process thus the author and publisher need to be ready to fight for their book. More than one has taken their case to the Supreme Court.

    • @Green-zw9pv
      @Green-zw9pv 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      James Bowie // totalitarian censorship basically. The one in the west maybe a softer version.

  • @Bedsheet_Necktie
    @Bedsheet_Necktie ปีที่แล้ว

    fidgety

  • @MartinBohun
    @MartinBohun 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    "On 27 March 1999, during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, a Yugoslav army unit shot down an F-117 Nighthawk stealth aircraft ..." - so much for the "useless" Russian radars and "great" US "stealth" :-)

    • @MrBoreray
      @MrBoreray 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      'Stealth' does not mean invisable, reduced radar signature would be more apt,at certain angles a stealth aircraft does almost have a full signature,one swallow does not make a summer,...oh and congratulations on your valiant attempt at concealing an abject hatred of the free world which I notice doesn't extend to the use of it's technology,developments and equipment,everything,EVERYTHING the Russians have in technology was basically stolen or copied from the 'west' not because they couldn't do it for themselves but because their system was corrupt to the core,intellectual property rights don't exist there, you invent something in Russia it belongs to the state and you don't have a choice but you already knew that anyway.

    • @baobo67
      @baobo67 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@MrBoreray Well replied. Maybe he is just a confused triple agent.

    • @jimrawls5509
      @jimrawls5509 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@MrBoreray Spot on. The same can be said for the Chinese

    • @jerseywalcott6408
      @jerseywalcott6408 ปีที่แล้ว

      Roll around in the hay for a long time and you will eventually find a needle 💉

  • @ninirema4532
    @ninirema4532 ปีที่แล้ว

    🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🌼🌼🌻🌻🌈🥦🥬👆🌈👌

  • @buildmotosykletist1987
    @buildmotosykletist1987 3 ปีที่แล้ว

    He brushes off 'Fischer' but Fischer totally debunked Hoffman's story. Hoffman's story makes for good fiction based on actual events though.

  • @nobletarabas1
    @nobletarabas1 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Oh wow...... Never saw such a nervous bundle during the introduction 😵🥴🤪 and he was a spy! Seriously?!? 😏😒
    1 minute in and I am done with him!

    • @giuseppenero110
      @giuseppenero110 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Not the spy, just the author of the book...but you made the right decision anyway

    • @nobletarabas1
      @nobletarabas1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@giuseppenero110 Mile grazie Giuseppe! 😊

    • @pierina1705
      @pierina1705 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      He is the author

    • @josephineyoung2616
      @josephineyoung2616 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      His truly brilliant

    • @pinklady7184
      @pinklady7184 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Spies in danger always get panicky or paranoid. You don't know insecurity, until you detect dangers in your proximity. If you are a spy being followed by spies or a criminal followed by police, think what insecurity feels.