the billion dollar spy by david e hoffman

And Tolkachev provided blueprints, documents, plans that showed not only the current capabilities of Soviet aviation and radars but also showed what was being planned for 10 years ahead. The big question about the Soviets in the middle of the Cold War was capabilities - what could they do - and what were their intentions. A lot of people said the CIA had absolutely no idea what was going on, but the Tolkachev case opens a window on a different kind of spying that was very valuable to the U.S.

His other works include the 2010 Putlizer Prize-winning book The Dead Hand.įor many, many years the CIA had a hard time penetrating the Soviet Union and especially trying to divine what was going on in the minds of its leaders. Hoffman serves as a contributing editor at The Washington Post. To hear the full conversation, click the audio link above.ĭavid E. And according to Hoffman, he became one of the most important spies of the Cold War. He met his CIA handlers in person it was extremely risky work. That rage motivated Tolkachev to risk his life in a society that was suspicious of anyone who associated with foreigners. He inherited her rage at what that system had done.' 'He married a young woman at his institute, his top-secret military institute, and her parents had been purged by Stalin,' Hoffman tells NPR's Arun Rath. It found one in Adolf Tolkachev, a Soviet aviation expert.ĭavid Hoffman tells Tolkachev's story in his new book, The Billion Dollar Spy. The agency needed a spy - a Russian spy - who was willing to go the full way and betray his country. It was the middle of the Cold War and the CIA was having a difficult time getting information on what the Soviet Union was up to next. Your purchase helps support NPR programming.

Close overlay Buy Featured Book Title The Billion Dollar Spy Subtitle A True Story of Cold War Espionage and Betrayal Author David E.

The billion dollar spy by david e hoffman