perhaps some in cia will still remember it yet appeared my job as a cia historian is to make sure that the cia workforce did not forget certain things. when we intervene in foreign countries, they never forget it. and cuba and the cuban leadership will remind us always that we had attempted this bungled operation to replace the government there. host: let's talk to bill from dover, delaware. good morning. caller: good morning. i wanted to say that 60 years ago, living with my family in northern virginia, my father woke me up and said, hey, get up, you're not going to school today. something is going on. and that he woke my sister up and took us into the living room, sat us before a -- we had a big radio, and he had that shortwave band being used by the cubans brigade to communicate back and forth. we were actually listening to them talking on their radios during the invasion and subsequent to it. basically, it was a horrible disaster, of course, but i remember my father identified voices on the radio, saying i know this guy, that is pepe, he is one of the leaders, and i recognize his v

it's not just cia. cia is not just doing these things as a rogue elephant as once was claimed. >> let's remind everyone we are talking about the 60th anniversary of the bay of pigs invasion here on washington journal. this is coproduction with american history tv and is being simulcast on c-span 3 right now. one of our social media followers has written in with their story of the bay of pig invasion and i want to read to you. this tweet says, i was a child in cuba during the bay of pigs fiasco. we hid in the closet while anti-aircraft fire raged from the nearby hilltop. the next day in the middle of the night we fled the round up in opposition to the country side and hid for weeks until it was over. what was happening with the people of cuba during the bay of pigs invasion? >> well, again, tens of thousands of them were rounded up. the result of the invasion was that even though there'd been a lot of opposition to castro in the country because he stood up to the united states -- here's a latin-american

the cia put its faith in the brigade. small, politically reliable, controlled by united states agents. an attempt was made to use the brigade and the cubans as an instrument of united states policy. the tactics were reminiscent of the days of united states big stick diplomacy. but the days of the united states big stick policies. as a result, the cuban exile brigade was destroyed on the beach, and leaders were held in cia custody and the united states task force stood by helplessly. this was probably the low point, the worst moment for john f. kennedy in his three years in the white house. as president, he took full responsibility for this failure of the united states policy. this misuse of the united states power, although the total blame was clearly not his. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> american history tv on c-span3. exploring the people and events that tell the american story every weekend. thousands of people visit washington for the annual blooming of the cherry blossoms. we'll look at the history of the cherry trees

one of my jobs as a cia historian was to ensure that the cia workforce did not forget certain things. but when we intervene in foreign countries, they never forget it. and cuba, and the cuban leadership, will remind us always that we had attempted this, this bungled operation to replace the government there. >> let's talk to bill who is calling from dover, delaware. bill, good morning. >> good morning. i just wanted to say that 60 years ago, living with my family in northern virginia, my father woke me up and said, hey, get up, you're not going to school today, something's going on. and he woke my sister up and took us into the living room and sat us down in front of the -- we had a big old radio with shortwave on it and everything. he had the shortwave band that was being used by the cubans, the brigade, to communicate back and forth. so we were actually listening to them talking on their radios that were during the invasion and subsequent to it. and basically it was a horrible disaster, of course. but i remember my father identified voices on the radio, saying, i know this guy, that

the cia exceeded its capabilities. this is the cia in 1961. during the 1950s, the cia got, let's argue, too big for its britches, a bunch of successful operations around the world, overthrowing governments in guatemala and iran, fixing elections in italy. they're not yet the cia we know and love today. they're not yet at the capability of running massive para military operation in 1961. they get really good in vietnam, in laos, the secret war on laos, this is not the same thing as fixing an election in italy. this is a massive para military operation. so the idea that the cia is going to run this operation to kick out a very popular president was laughable at this point. let's go to the next bullet point here. say you're to collect and analyze intelligence about cuban forces. that's a problem that the cia is not collecting and analyzing intelligence about cuban forces. that's the basics, peter can tell you that's probably plan number one, you should be doing if you're thinking about an invasion of cuba, and i that didn't take the time to do it

it's not just cia. cia is not doing these things as a rogue elephant, as was once claimed. host: let's remind everyone that we are talking about the 60th anniversary of the bay of pigs invasion in washington journal. this is a coproduction with american history tv and is being simulcast on c-span3 right now. nicholas, one of our social media followers has written in with their story of the bay of pigs invasion i want to read to you. i was a child in cuba during the bay of pigs fiasco. we hid in the closet while antiaircraft fire raged from the nearby hilltop. the next day in the middle of the night, we fled the round up of opposition to the countryside and hid for weeks until it was over. what was happening with the people of cuba during the bay of pigs invasion? guest: well, again, tens of thousands of them were rounded up. the result of the invasion was that even though there had been a lot of opposition to castro in the country, because he stood up to the united states, here was a latin american leader who stood up to the united states, he was more popular than ever with

so it was the cia, and that's partly the job of the cia. they have to take the heat when things like this happen, and it was their baby, and basil, it was the end of his career certainly. he went and worked at a corporation in connecticut for the rest of his life, and it changed the lives of many people in the cia whose careers basically ended with that. kennedy's goal was to shatter the cia into 1000 pieces. he didn't do that, but he was very upset. do we have time for one more? one more question here, and then -- >> just to ask you, does the book explore the issue as to why allen dulles was in puerto rico, left to run probably one of the most high-profile operations the cia had planned and many, many years to geo, richard bissell who was an underling of his? is there any information on that situation? >> it was an invitation that had been crawford to dallas many years before. and dulles's papers i found the note from the young presidents association. it was a retreat for young american executives and the invited island dulles to come talk

they don't like the way the cia is dominating the operation. but they assume the united states' participation ensures the effort's success. at this moment in washington, the president is under heavy pressure. he is being pressed to okay the invasion plan. a major source of this pressure is cia reports on what is happening inside cuba. >> we knew that the cuban pilots were being trained in czechoslovakia. we knew they were going to have very shortly available on cuban direction, and i'm inclined to think if a move were to be made short of intervention, probably is the area of time it had to be made. >> another source of pressure is the guatemalanguatemalans. unrest is growing there. the communists and the army are demanding removal of the brigade from the camp. the government feels threatened. the president has not yet made up his mind. go ahead with the invasion or cancel it. on april 4, a decisive meeting is held. obviously nothing official has ever been said about it. but from this perspective, certain facts are now apparent. on april 4, the

and so it was the cia's and the cia, that's partly the job of the cia. they have to take the heat when things like this happen and they, you know, it was their baby and bissell, it was the end of his career certainly. he wanted a corporation in connecticut the rest of his life and it changed the lives of many people in the cia whose careers were basically not just the top three guys but ended with that kennedy that he wanted to shatter the cia into a thousand pieces. he didn't do that, but he was certainly upset. do we have time for one more? let's do one more question here and then we'll. >> does the book explore the issue of why alan dulles was in puerto rico, left to run probably one of the highest profile operations the cia had planned in many, many years to joe bissell who was, or richard bissell, who was an underling of his, was there any further delving into that situation? >> yeah, it was an imitation that had been to dulles many months before and dulles, i found the invitation.

he was upset with the cia. he thought the cia had misled him. partly, you have to understand that was scapegoating, and i don't mean that as being highly critical. before the invasion, arthur schlesinger said if something bad should happen, somebody's neck has to go on the chopping block, and it can't be the president's, and so it was the cia's. and that's partly the job of the cia, you know, they have to take the heat when things like this happen, and they, you know, it was their baby, and bissel, it was the end of his career, certainly. he went and worked at a corporation in connecticut the rest of his life, and it changed the lives of many people in the cia whose careers were basically not just the top three guys but ended with that. kennedy wanted to shatter the cia into a thousand pieces. they didn't do that, but he were certainly upset. do we have time for one more? let's do one more question here, and then we'll -- >> just ask you, does the book explore the issue of why allen dulles was in puerto rico left to run probably one of the highe

cia chief alan dulles is told secretly to organize a cuban exile force. he is not told how the force is to be used. she only told, get it ready. in miami, recruiting for an exile army has begun. the operation is supposed to be secret. but word of what is happening quickly leaks out. six weeks after the secret meeting at the white house, fidel castro has publicly charged that the united states is training an army to invade cuba. [shouting] narrator: meanwhile in miami, there are 50 exile groups of every political hue. from former supporters of batista, to former supporters of castro. they have only one thing in common, they want to overthrow fidel. the cia's problem is to find a way to unify them. >> >> [speaking in spanish] >> the people of cuba will overthrow castro, because normally it is the people who are the ones who overthrow it is leadership. narrator: the announcement of a formation of the frente does not receive the expected attention. the summer of 1960 is about time for the united states. other events occupy the headlines. a u2 shot down over t

they don't like the way the cia is dominating the operation. once they resume, united states participation ensures success. they don't want to be left out of any new cuban government. the anti-castro cuban leaders have reached the satisfactory an understanding cia. at this moment in washington, the president is under heavy pressure. he is being pressed ok the invasion plan. major source of this pressure is cia reports on what is happening inside cuba. we knew >> when you the osby train in czechoslovakia. -- cuban pilots were trained in czechoslovakia. i have said before that is a move were to be made short of intervention, this is an area where it had to be made. >> another source of pressure is in guatemala. unrest is growing there. the communists and the army are demanding the removal of a brigade. the government feels threatened. the president has not yet made up his mind. go ahead with the invasion or cancel it. on april 4, a decisive meeting is held. obviously, nothing official has ever been said about it but from this perspective, certain

one, the cia did not want him there. he was a cia outsider. no one wanted ted sorensen. two, there was this whisper campaign that ted sorensen was a pacifist to resisted the korean war. three, 10 sorensen was one of the people involved and the aftermath of the chappaquiddick incident where teddy kennedy was drunk and drove off a bridge, resulting in the death of a young woman. biden is sort of like playing defense for the carter white house at the time and trying to resolve the issues. biden is tipped off by republican colleague that ted sorensen had given -- written and affidavit in support of daniel ellsberg during the pentagon papers prosecution where ellsberg was facing more than a century in prison under the espionage act. biden gets wind of this and gets one of his staffers to dig up the this affidavit that wasn't even officially filed. they had to dig deep. the affidavit basically said everybody in washington leaks, it is the culture of the elite. ted sorensen also said, i took government documents on when i was writing my biography. this is a common practice. eit

the cia put its faith in the brigade. small, politically reliable, controlled by united states agents. an attempt was made to use the brigade and the cubans as an instrument of the united states policy. the tactics were reminiscent of the days of united states big-stick diplomacy. but fidel castro did not collapse at the first sign of opposition, as many latin american dictators in the past. as a result, the cuban exile brigade was destroyed on the beach, while the cuban exile leaders were held in cia custody, and the united states task force stood by helplessly. this was probably the low point. the worst moment for john f. kennedy and his three years in the white house. as president, he took full responsibility for this failure of the united states policy, this misuse of united states power, although the total blame was clearly not his. [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2021] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy, visit ncica

one of my jobs as a cia historian was to ensure that the cia did not forget certain things. but when we intervene in foreign countries they never forget. cuba and of the cuban leadership will remind us always that we had attempted this bundled operation to place the government there. >> let's talk to bill calling from delaware. bill, good morning. >> good morning. i just want it to say that 60 years ago living with my family in northern virginia, my father woke me up and said hey, get up. you're not going to school today. something is going on. he will nicest her up. he took us to the living room. he sat us down. we had a big old radio. he had the shortwave band that was being used by the cubans brigade to communicate back and forth. we were actually listening to them talking on their radios during the invasion and subsequent to it. basically, it was a horrible disaster of course. my father identified voices on the radio saying i know this guy. that's pepe, one of the leaders. one of the things pepe said in spanish was that -- i've got one bullet left. we've run out of ammun

especially the ruling elite wanted to ignore there it is right there president truman who signed the cia into existence just after world war 2 he wrote i think it has become necessary to take another look at the purpose and operations of our central intelligence agency for some time i have been disturbed by the way the cia has been diverted from its original assignment it has become an operational and at times of policy making arm of the government this has led to trouble and may have compounded our difficulties in several explosive areas there is something about the way the cia has been functioning that is casting a shadow over our historic position and i feel that we need to correct it yes there is something. about the way the cia has been functioning i just can't put my finger on it but maybe it was when they blew away the president thanks harry you're right on time with this one any chance you could or couldn't understand him send a telegram like a week before he decided to keep the top down on his convertible. not only did that come out one month after j.f.k.'s death truman hand wro

hall was the first paramilitary cia -- virginia hall was the first paramilitary cia officer. people do not realize how much the women who come before the present day really matter as far as breaking the glass ceiling. in the case of virginia hall, she created the foundation on which our current female leaders stand. in 2020 made history having our first female director and every single -- in every single directorate in our organization was led by a women and we could not have done that by people like virginia hall. edna: was she formally recognized for her achievements? janelle: she was awarded by the british and the french, but in the united states became the most highly decorated female civilian of world war ii. in this picture you will see general donovan, the head of the office of the strategic services is giving it to her, and that is because in true virginia hall fashion she said no to the president of the united states and i love that about her. the president wanted to give virginia hall the cross at the white house, but she wanted to stay in the shadows, she wanted to

you can't call the cia, we can't confirm or deny, that's what he carries because the cia does tell you so he was always on a secret mission or not, he definitely had a connection. >> is a 14 year gap in his career but before that, they found out, we don't know if he was in the cia, do we? >> there are indications, this is covered in a book but he did have some interaction either working with or for them at sometime probably late 1970s and you asked earlier is harvard background and how it helped him, is a harvard educated lawyer and strong defense attorney at one time criminal defense attorney so i think the brilliance of the life, this is not the first time i heard a con man say i was doing it for the cia or a criminal for the cia, it's pretty easy to dismiss that off as crazy talk so when you look at his military record and besides talking to jeff and others, that was one of the first things i did, his military records and it was immediate obvious he had more of an intelligence background and previously reported so because he's a defense attorney, there are these little pieces of tru

the cia, put its faith in the brigade. small politically reliable, and controlled by the united states navy. and attempt was made to use the brigade, and as an instrument of united states policy. it was the united states big stick diplomacy. but fidel castro did not collapse at the first sign of opposition, as many had thought. as a result, the cuban exile brigade was destroyed on the beach, while the cuban exile leaders were held in cia custody, and the united states task force helplessly. it was a low point, the worst moment for john f. kennedy in his three years in the white house. as president, he took full responsibility for the failure of the united states policy. this misuse of united states power, although the total blame was clearly not his. it on april 17th 1961 a group of about 1500 cuban exiles supported by the cia landed on the southern coast of the island nation on the bay of pigs. their goal was to spearhead an uprising and overthrow the revolutionary government of fidel castro. within two days the operation

on deniro suggests this cia itself reviewed the script and said then and then. you're not going to bring up cia torture do they watch every single movie that is about to be produced in our wood in any film that has any military hardware in it an obvious example top gun you got it asked for permission you don't just walk on to the air force base and start flying jets around. so if you get their permission. they get the right. to look at what you're saying about. the officer for information which was responsible for propaganda during world war 2 was officially closed in 1945 but the relationship that developed between al the wood and the us government in those years seems to have grown only stronger a since staff at different times american rulers have needed different myths including some the directly contradicted earlier ones as in the case of russia 'd but no matter how difficult the order this factory has always do to flit delivered . hollywood had always been afraid of government censorship so what they did was that they censored themselves. in the fiction. y

. >> she was really working for the cia? >> that's my understanding, yes. >> an undercover job handling classified documents, but the real intrigue started when she went missing. >> i knew something was wrong. >> i didn't want to believe that this was actually a reality. >> we had concerns that there may be missing classified information. it could turn into an espionage investigation. >> espionage? was this some kind of international spy caper or maybe it was something closer to home? >> what we got was the information that would break this case wide open. >> the case of a cia mom. could a clue from her son help solve this mystery? >> i'm never going to give up. never going to give up on anything. >> hello, and welcome to "dateline." for marie singleton, the sun rose and set on her boy marcus when the single mother met andre jackson, a solo dad with two kids of his own, marie thought she had found the man of her dreams and a father figure for her son. but that new life shattered when marie suddenly vanished, and police disco

so one question is, how did i get from the cia to eisenhower? it's quite a story. here's the short version. at the cia i had several jobs but the one i think i enjoyed the most was chief of the soviet -- or the russian leadership division. our job there was to write biographies of russian officials. we'd give these biographies to american diplomats so they would know something about the russians they were dealing with, were they friendly, were they hostile, were they evasive, were they emotional, were they logical? that sort of thing. so -- so when i left the agency, i had so enjoyed this work i decided i wanted to work in biography even more. and to change from russians to writing about 20th century american political figures. and i especially wanted to do personality assessment, which i had been used to doing at the cia. you think of all the personalities, all the politicians, you know, who had big personalities, and -- which fed into their leadership styles, people like churchill and vooz svelte roosevelt and charles dugall and lyndon johnson, of all people. so

the cia was one. the person who was in charge of all of those as the director of central intelligence was also the head of the cia. so we had this strange situation in which we had all of this different intelligence reporting but obviously, the director of the cia was human. he trusted his own intelligence agency more than all of these others that he was supposed to be over. and we found that some of the counter evidence about what was going on in iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs probably didn't get the airing and the hearing that it might have been. so we created the director of national intelligence, who is not the director of the cia, he's a separate person, to cull the intelligence, help the president understand when there are disagreements in the intelligence agency, and give more of a total picture of what's going on within intelligence. so that was the big reform that was made. >> you also have talked in at least one speech that i know of about anticipatory self-defense as part of th

it's that around the cia has one. the person who is in charge of all of those as the director central intelligence was also the head of the cia. we had the strange situation which we had all this different reporting but obviously the director cia was human. he trusted his own intelligence agency, more than the others that were supposed to be over. and we found that some of the counter evidence about what was going on in iraq's mass destruction programs, probably did not get the airing and the hearing that it might have, so we created the director of national intelligence, who is not the director of the cia. it's a separate person who colt intelligence, helped the president understand when it was a disagreement in the intelligence agency, and give more of a total picture of what's going on with intelligence. that was the big reform. >> you also have talked in at least one speech i know about. the disciplinary of self-defense as part of the context we're making the decision to go into iraq i really want to ask you when

it's interesting a place to work at the cia. it's i feel almost bad today because that kind of job is fast disappearing the kind of job where you you go into one. line of work and you stay there, you know for your entire career and that just doesn't happen any longer. it's sort of like cia at least was kind of joining a big family family of you know security measures and doors that were vaults and you know classified material everywhere and you know precautions of various kinds. it was really kind of a wonderful world and i feel very lucky. to have worked in an environment where you know where? your longevity was kind of assured as you can stay there as long as you wanted and have a number of different kinds of jobs a lot of variety within a 30 year career and i think the only kinds of careers where that still possible is is in government. primarily federal government and maybe even less often there. that's true. we have a we have a handful of employees who have been here for their whole careers someone listening right now. we d