Covert Operatives and Front Groups

Americans have long engaged in covert information practices when threats are urgent and concealment can be maintained. Hoaxes on the colonial frontier and Benjamin Franklin’s forgeries preceded the CIA’s covert broadcasts, cultural programs, and front groups in the Cold War. This chapter explores the modus operandi of the CIA’s Frank Wisner, Cord Meyer, and Tom Braden, and covert activities of the US National Student Association, Congress of Cultural Freedom, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, and other organizations. Practitioners came from a cross section of American life: intellectuals, students, writers, publishers, artists, film makers, scientists, trade unionists, journalists, and refugees. The chapter discusses how exposure by Ramparts magazine in 1967 led to the termination of some of these activities. Many, however, continued through open government funding of non-profit public corporations that provide grants to broadcasters, unions, commercial groups, and political parties.