Aldrich Ames – An American Spy

1. Aldrich Ames – An American Spy Sell Out: Aldrich Ames and the corruption of the CIA – James Adams Betrayal: The Story of Aldrich Ames, An American Spy – Timrejuvenatedvid Johnston & Neil Lewis

2. Outline • Aldrich Ames family history • The college years • First failed mission – Turkey • SE (Soviet, East European) Division at headquarters in Langley • “Seeds of Destruction” – The beginning of Ames interaction with the Russians • CIA mission to Mexico (Another failed experience as a recruiter of spies) • Beginning of a spies career – sold secrets for $50,000 cash • Rick Ames – living as a traitor • CIA Organo-sclerosis

3. Aldrich Ames’ Family History • Carleton Ames, Rick’s father – teacher of sociology & history of Europe and the Far East at River Falls Teacher College in Wisconsin • Carleton Ames - recruited by the CIA for his expertise on East Asia in 1952 (age 47) • CIA’s Project Paper(top priority) - produce an invasion of Communist China by Nationalist forces based in Burma • Carleton & his family arrived in Rangoon, Burma in December 1953. • CIA arranged for a Fulbright Fellowship, common cover for CIA officers at the time, allowed them to travel around the country doing “academic” research • Goal – acquire political intelligence on the country and the different political and military groups and influences • Carleton – rated as a poor performer, and known alcoholic • Pattern of tolerance in the agency of incompetence and substance abuse • 1957, Virginia – Rick’s summer internship at CIA – record analyst

4. Aldrich Ames - College Years • Univ. of Chicago in 1959 – 1961 – general coursework • First major – history • Real passion – acting • Joined the student musical/comedy group • Became Assistant Technical Director at the Univ. • Ambitions to become an actor were dashed in Chicago, had no degree – returned to Washington • 1962- applied for a position at the Agency • June 1962 – offered a job as a clerk- typist for the CIA

5. CIA Mission - Turkey • Moved to Ankara, Turkey in the Operations Directorate – promotion (1969) • Turkey borders with the Soviet Union – prime spot for recruiting agents for the US from local assortment of Soviet embassy, trade and press employees • 1st year - strong performer • 2nd year – proficient performer • 3rd and last year – Ankara station chief commented – Rick was unsuited for field work and should spend the remainder of his career at Headquarters • Returned to the US, Langley Headquarters in 1972

6. SE Division • Rick was assigned to the rejuvenated Soviet Section in 1973 • Goal – select Soviet officials for recruitment • Next 4 years – received a review of “strong performer” – and then one review of “proficient performer” • Notes in his file addressed: problems with delaying key decisions, inattention to detail and disregard for regulations Christmas Party 1973 & 1974 – incidents of serious intoxication • 1973 – had to be escorted home by officers of the CIA’s office of security • 1974 – Ames became drunk & was discovered by a CIA security officer having sex with another CIA employee (Ames was married) • Both incidents were noted in his file with an “eyes only” note – limiting access to the information • No attempt to speak to his supervisors about the incidents – attributed to festive exuberance

7. “The Seeds of Destruction” • 1973 – Ames temporarily assigned to NY • Became the CIA handler of Sergey Fedorenko, an aerospace engineer who worked for the Soviet State Committee on Science and Technology • Ames & Fedorenko had a great relationship • Result – received a promotion, moved to NYC • New job description – run sources at the UN and recruit similar sources from the large Soviet mission there Minor setback(1976) • Security incident - left classified documents on a NY subway that identified Fedorenko as a CIA operative. • FBI was alerted • Documents found with a Polish émigré living in Queens • Received only a verbal reprimand from the Agency Rick’s mindset in 1976 • Rick fostered an arrogance in NY – he came to believe he knew more than his peers in the agency • Recognized talking to the Russians and not the Agency that gave him real satisfaction

8. CIA Mission - Mexico • Prominent assignment - recruit Russian spies - 1981 • Mexico – KGB center for Soviet operations throughout Latin America • Within the first six months, three torrid and obvious affairs • CIA – requirement to report affairs with foreigners • Ames & his colleagues did not report the affair • Gained a reputation for taking long lunches and returning to the office drunk, or simply not returning • Poor evaluations from his superiors Two cases of extreme intoxication • Diplomatic reception at the American embassy – loud argument with a Cuban intelligence officer • Traffic accident in Mexico City – Rick could not answer the police’s questions & did not recognize the US embassy officer sent to help him • Neither incident was entered into his file Changes in Rick’s personal life • Rick Met Maria del Rosario Casa Dupuy (Rosario) and began an affair with her (his second wife) • Rosario – Native Colombian, aristocratic family but no wealth

9. The Beginning of a Spy • Rick promoted to chief of counter intelligence for Soviet operations(1984) • Job description – responsible for analyzing selected CIA operations involving Soviet assets, reviewing them to ensure they were genuine & avoid penetration of Soviets in the CIA • Rick – targeted possible sources from the Soviet embassy • KGB – targeted Rick Ames as a possible spy • Boss liked him, colleagues found him unsophisticated & lazy Rick’s personal life • Getting divorced, under financial pressure • Scam - get money from the KGB - $50,000 cash(May 15, 1985) How the operation began • The CIA & KGB knew that Rick would often meet with Soviet contacts • Walked into the Russian embassy and handed over two secrets • Soviets paid Rick’s price, it was easy • Soviets knew he would be back for more money • On June 12, 1985 Rick gathered up classified documents and handed them over to his contact (Sergey Chuvakhin) the next day • As a result, CIA Soviet operatives began disappearing

10. Rick Ames - traitor Spending • Annual salary was around $60,000 • Received more that 2 million dollars from the Russians (KGB) • Paid $500,000 for his house – cash • Excessive spending – Jaguar, jewelry, expensive clothing, trips, etc…. • Started rumors that his wealth came from his wife’s in-laws Performance Review • Known under-performer • Colleagues perceived Rick to be underachiever and lazy • Kept making lateral moves, but in high security clearance jobs – always involving the SE Division Alcoholic • Heavy drinking at many “business luncheons” • Known to have a drinking problem Knowing the System • Understood the FBI mode of surveillance over the Russian embassy • Stopped reporting his meetings with his Russian contact • Took advantage of the strained relations between the CIA and the FBI

11. CIA – Organo-sclerosis • 13 CIA operatives disappeared or killed - destroyed the American network of intelligence information of the Russian infrastructure and strategy (20 years to build) • SE Division, not self reflective • Refused to believe there was a mole from within • Rick was secure in his ability to manipulate the situation • Poor performer thriving as a spy (over 2 million dollars from KGB) • CIA organization did not deeply investigate the disappearance of its operatives • Rick’s security breaches were not noted in files • Alcoholism and incompetence were normalized • Unsuitable candidates were promoted to inappropriate positions