Archive for May 2019

International Spy Museum – Book Talk

The Moscow Rules: The Secret CIA Tactics That Helped America Win the Cold War
Antonio J. Mendez, Jonna Mendez (nonfiction, PublicAffairs)
A posthumous release from the man who inspired the movie “Argo” about his James Bond-like spy tactics.

Jonna Mendez is former Chief of Disguise at the CIA and a member of the advisory board of the International Spy Museum in Washington D.C. which (re)opened its doors to the public on new premises in Washington D.C. early this month. Mendez is a specialist in clandestine photography and was responsible for disguise in several theatres of the Cold War, including in Havana, Moscow and Beijing. Excerpts from an interview:

Tony Mendez is arguably the Michael Jordan of covert CIA operations.

So considering the recent revelations swirling around a suspected CIA wig, a Moscow “diplomat,” and a publicly-outed, dusty-desk-in-a-basement-bound former CIA station chief, it’d probably be nice to review Mendez’ basic rules for espionage.

Jonna Mendez discussing the current situation with the US and Iran

Barnes and Noble NYC Book Signing

The International Spy Museum just reopened in a new, larger space in L’Enfant Plaza. But it’s not just the building that’s changed: The museum has also expanded its focus, adding new exhibits that trace the history of intelligence all over the world.

Some of that history happened right here in the D.C. region, which has been — and still is — a hotbed of espionage, from the Civil War to the Cold War to today.

We hear some real-life spy yarns, set right here in Washington.