Thread by @CIA

The little known role of lawyer James #Donovan (of @BridgeofSpies fame) freeing Bay of Pigs prisoners:

1.usa.gov/1Sr6frq

#HISTINT

After 3 days of fighting @ Bay of Pigs, 75% of CIA-backed Brigade 2506 exiles ended up as Cuban prisoners:
1.usa.gov/23XmdyT
#HISTINT

James #Donovan spent months in one-on-one negotiations w Fidel Castro over fate of the 1,113 Brigade 2506 prisoners:
1.usa.gov/1Sr6frq

Joining #OSS @ request of “Wild Bill” Donovan (no relation), James #Donovan served as General Counsel until OSS was disbanded in 1945.
#WWII

#Donovan then became associate prosecutor at Nuremberg trials in Germany, bringing Nazi war criminals to justice.

In private practice James #Donovan was asked to defend accused Russian spy Col. Rudolf Abel.
1.usa.gov/1veUWEA

The story of #Donovan’s efforts to defend Colonel Abel was captured in the movie @BridgeofSpies, where Donovan was played by @tomhanks.

Kennedy asked #Donovan & CIA lawyer Milan Miskovsky to negotiate release of 1,113 Bay of Pigs invasion prisoners:
1.usa.gov/1SnVB4R

#Donovan visited Castro many times in Cuba to establish mutual understanding & to find out what US could offer Cuba for prisoners.

Rapport building came to an abrupt halt for 13 days in October 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

1.usa.gov/1pVVv4o

After Cuban Missile Crisis, #Donovan brought his 18 year old son to Cuba to show trust in Castro; they all went fishing @ Bay of Pigs.

During a card game w president of @pfizer #Donovan thought to exchange prisoners for 2 items needed to sustain life: pharmaceuticals & food.

DEC 21,1962: Castro & #Donovan signed agreement to exchange the 1,113 Bay of Pigs prisoners for $53M in food & meds.

Christmas Eve 1962: prisoners were freed & 4 days later, Kennedy greeted Brigade 2506 at @CityofMiami @OrangeBowl.

Cuban Missile Crisis motivated #Donovan to pursue the release of others & by July 1963, he secured release of 10,000 Cuban prisoners.

James #Donovan went on to become president of Board of Education of NYC, president of @PrattInstitute, & write 2 books. He died at age 53.

A few Brigade 2506 members stayed with CIA & continued to serve in the shadows, participating in many successful covert operations.