Thread by @CIA

James Donovan:
#OSS GC
defended Russian spy Abel
negotiated release of U-2 pilot & 10,000+ Cuban prisoners
1.usa.gov/1Sr6frq
#OSS75

Born in 1916 in the Bronx to a piano teacher & a surgeon, James was a graduate of @FordhamNYC & @Harvard_Law.
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@FordhamNYC @Harvard_Law James began his career as a @USNavy commander & then Assistant Counsel at the Office of Scientific Research & Development.
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@FordhamNYC @Harvard_Law @USNavy 1943: Director Wild Bill #Donovan asked James (no relation) to join #OSS as its General Counsel
He served until OSS disbanded in 1945
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After #WWII, James became an associate prosecutor @ Nuremberg trials in Germany.
Trials brought Nazi war criminals to justice.
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In private practice James #Donovan was asked to defend accused Russian spy Col. Rudolf Abel.
1.usa.gov/1veUWEA
#OSS75

James successfully fought against death sentence for Abel, hoping one day US might have use for Abel in an exchange for an American.
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1962: James & a CIA lawyer negotiated trade of Abel for 2 Americans: a student & U-2 pilot Gary Powers.
1.usa.gov/1F6yVCA
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Story of James’ efforts to defend Abel & free Powers was captured in the movie @BridgeofSpies, where he was played by @tomhanks.
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@BridgeofSpies @tomhanks 1961: After 3 days of fighting @ Bay of Pigs, 75% of CIA-backed Brigade (2,506 exiles) were Cuban prisoners.
1.usa.gov/23XmdyT
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@BridgeofSpies @tomhanks Kennedy asked James & CIA lawyer Milan Miskovsky to negotiate release of 1,113 Bay of Pigs invasion prisoners
1.usa.gov/1SnVB4R
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James visited Castro many times in Cuba to establish mutual understanding & to find out what US could offer Cuba for prisoners.
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Once, James brought his 18-year-old son to Cuba to show trust in Castro; they all went fishing @ Bay of Pigs.
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DEC 21,1962: Castro & James signed agreement to exchange the 1,113 Bay of Pigs prisoners for $53M in food & meds.
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Cuban Missile Crisis motivated James to pursue release of others & by July 1963, he had secured release of 10,000 Cuban prisoners.
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James Donovan went on to be president of NYC Board of Education & @PrattInstitute, & write 2 books.
1.usa.gov/1Sr6frq

#OSS75