Thread by @CIA

President Nixon appointed General Vernon Walters as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence in 1972. Vernon spoke French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Chinese and Russian fluently.

Vernon loved #languages and enjoyed a friendly competition with fellow #linguists. He would engage two others in conversation and each time a person spoke, they had to talk in a new language. Once you ran through your repertoire of languages, you were eliminated.

Vernon's linguistic skills afforded him a myriad of opportunities. His simultaneous translation of a speech by Nixon in France prompted President Charles de Gaulle to say, "Nixon, you gave a magnificent speech, but your interpreter was eloquent."

As DDCI, Vernon dealt with major international develop­ments including the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, the turbulent end of the Vietnam conflict, and the Chilean military coup against the Allende government.

Learn more: bit.ly/2S941Cz

#LanguageOfEspionage Story 3