50 Things You Didn’t Know About The CIA

Here are 50 lesser-known facts about the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA):

History & Origins

1. Founded in 1947: The CIA was established by the National Security Act of 1947, signed by President Harry S. Truman.

2. Predecessor: The CIA’s predecessor was the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which was active during World War II.

3. First Director: The CIA’s first Director was Rear Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter.

4. Operation Paperclip: The CIA helped recruit German scientists, including some with Nazi ties, to work in the U.S. after WWII.

5. MKUltra: The CIA ran a secret program in the 1950s and 60s to develop mind control techniques, often experimenting on unwitting subjects.

6. Bay of Pigs: The CIA planned and executed the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, aiming to overthrow Fidel Castro in Cuba.

7. Operation Mockingbird: This was an alleged large-scale program of the CIA that began in the late 1940s to manipulate news media for propaganda.

8. Family Jewels: A series of documents detailing CIA abuses over 25 years, revealed in 2007, including illegal activities and operations.

9. Operation CHAOS: A domestic spying operation that targeted anti-Vietnam War activists and other dissidents in the 1960s and 70s.

10. Phoenix Program: A controversial program during the Vietnam War aimed at neutralizing the Viet Cong infrastructure, often through assassination.

Operations & Activities

11. Black Sites: The CIA has operated secret prisons (“black sites”) around the world where detainees have been interrogated and held outside the law.

12. Drone Strikes: The CIA has carried out drone strikes in various countries as part of counterterrorism efforts.

13. Operation Cyclone: The CIA funded and armed Afghan mujahideen fighters during the Soviet-Afghan War in the 1980s.

14. Iran-Contra Affair: The CIA was involved in the secret sale of arms to Iran, with proceeds going to fund Contra rebels in Nicaragua.

15. Operation Gold: A covert operation to tap Soviet communications in Berlin, which was ultimately betrayed by a British double agent.

16. Operation Ajax: The CIA orchestrated the 1953 coup in Iran, overthrowing Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh.

17. Cuban Missile Crisis: The CIA provided key intelligence that led to the U.S. blockade and eventual resolution of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

18. Project Stargate: A secret program to explore the use of psychic phenomena, including remote viewing, for intelligence purposes.

19. Operation Northwoods: A proposed plan in the 1960s that suggested committing acts of terrorism in the U.S. to justify a war against Cuba (never executed).

20. Operation Mongoose: A covert CIA campaign to destabilize the Cuban government after the Bay of Pigs, involving sabotage and assassination plots.

People & Leadership

21. First Female Director: Gina Haspel became the first woman to serve as Director of the CIA in 2018.

22. James Jesus Angleton: A longtime CIA officer, Angleton was infamous for his obsessive hunt for Soviet moles within the CIA.

23. Aldrich Ames: A CIA officer who became a double agent for the Soviet Union, his espionage led to the deaths of several U.S. assets.

24. Valerie Plame: A covert CIA officer whose identity was leaked in 2003, sparking a major political scandal.

25. William Colby: A former Director of the CIA who later became a whistleblower on some of the agency’s controversial activities.

26. Frank Wisner: One of the CIA’s founding officers, Wisner was involved in many covert operations, including psychological warfare.

27. John Brennan: Former CIA Director who played a key role in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

28. David Petraeus: Former CIA Director who resigned in 2012 following a scandal involving classified information.

29. Richard Helms: Served as Director during the Cold War and was known for his strong defense of the agency’s secrecy.

30. Allen Dulles: The longest-serving Director of the CIA, involved in numerous Cold War operations, including the U-2 incident.

Technology & Innovations

31. In-Q-Tel: The CIA’s venture capital arm, investing in technology startups that can advance national security.

32. Bird Surveillance: The CIA developed and used pigeons fitted with cameras during the Cold War for reconnaissance.

33. Insectothopter: A dragonfly-shaped drone designed by the CIA in the 1970s for espionage purposes.

34. Acoustic Kitty: A failed project in which the CIA attempted to use cats for espionage by implanting listening devices in them.

35. U-2 Spy Plane: Developed with CIA involvement, the U-2 was used for high-altitude reconnaissance missions over the Soviet Union.

36. Lockheed A-12: Predecessor to the SR-71 Blackbird, this spy plane was operated by the CIA in the 1960s.

37. Pineapple Bomb: A deadly anti-personnel bomb used during the Vietnam War, developed with CIA oversight.

38. Facial Recognition: The CIA was an early adopter of facial recognition technology for identifying suspects.

39. Satellite Reconnaissance: The CIA played a key role in the development of reconnaissance satellites during the Cold War.

40. Polygraph Testing: The CIA is a major user of polygraphs, often for screening employees and agents.

Culture & Influence

41. Hollywood Influence: The CIA has consulted on many Hollywood movies, influencing the portrayal of intelligence operations.

42. The CIA World Factbook: Published by the CIA, it provides a detailed overview of countries around the world, widely used by researchers.

43. Langley: The CIA’s headquarters is located in Langley, Virginia, a site chosen for its proximity to Washington, D.C.

44. Office of Strategic Influence: The short-lived office aimed at spreading propaganda; it was closed amid controversy over its purpose.

45. ‘KUBARK’ Manual: A CIA manual from the 1960s that outlines interrogation techniques, some of which have been considered torture.

46. CIA Museum: Located within the CIA’s headquarters, it is not open to the public but showcases the agency’s history.

47. Secret Writing: The CIA has developed various forms of invisible ink and secret writing techniques for covert communication.

48. CIA Art Collection: The agency has a significant art collection, including works related to its history and missions.

49. Cryptography: The CIA has been deeply involved in developing and breaking codes and ciphers, including during the Cold War.

50. Counterfeit Operations: The CIA has engaged in counterfeiting currency and documents as part of its covert operations.

These facts highlight the CIA’s complex history, influence, and the wide range of activities it has undertaken since its inception.