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Title: The Brother: The Untold Story of Atomic Spy David Greenglass and How He Sent His Sister, Ethel Rosenberg, to the Electric Chair by SAM ROBERTS ISBN: 0-375-50013-8 Publisher: Random House Pub. Date: 18 September, 2001 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.73 (22 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: An important addition to Rosenberg spy ring history
Comment: As one who has studied the Rosenberg case since reading Louis Nizer's "The Implosion Conspiracy" as a high school sophomore, I was glad to see this book published. Sam Roberts' interviews with David Greenglass are an important contribution to the body of Rosenberg case history and assure that Greenglass didn't go to his eternal reward without speaking something for the record. Although everyone would probably have liked Greenglass's explanations to be clearer, at least he has talked after 50 years... While I can agree that the Rosenbergs probably didn't pass on information that was of vital importance in the Soviets' developing an atom bomb, it's quite clear that both were devoted mind-numbed robots of Bolshevik lies and propaganda. For that reason, it's easy for most middle Americans such as myself to dislike them and believe that to some extent they deserved their punishment. Klaus Fuchs, Theodore Hall and others who actually deserved to die for their treachery, survived and completed their careers. Julius probably deserved life in prison and Ethel something on the order of 10 years or so. David Greenglass deserved more -- probably at least 25 years. While I doubt that either originally believed they would be executed, it's also obvious that they cherished their roles as Soviet heroes and martyrs -- their deaths contributing more to the cause of Communism than the fight against Communism. The Rosenbergs' sons have tried to maintain the leftist illusion of the couple's innocence, but this is probably partially to mask their pain in knowing their parents preferred the cause of Communism to surviving for their children. One other work that could add immensely to Rosenberg case scholarship is if co-conspirator Morton Sobell would tell the truth before he dies. This is unlikely as Sobell has also continued to serve the Radical Left since his release from prison in 1966. This is one of a series of recent works that proves what has been termed the "hysteria of the McCarthy era" was actually well founded suspicion that the Communists had spies everywhere and that American Communists were willing accomplices of Stalin and Moscow.
Rating: 5
Summary: A Masterpiece
Comment: This is one of the most brilliant works of non-fiction I have ever read. The trial and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg has always been a sensitive and controversial subject for Americans. Although many authors have written books on the subject, only one has been able to talk to the chief witness who testified against the Rosenbergs and sent them to the electric chair for espionage, Ethel's brother, David Greenglass. Sam Roberts did some excellent research and has found a bounty of never before told information about the case and the family. Every chapter is more exciting than the one before it. Excellent job Sam
Rating: 5
Summary: The End of the Affair
Comment: Sam Roberts found David Greenglass and persuaded him to talk for this very readable 500 page book. It tells of their family histories. How did David Greenglass get assigned to Los Alamos (p.70)? Perhaps due to his talents? He was cleared by Army and FBI investigators (p.71). Soviet atom bomb development began in 1939, they deduced American research in 1940 (p.80). Julius Rosenberg became involved with Soviet espionage, and a recruiter of people who could provide "technical information". The crime is committed when the message is relayed (p.92). Life in Oak Ridge or Los Alamos is likened to a socialist paradise where the government provides for everyone; but not all enjoy Army life (pp.100-1). None suspected that DG's insatiable curiosity was to gather information for a foreign government (p.104). Winston Churchill's scientists asked for dynamite lenses (p.107). How to steal a proximity fuse? Get a defective reject then replace the broken parts with working parts (p.109).
With the war over, DG was no longer interested in helping the Soviets (p.147). The Soviet atomic research resumed in 1943 (p.182), their first atomic test occurred in 1949. This affected the political outlook in Washington (p.183). When they deciphered a message on gaseous diffusion in refining uranium, this led to its author and prime suspect - Klaus Fuchs (p.188). Another deciphered message said a spy at Los Alamos went on vacation in Jan 1945 (p.197); 100 suspects were turned up. The two prime suspects were Luis Alvarez and Edward Teller - the best friend of Klaus Fuchs.
DG's confession is on page 242. He hired O. John Rogge and cooperated with the FBI; he could not testify against his wife (p.261). Greenglass and Gold were interviewed together to harmonize their stories (p.278). The Government wanted Julius Rosenberg to confess and identify other members of the spy ring (p.282); the death penalty was the threat (p.287). David was trained as a draftsman and had surprising neat handwriting (p.297). Page 317 says his handwriting needed to be typed, and this implicated Ethel in the crime. The trial found them all guilty. The Rosenbergs got death, but they insisted on their innocence and never cracked. They were convicted on the word of the Greenglasses alone, there was no independent corroborative evidence given at their trial. I think the failure to show spending or money from their spying was a failure in the Government's case. The rule is that spies get paid for their information ("The Double-Cross System").
Some questioned the scientific value of Greenglass' atom bomb sketch. It was "valuable information" to corroborate the information given by Klaus Fuchs (p.408). The 1946 Smyth Report gave much more information on atomic energy research than given by Klaus Fuchs (p.410)! Page 425 lists the information that Julius could give to delay their execution; nothing was asked of Ethel. President Eisenhower denied clemency because they "increased the chance of atomic war and may have condemned tens of millions of innocent people to death" (p.430).
Chapter 36 has Greenglass' "final confession". He thought the worse thing he did was working on the atomic bomb because it killed a hundred thousand people (p.469). He didn't regret his spying if it prevented another war (p.479). David and Ruth now said they didn't remember Ethel typing the notes, but "that's the way it would have been done" (p.483). Without this, Ethel might not have been convicted. Why didn't Julius and Ethel save themselves? Because it would mean putting other people in their hot seat (p.493). DG's verdict: they were guilty, but they didn't deserve to die (p.496). This disproportionate punishment may explain Pope Pius XII's call for clemency. The Prosecution team never again won distinction in their careers.
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Title: The Rosenberg File by Ronald Radosh, Joyce Milton ISBN: 0300072058 Publisher: Yale University Press Pub. Date: 01 March, 1997 List Price(USD): $23.00 |
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Title: We Are Your Sons: The Legacy of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg by Robert Meeropol, Michael Meeropol ISBN: 0252012631 Publisher: University of Illinois Press Pub. Date: 01 January, 1987 List Price(USD): $34.95 |
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Title: The Man Behind the Rosenbergs by Aleksandr Feklisov, Sergei Kostin, Alexander Feklisov, Serguei Kostine ISBN: 1929631081 Publisher: Enigma Books Pub. Date: 01 September, 2001 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: Ethel Rosenberg: Beyond the Myths by Ilene Philipson ISBN: 0813519179 Publisher: Rutgers University Press Pub. Date: 01 February, 1993 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
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Title: The Spy Who Seduced America: Lies and Betrayal in the Heat of the Cold War: The Judith Coplon Story by Marcia Mitchell, Thomas Mitchell ISBN: 1931229228 Publisher: Invisible Cities Press Pub. Date: September, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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