“Wild Bill” Donovan:
Leader of American Espionage
Natalie Garza
Gabriel Guzman
Makayla Jefferson
Sayfaldin Thabit
Billy Toledo
Group Website
Senior Division
Process Paper Student-Generated Words: 439
Website Student-Generated Words: 1,172
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Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
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Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Interviews
Howe, Fisher. “Interview with Special Assistant to General William.” Telephone Interview. 27
Mar. 2015.
Howe, Special Assistant to General William Donovan in the OSS stated, “All of us [at the
OSS] had great respect for him…he was a great leader and we knew he was a great
leader.” Howe, a centenarian, shared his opinion on Donovan’s legacy by saying, “I have
the most respect for what Donovan did…I think his legacy is the CIA, which the country
desperately needs. And it [the CIA] does it through Donovan’s OSS.” This primary
interview with General Donovan’s own assistant made our project come alive! Howe
shared firsthand information about the man, his leadership, and his continuing legacy
today.
Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Interviews by Others
Cady, John F. “Interview with John F. Cady.” Interview by Richard D. McKinzie. Harry S.
Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri. 31 July 1947. Print.
“The [research analysis] branch included a remarkably able group of men. Several of
them had been former Presidents,” explained Cady, a former OSS research analyst. The
groups’ purpose was to “initiate studies relating to a part of the world that America
knew very little about.” This group was also involved in military and political activities.
This interview with a former research analyst provided our group with the insight into
and knowledge of the research analysis branch of the OSS.
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Cordell, Robert. “Interview with Former OSS Agent.” Interview by Elliot Halpern and Elizabeth
Trojian. World War II Spy School. Smithsonian Channel. 2015. Television.
Cordell shared his experiences in Camp X training. He recalled his first day, describing a
situation where he seemed to be sitting in a typical class for explosives when two men
raced through the room, followed by another two men shooting at them: a set up. After
being barked at to get out from under the tables, Cordell and his classmates received a
test asking questions like “how many men were there?” and “how many shots were
fired?” “The Americans had never had any training like this,” Cordell explained, “and
they were just doing this to test us out They tried to make you use your own head and
do things that you wouldn’t do with an army.” Cordell’s experiences gave an inside look
at the brutal, quick-action nature that Donovan wanted from his agents. We related this
to the attitude of Donovan’s legacy today: the CIA, which adopted that of the OSS.
Doundoulakis, Helias. “Interview with Former Greek OSS Agent.” Interview by Elliot Halpern and
Elizabeth Trojian. World War II Spy School. Smithsonian Channel. 2015. Television.
As a young man, Doundoulakis “was told [he was] going to be trained in the OSS spy
school for six months. Nothing but just to become a spy.” He then describes his
experiences as a secret agent on America’s behalf in Nazi-controlled Greece, including a
near-death confrontation with German soldiers. Doundoulakis’s recruitment proves that
Donovan played at his nation’s strengths, one of them being the diversity of its
immigrants.
Fletcher, Jim. “Office of Strategic Services (OSS) Interview.” Interview. Witness to War 2011.
Print.
Fletcher was a soldier who battled the Japanese behind enemy lines during World War
II, collected and analyzed strategic information required by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and
conducted special operations not assigned to other agencies. The OSS played a major
role in training Kuomintang troops in China and Burma, helping to arm, train and supply
resistance movements, including the Red Army in China, and in other areas occupied by
the Axis Powers. “We blew up small bridges and stuff like that, ambushed convoys
sometimes … but most of us collected information and wired it back.”
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Gardner, Winnifred. “Interview with Former Communications Staff at Camp X.” Interview by
Elliot Halpern and Elizabeth Trojian. World War II Spy School. Smithsonian Channel.
2015. Television.
In her interview, Gardner explains her role in Operation Hydra. Stationed at Camp X,
Gardner and her team would decode and relay messages from German U-boats that
posed a threat to supply ships on their way to Britain. This operation “was the first place
Americans, Canadians and English all worked together.” Her experiences gave our group
a sense of how espionage united the world, too, apart from being a strategy of war. It
was a more social part of Donovan’s legacy. His work in America’s intelligence services
has created a trust between nations: a different perspective on how Donovan improved
America’s national security.
Gleason, Frank. “Interview with WWII Secret Agent.” Interview by Elliot Halpern and Elizabeth
Trojian. World War II Spy School. Smithsonian Channel. 2015. Television.
Former Colonel Frank Gleason describes the relationship between British and American
espionage saying, “I’m sure the British intelligence really looked down their noses and
eyes at us at the beginning, you know, and it was true.” We related the opinion Gleason
formed from his experiences in gathering intelligence to Donovan’s inspiration that is
Britain’s intelligence services. Donovan used them as a template and created his own
unique form of espionage that would become the CIA.
Kindleberger, Charlie P. “Interview with Charlie P. Kindleberger.” Interview by Richard D.
McKinzie. Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri.
Transcript.
According to Kindleberger, an intelligence officer with the Office of Strategic Strategies
(OSS) from 1944 to 1945, “Mr. Donovan’s insight into the whole reason for OSS was that
nature abhorred a vacuum, he assumed there would be many vacua and that in the
course of this he would find a use for good people.” Kindleberger says that “Donovan
would invite normal civilians in bulk, hoping that some of these people would prove to
be of good use.” This firsthand account of how Donovan took a leadership role in
conducting the recruitment of agents of the OSS was important in our group
understanding the process of becoming an agent for the OSS.
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Mason, Edward S. “Oral History Interview with Edward S. Mason.” Interview by Richard D.
McKinzie. 17 July 1973. Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum,
Independence, Missouri. Print.
“The OSS was divided, really, into three main sections; a research section, a secret
intelligence section, and a section of “dirty tricks” or whatever you want to call it.” This
quote from Mason gave our group a better understanding of what the Office of
Strategic Services was really about and how it was operated. Mason’s remarks also
made clear that the OSS still kept secrets and wasn’t entirely open to what they did and
how.
Sichel, Peter. “Interview with Peter Sichel.” Interview by Peter Ernest. Spy Museum,
Washington D.C. 21 Dec. 2012. Print.
In this interview, Sichel, a former OSS member is interviewed by Executive Director of
the International Spy Museum, Peter Ernest. After fleeing to America from Nazi
Germany in the 1930s, Sichel was recruited into the OSS as a field agent and a trainer.
Sichel would become a friend of the future CIA Director, Richard Helms. According to
Sichel, “Richard Helms was very much a man of the establishment. He also knew that in
order to do our work, he needed people who did not fit in that establishment.” Sichel’s
statement proves that Donovan led a diverse group of people that would help leave a
legacy in espionage.
Singlaub, John. “Interview with CIA Founding Member.” Interview by Elliot Halpern and
Elizabeth Trojian. World War II Spy School. Smithsonian Channel. 2015. Television.
Major General John Singlaub addresses Donovan’s leadership by quoting him. “The
OSS,” Singlaub says, “selected people who could do any job. They used the idea that
‘what I’m looking for is a PhD who can win a bar fight.’” He goes on to describe
Donovan’s legacy as men who worked in the OSS, like himself, who would be founding
members of the CIA. We used this firsthand account to back up our group’s own claim of
Donovan’s legacy.
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Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Newspaper Articles
“Col. Donovan, Who Studies Nazi Espionage, is Slated for Big Post, Capital Reports.” New York
Times. 6 July 1941. Print.
This article contained the White House’s plan for Col. William Donovan in the following
months to lead a new intelligence agency. “There have been reports for some time that
Colonel Donovan would head a new anti-spy agency.” The public was informed of a new
leader who would take the reins of a new intelligence agency.
Donovan, William J. “Donovan Gives Farewell Talk to OSS Crew.” The Washington
Post. 30 Sept. 1945. Print.
Donovan told OSS members that the nation was preparing to build a “coordinated
foreign intelligence service capable of assuring the United States its proper place in
world affairs”. “Remaining services of the OSS were being divided between the war and
state Departments.” This information gave our group an insight into the effects that
terminating the OSS had on its members and a more detailed description of what
happened when the Office of Strategic Services was no more.
---. “Donovan Denies OSS had Reds or Fascists.” New York Times. 14 Mar. 1945. Print.
Donovan discusses the accusations of the OSS being infiltrated by those, “[whose]
advocates overthrow the Government.” His response to those claims was that of denial
with him stating, “I have never taken in any man of whom I have even a doubt.” The
accusation within the article helped our group to see that Donovan faced trouble within
his organization and not just outside.
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---. “Gen. William J. Donovan Dies; Lawyer Headed O.S.S. in War.” New York Times. 8 Feb. 1959.
Print.
“Washington, Feb. 8 – Maj. Gen. William J. (Wild Bill) Donovan, lawyer, soldier, diplomat
and Director of the Office of Strategic Services in World War II, died today at Walter
Reed Army Hospital. He was 76 years old.” Donovan had a very successful career and
remained prominent in the front lines until his hospitalization in April of 1967. Along
with leading the OSS, Donovan’s legacy is seen through his legal victories, aid in the
Nuremberg trials, and leadership in American committees.
---. “Intelligence Set-Up Assailed by Donovan.” New York Times.17 Sept. 1946. Print.
Donovan explained the importance of a Central intelligence Agency stating that “the
newly formed National Intelligence Authority was a ‘phony’”. He said “the agency
seemed to be an integrated service, but in reality was not” and it contains “the same
log-rolling elements of the State Department, the Army and the Navy that have made
the intelligence service the ‘Little Orphan Annie’ of the Government since time began.”
---. “U.S. Intelligence Held Inadequate: Donovan Outlines His Ideas.” The New York Times.
26 Feb. 1947: Print.
Donovan states that the U.S. needs a “Central Intelligence Agency with no allegiance to
any government department.” These views are a part of Donovan’s legacy which can be
seen in the modern CIA. This primary source provided our group with Donovan’s
outlined views on how the U.S. should handle foreign intelligence at a meeting of the
Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
---. “What Are We Up Against?” Vital Speeches of the Day [New York City] 15 Apr. 1941, 7th ed.:
386-89. Print.
This speech Colonel William J. Donovan gave detailing his trip through North Africa and
Europe. In this speech he attempts to persuade the United States into joining the World
War II. He explains, “But England is not beaten and it is because England is not beaten
the America is not yet threatened.” Donovan then warns that if Germany is left to rule
over Europe then America would be cut off from the European market. Our group
learned of Donovan's opinions toward Nazi Germany which results in him becoming the
Director of the OSS.
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Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Letters
Donovan, William J. “Farewell Address to the OSS.” 28 Sept. 1945. Print.
In the farewell address, William Donovan voiced the pride he had for the
accomplishments the OSS and each individual member made. Donovan thanked them
for allowing him to lead them. Our group gained some insight in what Donovan thought
of the members of his organization in its final moments.
Truman, Harry S. “Letter to Donovan.” 1 Oct. 1945. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum,
Independence, Missouri. Print.
In this letter, Truman discusses what will be done to certain branches of the OSS. He
states how the, “Research and Analysis Branch and the Presentation Branch of the
Office of Strategic Services be transferred to the State Department.” The information
within this letter allowed our group to see what exactly Truman intended to happen to
the OSS.
---. “Letter to Gen. William J. Donovan on the Termination of the Office of Strategic Services.”
20 Sept. 1945. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, Independence, Missouri. Print.
“I want to take this occasion to thank you for the capable leadership you have brought
to a vital wartime activity in your capacity as Director of Strategic Services. You may well
find satisfaction in your achievements of the Office and take pride in your own
contributions to them. These are in themselves large rewards.” Donovan’s influence
over the OSS shines through as Truman praises him with thanks for all he has done and
how much honor he should bestow for doing so Donovan was thanked for his great
services during the war, proving Donovan as an accomplished leader.
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Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Speeches
Donovan, William J. “A Central Intelligence Agency: Foreign Policy Must Be Based on Facts.”
New York Herald Tribune High School Forum, New York, NY. 13 Apr. 1946.
“Your government needs a foreign policy … you’ve got to get information. When you do
this, then you have a decision that you feel is an informed decision. Government is no
different. Government policy, too, must be based upon a tested knowledge of the facts.
What facts? The capabilities, the intentions and the policies of other nations. That’s
what an intelligence service means.” This was a new, revolutionary idea of awareness of
what was going on around America, and it was brought forth first by Donovan. This
speech, given by Donovan, provided a first-hand account of his purpose for founding an
intelligence agency in the foreign policy of the American government.
---. “The Global War of Subversion.” Columbia University, New York, NY. 16 Feb. 1950.
Donovan speaks on the subject of “The Global War of Subversion.” He praises one man
for his performance as an American military leader in Southeast Asia, saying “General
Clay met the challenge with boldness and resolution…The courageous and common
sense action of General Clay in that crisis is a guide and an example for all of us.” It was
this statement that our group was able to understand Donovan’s values in a leader as
one himself.
\
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Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Chapters and Anthologies
Hoppes, Jonna Doolittle. “Dick Hamada.” Just Doing My Job. Santa Monica, CA: Santa Monica
Press, 2009. 309-27. Print.
OSS Agent Dick Hamada describes his interaction with the Kachin Rangers while he was
stationed in Asia. “When [he] first got to camp in Burma, [the] Kachin Rangers had just
returned… ‘How many enemy soldiers did you kill?’ [Hoppes] asked. ‘Twenty.’ Seeing
[his] doubtful expression, they quickly pulled 20 enemy ears from their knitted
pouches.” We gained insight on the brutal assignments that Hamada and agents like
him were given. Our group used the detailed information from Hamada’s experience to
create a picture on of the fighting conditions other agents in Asia faced.
Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Memorandums
Berne. “Office of Strategic Services: Official Dispatch.” 18 Sept. 1944. Box 153, Folder 44,
National Archives and Records Administration Print.
This dispatch report to General Donovan from Berne, a OSS official, states “The enemy
proclaims that if we capitulate that the field German soldiers will be permitted to go
home.” To assist in the defeat of Nazi soldiers, Berne insists “There is no choice but to
fight.” This showed the fierce, aggressive side of the OSS in the European theater. The
OSS left a legacy of a fearless group of soldiers.
Carter, John Franklin. “Report on Bill Donovan’s Plan for Post-War Secret Intelligence.” 26 Oct.
1944. Box 153, Folder 44, BACM Research, Woodbridge, NJ. Print.
This memorandum by John F. Carter informed President Roosevelt of Donovan’s plan for
a post-war intelligence office. Carter states, “In my opinion…the British Intelligence has
already penetrated the Donovan organization and it thoroughly familiar with its
methods, plans and personnel.” This shows how experienced and prepared Donovan
was when proposing his plan for a post-war intelligence organization. This plan would
become the legendary Central Intelligence Agency.
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Donovan, William J. “Memorandum to the President regarding an Intelligence Service for the
Post-War Period.” 18 Nov. 1944. Box 153, Folder 44, National Archives and Records
Administration. Print.
This memo to Donovan reads, “I have given consideration to the organization of
intelligence service for the post-war period.” Donovan further urges the establishment
by stating, “The immediate revision and coordination of our present (OSS) intelligence
system would affect substantial economies…We have now in the Government, the
trained and specialized personnel needed for the task.” Donovan implies to the
President that the staff under OSS command is ready to provide adequate resources for
a post-war organization.
---. “Memorandum to the President regarding the OSS in Czechoslovakia.” 23 Sept. 1944. Box
153, Folder 44, National Archives and Records Administration. Print.
“OSS Secret Intelligence and Special Operations personnel were landed by plane in
Czechoslovakia on September 17. The operation included…the landing of 120 marlins
and 84,000 rounds of ammunition, 12 bazookas, with 16 rounds each. Czech
forces…prepared the reception and arrangements were made through OSS Secret
Intelligence, London with collaboration with the Czech intelligence service. On the
return trip, the planes brought out 2 British ex-prisoners and 13 Americans.” This shows
the leadership Donovan had to possess to succeed in this mission and other future
mission.
---. “Memorandum for the President regarding ‘Operation Cadillac.’” 27 Sept. 1944. Box 143,
Folder 44, BACM Research, Woodbridge, NJ. Print.
In this memorandum to President Roosevelt, Donovan discusses “Operation Cadillac,”
the second and largest in air operations. The operation was “indicated by request of the
commanding General of the USSTAF (United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe)and
special operations headquarters.” At approximately “5:00AM, on 14 July, 349 Flying
Fortresses, loaded with 4320 containers of supplies, took off in bad weather with fighter
escort from nine airfields in England. The supplies were dropped by parachute at 145
miles per hour at heights varying between 500 and 1,250 feet, not an easy task for
Fortresses in formation. Despite the difficulty…all 320 aircraft dropped 3,791 containers
or 417 short tons of supplies, 98.7 percent of the delivery.” “Wild Bill” Donovan’s
leadership stands up to his name in this operation which was risky, yet effective in
supporting Allies in France.
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---. “Memo to Franklin Delano Roosevelt from William Donovan.” 19 June, 1944. Box 004,
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, NY. Print.
This memo from Donovan details the effectiveness of the allied soldiers who battled at
the coastal cities and the axis troops that these allied soldiers encountered. It also holds
details of the effects on civilians and towns that were under Germany’s rule. Our group
was provided with an example of the type of information that Donovan was able to
obtain during the war using the OSS.
Jackson, Robert. “Memo to Samuel Rosenman from Robert Jackson, Chief of Counsel.” 12 July,
1945. Harry S. Truman and Museum Library, Independence, MO. Print.
Jackson, Chief of Counsel for the United States, writes informing Samuel Rosenman,
advisor to President Truman, that William Donovan is capable of leading the draft
agreement for the four powers. Donovan was requested to be an assistant prosecutor
during the Nuremberg trials. The OSS was able to collect evidence that would help
accuse Nazi leaders for war crimes during World War I. This primary source shows how
Donovan was recognized as a great leader, enough to be trusted to lead a major role in
the Nuremburg trials.
Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Government Documents
“National Security Act of 1947.” S. 758, 80th Cong. (1947) (enacted). Print.
The National Security Act was signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1947. It merged
both the Navy and Army intelligence services into the National Military Establishment.
This set up the Department of the Air Force and Donovan’s greatest legacy, the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA). It provided our website with a physical documentation of
Donovan’s working remaining after the dissolve of the OSS.
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“Medal of Honor Citation for Lt. Col. Donovan.” 14 Oct. 1918. Courtesy of the OSS Society. Print.
Donovan had a life of events that would build his leadership skills before his position as
Director of the OSS. For example, he was awarded the Medal of Honor for acts of
heroism during his service during WWI. He acted as an “example… When he was
wounded in the leg by machine gun bullets, he refused to be evacuated and continued
with his unit…” This award is a represents Donovan’s determination that would be his
drive for leading the OSS.
“Simple Sabotage Field Manual: Strategic Services.” 17 Jan. 1944. National Archives and
Records Administration. Print.
This declassified field manual, signed by Donovan as leader of the OSS, includes detailed
descriptions of the different types of sabotage agents of the OSS would learn in order to
be successful in the field. It read that “sabotage varies from highly technical coup de
main acts that require detailed planning and use of specially trained operatives, to
innumerable simple acts which the ordinary individual citizen-saboteur can perform.”
These “citizen-saboteurs” would use weapons like “salt, nails, pebbles, thread or any
other materials he might normally be expected to possess as a householder or as a
worker in his particular occupation” referred to as the “human elements.”
Truman, Harry S. “Executive Order 9621, Termination of the Office of Strategic Services and
Disposition of its Function.” 20 Sept. 1945. Harry S. Truman Library and Museum,
Independence, Missouri. Print.
“All functions of the office…with all personnel, records, property, and funds of the
Office…are transferred to the department of war; and the Office, including the Office of
the director of Strategic Services will be terminated.” Truman is telling us how the OSS
will be terminated leaving all remaining remnants to the Department of War. This led to
the establishment of the Central Intelligence Agency. We used this primary document in
our project under the effects page.
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Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Books
Doyle, David W. True Men and Traitors: From the OSS to the CIA, My Life in the Shadows. New
York: Wiley, 2001. Print.
In his book, former OSS and CIA agent David W. Doyle recalls his life “in the shadows,”
regarding his work in clandestine warfare on America’s behalf during WWII and the Cold
War. One subject he touches on is his view on agents and their roles in strategic
warfare. He says that “agents are the keystone of operations in the world of espionage;
they fill only a small gap in the overall collection of intelligence, but it is a critical gap.”
This would explain Donovan’s absence in our textbooks. His work goes unseen except
for his legacy, the CIA, and our nation’s security thanks to Donovan’s filling a “small but
critical gap.”
Dulles, Allen W. William J. Donovan and the National Security. Vol. 3. Central
Intelligence Agency. CSI Studies. Print.
“His [Donovan] courage and leadership made a profound impression on me”, says
Dulles, who worked directly with Donovan. He [Donovan] made his nation more
secure.” This source gave us an idea of how other people viewed Donovan and how
strong of a leader he actually was. We also gained a general understanding of how his
nation viewed him.
McIntosh, Elizabeth P. The Women of the OSS: Sisterhood of Spies. Annapolis, MD: Naval
Institute Press, 1998. Print.
“The daring missions and cloak-and-dagger skullduggery of America’s World War ll
intelligence agency, the OSS, are well documented and have become the stuff of
legends. Yet the contributions of the four thousand women who made up one-fifth of
the OSS staff have gone largely unheralded.” McIntosh gave us primary examples of
experience of women in the OSS and all the roles they played in the war effort. The
women who worked as “spies, saboteurs, cryptographers, cartographers, analysts, and
experts in propaganda, recruiting, and communications, as well as clerks, drivers, and
secretaries” helped our group understand the roles of women in the OSS.
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Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Archival Footage
General William J. Donovan Decorated by President Truman. Archival footage. Central
Intelligence Agency.
This video shows President Harry S. Truman pinning The Oak Leaf Cluster of the
Distinguished Service Medal onto Donovan’s uniform, a symbol of appreciation for
Donovan and the OSS’s “hair-raising feats [during] the war.” It is visual documentation
of Donovan’s outstanding leadership of America’s Intelligence services and their impact
on today’s espionage.
OSS Training on Obstacle Course. Video. Courtesy of National Park Service.
This primary footage shows OSS trainees on an obstacle course. OSS personnel were
trained extensively to prepare them for any war activities. Obstacle courses were
usually intense and pushed the men and women to their physical limits.
OSS-Training the Glorious Amateurs. Archival footage. Central intelligence Agency Archives.
The Jedburghs were the paramilitary organization that did the dirty work. They were
dropped behind enemy lines, in which they help the local resistance. This archival
footage provided our group with background information on the Jedburghs.
Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Visuals
“Allen Dulles.” Photograph. Central Intelligence Archives.
Dulles poses at his desk as Director of the CIA, the successor to Donovan’s OSS. He
symbolizes how Donovan’s legacy of central intelligence services would live on through
the CIA.
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“Black Propaganda Poster.” Photograph. International Spy Museum, Washington D.C.
In this picture, we see that Uncle Sam yelling, “You are lost, you are lost” and Uncle Sam
being the Puppet Master, making his puppet scream, “We are lost, we are lost”. We
used this poster in our website to show the subliminal messages used in espionage.
“Central Intelligence Agency Emblem.” Photograph. Central Intelligence Agency.
After the OSS was terminated there was a need for another Secret Intelligence Agency.
It was then that the CIA was formed. This showed our group that even though Donovan
was no longer the man in charge his legacy carried on.
“CIA Manual.” Photograph. Central Intelligence Agency.
This manual provided information and guides inherited from the OSS. It provided spies
the skills and knowledge required to carry out secret intelligence missions. We
incorporated this artifact into our website.
“CIA Organizational Chart.” Photograph. Central Intelligence Agency.
Donovan was a very organized man and it is shown through this depiction of his plan. He
devised a well thought out way for the OSS to be as successful as possible. This gave our
group a visual representation of Donovan’s leadership skills and how good he was at his
job. Donovan’s legacy shows even in the modern day CIA.
“Colonel Donovan.” Photograph. Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine.
In this photo, Donovan is seen in uniform during his service in the fighting 69th regiment
during World War I. Donovan was ranking up in the military at this point. He would be
Colonel by the end of WWI. He earned many medals during the war, gaining popularity
amongst fellow military leaders.
“Colonel William Donovan.” Photograph. National Archives and Records Administration.
Donovan poses in his war uniform and helmet from WWI. His service would earn him
the Medal of Honor and help him build strong leadership qualities such as his
determination and perseverance. It was these qualities that made him an ideal founder
of the OSS.
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“Congressional Country Club. William E. (“Dan”) Fairbairn and Hans Tofte.” Photograph.
National Park Service.
Notable close combat instructor William Fairbairn and Hans Tofte are seen on the OSS
training camp stationed on the 400 acres of the Congressional Country Club. As an
Englishmen who taught bits of Asian martial arts and “gutter fighting”, he is a symbol for
the vast diversity of people Donovan looked for recruits.
“Counterfeit German Souvenir Stamp Sheet.” Photograph. Courtesy of Ret. U.S. Army SGM
Herbert Friedman.
These stamps of a morale operation of the OSS are shown. The purpose of
counterfeiting German stamps was to subtly change Hitler’s public image to a negative
one. These stamps serve as an example of how cunning Donovan needed to be as a
leader to help create tactics against the Axis powers.
“D-Day Invasion of Normandy.” 6 June 1944. Photograph. National Archives.
In this picture, soldiers waiting to get to shore can be seen. In the event in which the
OSS played a huge role, a visual representation of the soldiers that prepared for battle
that could have possibly resulted in their death.
“Donovan during the Nuremburg Trials.” Photograph. Cornell University Law Library, Ithaca,
N.Y.
This photo improved our website with a visualization of his involvement in the
conviction of the Nazi war crimes and is a symbol of his legacy, for it was his activity with
America’s Intelligence Services that made him eligible for such a position in these trials.
“Donovan in 1969.” Photograph. Central Intelligence Agency archives.
Donovan died from complications of vascular dementia on February 8, 1959. President
Dwight D. Eisenhower referred to him as “the Last Hero.” Donovan rests at the Arlington
National Cemetery.
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“Donovan in the National Guard Cavalry in Buffalo.” Photograph. Courtesy Buffalo Cavalry
Association.
William Donovan is seen here during his time in the National Guard Cavalry in Buffalo
N.Y. It is during this time; Donovan took great interest in leadership and tactical skills.
“Donovan made Coordinator of U.S. Intelligence Services.” 1941. Photograph. The Washington
Post.
In this newspaper the word was let out that Col. William J. Donovan received his WWII
assignment to coordinate his country’s counter-espionage services. The nation needed a
man that possessed the leadership skills to serve his country well and President
Roosevelt saw that in him.
“Donovan on the cover of The New Yorker Magazine.” Photograph. Courtesy of Charles Pinck,
OSS Society.
After an interview, President Charles Pinck of the OSS Society was kind enough to send
our group magazines about Donovan. We use one of the covers in our website to show
Donovan’s legacy through present day articles praising his leadership of the OSS and his
legacy, the CIA.
“Donovan’s Plan for a U.S. Intelligence Agency after WWII.” Photograph. FBI.
This chart provided by the Federal Bureau Investigation, shows Donovan’s “Plan for a
[postwar] world-wide Secret Intelligence [Service].” He [Donovan] included how the
field operations would be managed and separated. This is the path Donovan thought
would be best for a nation recently coming out of a war.
“Donovan’s Post War Intelligence Organization Plan.” Photograph. Office of Strategic Services
Archives.
This organization chart by William Donovan showed his intentions for a post-war
Intelligence agency. President Franklin Roosevelt was highly interested in Donovan’s
plans. This idea by Donovan would become the platform on which the CIA would be
built on. President Truman in 1947, signed the National Security Act of 1947 establishing
the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
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“Donovan Statue.” Photograph. Central Intelligence Agency.
The Donovan statue, dedicated in 1992 on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of
the OSS, honors General Donovan and the members of the OSS who gave their lives in
the service of their country during World War II. This statue of Donovan is located at the
CIA headquarters in Langley VA.
Duplessis, Joseph-Siffrede. “Benjamin Franklin.” Photograph. National Portrait Gallery,
Washington, D.C.
Benjamin Franklin poses for a painting. He was a spy during the American Revolutionary
War, gathering information behind enemy lines to help America win its independence.
With this information, were able to compare and contrast America’s past espionage
work to the work of William Donovan.
“Edgar J. Hoover.” 1924. Photograph. Associated Press.
In the photo, Hoover poses at his desk. As Director of the FBI, he was a strong enemy of
Donovan, opposing to his founding of the Office of Strategic Services due to the Navy
and the FBI having their own intelligence services. He is a symbol for the challenge
Donovan faced as a leader behind enemy lines.
“Forged Envelope by the OSS for Operation Cornflakes.” Photograph. Courtesy of Ret. U.S.
Army SGM Herbert Friedman.
“Operation Cornflakes” was named in hopes that German postal services would deliver
American propaganda straight to German citizens, eventually ending up on their
“breakfast table” with the “morning mail.” We used this picture to provide another
example of the creativity Donovan possessed as a leader to create such morale
operations.
“Fourteen-year-old Donovan.” Photograph. Courtesy of Saint Joseph’s Collegiate Institute.
Donovan poses with his classmates for a class picture. This childhood photo gives a
visual of Donovan’s rugged upbringing in the shabby town of Buffalo, home to many
Irish immigrants escaping poverty like his parents. Despite these limitations, his parents
kept him well read and strong, a foundation for his leadership and confidence needed to
single-handedly found America’s first intelligence services.
21
“Future OSS agents watch demonstration and lecture.” Photograph. National Archives and
Records Administration.
This photo depicts future OSS members being given a lecture. OSS trainees were also
required to take classes that would show them survival and attack skills that could be
used in battle.
“General Donovan Addresses an Audience of Trainers.” Photograph. National Park Service.
In this picture we have Donovan speaking to all the trainers assembled. These trainers
are assumed to be a part of the OSS’s Special Operations Branch. Donovan may be
telling them what he expects of the trainees once they complete the training camp.
“General Donovan observing a destroyed Tiger tank in Africa.” Jul. 1943. Photograph. Courtesy
of the U.S. Army Military History Institute.
Donovan is seen inspecting damage to the enemy caused by his troops in Operation
Torch during the Allied raid in North Africa. This successful attack was the first of the
OSS and proved to the U.S. government, the OSS and Donovan were capable of assisting
greatly in war efforts.
“General William (Wild Bill) Donovan, Director of the OSS.” Photograph. Courtesy of the
National Archives and Records Administration.
Donovan sits at his desk with his pen ready at hand. We added this picture to help
viewers visualize Donovan writing out his own plan for American Intelligence that he
would present to President Roosevelt and eventually establish himself.
“Goldberg, Arthur.” Photograph. National Archives and Records Administration.
Our group uses the photo of Goldberg (courtesy of National Archives) to recognize his
service in the OSS. His job was to contact labor groups and organizations with the
potential to act as the voice of dissent against the Nazi party in enemy countries.
“Hand to Hand Combat Training.” Photograph. Courtesy of the OSS Society.
The photo shows hand to hand combat training between two agents of the OSS. It
shows the “dirty work” that was required of Donovan’s agents, work that was crucial to
the Allied victory.
22
“Hollywood Director John Ford, head of Photography unit in OSS.” Photograph. Los Angeles
Daily News.
Director John Ford was hired by the OSS for his knowledge in photography. He was
assigned to lead a photography unit in the OSS to collect information abroad. His skills
were used to raise propaganda and provide intelligence for the U.S.
“House of Horrors.” Photograph. Courtesy of the OSS Society.
This photo depicts the simulations created in camps for OSS trainees. Their purpose was
to teach instinctive fire using sound effects, moving objects, and various alarming
surprises. Under Donovan’s leadership, these camps were well equipped to prepare
agents for the real horrors that lay behind enemy lines. They also reflected Donovan’s
creativity which was a big part of the success of the OSS.
“Imagined German Special Intelligence Officer Propaganda poster.” Photograph. National
Archives and Records Administration.
This is a cartoon drawing of a British soldier with a fabricated quote underneath saying,
“I want to know where your unit is stationed—so that I can bomb you and drop
parachute troops to machine gun you and your friends—please continue to give your
friends military details I shall hear.” This mocking tone is directed at America referring to
its lack of a Central Intelligence Agency.
“James Bond: From Russia with Love.” Movie poster. Courtesy of United Artists.
This photo of the movie “James Bond: from Russia with Love” is one of many spy movies
influenced by the British style of intelligence. This influenced Donovan and his founding
of the OSS. However, compared to Britain, he lacked organization and training.
“Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941.” Photograph. National Archives and
Records Administration.
The photo displays the explosive start of WWII with the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor. President Roosevelt describes this day as “a date which will live in infamy.” Soon
after, the OSS was founded by William Donovan.
23
“Julia Child.” Photograph. Courtesy of the Associated Press.
Future TV Chef Julia Child is shown in this picture. Child was given the task of
formulating a chemical to repel sharks away from explosive mines. Child worked
directly with Donovan for a short period of time as Junior Research Assistant.
“Journal of the Camp X Society.” Photograph. Courtesy of Ret. U.S. Army SGM Herb Friedman.
Recovered from a Camp X Society journal, the cover shows a picture of a man known as
“Intrepid,” William Stephenson. He is credited for being a famous British intelligence
agent, symbolizing the British influence on American intelligence, particularly through
the moving of trainees from Camp X, a British established secret agent training camp, to
Donovan’s OSS.
“Major General J. Donovan.” Photograph. National Archives and Records Administration.
In this photo, General William Donovan poses as Director of the OSS. This photo
provided our group with a profile of Donovan as a determined leader.
“Map of France Operations.” 1944. Photograph. OSS Pamphlet.
A map of the operations in Southern France are shown along with a legend containing
all the code names each team in the field had to acquire for security purposes. A
paragraph off to the side of the map gives a description of all of the OG Operations
accomplishments including 461 killed, 467 wounded, and 10,021 captured Germans. On
top of that they still managed to rescue downed allied fliers, gather intelligence, select
and prepare landing strips, and assist the FBI.
“Map of Operational Jumps of Jedburghs During WWII.” Photograph. National Park Service.
The purpose of this operation was to train the Jedburghs resistance force. This map
shows where the Jedburghs teams and Special Force Detach were located during the
First World War and the vast number of men who were prepared to complete their
mission of committing public operations rather than covert.
24
“Map of Operation Torch.” Photograph. Courtesy of Encyclopedia of World War ll.
This map shows the Allied attack on North Africa. This was the first major OSS
involvement in the war. OSS intelligence members collected vital information that
helped sabotage German troops in the region.
“National Security Act of 1947.” Photograph. National Archives and Records Administration.
The National Security Act established the Central Intelligence Agency, the modern day
OSS. The NSA transferred almost all of the OSS’s branches into the CIA, mostly
unchanged. Donovan’s legacy continues with this act as the CIA is still to this day, one of
the most powerful agencies in the world.
“Newspaper headline announcing the Allied invasion of North Africa.” Photograph. The Detroit
News.
This newspaper article informed the public of the Allied invasion of North Africa. This
invasion was also the OSS’s first wartime involvement. The operation was considered
“the 2nd front” according to President Roosevelt during this time period.
“Nuremburg Trials 1945.” Photograph. National Archives and Records Administration.
Since Donovan was such a successful lawyer before his time with the OSS, he was asked
personally to be a part of the Nuremburg trials. His leadership was shown throughout
the case against the crimes committed by the Nazis during World War ll. He and his
team won the case and justice was restored. This is a prime example of how Donovan
carried his leadership skills in everything he did.
“Office of Strategic Services Insignia.” Photograph. Courtesy of the OSS Society.
The Office of Strategic Services insignia designed in 1942. This was used during the
active years of the OSS. Today, it is a symbol of the legacy Donovan created with the
OSS.
25
“Office of Strategic Services Organizational Chart.” Photograph. Central Intelligence Agency.
In this chart, the foundation of the Office of Strategic Services is laid out. It shows how
branches within the organization communicate together. The Director [Donovan]
oversees all operations within the organization and is in charge of all information gained
during activities.
“President Harry S. Truman signing the National Security Act.” Photograph. Harry S. Truman
Library, Independence, MO.
President Harry S. Truman signing the National Security Act, a document that would
reform America’s intelligence services. It included the dissolve of the OSS after being
deemed useless during peacetime. However, Truman liked the idea of America having
its own central intelligence agency, so he approved the formation of the CIA.
“President Roosevelt signs military order creating the OSS.” Photograph. Courtesy of the
Associated Press.
President Roosevelt signs a military order establishing the OSS. The order came June
13th, 1942. It would be a turning point in the use of foreign intelligence during wartime.
“Professional Baseball Player Moe.” Photograph. Courtesy of Chicago Daily News Negatives
Collection.
With his bilingual skills, Moe Berg was sent on special missions for the OSS. One special
operation was to kidnap Italian rocket and missile specialists out of Italy and bring them
to the U.S. This was to prevent Germans from gaining knowledge on atomic weapons.
“Ralph Bunche.” Photograph. Bunche Center UCLA, Los Angeles, CA.
The photo of Nobel Prize winner Ralph Bunche is to recognize his duty to his country
through the COI all the way to the OSS. He was recruited first as an analyst in the COI,
and then became Chief analyst of the Africa division in the Research and Analysis branch
of the OSS. It is an example of Donovan’s need for men and women of different talents
and backgrounds.
26
“Schlesinger, Arthur.” Photograph. New York Public Library, New York, NY.
Arthur Schlesinger edited the Research and Analysis Branch’s PW Weekly, a classified
journal that focused on psychological warfare, a sabotage method of the OSS. We used
this photo to recognize his role as an intelligence analyst of the OSS.
“Simple Sabotage Field Manual.” Photograph. Central Intelligence Agency.
OSS members were given field manuals to guide them in espionage tactics overseas.
These manuals provided personnel with simple tips and information for field work
abroad.
Stidham, Tammy. “Location of OSS HQ, Training Areas, and Assessment Stations on the
East Coast in WWII.” Photograph. National Park Service.
Locations of the OSS training camps Donovan instructed are shown in a map courtesy of
the National Park Service. It is visual documentation of Donovan’s success in preparing
ordinary men and women for the silent war that is the gathering of intelligence.
“The 'Stress Situation' OSS Training.” Photograph. Courtesy of Rinehart & Co.
In this photo, OSS members were put under “Stress tests.” OSS trainees not only were
trained physically, their mental strength was also tested in many trials where they were
forced to speak the truth.
“The U.S. Army Signal Intelligence Posed In Front of Their Vault.” 1935. Photograph.
National Security Agency.
The Signal Intelligence Service, also known as the SIS, was established in 1929 and their
purpose was to control all Army crypto-logic activity. In this photo Friedman (center,
standing) and the SIS staff in 1935. This small but talented group ultimately broke the
Japanese diplomatic machine cipher.
“U.S. Army Medal of Honor.” Photograph. Courtesy of the U.S. Army.
The Medal of Honor was awarded to Donovan for his courageous acts during World
War I. While in battle, Donovan was wounded in the leg and refused to evacuate.
Donovan continued with his united until they withdrew to a less exposed position.
27
“William E. Fairbairn.” Photograph. Courtesy of Lynn Phillip Hodgson.
Fairbairn is seen demonstrating fighting techniques he taught OSS trainees. The skilled
fighting of this training reflected part of what Donovan wanted from his agents and the
fact that Fairbairn was an Englishman showed that Donovan valued a diverse staff with
different skill sets he could use.
“World Trade Center attack.” Photograph. Courtesy of National Park Service.
In this very emotional picture, we see the attacks on the Twin Towers after which the
war on terror began. This brought the two main branches (The Intelligence Officers and
Special Operations) of the OSS back together. As a legacy of the CIA, it was these
branches that the OSS shared with the CIA that brought down modern day terrorist
Osama bin Laden.
“World War l Trench Warfare.” Photograph. National Archives and Records Administration.
This photo of the horrible conditions of the trench warfare is used to shine a light on
Donovan’s service before the OSS. It was his service before his establishment of
America’s first central intelligence services that made him the courageous, creative
leader needed for such a legacy.
Selected Bibliography
Primary Sources
Audio
“Gen. William Donovan on US Intelligence During Peacetime.” 25 April 1941. Courtesy of Critical
Past.
This audio clip was a part of a speech given by William J. Donovan. This audio had
informed our group on Donovan’s view of an intelligence agency that operated during
peacetime as well as during war effectively.
28
Selected Annotated Bibliography
Primary Sources
Websites
Central Intelligence Agency. 17 Oct. 2014. Web.
“President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed war hero, William J. Donovan, to become
first Coordinator of Information, and then…the OSS – the forerunner of the CIA.” The
Central Intelligence Agency website provided our group with a vast amount of primary
information on Donovan’s legacy in the CIA. It also served as a visual tool that showed
Donovan’s lasting legacy in American espionage.
Donovan Nuremberg Trials Collection: Nuremberg Trial Transcripts and Documents from the
Collection of General William J. Donovan. Cornell University Law Library. 10 Jan.
2015. Web.
“The Donovan Collection plays an important role in recording the past, but its greater
value lies in its ability to inform and shape today’s events.” From this website by Cornell
University provided our group with primary documents on Donovan’s contributions to
the Nuremberg trials. Donovan’s contributions to the Nuremberg trials left a legacy in
war prosecution.
29
Selected Bibliography
Secondary Sources
30
Selected Bibliography
Secondary Sources
Interviews
Barrett, John. “Interview with Professor of Law at St. John’s University.” Telephone
Interview. 20 Mar. 2015.
“What Donovan wanted was a case built on cooperation, to basically plea bargain with
top Nazi officials. Jackson (US Chief of Counsel during Nuremberg) rejected the Donovan
approach … Nuremberg’s success is due to the Jackson approach and not the Donovan
approach. He [Donovan] provided the staff, and in their work for Donovan, provided
important evidence.” Donovan provided the Nuremberg trials with the important
information that helped prosecute Nazi war criminals. Professor Barrett provided our
group with a detailed background on Donovan’s contributions to the Nuremberg trials.
Chambers II, John W. “Interview with Distinguished Professor of History at
Rutgers University.” Personal Correspondence. 25 Mar. 2015.
Professor Whiteclay Chambers II of Rutgers University provided our group with
information on training camps for OSS in America. “Most of the land camps were
located within 50 miles of Washington D.C., these included camps for special
operations, espionage and communication.” He describes Donovan as “a self-made
person who rose through his own abilities and drive from an immigrant background to
become a college graduate, lawyer, war hero, and eventually, leader of the OSS, a
crucial figure in the establishment of the CIA.”
Eyl, Jacky. “Interview with Spy Museum Educator.” Telephone Interview. 30 Jan. 2015.
Eyl, Director of Education for the International Spy Museum describes how, “The U.S.
didn’t have a permanent intelligence agency and how Donovan portrayed
characteristics of a good leader.” Eyl states “We were the only country that didn't have
a permanent intelligence agency. All the other major powers...even countries as small as
the Latin American or African countries had permanent intelligence agencies. We were
the only ones that really didn't,” as it wasn’t “… the American thing to do.” This
interview gave us insight into the historical significance of Donovan as the leader of the
OSS.
31
Friedman, Herb. “Interview with Retired US Army Sergeant Major.” Telephone Interview. 7
May, 2015.
Friedman discussed how propaganda could not be used effectively and consistently,
“…propaganda seems to work when it’s tied in with a military victory…the other side has
to think they’re losing the war, for propaganda to work.” Friedman also discussed the
OSS’s biggest accomplishments, contributions, and what made Donovan a great leader.
Friedman also pointed out one or two people that had some problems with Donovan
and his organization, such as Douglas MacArthur who “didn’t even want him in his
area.” From this information our group was able to learn more about the success, or
lack thereof, propaganda as well has some of Donovan’s leadership traits. Friedman
also provided our group with primary photos we incorporated into our website.
Hodgson, Lynn. “Interview with Camp X Historian.” Telephone Interview. 19 Mar. 2015.
Camp X historian, Lynn Hodgson, shared with our group the impacts of OSS training on
today’s training tactics. “I’m saying there’s about 80% of what was taught in the Second
World War is still absolutely applicable today.” Hodgson expresses his feelings towards
Donovan’s legacy. “What the world needs today is another William Donovan … the
legacy for him would be taking a small unit called Coordinator of Information and
making it into the unit that expired right after WWII but resulted into the CIA today.”
Houghton, Vince Dr. “Interview with Spy Museum Historian.” Telephone Interview. 28 Jan.
2015.
International Spy Museum Historian, Vince Houghton explained to us how Donovan’s
methods and leadership tactics helped develop the OSS, which “would turn out to be
the CIA, the most powerful intelligence agency in the world [CIA].” Dr. Houghton
described to our group how “FDR had his back that gave him complete authority to do
what he wanted to do, which alone allowed Donovan to take the reins of a non-existent
intelligence agency …” Donovan was allowed to lead a successful intelligence
organization. Our group gained an understanding of the power that Donovan wielded in
the intelligence community.
32
Menand, Louis. “Interview with Professor of Harvard.” Personal Correspondence. 6 Mar. 2015
Professor Louis Menand of Harvard University informed our group that “[Donovan]…was
a rouge operator. He made his own rules. That’s why two Presidents, Truman and
Eisenhower, wanted to have as little to do with him as possible.” This gave our group an
insight to the struggles Donovan faces while leading the Office of Strategic Services.
Although Donovan received little support from Truman and Eisenhower, William
Donovan left a lasting legacy in American espionage.
O’Donnell, Patrick K. “Interview with Combat Historian Patrick K. O’Donnell.” Telephone
Interview. 18 May, 2015.
O’Donnell, an expert on the OSS in Europe stated that when Donovan led, “he would
not put anybody in a mission he would not do himself” Donovan was seen as a
charismatic leader. O'Donnell stated, “He also had this dynamic mind that really assured
a lot the concepts that we see today, such the Special Operation Forces…” O’Donnell
suggests General Donovan’s legacy lives on through today’s Special Operation Forces.
“He sort of personified and epitomized leadership, not only his unconventional thinking,
and also his style of leadership” O’Donnell highly praises Donovan’s leadership.
Pinck, Charles. “Interview with OSS Society President.” Telephone Interview. 25 Mar. 2015
Pinck states, “Do I think he’d be a great leader today, yes. I absolutely think he’d be a
great leader today. I wish we had somebody like him around today. But there is only one
William Donovan…I think that’s the reason his legacy has been proven to be so lasting
because he was such an incredible person.” Our group learned of the impact Donovan
had as a leader. Pinck also stated “When the CIA was created in 1947; it was created
using a plan developed by General Donovan and founded by members of the OSS.”
Pinck’s statements informed our group of Donovan’s lasting legacy of the CIA.
Reynold, Nicolas. “Interview with CIA Museum Staff.” Personal Correspondence. 21 Nov. 2014.
When asked about techniques used today that are credited to Donovan, Reynold
replied, “The idea of one-stop shopping—an intelligence agency that could do it all
without having to out-source requirements—became the essence of the CIA when it
was created.” This interview provided us with a source of someone of our time who
experiences Donovan’s legacy first hand, saying “Donovan's legacy is especially evident
in the Special Operations community of the US military and in the National Clandestine
Service, both of which adopted the spear insignia that the OSS used.”
33
Reynolds, E. Bruce. “Interview with Professor of History at San Jose State University. Personal
Correspondence . 10 May 2015.
Reynolds described Donovan as “a larger-than-life, charismatic leader who attracted and
inspired the loyalty of those who worked for him.” This showed Donovan was an
enthusiastic leader who went to great lengths to inspire his glorious amateurs. Reynolds
concluded the interview by saying” the most attractive aspect of William Donovan was
his endless curiosity.” We learned Donovan’s legacy in the OSS came from his
willingness to try new things.
Robarge, David. “Interview with CIA Historian.” Personal Correspondence. 21 Nov. 2014.
Robarge, a CIA historian, provided us we with a variety of information including
Donovan’s attitude as a leader, problems he and the OSS faced, the relationship with his
law firm and founding of the OSS, and his legacy of operations in America’s intelligence
services. Regarding Donovan’s leadership, Robarge said that “most would agree that he
was a charismatic leader, someone that energized those around him.” This attitude
helped him create a central intelligence agency “by drawing on his own networks of
contacts, built up while he practiced law on Wall Street.” We used these quotes for a
deeper description of what Donovan started and what he left behind.
Stirn, Lucy. “Interview with spy Museum Educator.” Telephone Interview. 26 Jan. 2015.
Stirn, an Educator at the International Spy Museum explained, “Those people who were
trained under Bill Donovan are who created the modern CIA.” Donovan trained much of
the first personnel who transferred to the CIA once OSS was dissolved. Donovan
educated the future CIA director while in the OSS. “The most powerful CIA Director we
ever had was , Allen Dulles, who was the CIA Director under Eisenhower in the 1950s
and Kennedy a little bit too...Who was a protégé of William Donovan. He [William
Donovan] became essential to the guy who formed [Allen Dulles] the CIA into what it is
today.” Leaving a legacy of what is today, the Central Intelligence Agency.
34
Selected Bibliography
Secondary Sources
Interviews by Others
Cavin, Susan. “World War II Never Ended in My House: Interviews of the 12th Office of
Strategic Services for Veterans of Wartime Espionage on the 50th Anniversary of WWII.”
Annals of the New York Academy of Science Vol.1071. (2006): 463-471. Medline. 8 Oct.
2014. Web.
Cavin’s research on the effects of the war on OSS agents helped our website by
providing us with a description of the experiences of Office of Strategic Service’s spies:
during World War ll. This enabled us to compare it to today’s Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA), an agency that derived from Donovan’s establishment of the research and
analysis branch of the OSS, and its spies. With this information, we were able to show
Donovan’s legacy on current intelligence agencies.
Cowenthal, Mark. “Interview with Former Assistant Director of the CIA.” Interview by Elliot
Halpern and Elizabeth Trojian. World War II Spy School. Smithsonian Channel. 2015.
Television
As a living witness to Donovan's legacy through working in the CIA, Dr. Mark Cowenthal
observes the British influence on American espionage. Regarding Camp X, one of the
first forms of secret agent training schools in North America, he says, “The British
training model is very influential on the beginnings of the camps. They’re the model.”
We compared Cowenthal’s claims to that of other reliable sources, finding the similarity
of a British presence in the intelligence gathering strategy found in Donovan’s ideas for
central intelligences forces during WWII.
O’Keefe, David. “Interview with Military Intelligence Historian.” Interview by Elliot Halpern
and Elizabeth Trojian. World War ll Spy School. Smithsonian Channel. 2015. Television.
O’Keefe talks about Camp X’s role as a template for intelligence in the states. He
describes Donovan’s legacy, the CIA, as being “based on the British model that was
created in England and then exported through Camp X to the Americans.” His account
shows the influence that British intelligence had Donovan and the way he set up the
basics for American espionage and the roll Camp X had in that influence. We can see
that influence in the CIA today.
35
Stafford, David. “Interview with Historian and Author of ‘Camp X’.” Interview by Elliot Halpern
and Elizabeth Trojian. World War II Spy School. Smithsonian Channel. 2015. Television.
In his interview, Stafford stresses the role Britain played in “[getting] the message across
to Americans that there was a different way of fighting, and Camp X was crucial here.”
He goes on to explain that the agents trained at Camp X, stationed in Canada, would be
recruited into Donovan’s OSS as trainers of the new form of American soldiers: secret
agents, and copies of the camp’s training manual. According to Stafford, “ the Camp X
training manual was the basic template for the OSS. Without it, I don’t think the OSS
could have got off the ground at all.”
Waller, Douglas. “Interview with Douglas Waller.” 8 Sept. 2011. Print.
According to Waller, “The CIA’s culture, élan and esprit de corps - for better or worse reflect Donovan’s organization and vision for a postwar intelligence service.” The
interview with Douglas Waller, former journalist turned military historian, provided our
website with information on the Office of Strategic Services’ actions under the
leadership of Donovan before, during and after World War ll.
Selected Annotated Bibliography
Secondary Sources
Documentaries
Halpern, Elliot, and Elizabeth Trojian, Prods. World War II Spy School. Smithsonian Channel.
2015. Television.
Halpern and Trojan’s production shared various operations, heroes, legends and even
myths of Camp X, one of the first forms of secret agent training schools in North
America. It shared the historical background of these camps, including Bewly, “Britain's
premier secret agent training school run by the Special Operations Executive, or SOE.”
One of its legends would be Paul Dane who supposedly wrote Camp X’s secret agent
training manual that would be passed on to the United States. Camp X is just one of the
ways British intelligence indirectly helped Donovan set up the basics for central
intelligence services.
36
Selected Annotated Bibliography
Secondary Sources
Historical Exhibit
“George H.W. Bush CIA Exhibit.” George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. 25 Mar. 2015.
Former CIA director, George H.W. Bush stated “patriotism is not a frenzied
emotion…rather a steady dedication of a lifetime, this best sums up the CIA.” This
showed the amount of dedication and sacrifice needed to lead an intelligence agency.
The exhibit at the George Bush Presidential library gave our group another perspective
of the role as an Intelligence agency director.
Selected Bibliography
Secondary Sources
Books
Atwood, Kathryn J. Women Heroes of World War II. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2011. Print.
Atwood, in her book states “most of the 2000 women employed by the OSS (out of total
16,000) worked far from danger. Others were dropped into enemy territory and worked
as agents, gathering vital information…for the Allies.” This source showed our group the
potential the OSS saw in women during WWII. Rather than keeping them in an office,
OSS sent daring women to perform dangerous espionage missions.
Bailey, Roderick. Secret Agents Handbook: Top Secret Manual of Wartime Weapons, Gadgets,
Disguises and Devices. United Kingdom: Max Press, 2008. Print.
The “Secret Agents Handbook” gave a detailed summary on most of, the gadgets from
SOE, the British equivalent to the OSS. They included hidden weapons, small, hidden
cameras and disguised explosives. Bailey served as another example of the British
influence on Donovan and the pioneering of OSS spy tactics and tools. The OSS
pioneered a large number of gadgets and weapons that were used to gain enemy
intelligence for the Allies.
37
Brown, Anthony Cave. The Last Hero: Wild Bill Donovan. New York, NY: Times, 1982. Print.
Brown provided further insight to our group about the man behind the legend and how
he went up the “political ladder” until he became America’s spymaster. This book also
provided information about Allen Dulles, and other OSS operations in Europe.
Fullilove, Michael. Rendezvous with Destiny: How Franklin D. Roosevelt and Five Extraordinary
Men Took America into the War and into the World. New York: Penguin, 2013. Print.
“His [Donovan] finest moment came during the Meuse-Argonne offensive in October.
He went into battle… When a bullet smashed into his shinbone…, he refused to give up
command, continuing to direct the attack… More than four years later… he was
awarded America’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor, for this episode of
conspicuous gallantry under fire.” This overview of Donovan’s determination as a leader
and his worthiness for the highest medal associated with the military was very helpful.
Katz, Barry M. Foreign Intelligence: Research and Analysis in the Office of Strategic Services.
Harvard University Press, 1989. Print.
Katz describes the most useful yet underrated branch of the OSS: The Research and
Development Branch (R&A), or the “Chair borne Division” as it was called by insiders.
“Its mandate [was] to collect, analyzes, and disseminates intelligence about the enemy.”
Its staff, handpicked by Donovan from social science disciplines, was “an assemble of
scholars of widely divergent traditions and practices – Americans, European émigré’s,
philosophers, historians and economists, regionalists, and functionalists, Marxists and
positivists…” with this book, we provided details on the widely successful branch
Donovan constructed himself.
38
Ladd, James, and Melton, Keith. Clandestine Warfare: Weapons and Equipment of the SOE and
OSS. London: Blandford Press, 1988. Print.
“In the 1930’s this Wall Street Lawyer was known as President Roosevelt’s ‘mystery
man’ after making several trips to Europe on which he made secret reports. On July
1941, at the age of 58, he was appointed Coordinator of Information and became the
Director of the OSS when COI was reorganized on 13 June 1942 as the Office of Strategic
Services. After World War ll he was an advisor of the formation of the Central
Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1947 and American Ambassador to Thailand in 1953-54.”
Ladd and Melton gave us a brief summary of Donovan’s major accomplishments and
insight on how fond Roosevelt was of Donovan.
Liptak, Eugene. Office of Strategic Services 1942-45: The World War II Origins of the CIA.
Osprey Publishing, 2009. Print.
Liptak’s book provided details about the OSS’s recruitment, development, and service
between 1942-1945. He puts “emphasis on the courageous teams operating in the
field.” These agents ranged from “both the armed services [to] civilians…” and were
called upon to “[specialize] in different foreign areas including Italy, Norway, Yugoslavia,
and China.” Our group used this information to go in depth on the diversity of
Donovan’s recruits.
Miller, Russell. Behind the Lines: The Oral History of Special Operations in World War ll. New
York: St. Martin’s Press, 2002. Print.
“Many of them were barely out of their teens…The risks were horrendous. Clandestine
wireless operations in occupied France had an average life expectancy of just six weeks.
Captured routinely led to torture and execution. Small wonder that agents were
equipped with suicide pills and advised to have them to hand at all times.” Miller
provided us with an understanding of what these agents had to go through and how
much dedication they had to put into their work.
39
O’ Donnell, Patrick K. Operatives, Spies, and Saboteurs: the Unknown Story of the Men
and Women of World War II’s OSS. New York: Free Press, 2014. Print.
“Under the guidance of decorated WWI hero William “Wild Bill” Donovan, the OSS of
special services, the CIA’s predecessor assembled a motley assortment of agents who
set the stage for the allied armies’ most important missions…” these agents were
responsible for armed force and morale type sabotage. O’Donnell, OSS historian, writes,
“No longer satisfied with gentlemanly intelligence, gathering, with the advent of WWII
the United States changed its espionage policy and opted for more daring tactics like
decoding secret messages and detonating exploding cigars…[and] baseballs and
umbrella pistols…[Also] psychological operations by the allied ‘Sour Kraut
agents’…demoralized German troops by spreading rumors of defeat, disease and
desperation.” Through first person narratives from OSS operatives, O’Donnell’s
exploration of the thrills of being a spy during Donovan’s order enabled us to compare
and contrast the evolution of the espionage basics he laid down for America.
Persico, Joseph E. FDR and World War II Espionage. New York: Random House, 2001. Print.
“FDR compartmentalized information, misled associates, manipulated people,
conducted intrigues, used private lines of communication, scattered responsibility,
duplicated assignments, provoked rivalries, held the cards while showing few, and left
few fingerprints.” Roosevelt was one of America’s great spymasters and Persico gave us
a better understanding of what he was all about. Roosevelt was a decisive influence in
creating the OSS and his ethics are seen in their work.
Salter, Michael. Nazi War Crimes, US Intelligence and Selective Prosecution at Nuremberg:
Controversies regarding the Role of the Office of Strategic Services. New York:
Routledge-Cavendish, 2007. Print.
“General Donovan had contributed a great deal to the early stages of the trial
preparation because of his work with the OSS, which he headed during World War II.
Donovan made available all the evidence which had been accumulated by his staff.” The
text explains that with the OSS wartime activities, the US was capable of prosecuting
Nazi leaders during the Nuremberg trials. This book by Michael Salter provided
information on how Donovan’s leadership during the OSS greatly helped the US during
the Nuremberg trials against Nazi Germany.
40
Schwab, Gerald. OSS Agents in Hitler’s Heartland: Destination Innsbruck. Westport:
Praeger Publishers, 1996. Print.
Schwab tells a story of three brave OSS agents, Frederick Mayer, Hans Wynberg, Franz
Weber, and their contributions during operation GREENUP, an attempt by American
Intelligence forces to stop the spread of Nazis in Austria. The three were dropped off via
spy plane near the town of Innsbruck. After months of gathering intelligence under the
radar, the three were captured, Mayer’s interrogation eventually leading to his torture
and then his negotiation of the German army’s surrender with General Hofer. Schwab’s
explanation of this mission provided an understanding of how diverse missions were
under Donovan’s instruction. With this information we were able to compare and
contrast espionage today and before the OSS’s time.
Smith, Harris R. OSS: The Secret History of America’s First Central Intelligence Agency.
Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1972. Print.
“In every respect, OSS was Donovan’s child. He nourished the agency in its infancy, and
it bore the stamp of his personality.” In the book, OSS: The Secret History of America’s
First Central Intelligence Agency, our group, is not only given information on how
successful the agency was, but it also gave some of the flaws and criticism that the OSS
faced while it operated. The author, R. Harris Smith, provided our group with a more in
depth look at the OSS.
Troy, Thomas F. Donovan and the CIA: A History of the Establishment of the Central Intelligence
Agency. Frederick, MD: Aletheia, 1981. Print.
“Donovan and the CIA” contains numerous documents, including a report from Donovan
which included his reasoning for America’s need for a central intelligence department.
He stated, “It is true we have intelligence units in the Army and Navy. We can assume
that through these units our fighting services can obtain technical information in time of
peace...But these services cannot, obtain that accurate, comprehensive, long-range
information without which no strategic board can plan for the future.” By this, he meant
that the intelligence services that the Army and the Navy head weren’t accessible
enough during war time. He said that having an organized intelligence program would
be helpful to all the military branches apart from the Army and Navy alone. The ideas
encouraged government officials to establish the CIA.
41
Yu, Maochun. OSS in China: Prelude to Cold War. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1996.
Print.
Maochun goes over the effects of OSS involvement within China as well as challenges in
performing covert operations from not just enemy opposition, but also British
interference. From this book our group was able to obtain a greater understanding on
the OSS’s ability to operate in a dangerous environment. One of the challenges they
overcame were, “From the very beginning Donovan’s special operations met strong
skepticism in high military quarters. But right away, George Marshall and Sherman Miles
were outwitted by their foe [Donovan].”
Selected Annotated Bibliography
Secondary Sources
Newspaper Articles
Brager, Bruce L. “The Office of Strategic Services.” Military History Online. 12 Feb. 2006. Print.
“Donovan got off to a mixed start in coordinating intelligence information. The four
existing intelligence organization, (FBI, ONI, Army G-Z, and State Department worked to
limit the power of the new organization.” Donovan’s success in the OSS came with much
disapproval from other organizations. Donovan’s determination to lead this
organization greatly affected the outcome of the war. Our group gained knowledge of
operations conducted by the OSS and how its operations left a legacy in WWII.
Contant, Jennet. “Swashbuckling Spymaster.” The New York Times. 11 Feb. 2011. Print.
Contant writes about the problems Edgar J. Hoover caused Donovan and how he
reacted to them. She writes, “It was not long before both men began keeping files on
each other.” These feelings of discontent towards each other would lead to a
permanent failure of a permanent OSS. This article provided an in depth look at
Donovan’s struggles in the United States.
42
Elsworth, Catherine. “OSS Unmasked as U.S. Declassified WWII Spy Files.” Telegraph Media
Group [Los Angeles] 14 Aug. 2008. Print.
“Until now, few knew that Julia Child, historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Quentin and
Kermit Roosevelt and Miles Copeland shared a common secret past – as spies in
America’s first centralized intelligence effort created as Hitler threatened the world.”
This article informed our group about some of the most famous OSS agents. The files
released told what they did and why they were chosen. “National Archives released
35,000 top secret, classified personal files containing the names of nearly 24,000 spies
who formed part of the vast network of military and civilian operatives.” Elsworth’s
article provided our group with an example of how secretive this organization actually
was and how many people were involved.
Goulden, Joseph C. “Life of the Founding Spy.” The Washington Times. 2 Nov. 2011: 1-6. Print.
Goulden, a reporter for The Washington Times, provided vital information for various
parts of our website, including Donovan’s founding and leading of the OSS, his struggle
with the Washington bureaucracy (including Donovan’s complaints of having “two
enemies -- the Axis and Washington” and “snarky Washingtonians,” as Goulden says,
making jealous statements of Donovan’s connections, nicknaming the OSS “Oh-SoSocial”) and his brief partnership with the “long-established British Secret Intelligence
Service (MI6)” who Goulden referred to as “masters of spookdom dating back to the
Victorian era.” This partnership had great influence on Donovan’s running of America’s
intelligence services.
Menand, Louis. “Wild Thing: Did the OSS Help win the War Against Hitler?” The New Yorker. 14
Mar. 2011. Print.
Professor Menand writes in his article for The New Yorker “Britain had no chance against
Hitler. Roosevelt liked Donovan’s outside-the-box style…” President Franklin Roosevelt
supported Donovan in his leadership with the OSS. Roosevelt knew Donovan would do
whatever it took to get the job done. “Most dramatically, Donovan looked for ways to
win the war, the Hollywood way, single-handedly – engaging in covert negotiations
fomenting coups and assassination attempts, and supporting underground resistance
fighters and militias.”
43
O’Donnell, Patrick. “’Baywatch’, Sleeping Beauty, and SEAL Pioneers.” The Tampa Tribune and
The Tampa Times. 17 May 2011. Print.
O’Donnell writes about modern day activity of the CIA and the SEALS, including the
assassination of Osama Bin Laden. He goes on to give credit for American success like
that to the OSS “headed by charismatic and heroic Major Gen. William ‘Wild Bill’
Donovan.” According to O’Donnell, “Donovan pioneered the integration of shadow
warfare techniques and melded the lines between soldier and spy.” O’Donnell’s
explanation of Donovan’s legacy allowed us to relate Donovan’s success in the OSS to
the legacy that is America’s intelligence services today.
Pinck, Charles T. “Remembering the Last Hero.” The Harvard Crimson.21 Apr. 2011. Print.
Pinck, President of the OSS Society stated, “One can only imagine the powerful effect
that Donovan’s example had on those who served under his command. Donovan made
it clear that he was willing to risk his life, not just the lives of others.” Pinck’s article
showed that Donovan was a very determined leader and willing to take risks others
wouldn’t dare.
---. “Remembering the Work of the OSS.” The Hill. 16 Dec. 2013. Print.
In Pinck’s article, he states, “in building the OSS, almost single-handedly, General
Donovan knew better because, he said, ‘no other country in the world had so many
citizens with knowledge of other countries.’” Pinck’s article showed our group that
Donovan was confident in the people of America’s knowledge of other countries,
making them good candidates to join espionage on their country’s behalf. It was this
type of people Donovan wanted for the OSS.
44
Shopira, Ian. “Decades After Duty in the OSS and CIA, ‘Spy Girls’ Find Each Other in Retirement.”
The Washington Post. 26 June, 2011. Print.
“Being one of “Donovan’s Girls” – and everyone called them girls then – required a
certain independence and willpower to succeed in such a male- dominated work
culture.” Betty McIntosh and Dorie Bohrer “were among the rarest of operatives,
women working overseas during WWII.” McIntosh specialized in deceiving the enemy,
and her work included creating “fake news stories to undermine the morale of the
enemy” and concocting “fake but authentic- sounding rumors, news stories and radio
reports to make the enemy citizenry think their troops were losing and that they should
give up.” Bohrer specialized in analyzing aerial photos and gathered information such as
the “intelligence on the Nazis’ movements and what they were building.” Shopira
provided our group with examples of how and who contributed to the victory over the
Axis powers and brought light to what it really took to be a women in the OSS.
Selected Bibliography
Secondary Sources
Magazine Articles
Machlis, Gary, and Kooistra, Chad. “Science During Crisis: DOI Strategic Science Group and its
OSS Inspiration.” The OSS Society Journal. 2012. Print.
According to SSWG (Strategic Sciences Working Group) leader Gary Machlis’ article, the
government established an organization to provide a “scientific assessment of the
possible consequences of the spill on the ecology, economy, and the people of the Gulf
of Mexico.” He explains that to tackle the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, they relied on
“OSS expertise, history, and organizational culture for guidance in initiating this
scientific effort during the crisis.” They claimed to have relied greatly on the Research
and Analysis. “The SSWG owes a debt of gratitude to the OSS for pioneering…strategic
approach during a crisis.” From this article, our group learned that Donovan’s OSS made
an impact on more modern day organizations than its obvious legacy, the CIA.
45
Stanchak, John E. “Cloak and Dagger Army: The OSS.” America in WWII. Apr. 2007. Web.
Stanchak provided our group with descriptions of OSS tactics and tools used during
wartime. “Some of what these groups produced was astounding: “Aunt Jemima,” an
explosive that resembled pancake flour; K pills and L pills—knockout (K) chemicals that
rendered an enemy unconscious and lethal (L) or suicide pills that insured instant death;
guns disguised as pens, packs of cigarettes, and umbrellas” The OSS invented many
weapons to be used during reconnaissance missions. The devices were usually disguised
as everyday objects, manipulating the enemy. The OSS led the front of spy innovation
with its use of secret weapons.
Zabecki, David T. “The Last Hero.” Valor: 21. Weider History Group. Print.
Zabecki tells the story of Donovan before being appointed to the Coordinator of
Information (COI), which later became the OSS. We gained valuable background
information about Donovan, such as how he got his nickname and his service in the
Army. The medals he earned like the Medal of Honor Distinguished Service Cross and
Distinguished Service medals during World War l. The CIA has a life-size statue of
Donovan in their lobby in Langley, VA and when he died, Dwight D. Eisenhower
proclaimed, “We have lost the last hero.”
Selected Bibliography
Secondary Sources
Journals
Chambers II, John Whiteclay. “Office of Strategic Service Training During WWII.” Vol. 54 (2010).
Print.
Chambers writes about the OSS’s training, saying, “… OSS jettisoned standard
marksmanship in favor of partial combat shooting. With their pistols students learned
‘instinctive fire’”. In addition to this, he discusses the legacy of the OSS, the CIA, and its
dependence upon Donovan’s founding of America’s central intelligence services. “The
CIA relied in part upon the OSS model to evaluate recruits and to train them with skills,
self-confidence, and adaptability,” according to Chamber. With his writings, our group
was able to use the way the OSS reflected Donovan’s own determined, instinctive
attitude as a leader and how it still remains in today’s CIA.
46
Poirer, Noel B. “The Birth of Special Ops.” World War Vol. 17.5 (2003): 62. Web.
“Veterans promoted the concept of special operations. Veterans of the OSS operational
groups worked diligently at persuading the Army to develop the capability to conduct
irregular, small unit warfare. The Army eventually agreed, and in 1952 created the
Special Forces, which was modeled on the training and activities of the operational
groups of the OSS during World War ll.” Poirer writings, “Special Forces to this day still
impact our lives in one way or another.” Poirer article helped us in understanding the
legacy of the OSS operational groups.
Selected Bibliography
Secondary Sources
Pamphlets
Silverman, Jeff. Spies in the Clubhouse. Congressional Country Club: United States Golf
Association, 2011. Print.
“In April 1943, the Office of Strategic Services (OSS)…commandeered Congressional
Country Club, turning its clubhouse, fairways, and 400 surrounding acres into a
spawning ground for a new breed of American spies, propagandists, saboteurs,
infiltrations, and commandos.” It was in the pamphlet by Silverman that we learned of
specific details of the Presidential golf course turned OSS training grounds. Donovan’s
own influence as a leader is evident in the way he educated those recruits. “Donovan
insisted there was more to be gained from an enlistee who would think for himself than
a colonel who blindly followed orders…he encouraged creative approaches to training
and mission-planning.” It was this instinctive nature that made Donovan and his agents
suitable for the intense warfare that is espionage.
The National OSS Museum of American Intelligence and Special Operatives. 24 Mar. 2015.
Courtesy of Charles Pinck, President of the OSS Society.
A gift to our group from President Charles Pinck of the OSS Society, this pamphlet
depicts the plans for a museum dedicated to the contributions and legacy left behind by
the OSS. “The National OSS Museum of American Intelligence…will celebrate the historic
accomplishments of the OSS, the predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency. It will
link the past to the present by telling America’s greatest untold story.” The legacies left
behind by Donovan will be showcased in this museum for generations to come.
47
Selected Bibliography
Secondary Sources
Web Articles
Callie, Oettinger. Goodbye OSS and Hello CIA: National Security Act of 1947. The History
Reader, 26 Jan. 2011. Web.
Oettinger, a writer for “The History Reader,” provides an excellent account of events
from Donovan’s employment as COI to the formation of the CIA. He includes a detailed
explanation of President Truman’s dislike of Donovan and the dissolution of the OSS.
However, he wanted to keep Central American Intelligence services, so he signed the
National Security Act as a way to bring back Donovan’s ideas in the OSS. We used this
information to improve our own timeline, providing a more informative explanation of
the signing of the National Security Act.
Selected Annotated Bibliography
Secondary Sources
Website
OSS Society. 23 Oct. 2014. Web.
The OSS Society website “offers research assistance in response to requests from
historians, educators, students, US Military and intelligence operations, and
descendants of OSS veterans.” From this website, our group gained access to primary
documents, contacts and information for our project. The OSS Society website
continues the lasting legacy of Donovan’s role as Director of the OSS in World War ll.