OS - JAMES SPEYER KRONTHAL; NEWWEEK ARTICLE OF 15 MAY 1989, ENTITLED: "THE SOVIET'S FIRST CIA MOLE"

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06619122
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: February 6, 2020
• Case Number: F-2013-01784
• Publication Date: May 8, 1989

Approved for Release: 2020/02/04 C06619122
8 May 1989
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: James Speyer KRONTHAL; Newsweek Article of
15 May 1989, Entitled: "The Soviet's
First CIA Mole"
1. On 8 May, Dick Helms told me the following concerning:
JAMES SPEYER KRONTHAL.
Dick knew KRONTHAL very well. KRONTHAL was a former
OSS officer who served for us and, indeed,
committed suicide, probably in 1952. He was a bachelor and
Dick thinks he probably was a homosexual. One day he did not
show up for, work and several employees went to his home and
found him dead in bed. He evidentally had taken something,
but an autopsy was unable to determine what substance was
in his system.
There was no thought whatsoever given to him being a
spy for the Soviets. Dick recalls that the polygraph at
the time was uncovering cases of homosexuality, and Dick"
speculates that perhaps KRONTHAL realized he had no future
with the Agency because of his homosexuality and committed
suicide.
2. All portions of this document are classified SECRET.
Gardner R. Hathaway
Associate Deputy Director for Operations
for Counterintelligence
Attachment:
Newsweek Article of
15 May 1989
cc: DC/CC/AG w/att
ADDO/Cl/GRHathaway/ (8 May 89)
Distribution:
Orig - File w/att
1 - DC/CC/AG w/att
WARNING NOTICE--INTELLIGENCE
SOURCES OR METHODS INVOLVED
-SECRET
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2020/02/04 C06619122