AUTHOR TELLS ABOUT LIFE AS 'DIPLOMAT'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01350R000200550002-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Sequence Number: 2
• Content Type: NEWSPAPER CLIPPING

By I13.ENE NOT AN
in Afghanistan with the United States'
Information Service, the rumors began
circulating among the Afghans that
Robert Trautman was a spy for the Cen-
tral, Intelligence Agency.
"Haw could anyone think I was a spy
with you as a wife?" was Trautman's
amazed comment to his wife, Kathleen,
referring to her reputation for being
"outspoken."
Mrs. Trautman broke into laughter as'
she told the story of how, after a stag
Party her. husband attonded at the Russ--
Staff Photo
Kathlech' Trautman has written
a book about her family's experi-
ences in Afghanistan.
. sian Embassy, the fatntlY was boycotts
by the Afghans for months because of the government or her husband; she
t But told
0
was
suspicion that he was a CIA a?en - Mrs: Trautman thought it was impor-
in Afghanistan, Mrs. Trautman said,
one never really knows who the spies are. tant for people to know that there was
free .speech in America. She would coni-
5ha IivccI in Louif~ville , vent on the fact that not everyone agreed
''Mrs. Trautman, a 39-year-old former with U.S. policy in 'Vietnam, while other
Louisville resident and mother of three, offiicals "turned the conversation to rose
includes the spy incident and other ex"- bushes when the subject came up."
periences the family had during their Mrs. Trautman said their mission in
year-long tour of duty in the "hardship" Afghanistan was to inform the Afghans
post of Afghanistan in her first hook, about the United States. And that, she
"Spies Behind the Pillars, Bandits at the said, meant entertaining the, affluent,
Pass." It is the story of the Trautmans educated Afghan minority because "they
in diplomatic. circles, which they decided had the power." The Afghans were
after; their year in Afghanistan, wasn't similarly entertained by representatives
for . them. from other countries in a constant round
Trautman; a 'staff writer for The . of cocktail parties at various embassies.
Courier-Journal for three years, joined "They were all alike, Bob said. The
the United States _Information Agency in only difference was that the Russians
1965. After two years in Zv, shington, he served vodka and we served gin."
was told he would be stationed in Beirut spoke English
and he was given extensive French les- Cook
sons. Three months before they were to
leave,' the Trautmans: were told they The Trautmans were lucky enough to a
coup
cook who spo would be going to Afghanistan instead. enough to take them on to tours of English
Under 'constant scrutiny . tryside while other diplomats stuck with
-the American community.
-So In 1967, Kathleen Traut_an was Trautman has been with the British
settling her family into a country where. news agency Reuters since the the
the language wva.s foreign to them, drain- , USIA ag 19y8. The lives in Beth-
ago ditches served as the municipal sewer USI in Mrs. The amilyn has already
system, and their conduct as representa- started working on her second, has alr ady
trues of America was under wnstant Love to Go Around the World With You
scrutiny. wife I Rave To Go to the Dentist," She
includedtintheaforeign se vice officer's said it's-about "being 40."
Jitness changedCliut Kathleen olicy has been She h,-.s sandeveral for stories two
herself being constantly chastised by -years, while her husband was stationed
1 ? ton was a research assistant
W
as lmg , bRI/CDF
other wives for her outspokenness at in
cockier. lparties -it was not good for the.- for Kentucky..Sen. John Sherman Cooper
Approved For Release 2006/06/19: CIA-RDP88-0135OR000200550002-2