Family of Spies: Inside the John Walker Spy Ring
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Readers should note that “Smiley,” Bill Metcalf, Shirley McClanahan, Mary Ann Mason, Sheila Woods, and Windsor Murdock are pseudonyms used to protect the privacy of real persons. All quotes attributed to them are actual statements. All other persons in this book are identified by their correct names.
Statements by Michael O’Connor, Aaron Darnell Brown, Karen Margaret Barnett, Michael McElwee, and John Peterson were taken from their sworn testimony at Whitworth’8 trial.
At various times, I have chosen to let one person recall a specific incident. In such cases, these events were confirmed by at least two other persons, and usually more, before being included. The exception is John Walker’s account of his meetings with the KGB. I have done my best to compare John’s statements to me with his comments to the FBI, which used a polygraph machine to determine whether or not he was lying. I also have used John’S financial records and personal journals to verify his trips overseas to meet the KGB. John showed an amazing ability to recall statements made to him by his two KGB handlers. Perhaps this is because he was always excited and keenly aware of what was happening when he met with them. In the few cases where I have been unable to substantiate what John Walker told me, I have used the words “John claimed” to warn the reader that his statements cannot be corroborated.
During interviews, I found that people often recalled the same events quite differently. I have noted major disparities in the book, usually by giving more than one account, but in minor cases, I have chosen the version that seemed most likely to be true.
I would like to thank several people for their help. My agent Nichola: Ellison spent countless hours working on this project. Author Nelson DeMille also read my initial drafts and made invaluable suggestions.
Without the help of defense attorneys Samuel Meekins, Jr., and Fred Warren Bennett, this book could not have been written. I am indebted to them for their candor and determination to see that all of the facts about the Walker case, even embarrassing ones, were made public. Attorney Christopher Brown also provided me with considerable help in regard to Michael Walker.
Walter Harrington, Patricia Hersch, and Gay Daly gave me excellent editorial guidance and moral support.
I would also like to thank Benjamin Bradlee, executive editor of The Washington Post, for granting me a leave of absence to write this book. My editors there, Jay Lovinger and Stephen Petranek, also offered valuable advice. Tony Germanotta, a reporter at The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, proved a helpful source.
Others whose help I would like to acknowledge are Brian E. Crooks, Candace J. Vanderclute, Frank Fox, Linda Webb, Edward S. Stancheski, James Kalbaugh, Jay Myerson, Oliver Goodenough, Stanley J. Reed, Graeme W. Bush, Robert H. Powell III, John Y. Richardson, Jr., Raymond Teichman, Kathy Morris, Karen L. McClearyCale, Peter D. Miller, Lynn Smith, Dr. C.T. Shades, William Schwartz, John Fyfe, Jr., John Lefevere, members of United Christian Parish, and Fred Klein, my editor at Bantam Books.
My account of the murder of Georgi Markov was based on KGB, Inside the World’s Largest Intelligence Network, by Brian Freemantle. Information about SOSUS came, in part, from Running Critical: The Silent War, Rickover and General Dynamics, by Patrick Tyler. I also referred to The Puzzle Palace: A Report on America’s Most Secret Agency, by James Bamford, when questions arose about cryptology. Although I interviewed Dr. Murray S. Miron, his analysis of the RUS letters for the FBI was first published in Breaking the Ring, a book by John Barron.
As always, I am grateful to my wife, Patti, and my children, Steve, Kevin, Tony, Kathy, Kyle, Evan, Traci, and granddaughter Maribella. Other family members who I’d like to acknowledge include my parents, Elmer and Jean Earley; Gloria Brown, James Brown, LeRue and Ellen Brown; Phillip Corn; Donnie and Marcie Davis; Matthew Davis, George and Linda Earley; Michelle Holland; William and Rosemary Luzi; Charlie and Donna Stackhouse; and Jay and Elsie Strine.
I invite readers to post comments about this book and my other books on my website, PeteEarley.com. While I may not be able to respond to every message, I do read them all.
About the Author
Pete Earley is a storyteller who has penned 13 books including the New York Times bestseller The Hot House and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize finalist Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness.
After a 14-year career in journalism, including six years at The Washington Post, Pete became a full-time author with a commitment to expose the stories that entertain and surprise.
His honest reporting and compelling writing helped him garner success as one of few authors with “the power to introduce new ideas and give them currency,” according to Washingtonian magazine.
Since becoming a full-time author in 1986, Pete has written 10 non-fiction books and 3 novels for a total of 13 books.
For more information, you can connect with Pete online at PeteEarley.com.