National Security Agency - The Black Vault

1960s
operations, including activities that involved the
monitoring of the communications of some of
America’s allies.
Alarmed by the actions of the pair in divulging
NSA’s critical information, President Eisenhower
ordered an investigation of the incident that
culminated in a comprehensive report. The
13-month study revealed that Martin and
Mitchell were mathematicians, first with the
Naval Security Group and, from 1957 to 1960, as
NSA civilian employees. Both men had become
disaffected with U.S. policy toward the Soviet
Union as the Cold War developed and together
made the decision to defect.
Ultimately, life in the Soviet Union proved to be
disappointing, but their attempts to return to the
United States were thwarted by their inability
to obtain immunity from prosecution. Martin
died in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1987; Mitchell in St.
Petersburg, Russia, in 2001.
The Martin and Mitchell defection of 1960 had
strong repercussions. Due to the incident, NSA
tightened its hiring and security practices to
include full background checks and polygraphs.
Bearing the Burden
The decade of the 1960s for the National
Security Agency and America began with hope
and confidence in the future. This optimism was
tempered, however, by the Soviet threat and
the even more ominous menace of nuclear war.
In his 1960 inaugural speech, President John F.
Kennedy spoke to this dichotomy noting that
“mankind holds in his mortal hands the power
to abolish poverty, but also the power to abolish
human life.” Kennedy was equally adamant,
however, that despite the challenges the United
States faced, America would “…bear any burden
and endure any hardship… to ensure the
survival and success of liberty.”
NSA proved to be a crucial part of this effort
under the strong leadership of Army, Navy, and Air
Force Directors. All of them had experienced the
crucible of war, and all were imbued with a sense
of commitment and dedication to their country.
In the beginning, NSA was the sum of many
parts; however, over time it began to develop its
own unique identity. In early 1963 NSA adopted
a seal that proclaimed the Agency a component
of the Department of Defense. Two years later,
Lieutenant General Marshall S. Carter, USA, the
new Director of NSA, wanted to emphasize that
the Agency served the needs of the entire U.S.
Government, even though it was subordinate
to DoD. Consequently, he had a second seal
prepared that incorporated this idea into the
new design.
Vice Admiral Frost
In the fall of 1960, NSA would see its first U.S.
Navy Director, Vice Admiral Laurence Frost. A
native of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Frost was born in
1902 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy
in 1926. Frost, like the other early Directors, had
seen war firsthand and had been awarded the
Bronze Medal and two Silver Stars.
Frost brought a wealth of experience in
communications both at sea and in staff
positions to his brief tenure as Director. After a
dispute with the Pentagon, he stepped down as
Director in June of 1962, three months before
one of the most harrowing and dangerous
moments in NSA and U.S. history.
LEADERSHIP
DIRECTORS
VADM Laurence H. Frost, USN
(November 60 – June 62)
Lt Gen Gordon A. Blake, USAF
(July 62 – June 65)
Lieutenant General Blake
Air Force Lieutenant General Gordon A. Blake
replaced Frost. Like the previous occupants
of his office, Blake was no stranger to combat.
Blake gained valuable experience during
World War II in operations communications
and later in the field of research and
development. His experience eventually led
to his appointment as Commander of the Air
Force Security Service. Blake’s wartime and
service pedigree were valuable assets in his
role as NSA Director. Shortly after he assumed
the post, he would have to draw on every bit
of his talents and experiences to assist the
Nation in dealing with the harrowing series
of events that would come to be known as
the Cuban Missile Crisis.
1960s
LTG Marshall S. Carter, USA
(June 65 – August 69)
(Left) William Martin and Bernon Mitchell (center) tell Moscow press why they defected.
(See attached DVD for audio and transcript)
The Cuban Missile Crisis
In the autumn of 1962, the United States faced
its most serious crisis of the Cold War.
DEPUTY DIRECTORS
Dr. Louis W. Tordella (August
1958 – April 1974)
National Security Agency 60 Years of Defending Our Nation 31