Citizen-Spy

52 The Irrelevant Expert
Though not directly involved in the production process, Admiral Zacharias was an important
part of the publicity for Behind Closed Doors; the show’s credibility rested on his certifying
authority as an expert in international intelligence. Photographs courtesy of the family of
Ellis M. Zacharias.
A close-up of a manila envelope stamped “Top Secret” fills the screen, and Matson
continues, “This is where the phrase ‘Top Secret’ is the key to our national
security—a phrase reserved for the eyes of a selected few.” On a dark street, a
lone figure approaches the camera, and then turns into an unmarked doorway.