This is part 2 of our chat with Jack Barsky who spent ten years as an undercover KGB agent in the United States.

He is the longest surviving known member of the KGB illegals programme that operated during the Cold War.

In this episode we talk about his first days in the US, his mission and how he managed build his cover enabling him to live and work as a US citizen. He honestly and candidly talks about the impact his secret life had on those closest to him and the moment of his arrest by the FBI.

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I am delighted to welcome Jack Barsky to our Cold War conversation…

There’s further information on this episode in our show notes, which can also be found as a link in your podcast app here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode141/

If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook.

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0:00 Introduction and Jack Barsky's life as a KGB agent

2:18 Support for the Cold War Conversations podcast

8:18 Living undercover in the United States

15:15 Communication methods with the KGB

18:13 Shift in mission and life as a computer programmer

24:27 Impact of family life on his mission

32:11 Discovery of Jack's identity and confrontation with the FBI

40:20 Revealing his past to his family

44:51 Reunion with his abandoned son and friendship with FBI agent

49:22 Reflections on his decisions and the impact of his past

51:15 Closing remarks and acknowledgements to patrons

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