“[The CIA recruits are] hand-picked from the class of ’51, they’ll cram languages (especially Russian) then concentrate on basic intelligence elements – research, economic analysis, report writing. Next, they’ll train on the job in CIA offices, fan out to armed services and State Department – do more university work, or travel. Throughout, they’ll study top-secret U.S. operations behind the Iron Curtain, later may take part in them…. Among the top 10% of their classes, they were carefully FBI-screened ; starting salary $2,800 a year for B.A.s, to $4,600 for PH.ds.”


A 1951 article about the young CIA can be read by clicking here…




Additional magazine and newspaper articles about Cold War spies can be read on this page.


In 1958, Fidel Castro wrote an article for an American magazine in which he thoroughly lied about his intentions; click here to read it.


Click here to read a Cold War editorial by Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas.

Read Building the CIA<br>(People Today Magazine, 1951) for Free

CIA training in 1951CIA spy schoolcia historyColonel Matthew Baird CIA executive officerColonel Matthew Baird Director of Training CIA Spy SchoolCIA Director Walter B SmithCIA agent training programacademic background required for CIAearly CIA recruiting
Scroll to Top