When and where was Bill Weisband born?
William Weisband was born in Odessa, Russian Empire on the 28th of August 1908. He left his birthplace for the United States during the 1920s.
Questions about Bill Weisband
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What role did Bill Weisband play at Arlington Hall during World War II?
Bill Weisband served as a linguist adviser within the Russian Section at Arlington Hall starting in June 1942. He spoke fluent Russian but did not perform cryptanalysis himself while working alongside actual codebreakers.
How did Soviet intelligence compromise the Venona Project through Bill Weisband?
Soviet intelligence monitored the Russian Section from at least 1945 after Bill Weisband joined that specific unit. He informed Moscow that the Venona Project neared success which led to a considerable reduction in American analysis output.
Why was Bill Weisband convicted of contempt instead of espionage in 1950?
Prosecutors chose not to charge him with espionage because they feared a trial would divulge more information about U.S. intelligence sources and methods. Authorities convicted him of contempt in November 1950 after he failed to appear for a federal grand jury hearing regarding the Communist Party USA.
When did Bill Weisband die and what was his life like after prison?
A heart attack took his life suddenly on the 14th of May 1967. After release from prison, Bill Weisband lived quietly in the United States as an insurance salesman until his death.