SpyTalk
Behind the Masks
Jun 9, 2022
Former CIA medical officer Leslie Pyenson assesses signs of Putin’s failing health. Author Jefferson Morley discusses his new book, Scorpions’ Dance: The President, the Spymaster, and Watergate. They explore Putin's health indicators, decision-making of former KGB operatives, consequences of lack of knowledge in politics, and Nixon's relationship with CIA Director Richard Helms during the Watergate scandal. They also discuss the relevance of Watergate in today's political climate and the parallels between attacks on democracy in the Nixon and Trump eras.
54:52
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast reveals the close relationship between President Nixon and the CIA during the Watergate scandal, where Nixon used information on the CIA's criminal activities as leverage over CIA director Richard Helms.
- Former CIA medical officer Leslie Pyenson analyzes signs of Vladimir Putin's failing health, such as weight gain, tremors, abnormal gait, and isolation, raising questions about his decision-making and mental decline.
Deep dives
Richard Nixon and the CIA's Involvement in Watergate
The podcast episode delves into the close relationship between President Richard Nixon and the CIA, particularly CIA director Richard Helms, during the Watergate scandal. It reveals that Nixon had information on the CIA's involvement with criminal activities and used it as leverage over Helms. The episode also uncovers how the CIA had connections to the Watergate burglars and received information from them. The significance of this relationship is explored in the context of a constitutional crisis and the power struggle between the executive branch and Congress.
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