Vince Houghton

Vince Houghton, the Director and curator of the National Cryptologic Museum, takes listeners on a thrilling journey through the world of espionage. He explores the museum's rare code-breaking machines that altered history. Fascinating stories emerge about WWII crates and the secrets they hold. The discussion highlights vital innovations like the 'Russian Fish' communication interceptor and the revolutionary Colossus computer. Houghton also shares insights on the pioneering Cray-2 supercomputer, showcasing the rapid evolution of technology in cryptography.

Vince Houghton, the affable director of the National Cryptologic Museum, shares intriguing insights into the world of espionage and code-breaking. Discover the museum's hidden gems, including a World War II Enigma machine and President Obama’s old Blackberry. Houghton reveals tales of mysterious WWII crates that housed groundbreaking artifacts like the 'Russian Fish.' He also discusses the revolutionary Colossus computer and its legacy, illustrating how these cryptographic advancements have shaped today's technology. A truly fascinating tour of history!

Vince Houghton, Cold War expert, discusses Miami's covert role in the Cold War. Highlights include Cuban Missile Crisis, Miami's espionage legacy, and its ties to historical events like Watergate. Reveals city's strategic value for military operations and as a hub for international intrigue.

Historian Vince Houghton discusses Miami's role in the Cold War, CIA operations against Castro, Cuban intelligence, and the city's espionage history. Topics include the Mariel Boatlift, Operation Mongoose, Cuban exile terrorism, Iran Contra Affair, and Cuban-American relations. The podcast also covers the challenges of writing a concise book on the subject and touches on James Bond casting and book recommendations.

Although codemaking and codebreaking often receive less attention in the public imagination than swashbuckling HUMINT operations and ingenious spy gadgets, they have changed history. The under-appreciation of cryptography might stem from a combination of the complexity of encryption, the classified nature of much of its technology, and the difficulty of conveying codebreaking effectively in pop culture.David Priess spoke with Vince Houghton about the realities and fictional representations of cryptography, as well as the challenges and rewards of making a compelling museum experience out of U.S. codemaking and codebreaking efforts. Houghton is director of the National Cryptologic Museum, the open-to-the-public museum of the National Security Agency. They talked while walking through the newly redesigned museum in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, highlighting various artifacts including early American codebreaking computers, German Enigma machines, the oldest known book of cryptography (from the 16th century), and code generators for U.S. nuclear weapons. They discussed the provenance of highly unusual items and the value of having so many of them on display. And they traded views on movies incorporating ciphers or codes, from The Da Vinci Code to Sneakers to The Empire Strikes Back to The Imitation Game.Chatter is a production of Lawfare and Goat Rodeo. This episode was produced by Cara Shillenn of Goat Rodeo. Podcast theme by David Priess, featuring music created using Groovepad.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/lawfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.