In 1945, President Harry Truman dissolved America's spy agency because he feared creating an "American Gestapo." When he established the CIA two years later, he didn't want James Bond—he asked for a daily newspaper to coordinate government information.

So, how did a bureaucratic newsletter evolve into a global machine for coups and covert action?

In this episode, we distill the chaotic origins of the Central Intelligence Agency (1947–1953). We move beyond the Hollywood myths to examine the "Georgetown Set"—the group of Ivy League socialites and Wall Street lawyers who built the Agency's dark side over cocktails on Sunday afternoons.

In this distillation, we cover:

• The "Newspaper" Myth: Why Truman’s original vision for the CIA failed immediately.

• The Georgetown Set: How Frank Wisner, Richard Bissell, and the "Very Best Men" treated the Cold War like a romantic game.

• The Legal Trapdoor: A breakdown of NSC 10/2 and the invention of "Plausible Deniability."

• Deep Dive: We deconstruct Tim Weiner’s Legacy of Ashes and debunk the famous Eisenhower quote regarding the Agency’s failure.

The Distillate (Actionable Insights):

• • Efficiency vs. Effectiveness: Why Frank Wisner’s "Mighty Wurlitzer" was loud but ineffective, and how to spot "Action Bias" in your own strategy.
  • Secrets vs. Mysteries: The Sherman Kent distinction that every decision-maker needs to know.
  • The Red Team: How to institutionalize dissent to prevent your own Bay of Pigs.

  
  

  📚 Research & Sources: Ep.3 Research Companion