Douglas Waller, "The Determined Spy: The Turbulent Life and Times of CIA Pioneer Frank Wisner" (Penguin, 2026)

About this episode

The episode discusses the life of Frank Wisner, a key CIA figure during the Cold War, and his struggles with bipolar disorder.

Frank Wisner was one of the most powerful men in 1950s Washington, though few knew it. Reporting directly to senior U.S. officials--his work largely hidden from Congress and the public-- Wisner masterminded some of the CIA’s most daring and controversial operations in the early years of the Cold War, commanding thousands of clandestine agents around the world.Following an early career marked by exciting escapades as a key World War II spy under General William “Wild Bill” Donovan, Wisner quickly rose through the postwar intelligence ranks to lead a newly created top-secret unit tasked--under little oversight--with overseeing massive propaganda, economic warfare, sabotage, subversion, and guerrilla operations all over the world, including such daring initiatives as the CIA-backed coups in Iran and Guatemala.But simultaneously, Wisner faced a demon few at the time understood: bipolar disorder. When this debilitating disease resulted in his breakdown and transfer to a mental hospital, the repercussions were felt throughout Washington’s highest levels of power.Waller’s sensitive and exhaustively researched biography is the riveting story of both Frank Wisner as a national figure who…

People in this episode

Host: Marshall Poe

Guest: Douglas Waller

Topics covered

• CIA operations
• Cold War
• bipolar disorder
• intelligence history
• biography
• mental health

Keywords

• Frank Wisner
• CIA
• Douglas Waller
• bipolar disorder
• Cold War
• biography
• intelligence
• propaganda
• covert operations

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: CIA, Penguin

Places: Iran, Guatemala

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