The Six Percent: The Middle-Aged Couple Who Became American Spies
About this episode
The episode tells the story of Elizabeth and Robert Dexter, who helped refugees during WWII while secretly working as spies for the U.S.
On this episode of Our American Stories, in 1942, Elizabeth and Robert Dexter took charge of the Unitarian Service Committee's relief office in Lisbon, Portugal, as Jews and other desperate refugees fled Nazi-occupied Europe. Many arrived without valid papers, having crossed borders illegally and hidden in freight trains, vegetable carts, and anywhere else they could find safety. With Portuguese authorities watching their operation, the American couple helped these refugees find shelter and quietly disappear into the shadows. For our ongoing series The Six Percent , Deborah Dwork, author of Saints and Liars , shares the story of the Dexters and the risks they took to help those fleeing the Nazis. Their relief work also concealed another mission: at age 56, Elizabeth and Robert were agents for the Office of Strategic Services, using their unique access as humanitarian workers to gather intelligence for the United States. Support the show ( https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate) Support the show: https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People in this episode
Guest: Deborah Dwork
Topics covered
- World War II
- Espionage
- Humanitarian efforts
- Refugees
- American history
- Courage
Keywords
- spies
- refugees
- Nazi
- OSS
- humanitarian
- intelligence
- history
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Unitarian Service Committee, Office of Strategic Services
Books & works: Saints and Liars
Places: Portugal, Nazi-occupied Europe
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