CIA and Cold War Covert Action

David Robarge, Chief Historian of the Central Intelligence Agency, delivered a lecture on the use of covert actions during the Cold War.

October 03, 2019

On Thursday, October 3, 2019, Dr. David Robarge, Chief Historian of the Central Intelligence Agency, delivered a lecture detailing the use of covert action during the Cold War. He began by distinguishing covert action from counterintelligence and espionage, asserting that covert actions are those taken with the explicit purpose of prompting political change in a target country without formal recognition by or attribution from the US government. After establishing this framework, he presented a historical survey of both successful and unsuccessful covert action operations undertaken by the CIA during the Cold War. Dr. Robarge concluded his lecture with the argument that most covert actions have been pursued for democratic purposes.

Watch the talk here.

The lecture was organized by Professor Victoria Phillips. It was sponsored by the European Institute, the Harriman Institute and the Department of History.

Professor Phillips introduces Dr. Robarge to the audience.
Dr. Robarge takes a question from the audience.