Operation Solo: The FBI's Man in the Kremlin [Paperback]

John Barron (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997

Operation Solo is America's greatest spy story. For 27 years, Morris Childs, code name "Agent 58", provided the United States with the Kremlin's innermost secrets.

Repeatedly risking his life, "Agent 58" made 57 clandestine missions into the Soviet Union, China, Eastern Europe, and Cuba. Because of his high ranking in the American communist party and his position as editor of its official paper, the Daily Worker, he was treated like royalty by communist leaders such as Khrushchev, Brezhnev, and Mao Tse-tung. Through first-hand accounts, Operation Solo tells the story of the conflicts within the FBI and American intelligence about the operation, and how the FBI, through extraordinary measures, managed to keep that operation hidden from everyone, including the CIA.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With all the suspense and intrigue of a Cold War thriller, Operation Solo tells the remarkable and true story of Morris Childs, code named "Agent 58", who, for twenty-seven years, provided the United States with the Kremlin's innermost secrets during fifty-two clandestine missions to the Soviet Union, China, and Eastern Europe. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Although Morris Childs (1902-1991) was treated as a friend by Soviet rulers Khrushchev, Brezhnev and Andropov, this Chicago communist and onetime editor of the Daily Worker, the U.S. Communist Party newspaper, was an American spy working for the FBI. Barron (FBI Today) interviewed his wife, Eva Lieb Childs, and numerous FBI operatives to produce this remarkable true-life espionage story, which often reads like a spy thriller. According to Barron, Operation Solo (as the Childses' group was called) yielded intelligence that enabled Washington to exploit the Soviet Union's widening rift with China in the 1960s; their spying also helped Nixon and Kissinger forge ahead with diplomatic ties to Beijing. Born Moishe Chilovsky, near Kiev (he emigrated to America when he was nine), Childs also befriended Castro, Mao Tse-tung, East Germany's Walter Ulbricht and other Communist leaders. In 1987, Reagan awarded him a presidential medal. Photos.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Regnery Publishing; 1 edition (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0895264293
• ISBN-13: 978-0895264299
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #554,389 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A story of Courage and Devotion, May 8, 2000

By 

Raymond D. Curry - See all my reviews

This review is from: Operation Solo: The FBI's Man in the Kremlin (Paperback)

Operation Solo tells the story of Morris Childs, a spy for the American government for almost thirty years. He was a dedicated communist in the 1930's. He even visited to the Soviet Union and was taught revolutionary tactics to be used in the violent overthrow of the United States government. By the late 1940's he began to understand the monster he was serving in Stalin and feeling extremely guilty about his activities. While still in the hospital recovering from heart problems, he was visited by two FBI agents who asked straight out if would like to be a spy. He agreed. As luck was have it, he was still a member in good standing with the Communist Party USA (CPUSA) so he was able to resume his activities in the Party with no problems. He eventually rose to second in command of the CPUSA.

Mr. Childs knew and was completely trusted by all the Post-Stalin leadership. One story shows how much he was trusted. On one trip to the Soviet Union, he was injured and had to have a finger amputated. He refused anesthetics because he was afraid he would blurt out he was a spy while under. Khrushchev thought he did this so he would not tell Soviet states secrets while under. Khrushchev made a speech in the Politburo congratulating Childs for his courage and had his finger buried Kremlin wall. From this position of trust, he was able Childs was able to obtain top-secret information for almost 30 years. This is only one of numerous improbable but true stories from the book, many of them life-threatening. An unparalleled story of courage and devotion.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A story of ordinary people performing incredible feats., November 9, 1998

By 

I. C. Smith (Laneview, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Operation Solo: The Fbi's Man in the Kremlin (Hardcover)

As one who knew both Eva and Morris Childs prior to their deaths, I was pleased to see John Barron's published, for it finally provided exposure to one of the great spy stories of all times. I was the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Miami FBI office when I met the Childs in 1986, and maintained contact with them for the remainder of their lives. In particular, after the death of Morris, the FBI became the defacto family of Eva, and even, was at her bedside at the time of her death. The interesting thing about the Childs was they did not cooperate with the FBI for money, but due to a sense of betrayal by the Communists after they had devoted considerable time and energy to the utopian idea of the perfect Soviet society. But Morris went to great lengths one day to explain how his early conversion to communism did not mean he was anti USA. But after he saw the hypocrisy of world communism from an intimate insiders view, he then showed the same zeal in working for the FBI as he did for the early communists. I can attest to the fact Barron is accurate with his account, and even, has shown restraint at times. Operation Solo was the single greatest source of human source reporting available to the US during the time of the Cold War, and Barron's account of this incredible story is not only worthy reading for those with an interest in espionage, etc, but is a great reference source for historians with an interest in the Cole War.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One reason we won the Cold War, March 30, 2004

By 

G. Walt Murray "Mountain Walt" (Woodstock, GA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Operation Solo: The FBI's Man in the Kremlin (Paperback)

This is a great book. From the second I opened the book to the second I turned the last page I was enthralled. I left this book with a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by people around the world in the overthrow of the Soviet Union, and the protection of the United States.

If you are a history buff, a fan of the spy novel, or are just looking for a good book, you have found your next great read.