This podcast episode unveils the bizarre and captivating history of the CIA's origins in the OSS during World War II. Historian John Lisle's book, "The Dirty Tricks Department," delves into the agency's covert operations, showcasing unconventional tactics such as exploding pens, cyanide pills, and radioactive foxes. William Donovan, the head of the OSS, emerges as a daring and unconventional leader who emphasized improvisation and a willingness to push boundaries. From the development of truth drugs to the use of psychological warfare, the OSS explored the limits of espionage, shaping the intelligence gathering landscape in the years to come.
