Declassified Memo Reveals Insights on Ethel Rosenberg’s Spy Case

In a significant development regarding the infamous Rosenberg case, a recently declassified memo by a leading U.S. codebreaker from the Cold War era has rekindled debates about Ethel Rosenberg’s involvement in espionage. The document reveals that Ethel was aware of her husband Julius’ activities but asserts she did not participate in any of the espionage work herself. This finding has led her sons to claim that their mother was wrongly convicted and executed, and they are now advocating for her exoneration.

The Rosenbergs were executed in 1953 after being found guilty of conspiring to transmit atomic secrets to the Soviet Union. Julius has long been acknowledged as a Soviet spy, yet the extent of Ethel’s participation in any wrongdoing has remained a contentious topic. Over the years, her sons, Robert and Michael Meeropol, have tirelessly campaigned to clear her name, insisting she had no role in espionage activities. They view the newly released memo as pivotal evidence supporting their position.

The assessment, written shortly after Ethel’s arrest in the summer of 1950, contains critical insights from Meredith Gardner, a codebreaker who was part of what would later become the National Security Agency. The memo discusses decrypted Soviet communications and concludes that, although Ethel knew of her husband’s spying, she was hindered by poor health from participating in espionage herself.

“This document shows that both the KGB and the NSA came to the conclusion that Ethel was not a spy,” Robert Meeropol noted in a recent interview. He emphasized the tragic irony that a mother of two young children was executed under the false label of a master atomic spy.

The memo, dated August 22, 1950, was written a week after Ethel’s arrest, when authorities were still piecing together information about a Soviet spy ring operating in the United States. In the document, Julius Rosenberg is referred to with his Soviet code names—initially “Antenna” and later “Liberal”—and characterized as a recruiter for Soviet intelligence. In a section specifically about Ethel, Gardner described her as a “party member” and “devoted wife” who was informed of her husband’s work but did not actively participate.

Historian Harvey Klehr, now retired from Emory University, acknowledged that while the memo carries weight, he believes Ethel still conspired to commit espionage, even if she did not directly handle classified information. Meanwhile, another historian, Mark Kramer from Harvard, pointed out that the interpretation of the Russian communications remains subject to debate and referenced other documents as containing potentially incriminating evidence regarding Ethel’s involvement.

The Meeropol brothers firmly contest these claims, arguing that the available evidence clearly indicates Ethel was never considered an asset by the Soviets and played no role in recruiting spies or aiding her husband’s efforts. Their advocacy has been bolstered by additional revelations, such as the fact that Ethel was not assigned a code name by the Soviets, which is a strong indicator of her limited involvement.

Further complicating the narrative is the past testimony of David Greenglass, Ethel’s brother. He testified against her, claiming she had played a part in his espionage activities, but later acknowledged in a television interview that he had lied to secure leniency for himself. His contradicting grand jury testimony, which came to light in recent years, revealed that he never discussed espionage with Ethel and did not accuse her of wrongdoing.

As the new memo surfaces, the Meeropols consider it a significant step toward vindicating their mother. They believe it is highly likely that the contents reached the upper echelons of the FBI, potentially influencing decision-makers, including then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, who recommended against the death penalty for Ethel. Ultimately, however, she was executed.

Robert Meeropol, now 77, expressed a deep sense of relief now that this memo has been declassified. He recounted attempts made by him and his brother to approach the White House in 1953 in a desperate plea to prevent their parents’ execution. Both brothers have dedicated themselves to clearing their mother’s name and feel that the release of this document is a culmination of their lifelong efforts.

Michael Meeropol, 81, reflected on the journey and the long wait for this moment, stating, “This memo being released, thank God, blows the lid off it in terms of our mother.” The fight to redefine Ethel Rosenberg’s legacy continues, as her sons strive for justice and recognition of her innocence.

Source: Associated Press