Podcast Summary: The Rest Is Classified – Episode 38: "CIA Mind Control: America’s Secret Cartel"

Introduction to MKUltra and Sidney Gottlieb (00:02 – 01:31)

In this riveting episode of The Rest Is Classified, hosts David McCloskey and Gordon Corera delve deep into the clandestine operations of the CIA’s MKUltra program, exploring its origins, execution, and lasting impact on both intelligence operations and popular culture. The episode opens with a brief historical setting, introducing Sidney Gottlieb, the mastermind behind MKUltra. Gottlieb's 1977 Senate testimony is highlighted, where he emphasizes the "threat of the magnitude of national survival" posed by adversaries possessing unknown mind control capabilities ([00:21] - Gordon Corera).

Influence of Popular Culture on MKUltra (01:31 – 08:08)

McCloskey and Corera examine the symbiotic relationship between MKUltra and the burgeoning realm of science fiction and popular media during the mid-20th century. Gottlieb acknowledges that films like Gaslight (1944) and novels such as The Manchurian Candidate (1959) not only reflected contemporary fears of mind control but also inspired the CIA’s real-life experiments. As Corera aptly puts it, “the same kind of thing with MKUltra, where people are seeing things in popular culture and going, well, we must be able to do that” ([03:07] - Gordon Corera). This interplay fueled both the agency's ambitions and the public’s imagination regarding mind manipulation.

MKUltra's Impact on 60s Counterculture (08:08 – 18:52)

The hosts trace how MKUltra inadvertently propelled the 1960s counterculture movement. By supplying LSD through clandestine channels, the CIA unintentionally became the "original dealer of LSD in the United States," leading to widespread recreational use and the emergence of iconic figures influenced by the drug. Corera remarks on this irony, stating, “It's deeply ironic, isn't it, that the kind of button-down organization the CIA is, having fueled it, the CIA having done more than perhaps anyone else to provide the means for people to tune in and drop out” ([12:48] - Gordon Corera). Prominent personalities, including John Lennon, benefitted from CIA-supplied LSD, reshaping societal norms and sparking movements that emphasized personal freedom and consciousness expansion.

Decline and Destruction of MKUltra Documents (18:52 – 27:44)

As the 1970s dawned, MKUltra began to unravel amidst growing skepticism and governmental scrutiny. In January 1973, Gottlieb and then-CIA Director Richard Helms made the controversial decision to destroy MKUltra records to prevent public exposure. Gottlieb narrates the gravity of this action, “the order … to destroy a bunch of these MKUltra files” ([24:07] - Sidney Gottlieb). This cover-up effort ultimately failed as Congressional investigations, particularly the Church Committee, sought transparency regarding the agency's covert activities. By June 1973, Gottlieb retired, his legacy tainted by the program’s notorious reputation, yet paradoxically awarded the CIA’s highest honor, the Distinguished Intelligence Medal ([25:30] - Gordon Corera).

Gottlieb's Retirement and Later Life (27:44 – 34:05)

Post-retirement, Gottlieb sought solace in a humble, eco-friendly lifestyle, embodying the very counterculture he inadvertently influenced. Settling into a solar-powered home in Virginia, he engaged in community service as a speech pathologist and immersed himself in spirituality and nature. Despite his attempts to distance himself from his past, Gottlieb's involvement in MKUltra kept pulling him back into the spotlight. The Olson family’s lawsuit against the CIA and subsequent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests further exposed the depths of MKUltra’s unethical experiments, forcing Gottlieb to testify under a pseudonym, Joseph Scheider ([28:07] - Sidney Gottlieb).

Revelations and Legacy of MKUltra (34:05 – 38:42)

As documents emerged, the public became more aware of MKUltra’s extensive reach, encompassing 149 sub-projects, spanning 80 institutions, and involving colleges, prisons, and hospitals. The hosts discuss the profound ethical breaches and the program’s eventual dissolution by 1963. Gottlieb’s dual identity—as both a CIA operative and a community-focused retiree—underscores the complex legacy of MKUltra. Corera reflects, “MK Ultra, as we discussed, was itself influenced by this wave of fiction, film… MK ULTRA itself is kind of fueling a new wave of conspiracy” ([37:58] - Gordon Corera). The episode emphasizes that MKUltra was not an isolated aberration but part of a longstanding struggle over cognitive control and manipulation.

Modern Reflections on MKUltra and Mind Control (38:42 – End)

Concluding the episode, McCloskey and Corera explore the enduring fascination with mind control and its modern manifestations. They draw parallels between MKUltra’s ambitions and contemporary concerns over algorithmic manipulation, cognitive biometrics, and social media’s influence on public perception. As Corera notes, “the human brain being at the center of conflict, of warfare, of intelligence work” remains a pertinent issue today, albeit through different technological avenues ([39:33] - Gordon Corera). The discussion also touches on the resurgence of interest in psychedelics for mental health and wellness, contrasting their therapeutic applications with their historical use in mind control experiments.

Notable Quotes:

• Gordon Corera (00:51): “Extremely difficult, extremely sensitive, but above all to be very urgent and important.”
• Sidney Gottlieb (01:27): “Threat of the magnitude of national survival.”
• Gordon Corera (03:07): “People are seeing things in popular culture and going, well, we must be able to do that.”
• Gordon Corera (12:48): “Having fueled it, the CIA having done more than perhaps anyone else to provide the means for people to tune in and drop out.”
• Sidney Gottlieb (24:07): “All of a sudden you want all these boxes incinerated.”
• Gordon Corera (37:58): “MK ULTRA itself is kind of fueling a new wave of conspiracy.”
• Gordon Corera (39:33): “The human brain being at the center of conflict, of warfare, of intelligence work.”

Conclusion:

Episode 38 of The Rest Is Classified provides a comprehensive and engaging exploration of MKUltra, meticulously tracing its inception, operational complexities, cultural intersections, and enduring legacy. Through insightful discussions and compelling narratives, McCloskey and Corera illuminate the shadowy corridors of CIA operations and their ripple effects across society. This episode not only sheds light on historical events but also prompts listeners to reflect on contemporary issues surrounding cognitive manipulation and the ethical boundaries of intelligence work.