The Spy Who Saved The World

The Cold War was fought on many fronts, and espionage on both sides was the norm. One of the most significant secret agents to come out of the era is Oleg Penkovsky, a Soviet intelligence officer who fed the United States vital information about Russia’s rockets.

Many credit the secrets he shared for President John F. Kennedy’s successful handling of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, a high-stakes nuclear confrontation that could’ve ended in a worldwide disaster. Unfortunately, Penkovsky was later discovered and led to his arrest. He was convicted of treason and sentenced to death.