Luke LaManna

The simulated exercise showed the Soviets launching a second barrage of nuclear missiles, and the red dots began to fill in any untouched spots on the map. If this were a real attack, nearly everyone in the United States would be dead. Even though he knew this was just a simulation, Reagan was extremely disturbed by what he saw.

The Soviets could potentially destroy the entire country and do it all in just about a half an hour. Later that night, President Reagan came back to the Situation Room for another exercise. This time, he was briefed on how to identify himself to the Pentagon using codes if he wanted to launch a nuclear attack. Again, he felt the gravity of the situation.

The Soviets could potentially destroy the entire country and do it all in just about a half an hour. Later that night, President Reagan came back to the Situation Room for another exercise. This time, he was briefed on how to identify himself to the Pentagon using codes if he wanted to launch a nuclear attack. Again, he felt the gravity of the situation.

He was now simulating his own role in the nuclear war and his own power to kill tens of millions of human beings on the other side of the world. Despite the horror of nuclear war, Reagan believed that an arms reduction or easing tensions with the Soviets would simply not work. Any attempt to pull back would be seen as weakness by the enemy.

He was now simulating his own role in the nuclear war and his own power to kill tens of millions of human beings on the other side of the world. Despite the horror of nuclear war, Reagan believed that an arms reduction or easing tensions with the Soviets would simply not work. Any attempt to pull back would be seen as weakness by the enemy.

So the only way to beat the Soviets was to strengthen America's position. and bully the Soviets into submission. Reagan's defense secretary had vowed to rearm America, and that's exactly what they did. The administration was overseeing the biggest peacetime increase in military spending in history, and now, in the Situation Room, Reagan was witnessing what that all could mean.

So the only way to beat the Soviets was to strengthen America's position. and bully the Soviets into submission. Reagan's defense secretary had vowed to rearm America, and that's exactly what they did. The administration was overseeing the biggest peacetime increase in military spending in history, and now, in the Situation Room, Reagan was witnessing what that all could mean.

Death on a scale never before seen in this world. In June 1982, Major Oleg Gordievsky showed his passport and ID badge to a guard at the Soviet embassy in London. He entered the compound in Hyde Park for the first time, went up three flights of stairs, and walked down several long hallways. He saw signs on every wall written in Russian.

Death on a scale never before seen in this world. In June 1982, Major Oleg Gordievsky showed his passport and ID badge to a guard at the Soviet embassy in London. He entered the compound in Hyde Park for the first time, went up three flights of stairs, and walked down several long hallways. He saw signs on every wall written in Russian.

They read, in no uncertain terms, don't say names or dates out loud. The Russian major finally reached an office, where he received a long orientation. He was an officer with the KGB, the Soviet Union security agency, and he was being assigned to work at the embassy in London. Gordievsky was reminded several times that computers and electronic typewriters were not allowed on embassy grounds.

They read, in no uncertain terms, don't say names or dates out loud. The Russian major finally reached an office, where he received a long orientation. He was an officer with the KGB, the Soviet Union security agency, and he was being assigned to work at the embassy in London. Gordievsky was reminded several times that computers and electronic typewriters were not allowed on embassy grounds.

because they could be easily bugged. He was also told to keep an eye out for listening devices everywhere he went. Of course, Gordievsky knew this already. He trained in Moscow and worked at the embassy in Copenhagen. He knew that his Soviet comrades in London were obsessed about spies. Still, he was surprised at the sheer level of paranoia here.

because they could be easily bugged. He was also told to keep an eye out for listening devices everywhere he went. Of course, Gordievsky knew this already. He trained in Moscow and worked at the embassy in Copenhagen. He knew that his Soviet comrades in London were obsessed about spies. Still, he was surprised at the sheer level of paranoia here.

Everywhere you turned in the compound, you were reminded that the British Secret Service, MI6, could be, and likely was, spying on you. At the embassy, you were encouraged to distrust your own colleagues, your friends, and your family. They said even your pets could be bugged.

Everywhere you turned in the compound, you were reminded that the British Secret Service, MI6, could be, and likely was, spying on you. At the embassy, you were encouraged to distrust your own colleagues, your friends, and your family. They said even your pets could be bugged.

One of the many official byproducts of this mass Soviet suspicion was a relatively new intelligence program called Operation Ryan. It had been started by party chairman Yuri Andropov when he was still the head of the KGB.

One of the many official byproducts of this mass Soviet suspicion was a relatively new intelligence program called Operation Ryan. It had been started by party chairman Yuri Andropov when he was still the head of the KGB.

Operation Ryan's goal was to detect any signs that the United States or its allies might be planning a nuclear strike on the USSR, and Gordievsky had come to London to work on it. But he was also working on another top secret project, one that he could be killed for if anybody found out. A few weeks after his arrival in the UK, Gordievsky waited until everyone in the office had left for lunch.

Operation Ryan's goal was to detect any signs that the United States or its allies might be planning a nuclear strike on the USSR, and Gordievsky had come to London to work on it. But he was also working on another top secret project, one that he could be killed for if anybody found out. A few weeks after his arrival in the UK, Gordievsky waited until everyone in the office had left for lunch.

He then discreetly gathered some documents and took them to an apartment in West London. He parked far away and covered the diplomatic plates on his car. Then he walked to the apartment where he had a scheduled monthly meeting. The meetings were never to last longer than 50 minutes, so he could return to the embassy without raising suspicion.