Luke LaManna

On a chilly evening in late December 1970, 20-year-old Keith Forsyth walked through a quiet neighborhood outside of Philadelphia until he arrived at an imposing three-story Victorian-style house. Keith knocked, and a moment later, a well-dressed young woman with flowing dark hair and a welcoming smile opened up.

Behind her was a man with clean-cut blonde hair who was dressed in a button-down shirt and khakis. Keith knew he was different from 29-year-old Bonnie Raines and her husband, John, who was 37. The couple owned this beautiful house in the suburbs and had a picture-perfect family. while Keith lived in a commune and drove a cab part-time to make ends meet.

Behind her was a man with clean-cut blonde hair who was dressed in a button-down shirt and khakis. Keith knew he was different from 29-year-old Bonnie Raines and her husband, John, who was 37. The couple owned this beautiful house in the suburbs and had a picture-perfect family. while Keith lived in a commune and drove a cab part-time to make ends meet.

He had long hair and dressed in loose-fitting jeans and tie-dye shirts. But Keith reminded himself they all had the same goal, to expose the FBI. Specifically, to break into an FBI office and steal important documents that Keith, Bonnie, and John thought American citizens had the right to know about. Keith felt himself light up with nervous energy at the thought of their mission.

He had long hair and dressed in loose-fitting jeans and tie-dye shirts. But Keith reminded himself they all had the same goal, to expose the FBI. Specifically, to break into an FBI office and steal important documents that Keith, Bonnie, and John thought American citizens had the right to know about. Keith felt himself light up with nervous energy at the thought of their mission.

Bonnie ushered Keith inside and offered him a beer. He accepted and made his way into the spacious living room. As he took a seat on the couch, the Rains' three young children came tumbling into the room. While Keith played with the kids, more people arrived. Keith called out a greeting to Bob Williamson, a 20-year-old fellow college dropout that he knew from anti-war protests.

Bonnie ushered Keith inside and offered him a beer. He accepted and made his way into the spacious living room. As he took a seat on the couch, the Rains' three young children came tumbling into the room. While Keith played with the kids, more people arrived. Keith called out a greeting to Bob Williamson, a 20-year-old fellow college dropout that he knew from anti-war protests.

Keith felt a sense of kinship with Bob. With his messy hair and thrift store clothing, they could have been brothers, and they immediately started chatting. Next, a man in his 40s came up to say hello. Bill Davidon was a physics professor at nearby Haverford College. Like their host, John, he didn't fit the image of a young anti-war activist.

Keith felt a sense of kinship with Bob. With his messy hair and thrift store clothing, they could have been brothers, and they immediately started chatting. Next, a man in his 40s came up to say hello. Bill Davidon was a physics professor at nearby Haverford College. Like their host, John, he didn't fit the image of a young anti-war activist.

But Keith knew that the professor was one of the most outspoken critics of the Vietnam War and one of the most effective leaders of the entire movement. Keith thought back to when Professor Davidon first approached him about pulling off the FBI robbery. It seemed completely impossible. How could a group of ordinary people fight the most powerful counterintelligence organization in the country?

But Keith knew that the professor was one of the most outspoken critics of the Vietnam War and one of the most effective leaders of the entire movement. Keith thought back to when Professor Davidon first approached him about pulling off the FBI robbery. It seemed completely impossible. How could a group of ordinary people fight the most powerful counterintelligence organization in the country?

But Keith trusted the professor, who always backed up his words with action. Bill had traveled to Vietnam to see the war firsthand and had given refuge to American men who were at risk of arrest for refusing to fight. And Keith, well, he knew that he possessed a crucial skill, lockpicking.

But Keith trusted the professor, who always backed up his words with action. Bill had traveled to Vietnam to see the war firsthand and had given refuge to American men who were at risk of arrest for refusing to fight. And Keith, well, he knew that he possessed a crucial skill, lockpicking.

He'd taken a correspondence course just to learn how to open locked doors in order to break into draft offices. Once everyone had arrived, Keith followed them all upstairs to the attic. He took his seat next to Professor Davidon, and John Raines shut the door. The professor explained that many of his comrades in the anti-war movement had become worried they were being spied on by the FBI.

He'd taken a correspondence course just to learn how to open locked doors in order to break into draft offices. Once everyone had arrived, Keith followed them all upstairs to the attic. He took his seat next to Professor Davidon, and John Raines shut the door. The professor explained that many of his comrades in the anti-war movement had become worried they were being spied on by the FBI.

Because of this fear, he felt that protesters were losing sight of the bigger picture. Many activists had become more preoccupied with their safety at anti-war rallies, worried that undercover FBI agents were just waiting to arrest them. Or worse, they feared their fellow activists could be FBI informants.

Because of this fear, he felt that protesters were losing sight of the bigger picture. Many activists had become more preoccupied with their safety at anti-war rallies, worried that undercover FBI agents were just waiting to arrest them. Or worse, they feared their fellow activists could be FBI informants.

Professor Davidon thought that if they could prove that the FBI was, in fact, spying on and intimidating activists, it could go a long way in swaying public opinion against the war.

Professor Davidon thought that if they could prove that the FBI was, in fact, spying on and intimidating activists, it could go a long way in swaying public opinion against the war.

professor's tone became deadly serious as he outlined the dangers of the operation in order for the plan to work no one could speak about this to anyone outside of the group before or after the robbery davidon turned to each person seated around the table and asked if they would take a vow of secrecy keith lifted his fist in agreement one by one everyone else in the attic did the same