Soledad O'Brien

Accord was definitely not delivering the mail. And over time, this high-stakes secrecy took its toll.

Accord was definitely not delivering the mail. And over time, this high-stakes secrecy took its toll.

This is Lance Morrow again.

This is Lance Morrow again.

Some CIA men had lived through war. They'd seen death from the front lines. And they woke up to the reality of nuclear weapons.

Some CIA men had lived through war. They'd seen death from the front lines. And they woke up to the reality of nuclear weapons.

Meanwhile, women were compelled to be caretakers and homemakers, both out of duty to their husbands and families, and of course, systemically, by design.

Meanwhile, women were compelled to be caretakers and homemakers, both out of duty to their husbands and families, and of course, systemically, by design.

For CIA wives, it was a job they took very seriously, hosting dinner parties.

For CIA wives, it was a job they took very seriously, hosting dinner parties.

And given these high stakes, an independent thinker like Mary Meyer would have been looked at with suspicion.

And given these high stakes, an independent thinker like Mary Meyer would have been looked at with suspicion.

So women, Mary included, continued to play the roles assigned to them. Driving kids in carpools, gardening, and cooking family dinners. But Mary also did something for herself, self-care before we called it that. She took art classes at American University, and when she had time, she painted in the shed in her backyard. Still, being a mother took precedence.

So women, Mary included, continued to play the roles assigned to them. Driving kids in carpools, gardening, and cooking family dinners. But Mary also did something for herself, self-care before we called it that. She took art classes at American University, and when she had time, she painted in the shed in her backyard. Still, being a mother took precedence.

Both Mary and Dovey came up long before Betty Friedan argued that women should and could work outside the home. The Feminine Mystique was only published in 1963, just a few years before I was born. and the year before Mary's murder. In the 1950s, most women lived with certain limits.

Both Mary and Dovey came up long before Betty Friedan argued that women should and could work outside the home. The Feminine Mystique was only published in 1963, just a few years before I was born. and the year before Mary's murder. In the 1950s, most women lived with certain limits.

Maybe Mary thought she'd be a CIA wife forever, but she chose independence. After her son died, her life took a different turn. And that was true for Dovey, too. She'd married her college sweetheart, William Roundtree. But Dovey and William wanted different things by the time she decided to pursue the law. Here's Dovey speaking to the National Visionary Leadership Project.

Maybe Mary thought she'd be a CIA wife forever, but she chose independence. After her son died, her life took a different turn. And that was true for Dovey, too. She'd married her college sweetheart, William Roundtree. But Dovey and William wanted different things by the time she decided to pursue the law. Here's Dovey speaking to the National Visionary Leadership Project.

I'm Soledad O'Brien, and on my podcast, Murder on the Towpath, I'm taking you back to the 1960s. Mary Pinchot Meyer was a painter who lived in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Every day, she took a daily walk along the towpath near the E&O Canal.

I'm Soledad O'Brien, and on my podcast, Murder on the Towpath, I'm taking you back to the 1960s. Mary Pinchot Meyer was a painter who lived in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. Every day, she took a daily walk along the towpath near the E&O Canal.