Soledad O'Brien

So what was in Mary's diary that made it so dangerous? No one really knows.

So what was in Mary's diary that made it so dangerous? No one really knows.

What adds to the enduring mystery is that no one close to Mary told the same story. They each told different accounts of how Mary's diary was retrieved and, in some cases, destroyed.

What adds to the enduring mystery is that no one close to Mary told the same story. They each told different accounts of how Mary's diary was retrieved and, in some cases, destroyed.

Each story about Mary's diary starts out, more or less, the same way. On the night of Mary's murder, the story goes, Tony Bradley, Mary's sister, got a call in Georgetown.

Each story about Mary's diary starts out, more or less, the same way. On the night of Mary's murder, the story goes, Tony Bradley, Mary's sister, got a call in Georgetown.

If you think something about this sounds strange, you wouldn't be alone. No one knows how Anne Truitt in Japan learned about Mary's murder. Anne died in 2004, but while she was alive, she remained quiet on the matter. And had Mary really told her best friend that she wanted Angleton to have it if she died? This was hard to believe, given Mary's distaste for the CIA.

If you think something about this sounds strange, you wouldn't be alone. No one knows how Anne Truitt in Japan learned about Mary's murder. Anne died in 2004, but while she was alive, she remained quiet on the matter. And had Mary really told her best friend that she wanted Angleton to have it if she died? This was hard to believe, given Mary's distaste for the CIA.

The most fleshed-out version of the diary hunt comes from Ron Rosenbaum, who wrote about Mary's murder in 1976. According to Rosenbaum's conversations with various sources, the diary hunt turned into a sort of impromptu memorial party for Mary, five days after her murder.

The most fleshed-out version of the diary hunt comes from Ron Rosenbaum, who wrote about Mary's murder in 1976. According to Rosenbaum's conversations with various sources, the diary hunt turned into a sort of impromptu memorial party for Mary, five days after her murder.

Several people were at Mary's house, including Mary's sister, Toni, Cord, and Angleton and his wife. Angleton showed up with spy gear, white gloves, a drill, in his little black spy bag. There was wall tapping. Bricks were turned over in the yard. Rosenbaum reported that everyone drank whiskey and Mary's ex-husband, Cord, lit a smoky fire.

Several people were at Mary's house, including Mary's sister, Toni, Cord, and Angleton and his wife. Angleton showed up with spy gear, white gloves, a drill, in his little black spy bag. There was wall tapping. Bricks were turned over in the yard. Rosenbaum reported that everyone drank whiskey and Mary's ex-husband, Cord, lit a smoky fire.

someone else walked out into the yard and called to mary up above mary where's your damn diary According to Rosenbaum, Tony located her sister's diary in her painting studio, along with artwork she was preparing for her next show. The diary itself was in a locked steel box. And according to Tony, it was more of a sketchbook with some vague references to an affair.

someone else walked out into the yard and called to mary up above mary where's your damn diary According to Rosenbaum, Tony located her sister's diary in her painting studio, along with artwork she was preparing for her next show. The diary itself was in a locked steel box. And according to Tony, it was more of a sketchbook with some vague references to an affair.

Angleton is reported to have taken it. Ben Bradley's account, meanwhile? It varies so dramatically from what Angleton said that it caused a rift between the men.

Angleton is reported to have taken it. Ben Bradley's account, meanwhile? It varies so dramatically from what Angleton said that it caused a rift between the men.

In his memoir, A Good Life, Bradley claimed he first arrived at Mary's studio the following day, just him and Tony. And that's when he found Angleton already present. C-SPAN interviewed Bradley about this episode in 1995 during his publicity tour for his memoir. Here's Bradley himself saying he saw Angleton at Mary's studio, already looking for Mary's diary when he arrived.

In his memoir, A Good Life, Bradley claimed he first arrived at Mary's studio the following day, just him and Tony. And that's when he found Angleton already present. C-SPAN interviewed Bradley about this episode in 1995 during his publicity tour for his memoir. Here's Bradley himself saying he saw Angleton at Mary's studio, already looking for Mary's diary when he arrived.

Nina Burley fleshes it out a bit more. When Tony and Ben Bradley arrived at Mary's studio.

Nina Burley fleshes it out a bit more. When Tony and Ben Bradley arrived at Mary's studio.