Soledad O'Brien

Angleton was a godfather to Mary's children. But more importantly, in this case, he was chief of the CIA's most secretive department. In the far-fetched world of conspiracy theories, the CIA had a motive for wanting to kill Mary. But whether you find that to be plausible or not, whether you believe in this conspiracy or not, two facts from the time of Mary's murder don't really add up.

Angleton was a godfather to Mary's children. But more importantly, in this case, he was chief of the CIA's most secretive department. In the far-fetched world of conspiracy theories, the CIA had a motive for wanting to kill Mary. But whether you find that to be plausible or not, whether you believe in this conspiracy or not, two facts from the time of Mary's murder don't really add up.

The first is her diary, and the second is a phone call. No one close to Mary agrees on what her diary contained. No one agrees on how it was found. No one agrees where it was found. All anyone seemed to agree on was that Mary's diary eventually ended up in the hands of CIA spy James Angleton.

The first is her diary, and the second is a phone call. No one close to Mary agrees on what her diary contained. No one agrees on how it was found. No one agrees where it was found. All anyone seemed to agree on was that Mary's diary eventually ended up in the hands of CIA spy James Angleton.

Well, what's even weirder about Mary's diary is that widely respected journalist Ben Bradley gave it to the CIA agent. That fact first became public knowledge when Bradley's memoir was published in the mid-90s.

Well, what's even weirder about Mary's diary is that widely respected journalist Ben Bradley gave it to the CIA agent. That fact first became public knowledge when Bradley's memoir was published in the mid-90s.

When you've got an esteemed journalist in cahoots with a spy, it fans the flames. Lance Morrow felt the same way.

When you've got an esteemed journalist in cahoots with a spy, it fans the flames. Lance Morrow felt the same way.

But to this day, the diary is the missing piece of the puzzle that leads so many to believe there's a conspiracy behind Mary's murder.

But to this day, the diary is the missing piece of the puzzle that leads so many to believe there's a conspiracy behind Mary's murder.

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.