For over a decade, the ADL used undercover spies to conduct a vast, coordinated, and potentially illegal campaign of espionage against the John Birch Society.
Until this year, that campaign was a secret.
It was uncovered by a historian digging through historical archives. 🧵
Until this year, that campaign was a secret.
It was uncovered by a historian digging through historical archives. 🧵
In March, GWU historian Matthew Dallek published a book about the John Birch Society (JBS), a hard-right anticommunist org that was prominent in the 60s and 70s.
During the research process, Dallek was given access to a trove of internal ADL documents from that time period.
During the research process, Dallek was given access to a trove of internal ADL documents from that time period.
What Dallek uncovered was “a lengthy, multidimensional, and previously undisclosed counterintelligence operation waged by the ADL to infiltrate and dig up damaging information about” JBS, spanning from 1959 to the 1970s—and involving current and former US intelligence officials.
The ADL's spies — which included police officers, accountants, religious leaders, journalists, and members of civil society — used code names to pose as Birchers, feeding intel back to the ADL.
The tactics they used to collect that intel were highly secretive—and often extreme:
The tactics they used to collect that intel were highly secretive—and often extreme:
"Some of the ADL’s financial investigations, from using third parties for credit checks to fishing for data about individuals’ trusts, may even have been illegal," Dallek wrote.
But for the ADL, the ends "justified the morally questionable means, which included outright spying."
But for the ADL, the ends "justified the morally questionable means, which included outright spying."
According to Dallek, the ADL utilized a kind of proto-doxxing: Spies "searched for connections between the society and respectable individuals and institutions, to embarrass them into renouncing" JBS.
As a result, "Birchers...sometimes found their careers in jeopardy."
As a result, "Birchers...sometimes found their careers in jeopardy."
This was carried out through the ADL's close relationship with members of the media, which it leveraged to threaten Birchers, derail JBS events, and coordinate public pressure campaigns—an early version of the advertiser boycotts the ADL uses against figures like @elonmusk today.
One of the key figures in this operation was Isadore Zack, a former counterespionage expert for the US Army.
During WWII, Zack worked in "domestic intelligence" — i.e., spying on other Americans — as detailed in this 2001 piece from a local paper:
patriotledger.com
During WWII, Zack worked in "domestic intelligence" — i.e., spying on other Americans — as detailed in this 2001 piece from a local paper:
patriotledger.com
After the war, Zack became director of "fact-finding and public relations" for the ADL’s New England region, overseeing "a cadre of ADL spies."
Unsurprisingly, Dallek writes, those spies "employed techniques that were on par with government-backed clandestine operations."
Unsurprisingly, Dallek writes, those spies "employed techniques that were on par with government-backed clandestine operations."
Under Zack's leadership, the ADL worked directly with US intelligence agencies. Zack was in regular contact with the FBI, feeding intel to J. Edgar Hoover's Subversive Trends of Current Interest Program, which "recorded thousands of pages of material" about JBS.
It wouldn't be the first—nor the last—time the the ADL worked with government intelligence agencies to take down political dissidents.
As @shellenberger documents here, the group has a long history of illegal espionage, extending well into the modern era.
As @shellenberger documents here, the group has a long history of illegal espionage, extending well into the modern era.
The point here isn't that you should agree with the politics of the JBS — a group that was known for kooky, fringe conspiracy theories — or any of the other groups that the ADL has spied on.
The point is that in a free society, ideas should be hashed out in the public square.
The point is that in a free society, ideas should be hashed out in the public square.
Since its inception, the ADL has sought to undermine that principle, and has opted instead for the use of subterfuge tactics against its ideological opponents.
It's not a "noble" organization that has simply lost its way; it's been like this from the start. #BanTheADL
It's not a "noble" organization that has simply lost its way; it's been like this from the start. #BanTheADL
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