Yale educated, Cord Meyer joined the Marines early in World War II. He saw action in the south Pacific and was severely wounded. Burying his dead comrades brought about a profound change in his thinking... and he determined that their sacrifices should not be forgotten. He was convinced of the folly of war.

This thinking attracted Mary Pinchot who was of the same mind. Mary and Cord found much in common and they married in 1945. They were present in San Francisco at the conference to establish the United Nations. Cord was elected president of United World Federalists, putting action to his belief in one world government. However his enthusiasm waned as he say many communists joining the movement.

In 1950 Allen Dulles recruited Meyer to join the CIA and he became the primary operative in Project Mockingbird. This was essentially a propaganda operation promoting pro-American views in stories in the news media, helping those who were, organically, pro-American and “encouraging” others to come around.

Because of his past activities and those of his wife, Senator Joseph McCarthy accused him of being a communist and the FBI refused to give him a security clearance. Allen Dulles came to his defense and eventually it was agreed Cord Meyer was not a communist and he continued in his work of spreading the CIA's vision of the cold war.

After a few years, Meyer became discontent with government work and tried unsuccessfully to find work in the publishing industry. He transferred to the International Operations Division which handled projects like Radio Free Europe.

This is about the time Senator Kennedy and his wife Jackie bought a home in the Meyer's neighborhood. She became friends with Jackie and especially John.

In 1956 the couple was having difficulties and in spite of the accidental death of their son, Michael, days before Christmas, they decided to part company and Cord moved out and Mary filed for divorce.

Cord went on with his work and Mary went on with her life that ended on a Georgetown jogging path a few years later.


BOOK: Facing Reality: From World Federalism to the CIA