About the Author

Richard Cochrane is trained in chemistry and metallurgy but is far more interested and practiced as a political and fund raising consultant, writer and amateur historian. He grew up in a Navy family and with his two younger brothers carried on its 500+ year tradition of naval service to Great Britain and the USA then enjoyed a career with one of the largest advertising and public relations agencies working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and many of America's premier educational institutions. He maintains friendships and acquaintanceships around the world. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

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Atomic Spies Executed June 19, 1953

June 20th, 2009 • Richard Cochrane
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rosenbergsOn June 19, 1953 Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were electrocuted at New York’s Sing Sing prison; the only civilians every executed for espionage in America. Both were convicted as atomic spies for giving secrets of the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union.

Initially they pleaded not guilty but when asked if they were communist took the 5th amendment. Their conviction went to the US Supreme Court and their appeals mostly based on mercy as they had two young sons were twice rejected by President Eisenhower.

electric-chairLater Ethel’s brother-David Greenglass confessed that he had incriminated the Rosenberg’s to receive a lighter sentence of 15 -years.

Following the collapse of the USSR it was learned that Julius was a spy but Ethel although she knew of her husband’s treachery but, she was not directly involved.

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