The Spy Who Exposed the Secrets of the Black Chamber, One of America's First Code-Breaking Organizations
Briefly

The article delves into Herbert O. Yardley's life as head of the top-secret Black Chamber, an early American intelligence agency formed in 1919. In a dramatic encounter at a New York speakeasy in 1929, Yardley senses danger from a seemingly friendly woman, ultimately discovering a note in her apartment indicating a desperate need for vital information. His tenure at the Black Chamber was marked by secrecy and intrigue, culminating in his decision to expose the agency in a later tell-all publication after his dismissal.
"Her friendliness was a bit forced. It did not seem reasonable for one of her beauty and charm to possess such warmth for a bald-headed man."
"Have tried to reach you all day by telephone. See mutual friend at first opportunity. Important you get us information at once."
Read at Smithsonian Magazine
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