Crosssection sketch of atomic bomb, 03121951 source. Past experience taught americans to treat moscow pronouncements lightly. The controversy surrounding their conviction and subsequent execution will be explained, and the evidence against them will be. Although they were tried and executed more than half a century ago, ethel and julius rosenberg s names remain familiar to most americans. Dukakis urges obama to pardon soviet spy ethel rosenberg. Julius and ethel rosenbergs sons tell anderson cooper how it felt to be the children of the infamous spies, in a story that sheds new light on a central event of the cold war. Ethel, the only daughter, attended hebrew schools and seward park high school, graduating at age 15.
When she married julius rosenberg in 1939, the year he earned a degree in electrical engineering, the two were already active members of the communist party of the united states of america cpusa. Each defendant was charged with conspiracy to commit espionage, a capital crime. Dec 01, 2016 sons of executed spies julius and ethel rosenberg ask obama to exonerate their mother in a 1953 photo, the rosenberg boys robert, left, and michael pose with their grandmother, sophie. Morton sobell, last defendant in rosenberg spy case, is dead at 101. In the following year julius obtained a job as a civilian engineer with the u. Excerpt from the film the unquiet death of julius and ethel rosenberg. Other articles where julius rosenberg is discussed. The husband and wife team were executed in 1953 for stealing atomic secrets to pass on to the ussr. They denied all charges and insisted they were innocent, but they were executed in new yorks sing sing prison. For more information read the press release, 3102017 read the press release, 7142015 read the press release, 9252008 read the press release, 992008 contact our new york city facility by email or phone 18668401752 see other downloading options transcripts released to date see also the brothmanmoskowitz grand jury testimonies name date ymd page numbers page count.
Guilty as charged, not very effectively defended and punished so harshly as to evoke questions about the cool administration of justice as well as. On this day in 1953, julius and ethel rosenberg, who were convicted of. David levering lewis moderated a conversation between michael meeropol, the eldest son of ethel and julius rosenberg and his daughter, ivy meeropol, the director and producer of heir to an. Julius and ethel rosenberg were american communists accused of passing atomic secrets to the russians. Kaufman presides over the espionage prosecution of the couple accused of selling nuclear secrets to the russians treason could not be charged because the united states was not at war with the soviet union. I must admit, before i saw this film i didnt even know the rosenbergs had children. In this landmark documentary aka the rosenbergsobell case. He is the older son of julius and ethel rosenberg, convicted communist spies. Soviet spy ethel rosenberg may have been innocent usa today. Read formerly secret grand jury testimony transcripts from the trial of ethel and julius rosenberg. Ivy meeropols grandparents were ethel and julius rosenberg. This commentary has a relatively restricted purpose.
Although they were tried and executed more than half a century ago, ethel and julius rosenbergs names remain familiar to most americans. Why a lastditch effort to redeem the couples name fails so completely. June 19 marks 50 years since the execution of ethel and julius rosenberga coldblooded murder committed by the u. Julius rosenberg and ethel greenglass were both born in new york city to jewish immigrant families. A primary source account great trials of the 20th century burnett, betty on. Part 2 of 3 julius and ethel rosenbergs conspiracy trial, presided over by judge irving kaufman, began on march 6, 1951. The trial of julius and ethel rosenberg cannot be considered without looking at the time during which it occurred. The trial of julius and ethel rosenberg tv movie 1974. Ethels brother david greenglass confessed to selling nuclear secrets and accused julius of. Fiftyone years later, her granddaughters new documentary film heir to an execution is about to broadcast nationwide on cable television behemoth hbo. The latest attempt to defend ethel and julius rosenberg fails. The names julius and ethel rosenberg bring on a sweeping sensation of treason. Julius and friends try to feed the poor during the depression and rellish the idea of a new communist state who they want to survive. The final letter ethel and julius wrote to their 6 and 10 yr old sons on june 19, 1953, shortly before they were executed, read by eve ensler and david strathairn in the rosenberg fund for.
Kaufman presides over the espionage prosecution of the couple accused of selling nuclear. It is important that the country be protected against the nefarious plans of spies who would destroy us. The espionage trial of ethel and julius rosenberg begins history. Mar 17, 2020 the legacy of ethel and julius rosenberg the sons of the convicted spies julius and ethel rosenberg share their recollections of their parents trial and execution and of their own childhood and young adulthood. Born in new york city, as michael rosenberg, meeropol spent his early childhood living in new york, and attending local school there. Julius rosenberg and ethel rosenberg, the first american civilians to be executed for conspiracy to commit espionage and the first to suffer that penalty during peacetime. Skies were cloudy in new york city on march 6, 1951, when the case of the united states v julius rosenberg, ethel rosenberg, and morton sobell was called for trial. Meeropol is the eldest son of julius and ethel rosenberg and is. Ethel and julius rosenbergs son responds jewish journal. Julius and ethel rosenberg were executed in the electric chair at sing sing prison tonight. Ethel and julius rosenberg were found guilty of conspiracy to commit espionage and executed by electric chair at sing sing prison on june 19th, 1953.
Kaufman presides over the espionage prosecution of. They have become the posterchildren for antiamerican hatred and fear of foreign ideology. This was the trial of julius and ethel rosenberg and morton sobell, who were all charged with conspiracy to commit wartime espionage on behalf of the soviet union knappman 452. In 1986, roy cohn, assistant prosecutor at the rosenbergs trial, admitted that the government had manufactured evidence against the rosenbergs. Ethel rosenberg, 35, and her husband, julius, 34, are separated by a wire screen as they ride to separate jails in new york city in this march 29, 1951 photo. Sep 23, 2015 part 2 of 3 julius and ethel rosenberg s conspiracy trial, presided over by judge irving kaufman, began on march 6, 1951. Sons of executed spies julius and ethel rosenberg ask obama. Because one of the most remarkable aspects of the trial in 1952 was that. Michael and robert were eventually adopted by complete strangers to the rosenbergs. Rosenberg grand jury transcripts national archives.
Put to death on june 19, 1953, after their conviction for conspiracy to commit treason, the rosenbergs were at the center of one of the most famous and controversial espionage cases of the twentieth century. Nizer assays rosenberg case in film and book the new york. Julius and ethel rosenberg s sons tell anderson cooper how it felt to be the children of the infamous spies, in a story that sheds new light on a central event of the cold war. Julius rosenberg may 12, 1918 june 19, 1953 and ethel greenglass rosenberg september 25, 1915 june 19, 1953 were american citizens executed for conspiracy to commit espionage, relating to passing information about the atomic bomb to the soviet union. Their case against ethel rosenberg was resolved 10 days before the start of the trial, when david and. The facts about ethel rosenberg rosenberg fund for children. Julius and ethel rosenbergs sons talk about life after their parents execution and show anderson cooper the home where their father was. Ethel greenglass rosenberg was born in new york city to barnet and tessie greenglass. A complete edition of the prison correspondence of julius and ethel rosenberg, edited by michael meeropol, the older of the two rosenberg sons. She became a clerk for a shipping company, but was terminated for organizing a women workers. Ivy meeropol is a producer and director of documentary films, which. Convicted of espionage in 1951, they were executed by the federal government of the united states in 1953 in the sing sing correctional facility in ossining, new.
Julius and ethel were both born to jewish families in the lower east side of new york city, in 1918 and 1915 respectively. The couple were accused of providing topsecret information about radar, sonar, jet propulsion engines, and valuable nuclear weapon designs. Julius and ethel rosenberg were american citizens who were convicted of spying on behalf of. Julius and ethel rosenberg, convicted of espionage, electric chair, new york. In 1950, ethel and julius rosenberg lived with their two sons on ne. It is also important that before we allow human lives to be snuffed out we be sure emphatically sure. Representing the united states was attorney irving saypol, wellknown for his recent successful prosecution of a government official accused of being a soviet spy and convicted of perjuring himself before the house unamerican activities committee. Jul 16, 2015 soviet spy ethel rosenberg may have been innocent. On march 29, 1951, while the united states and the soviet union were in the throes of the cold war, julius and ethel rosenberg were convicted of conspiring to steal designs for americas atomic bomb and delivering them to soviet secret agents. Because one of the most remarkable aspects of the trial in 1952 was that it was ethel s own brother, david greenglass. How i was separated from my parents, ethel and julius. He was a quiet boy who took his schoolwork seriously.
Julius and ethel rosenberg executed for espionage history. Sons of executed spies julius and ethel rosenberg ask obama to exonerate their mother in a 1953 photo, the rosenberg boys robert, left, and michael pose with their grandmother, sophie. The trial of julius and ethel rosenberg and morton sobell prosecutorial. Michael meeropol born michael rosenberg on march 10, 1943 is a retired professor of economics. Nizer assays rosenberg case in film and book the new york times. It is also important that before we allow human lives to be snuffed out we be sure emphatically sure that we act within the law. This film is an attempt to reclaim them as such and challenge the simplistic. Photographs and other graphic materials from the department of. Julius rosenberg american engineer and spy britannica.
Mar 04, 2020 the trial of ethel and julius rosenberg begins in new york southern district federal court. Though perhaps they would have done this if they could have. I do not propose to critique the entire book, but merely to focus on where the book interacts with the case of my parents, ethel and julius. The trial of julius and ethel rosenberg 1974 julius and friends try to feed the poor during the depression and rellish the idea of a new communist state who they want to survive. Julius and ethel rosenberg were american citizens who were convicted of spying on behalf of the soviet union. Ilene philipsons biography of ethel rosenberg, only the second woman in u. Execution of ethel rosenberg jewish womens archive. Until then, my brother michael, who was seven, and i were living in what i remember as a warm and loving family. The story behind the execution of julius and ethel rosenberg. With allan arbus, herschel bernardi, barbara colby, george cooper. Rosenberg trial evidence packet source a prosecutions. Included is a brief chronology of the important events that occurred in the course of the rosenberg case from 1950 to 1957. The trial of ethel and julius rosenberg begins in new york southern district federal court. Born in new york city, as michael rosenberg, meeropol spent his early childhood living in.
Trump gets the rosenbergs all wrong false claim not only does the presidents citing of ethel and julius rosenberg as an example of treason show his lack of historical knowledge, it gives. Ethels brother david greenglass confessed to selling nuclear secrets and accused julius of doing the same. The disturbing images and soundtracks of young children being torn from their parents arms have reopened the wounds of my childhood my parents, ethel and julius rosenberg, were arrested and jailed shortly after my third birthday in may 1950. Convicted in the cold war spy trial that delivered julius and ethel rosenberg to their deaths and divided the nation, he later. For more information read the press release, 3102017 read the press release, 7142015 read the press release, 9252008 read the press release, 992008 contact our new york city facility by email or phone 18668401752 see other downloading options transcripts released to date see also the brothmanmoskowitz grand jury testimonies name date ymd page numbers page count alscher, ruth. These transcripts and trial evidence are held at the national archives at new york. Two years later, they were executed in the electric chair. Thinly fictional version of rosenberg trialexecution case, via. The government of the soviet union, as it was then known, publicly. Ethel looked nervous when julius first spotted her in a corner of the rented hall. Complete, detailed, precise documentary of these two.
Dec 19, 2016 michael dukakis, the democratic former governor of massachusetts, has written president obama to pardon soviet spy ethel rosenberg, wife of julius rosenberg. The espionage trial of ethel and julius rosenberg begins. The family was very poor and lived in a shabby, unheated tenement. Guilty as charged, not very effectively defended and punished so harshly as to evoke questions about the cool administration of. The legacy of ethel and julius rosenberg the sons of the convicted spies julius and ethel rosenberg share their recollections of their parents trial and execution and of their own childhood and young adulthood. After wwii russia is no longer our ally so their political activity becomes treason. The woman who would become his wife, ethel greenglass, was a clerk for a shipping company. View the universal news clip from april 5, 1951, announcing the death penalty verdict. May 07, 2009 the final letter ethel and julius wrote to their 6 and 10 yr old sons on june 19, 1953, shortly before they were executed, read by eve ensler and david strathairn in the rosenberg fund for. Ethel greenglass worked as a clerk for some years after her graduation from high school in 1931. In the 1930s and 40s, julius rosenberg worked as an electrical engineer.
Our understanding of this debate and of the rosenbergs themselves has now been transformed by the publication of the rosenberg letters. Two nights ago, hbo showed a documentary on the rosenberg case. Julius rosenberg 19181953 and ethel rosenberg 19151953 were an american husband and wife convicted of espionage and executed for passing nuclear secrets to soviet agents. But even graver is the thought of the millions of dead whose deaths may be directly attributable to what these spies have done. On this day in 1953, julius and ethel rosenberg were executed in the united states for conspiring to pass atomic secrets to russia. In march of 1951, a young jewish couple from new york city, ethel and julius rosenberg, both secret members of the. The story of julius and ethel rosenberg by sharon fabian julius rosenberg was born in 1918, the son of a garment worker in new york city. National archives hosts ethel and julius rosenbergs son and.
A half century after the rosenbergs were executed as atom spies. Michael dukakis, the democratic former governor of massachusetts, has written president obama to pardon soviet spy ethel rosenberg, wife of julius rosenberg. Ethel and julius rosenberg were the only two american civilians to be executed for the crime of espionage during the cold war. This lesson will detail the trial of julius and ethel rosenberg. Julius and ethel rosenberg, on trial for espionage, ride with morton sobell far left, a member of their spy ring, in 1951. Rosenberg trial evidence packet source d sketches recreated by david greenglass sketch 1 left title. The government of the soviet union, as it was then known, publicly announced the detonation of an atomic bomb.