Who Is James Jesus Angleton? Age, Biography and Wiki
James Jesus Angleton was born on December 9, 1917, and passed away on May 11, 1987. As of 2025, he would have celebrated his 108th birthday. Angleton was a prominent figure in the CIA, known for his tenure as chief of counterintelligence and his complex personality. His intelligence operations were shrouded in secrecy, making him a pivotal and controversial figure during the Cold War era. His legacy continues to provoke debate among historians and analysts alike, as Angleton's actions shaped the contours of modern intelligence work.
| Occupation | Soldiers |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | December 9, 1917 |
| Age | 69 Years |
| Birth Place | Boise, Idaho, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | U.S |
| Date of death | 11 May, 1987 |
| Died Place | N/A |
Popularity
James Jesus Angleton's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific physical measurements of James Jesus Angleton are not widely documented, he was known to present himself with an air of sophistication typical of a high-ranking intelligence officer. His height was estimated to be around 6 feet tall, with a slender build that reflected the rigorous nature of his professional life.
Family, Dating & Relationship status
James Jesus Angleton was married to his wife, Cicely (née Jolliffe) Angleton, and the couple had three children together. The Angleton family played a significant role in his life, and his marriage was often viewed as a partnership that supported his demanding career. However, due to the secretive nature of his work in the CIA, details about his personal relationships remain relatively sparse, leading many to speculate about the complexities of his social life amidst his professional obligations.
His parents met in Nogales, Arizona, while his father was a United States Army cavalry officer serving under General John Pershing. Angleton in December 1916.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of his passing in 1987, James Jesus Angleton's net worth was estimated to be in the range of several million dollars, reflecting his high-profile career and earnings as a Central Intelligence Agency officer. Although precise figures are elusive, it is believed that his net worth, accumulated through his career and possibly various investments, would have been contributors to his financial status. The CIA's secrecy surrounding salaries and bonuses for such ranked officers makes an exact figure difficult to ascertain.
In 1975, Angleton was awarded the CIA's Distinguished Intelligence Medal. By this time, Angleton had been quietly rehired by the CIA at his old salary through a secret contract. Until September 1975, "operational issues remained solely the preserve of Angleton".
Career, Business and Investments
Angleton's career began with his military service during World War II, after which he joined the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor to the CIA. He was instrumental in developing counterintelligence strategies during his tenure with the Agency. Known for creating an elaborate network of informants and resources, Angleton's influence reached far into the clandestine activities of the Cold War.
After his retirement, his involvement in intelligence work continued, leading to various writing projects and publications on espionage and security. However, his declining health and secretive nature led him to withdraw from public life, leaving a mystique around his later investments and business ventures.
Investigative journalist Edward Jay Epstein agrees with the high regard in which Angleton was held by his colleagues in the intelligence business, and adds that Angleton earned the "trust of six CIA directors—including Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, Allen W. Dulles and Richard Helms. They kept Angleton in key positions and valued his work."
Social Network
Due to his position, James Jesus Angleton maintained a network of relationships with key figures in intelligence, government, and academia. However, his reclusive nature, alongside his involvement in sensitive operations, kept him from engaging extensively with mainstream social networks. Today, discussions about his legacy occur mostly in dedicated historical forums and intelligence communities rather than on contemporary social media platforms.
In December 1974, Seymour Hersh published a story in The New York Times about domestic counter-intelligence activities against anti-war protesters and other domestic dissidents.
Angleton's resignation was announced on Christmas Eve 1974, just as President Gerald Ford demanded Director Colby report on the allegations and various congressional committees announced that they would launch their own inquiries.
Angleton told reporters from United Press International that he was resigning because "my usefulness has ended" and the CIA was getting involved in "police state activities". Three of Angleton's senior aides retired within a week after it was made clear that they would be transferred elsewhere in the Agency rather than promoted.
The counterintelligence staff was reduced from 300 to 80 people.
Education
Angleton attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a degree in English literature. His education contributed to his analytical and literary skills, which he later applied in intelligence and counterintelligence operations. He was known for his profound knowledge and intricate literary references, which often played a role in how he analyzed the geopolitical landscape during his career.
In 1964, Yuri Nosenko, a KGB officer based in Geneva, insisted he needed to defect to the United States because his role as a double agent had been discovered, and he was being recalled to Moscow. Nosenko was allowed to defect, although the CIA was unable to verify a KGB recall order.
Golitsyn had said from the beginning that the KGB would try to plant defectors in an effort to discredit him. Under great duress, Nosenko failed two highly questionable lie detector tests but passed a third test monitored by several Agency departments.
Judging his claim (as well as additional claims regarding Lee Harvey Oswald) to be improbable, Angleton permitted David Murphy, head of the Soviet Russia Division, to hold Nosenko in solitary confinement for over three years. This confinement included 16 months in a small attic with no windows, furniture, heat or air conditioning.
Human contact was completely banned. Nosenko was given a shower once a week and had no television, reading material, radio, exercise, or toothbrush. Interrogations were frequent and intensive. Nosenko spent an additional four months in a ten-foot by ten-foot concrete bunker in Camp Peary.
He was told that this condition would continue for 25 years unless he confessed to being a Soviet spy. Nosenko did not appear to have shaken Angleton's faith in Golitsyn, although Helms and J. Edgar Hoover thought otherwise.
Hoover's objections are said to have been so vehement as to severely curtail counterintelligence cooperation between the FBI and CIA for the remainder of Hoover's service as FBI director. Nosenko was found to be a legitimate defector, a lieutenant colonel. He became a consultant to the CIA.
Golitsyn, who had defected years before, was unable to provide concrete support for his views of the KGB.
