American Scandal - The Rosenbergs | The Cause | 1

Episode Date: August 4, 2026

During World War II, New York communist Julius Rosenberg begins spying for Soviet intelligence and recruiting other Americans to join him. But when his wife’s brother joins the Manhattan Project, Julius targets him as a valuable new recruit and inadvertently sets the stage for the ultimate betrayal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

American scandal uses dramatizations that are based on true events. Some elements, including dialogue, might be invented, but everything is based on historical research. It's the afternoon of June 7, 1950, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Julius Rosenberg hustles down the sidewalk, his eyes darting left and right. Julius is in his early 30s. He's just over average height, with round glasses, a thin, dark mustache, and the beginnings of a middle-aged pawn. He may look unremarkable, but he has an extraordinary secret. For nearly a decade, Julius has been passing information to Soviet intelligence and convincing other like-minded Americans to do the same.

One of his most successful recruits is his brother-in-law, David Greenglass, and it's his apartment that Julius is hovering toward. In recent months, a string of other Soviet spies have been arrested and brought in for questioning by the FBI. Julius knows it's only a matter of time, and before one of them points the finger at him, so he's begun quietly preparing to flee the country with his wife and young children. He thinks David should do the same.

But as Julius approaches David's building, something catches his eye. A black sedan is parked directly across the street, and three men sit inside. All of them are staring at the entrance to David's building, and to Julius they have FBI written all over them. So for a moment he considers just walking on down the street. But the men may have already spotted him, and it would be even more suspicious if they saw him scurry away. So Julius takes a breath and tries to look natural as he pushes open the front door and steps into the building.

Once inside, he quickly climbs the stairs to David's fifth floor apartment. David cautiously opens the door. Julie, come in. Julius quickly steps inside, and David closes and deadbolts the door behind him. You see them outside? Julius nods. Can we talk? They've been out there all day, but the apartment's clean.

All right, but let's just keep it down in case and put on some music. David switches on the radio. Julius looks anxiously toward the window where the FBI is parked below and considers making this purely a social call. But then he decides he and David need to talk seriously about the future. David, we both should have left weeks ago. Well, there's no way I'm going to make it out now, not with the FBI tailing me. Well, let's not assume the worst.

Most important thing is to stay calm. We don't know what the feds have on you. Maybe someone mentioned your name just in passing. They're only checking you out. So what? I just sit here and wait? No, use this time to think about what you'll say if the FBI does bring you in. Rehearse it in your mind. You'll deny everything.

Tell them you have no idea what they're talking about. And if I'm brought in, I'm going to do the same. All we have to do is stick together and we'll be fine. Stick together. Right. They would need real evidence to convict you of anything. And that's all sitting in some vault in Moscow. David looks down.

He seems unwilling to meet Julius's eyes, so Julius leans in closer. David, swear to me you won't say anything. Oh, Julie, swear it. We need to be strong. You can count on me. We're family, right? We're more than that. We're comrades.

As Julius Rosenberg exits the apartment and heads back down the stairs, he can't get the image of David Greenglass's face out of his mind. The way he couldn't meet his eyes, can't tell if it was just fear or something else. Julius knows he's going to hold up his end of the bargain. He won't talk no matter what. He just hopes David is smart and brave enough to do the same. This is Actually Happening as a podcast that features extraordinary true stories of life-changing events told by the people who lived them.

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once referred to the investigation and trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg as the case of the century. Their story unfolded against the backdrop of McCarthyism and the Red Scare, a time when Americans were paranoid about communist collaborators in their midst, while the specter of nuclear annihilation loomed over everything. The revelations about a homegrown spy ring sent shockwaves through American society. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were an ordinary-looking husband and wife from New York,

so if they could be spies, anyone could. In such a frenzied atmosphere, some would question whether the Rosenbergs could ever receive a fair trial, and the case would remain controversial for decades after the couple's convictions. To some, the Rosenbergs were the only. ultimate traitors, who deserved to pay the ultimate price. To others, they were martyrs, wrongfully pursued by a vengeful government. But for the Rosenbergs and their family, the story was a personal one. To them, it was about competing loyalties, to their country, their spouses, their friends, and their beliefs. For a time, Julius and Ethel had been able to reconcile their love for their

home with their devotion to communism. But when the United States and the Soviet Union became enemies. They had been forced to choose where their allegiances really lay. This is episode one, The Cause. It's 1929 in a tenement building on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Seven-year-old David Greenglass is alone in the kitchen of his family's apartment, pouring baking soda into one of his mother's old mason jars. As far back as he can remember, David has been fascinated by machines and engineering, and today he's conducting an unusual experiment. With a science book open on the table next to him, he carefully follows the instructions for making a homemade bomb. David's parents are Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, and the family doesn't have much money.

There are seven people packed into the apartment, including David's three siblings and a border they've taken on to help make rent. But despite the cramped conditions, David still finds the space for an occasional science experiment. David's forehead knots with concentration as he combines more household ingredients, smiling as the substance bubbles and fizzes. But then the froth starts to spill over the sides of the mason jar. Reflexively, he screws on the lid to contain it, but that only quickens the combustive process. The jar begins to shake, and seconds later, the lid pops off with a loud bang, spraying white foam all over the kitchen. David stands there frozen in shock, as his father storms in.

He looks around the room in horror and asks, what on earth just happened? David stammers out an explanation, but that only makes his father even. angrier. He lays into David, calling him reckless, idiotic, and devoid of common sense. Young David is overwhelmed, frightened by the blast and ashamed of what he's done. He runs past his father and down the hall. With tears streaming down his face, David instinctively runs to the bedroom of his oldest sibling, 14-year-old Ethel. David wipes his eyes as he knocks on her door. A moment later, she opens it and asks what the commotion was all about. David tells her about the explosion and the scolding he got from their father, but Ethel just laughs. She assures David

everything's fine, and their father will get over it. Then she wipes the remaining tears from David's cheek and invites him inside. For David, being allowed in Ethel's room is always a treat. She's the sibling David looks up to the most, an aspiring actress, who often spends evenings out of the house running around the city with her bohemian friends. And as David sits on Ethel's bed, she hands him a script. Ethel explains she's rehearsing for the school play. She's got the lead role. And today she's memorizing her lines for the climactic final scene,

and she needs David's help. David listens intently as Ethel tells him how to read the stage directions. And as they work together through the scene, David can feel his anxiety melt away. He's lucky to have a big sister like Ethel looking out for him. David never attempts to make a bomb in the kitchen again, but his passion for science remains. And while he continues his studies in the hope of becoming an engineer one day,

his big sister Ethel soon graduates from high school. She wants to attend college as well, but it's the Great Depression, and money is tight. So she enters the workforce to help support the family instead. Ethel earns a certificate in typing and eventually lands a job at a packing and shipping company in New York's garment district. Her first years on the job are uneventful enough, but in the summer of 1935, a dispute with the bosses leads Ethel's union to call a strike. It's highly contentious, and there's violence on the picket lines. It's a radicalizing

experience for Ethel. Although barely 20, she soon takes on a leadership role in the union and even hosts strike committee meetings in her bedroom. But her political awakening comes at a cost. Ethel is fired from her job. But convinced that she's been targeted because of her union ties, she becomes even more passionate about labor rights. She continues to support striking workers and leans on her theater background by singing for them on picket lines and at labor rallies around the city. And in December of 1936, Ethel is on stage at a benefit for the International Seaman's Union in New York. As she looks out over the ballroom, her mouth goes dry. This is by far the largest crowd she's ever performed for.

So she closes her eyes, trying to take a moment to compose herself. But the jazz band behind her is already starting to play, and she has no choice but to start singing. She brings the microphone to her mouth and launches into a popular Italian love song. She's normally confident when performing, but tonight her voice is quiet and wavering. When the song comes to an end, Ethel can't get off the stage quickly enough. As the next act begins, she grabs her coat and begins making her way through the crowd. She's embarrassed and just wants to go home. But as she approaches the door, she feels a hand grab her arm.

She turns to find a smiling young man dressed in a suit and tie. He introduces himself as Julius Rosenberg, and he tells Ethel that he thought the song was beautiful, almost as beautiful as the girl singing it. Ethel blushes. She doesn't really believe the compliment, at least not the part about her performance, but it's nice to hear anyway. She thanks, Julius, and when he offers to walk her home, she agrees. As they stroll through the streets of Manhattan, the two get to know each other. At 18, Julius is two and a half years younger than Ethel. He's a sophomore at the City College of Technology, where he's studying to be in. engineer. Ethel tells Julius that she also comes from a family of engineers. Her father and

uncle have a machine shock, and her mischievous kid brother David wants to follow in their footsteps. Ethel then asks about Julius's family. He explains his parents or Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe just like hers. He even attends the same synagogue as one of her friends. Ethel can't believe how much they have in common. And as they near Ethel's tenement building, the conversation turns to politics. Julius lights up as he talks to about civil rights and the mistreatment of workers in New York. He's seen the way both Jews and African Americans are discriminated against, and it makes him sick. He's even more disturbed by the rise of the far right in Europe. Benito Mussolini is in power in Italy. Fascist rebels have declared war

on the government in Spain, and Adolf Hitler is remilitarizing Germany. Ethel is impressed by Julius's passion and knowledge and agrees with everything he has to say. On the front steps of Ethel's building, Julius gently takes Ethel's hand and tells her he'd like to see her again. She happily agrees. Julius then wishes Ethel a good night, gives her a small peck on the cheek. As Ethel heads up the steps, she feels like she's walking on air. Her mortifying experience on stage is a distant memory. All she can think about now is seeing Julius again. Within weeks of that first meeting, Ethel and Julius begin dating seriously. Julius is soon a regular visitor to the apartment and Ethel shares with her family. Her parents don't think much of him, but he gets along

especially well with Ethel's youngest brother, David, who's now in high school. At the same time, Julius's passion for leftist politics continues to grow. He becomes a leader in his college chapter of the Young Communist League, the youth wing of the Communist Party USA, and Julius becomes adept at identifying and recruiting new members. One of Julius's first converts is Ethel's brother, David Greenglass. Julius explains to him that communism and science share the same principles. Society can be engineered, just like a machine, organized in a way that benefits everyone. David finds that idea compelling, and with the encouragement of his older sister Ethel, he signs up with the Young Communist League at the age of 16.

Soon after that, Julius graduates from college. He and Ethel get married, and he moves into her bedroom in her family's apartment. But even with a good education, Julius knows it will be hard to get a job. Although Jews make up a sizable minority in New York, most are first or second-generation immigrants, and anti-Semitism is still rampant. So Julius decides to avoid the private sector and apply for work with the government instead. In the summer of 1940, he's hired as a communications engineer with the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Now making decent money, he and Ethel move out of their family's apartment and into one of their own in the East Village.

But from the start, Julius and Ethel's political activities caused trouble for him at work. Although not illegal, communism is regarded with deep suspicion by the U.S. government. And when the Army learns that Ethel once signed a petition to put a communist politician on the ballot, they haul Julius into a hearing, demanding to know if his loyalties lie with communism or with his country. Julius lies, and claims neither he nor his wife is a communist or even that political. He explains that Ethel was naively coerced into signing the petition by a neighbor without even reading it. The army buys the explanation, and Julius is allowed to keep his job. But this experience teaches him a lesson.

The government does not like communists, but Julius also believes they're either too lazy or stupid to do anything about him being one. But the army soon has something more urgent to worry about than suspected communists. In December 1941, the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor and the United States officially enters World War II. Julius is quietly delighted. The Soviet Union has been fighting off a Nazi invasion for six months already. Now the United States is joining the battle. Russian communists and American capitalists are on the same side. And soon, vast amounts of aid are flowing across the ocean to the Soviet Union.

But there are some things that the United States government does not share with its new ally. Top secret research and development remains closely guarded, and more advanced weapons technology remains safely on American shores. But Moscow has ways of getting what it wants. In September 1942, Julius Rosenberg attends a large Labor Day rally in Central Park. He's there with his friend Bernard Schuster, who is a high-ranking member of the Communist Party USA. During a break between acts, Schuster spots another friend in the crowd and gestures for him to join them. He introduces this man as Simeon Semyonov, but after a few moments, Schuster suddenly checks his watch

and asks Julius to keep Semyonov company while he's. runs a quick errand. As Schuster disappears into the crowd, Julius tries to think of something to say. So, you're Russian? Yes, though I've been in America for about five years now. I'd love to see Russia someday. Well, when the war is over, you will be very welcome. How are things back home? Do you hear much? Fascists are monsters, but we fight on. You know, Bernard and I have served on some of the same committees. Yes, he said that. And he tells me, you work for the army. I'm a civilian. Signal Corps, though. But you're an engineer. I studied engineering in MIT. That's why I came to America. Oh, wow. I only went to City College. It's nothing to be a shame, though. I hear you have a very important job.

I conduct inspections, mostly. Checking that manufacturers are meeting specs, you know, it sounds more impressive than it is. Well, I doubt that. In this war, what happens in the factory can matter as much as what happens on the battlefield. You sound just like Bernard. Well, he speaks highly of you. He says, you're a very important. He says, you're a someone who understands history. And you know that the Soviet people are not fighting only for themselves. No, no, I believe you're fighting for all of us. I just wish there was something more we could do to help. I mean, this rally is good and all, but warm words won't turn back the Nazis. No, exactly. Well, you are clearly an intelligent man, Mr. Rosenberg. Perhaps somewhere quieter, you and I could talk about what else you could do to help. A few moments later, Bernard Schuster returns with a sly smile

on his face. Julius Rosenberg looks at him with fresh eyes. Meeting Simeon Semyonov today clearly wasn't a chance encounter. Semyonov came here to recruit Julius for Soviet intelligence. Schuster set it all up. But Julius is thrilled. He spent years attending meetings, passing resolutions, arguing about political theory and crowded departments, but this is different. This is talk. This is action. And for the first time, his politics, his job, and the war effort all seemed to point in the same direction. The Soviets' bitter struggle against the Nazis has always seemed impossibly far from New York, but now Julius Rosenberg has found a way to help. Hey, Dan Tiberski here. I'm a podcast host, a journalist, and now with my newest project, the author of my own manifesto. Well, it's a manifesto

about manifestos. My search for inspiration in a world that feels more infuriating, more out of its freaking mind with each passing hour. Manifestos are a call to action, an artful scream. They capture our anger and they try to do something with it. This is my attempt to take the manifesto back from mass shooters and nihilists and return it to its rightful place with the warriors, the visionaries, the regular folks with just the right amount of crazy. I compare notes with radicals, secessionists, internet trolls out for a laugh and punk singers screaming their guts out, all trying to turn their anger into the world they want to see. Listen to manifesto wherever you get your Podcasts. Audible subscribers can binge all episodes of Manifesto early and ad-free right now.

Join Audible in the Audible app or by subscribing on Apple Podcasts. I'm Alice Levine. And I'm Matt Ford and we're the hosts of British Scandal. Yes indeed. In this series, a Derbyshire couple are bored of their curtain-twitching lawn-mowing suburban life. So they sell their house, build a yacht and sail off around the world. Which sort of sounds idyllic until a sperm whale sinks their boat and they begin to starve. Oh yes, and they didn't bring a radio because real sailors don't use radios. Right? This is the story of Marilyn and Morris Bailey.

And the 117 days they spent lost at sea. Follow British scandal wherever you get your podcasts or listen early and ad-free on Audible. Within months of being approached by Simeon Simeonov, Julius Rosenberg begins spying for the Soviet intelligence agency, the NKVD. Julius passes Semyonov sensitive documents for. from his office at the Army Signal Corps. Although he's just happy to be helping the communist cause, he still accepts cash in return, and the money becomes especially useful

when Julius and his wife welcome their first child in March of 1943. But although the documents from his work are useful, it soon becomes clear that Julius' greatest contribution to the Soviets isn't as a spy, but as a recruiter. He provides his handler with the names of other communists around New York, who may also be willing to share useful intelligence, These include former college classmates who have gone on to become engineers for the government and for military contractors. But on his hunt for potential recruits, Julius soon looks closer to home.

In the spring of 1943, Julius's brother-in-law, David Greenglass, is 21 years old and recently married. Like millions of other young Americans, he's drafted into the army. But as he's colorblind, he's considered unfit for combat on the front lines. Instead, the military decides to make use of David's technical skills. The Army is manufacturing, reconfiguring, and repairing equipment at a frantic pace, and it needs every machinist it can find, so David is soon on his way to Maryland to begin training. Luckily for him, his new base is only a few hours away from New York by train. So whenever he can, he heads back to Manhattan to see his wife Ruth and the rest of the family.

On one trip home that summer, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg take David and Ruth out to a movie in Times Square. After buying four tickets for the next screening of Mission to Moscow, Ruth and Ethel head for the ladies' room to freshen up, leaving David and Julius alone. So as they wait for their wives, Julius strikes up a conversation. So, how are they treating you in Maryland?

Like the Army treats anyone, I guess. Could be worse. At least I'm not in the Pacific, right? Or in Russia. That's where the real war is. Stalingrad, Leningrad? Yeah. What they're doing over there, those guys are a hero.

Julius looks around the lobby, unimpressed by the crowd. Most people don't understand that. They come here, buy popcorn, watch the newsreels, and they think they're part of the war. They don't understand what's really happening. Not over there. Fascism. Against the working class. That's the fight. Yeah, absolutely.

Julius stands a little straighter, pleased to have an audience. That's why I've decided I had to do something more. More? What do you mean? I've been working with someone, sharing information that might help defeat the night. Nazis. Sharing with who? Our comrades in Moscow. Oh, come on. No, I'm serious. David glances around, worried that they'll be overheard. Jeez, Julie, we're in public here. So no one's listening. Still, David lowers his voice even further. Are you saying you're a spy for the Soviets? Well, if that's what you want to call it, I call it helping our allies win the war. But isn't it

dangerous? What if you get caught? Everything worth doing is dangerous, David. If I can help them kill one more Nazi. I'm not going to sit on my hands. They're fighting for their lives over there right now. Does Ethel know? She understands. That's not an answer. I know what I'm doing, David. The Soviets trust me. I put them in contact with other useful people, people who think the right way, and they're always looking for more. He gives David a meaningful look. You mean me? Well, I told them you are smart and that you understand what this war is really about. David is unsure whether to feel flattered or afraid. But before he can answer, he spots their wives returning from the restroom. Ah, the girls are back. Julius turns instantly and holds up their tickets with an easy smile.

All right, you two, hurry up. We don't want to miss the newsreels. Julius Rosenberg doesn't mention espionage again that evening or during the rest of David Greenglasses leave. David begins to think that Julius was just bragging. When his leave is over, he returns to Maryland and tries to think nothing more of it. After completing his training, he's then trained transferred to a military base near Los Angeles to work on tank motors. Then he's sent to an ordinance plant in Mississippi. But in the summer of 1944, he's given a new assignment in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. David is joining the Manhattan Project, United States' secret quest to build an atomic bomb.

David quickly senses there's something different about this assignment. The level of secrecy is higher than anything he's experienced before, and he has to apply for an elevated security clearance just to take the time. part. During his vetting, he's asked if he's ever been a member of a communist organization. David joined the Young Communist League six years ago and is still a firm believer in the tenets of Karl Marx, but he doesn't mention that, and the military doesn't catch him in the lie. They're apparently in such a hurry to hire people for the Manhattan Project that there isn't time to vet everyone thoroughly. So David slips through the net, and when he arrives in Oak Ridge

in late July 1944, he's staggered by the scale of the endeavor. The uranium enrichment facility there is vast. Sitting in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and surrounded by a small city for its workers, all of it was designed and built in little more than a year. For David Greenglass, it's a glimpse of what he imagines the future will be like when socialism triumphs, a world in which the state plans and shapes society for the good of all. And while he's there in Oak Ridge, David writes to his wife Ruth almost every day. He explains that the military has forbidden him from discussing any details

of his new job with her, and he also warns that their letters are probably being read by authorities, so he won't be calling her comrade in his love letters anymore. But David doesn't have time to get comfortable in the workers' paradise of Oak Ridge. He's only there for around a week before he's transferred yet again. This time he heads farther west, a destination even more secretive in the mountains of New Mexico, a place called Los Alamos. When Julius Rosenberg learns from Ruth that there's some sort of top-secret going on in New Mexico. He's eager to share the news with the Soviets. By this time,

his previous contact has been recalled to Moscow, so Julius meets with his new handler, a different agent named Alexander Feklisov. On a warm evening in the summer of 1944, Julius strolls into Riverside Park on Manhattan's Upper West Side for his regular meeting with Feklisov. Glancing around, Julius spots him, already waiting on a bench overlooking the Hudson. Julius heads over and takes a seat next to Feklisov. They turn around. They turn around. talk as joggers and cyclists pass by in front of them. Almost immediately, and with a grin on his face, Julius reveals he's got something juicy for Moscow this time. He shares that his brother-in-law David Greenglass has been transferred to an

installation in the remote mountains of New Mexico, and judging from the level of secrecy, something big is going down there. But Julius is surprised when Feklissov says that the Soviets are well aware of the project. In fact, Soviet intelligence has already given it the code name enormous. But they're eager for information from the inside, so Feklissov asks Julius exactly what he's heard. He wants to know about the specific equipment David is working on, or the names of the high-ranking military personnel involved. Embarrassed Julius confesses he doesn't know those details. He's only heard about the project second-hand through David's wife, Ruth, and she's relying on vague descriptions in David's letters. To learn anything more, Julius will have to wait until David comes back to New York on leave,

and that probably won't happen for quite some time. Julius grows silent and looks at his hands in his lap. Only a few moments ago, he was sure he had something major for his comrades, but now he can sense Feklissov's disappointment. Eager to please his handler, Julius pitches another idea. Perhaps Ruth could travel to Los Alamos, to visit David, ask him about the type of information Moscow was looking for, and then report back. That way they won't have to wait for David to return on leave. It seems like a good idea to Julius, but Feklissov is wary. Every new recruit is a risk, and this plan would involve two of them.

David and Ruth are both in their early 20s, and in Feklasov's experience, people at that age tend to be careless and prone to sloppy mistakes. But even if it all went smoothly, Peklissov wonders what the payoff really would be. David is just an entry-level machinist who doesn't even have a college degree. It's unlikely he'll be able to provide the type of technical specifications

Moscow is really looking for. Julius pushes back, assuring Feklissov that David is plenty smart and will definitely find a way to be useful. And he swears that both David and Ruth are devoted communists whose loyalty shouldn't be doubted. Julius himself would trust them with his life. Feklissov stares silently over the Hudson for a moment. Then eventually he nods and says he has faith in Julius's judgment.

He still needs to get approval from his bosses in the NKVD, but if they give the green line, then Julius will be free to proceed with recruiting his in-laws. Julius is thrilled. This could be a real breakthrough, the biggest score of his espionage career so far. And as the two men go their separate ways, Julius promises Feklisov, he won't let Moscow down. I'm Alice Levine. And I'm Matt Ford, and we're the hosts of British scandal. Yes, indeed. In this series, a Derbyshire couple are bored of their curtain-twitching, lawn-mowing suburban life. So they sell their house, build a yacht, and sail off around the world. Which sort of sounds idyllic until a sperm whale sinks their boat and they begin to starve.

Oh yes, and they didn't bring a radio because real sailors don't use radios. Right? This is the story of Marilyn and Morris Bailey. And the 117 days they spent lost at sea. Follow British scandal wherever you get your podcasts or listen early and ad-free on Audible. By the fall of 1944, Julius Rosenberg's brother-in-law, David Greenglass, has been off-serving in the army for well over a year. While he's working on a top-secret project in New Mexico, David's wife Ruth is back in New York. She's lonely and has a lot of free time on her hands,

so Julius and his wife Ethel go out of their way to include Ruth in their lives. She comes over regularly to help Ethel care for the Rosenberg's one-year-old son, and the two women become especially close. Like Julius and Ethel, Ruth is also a communist, but Julius hasn't yet told her that he's been working for the Soviet intelligence. agency, the NKVD. It's only when he gets permission from his handler to target Ruth's husband, David, that he decides to let Ruth in on the secret. That's because with David out of reach in New Mexico, Ruth will have to act as Julius's go-between. So on a crisp Saturday morning in early November, the Rosenbergs invite Ruth to join them on a typical outing around Manhattan. They run errands,

shop for baby clothes at Macy's, and push the stroller along the East River. After sundown, they return to the Rosenberg's apartment for dinner. There, as Ethel heads to the bedroom to put the baby down for the night, Julius and Ruth worked together to set the kitchen table. Ruth thanks Julius for bringing her along today and for everything he and Ethel are doing to help her cope while David's in New Mexico. Julius brushes his off, replying that Ruth's family, it's the least they can do. But Ruth's words get the wheels turning on Julius's head. With Ruth in such a good mood, maybe now is the time to pitch his big idea. A moment later, Ethel returns from the bedroom, and the three of them take their seats around the table for dinner. Julius subtly shoots a glance to his wife, silently letting her

know that now is the time for the talk they've been planning. Ethel gently nods in agreement. So as they dig into their smoked fish, Julius eases into the pitch. He asks Ruth how she feels about the upcoming presidential election. Ruth replies that she's glad it looks like Roosevelt is going to win again. He's been good for labor, and over. their left-wing causes. And with the topic of politics on the table, Julius pushes a bit further. He then asks how Ruth feels about the Soviet Union in particular. Ruth considers herself a communist, but she isn't as political as Julius or Ethel or her husband for that matter. But she's certainly happy the United States and the Soviet Union are now fighting alongside

each other against Hitler's Germany. Julius pounces on that line of thought, revealing he has a way to really help the Soviets finish off the Nazis. He has Russian friends. who are looking for information that could enable them to develop new weapons, and he thought perhaps David could help. Ruth's fork pauses in mid-air. She looks to Ethel asking what's going on here. Julius watches as Ethel takes Ruth's hand, assuring her that as David's big sister,

she knows him better than almost anyone. She's sure David would be happy to help. But of course, they can't just write and ask David for classified details. The military reads every letter sent to the base. That's when Julius jumps back in. He says the Soviets already know the United States is building some kind of super bomb at Los Alamos, but they still need more information. So when she travels out to see David in New Mexico, Ruth could pass along a message.

And when she returns to New York, she can relay anything useful David says to Julius. Ruth puts down her fork and looks at her plate. Julius can see that this is a lot for her to process. Afraid he's about to lose her, he takes Ruth's other hand and assures her it's not really that big of a deal. There's virtually zero chance of getting caught. Ruth only has to memorize a few things and then repeat them back. Julius will then pass the information to his friends and nothing will be in writing. No one will ever know except the Soviets who will be happy to pay for anything useful.

Julius leans back and watches Ruth, beginning to worry that involving her was a bad idea. He promised the Soviets that he could get Ruth on board, but now he'll have to go back to his handler with his tail between his legs. Moscow will think Julius was foolish. for exposing their operation to a new person only to get nothing in return, and they may never trust him again. But then Ruth lifts her head and explains that the Rosenberg's her family, so she'll do them this favor, but she won't push David into doing anything he's uncomfortable with. She'll ask her husband once, and if he says no, then that's the end of it. Julius breathes a sigh of relief. He tells Ruth that there's no pressure coming from him,

and if David doesn't want to do it, he'll never ask again for sure. As Ruth resumes picking at her fish, Julius shares a smile with his wife. That went as well as they could have hoped, and now he's one step closer to having a source inside Los Alamos. His handler is going to be thrilled. A few weeks later, David Greenglass is granted several days of leave, and Ruth finally schedules her first trip out to New Mexico. A few days after Thanksgiving, she arrives in Albuquerque,

about 90 miles south of Los Alamos, and rents a room. Soon after, David hops in a borrowed car and drives down from the bay to meet her. On the way, he stopped. to buy Ruth a ring to celebrate their second wedding anniversary. The green glasses spend the next few days together, but David and Ruth are so excited to be reunited, talk of serious issues like the election or even the war barely comes up, and Ruth has no desire to spoil their precious bit of quality time

with a discussion about espionage. Still, in the back of her mind, Ruth can't forget the promise she made to the Rosenbergs. So on the Saturday before David has to go back to base, Ruth suggests that they take a walk together, around town. She throws a winter jacket over her dress and David puts on his brown army uniform. They walk hand in hand, moving at a leisurely pace, gazing at the modest Christmas displays and store windows. After a few blocks, Ruth is still trying to work up the nerve to deliver the

Rosenberg's message. She leans against David. Oh, I'm really dreading leaving. I hate being in New York without you. It kills me too, honey. You think you'll have to be out here much longer? I hope not. We've got half the top scientists in the world all. working together. If we keep making progress, we could end the war overnight. That's what Julia said. He told me it's some sort of super bomb. David glances around, making sure no one's nearby. Julie told you that? Did he hear that from his Russian friend? You know about him? David nods. He told me this summer. That night when we went to the movies with him while you and Ethel were in the

ladies' room. Is that why you looked like you'd seen ghosts when we came back? Well, I promised him I give you a message. He says the Soviets are fighting on our side. They're losing 10 times as many men as we are, so it's not fair that we're keeping this new bomb to ourselves. He wants me to help. Ruth nods. He made me memorize a whole list of questions to ask you about what you've seen at the base, and I have to take your answers back to him. He says the Russians will give us money. I don't know how much. Honestly, it sounds like a terrible idea to me, but I promised him I'd ask, so there it is. I guess it's your decision now. As Ruth gives David time to think it over, she silently hopes that her husband will refuse,

and that'll be the end of it. But after a few moments, David turns to her. I thought he was insane when he told me what he was doing. But I've been thinking about what he said a lot since then. And you know what, he's right. Those of us who can do more should, so tell him yes, I'll do it. As the couple turns and begins walking back to the hotel, Ruth Greenglass feels a pit growing in her stomach. She's shocked at how easily her husband agreed to the plan.

She was sure he'd say no, or at least put up some sort of resistance. But apparently that was just wishful thinking. So Ruth tries to calm herself by recalling Julius Rosenberg's words. The Soviets are our allies, so helping them end the war isn't really treason. And if David ever gets caught, she just hopes the government will see it the same way. From Audible Originals and Airship, this is episode one of the Rosenberg's for American scandal. In our next episode, Julius Rosenberg and David Greenglass begin passing secrets from inside Los Alamos to Soviet intelligence.

But as the FBI decifers coded messages to Moscow, they get closer to uncovering the operation. Follow American Scandal on the Audible app, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to all episodes of American Scandal, ad-free, by joining Audible. And to find out more about me and my other projects, including my live stage show coming to a theater near you, go to not that lindsaygram.com. That's not thatlindsaygram.com. If you'd like to learn more

about the Rosenbergs, we recommend the books The Brother, the untold story of the Rosenberg case by Sam Roberts, and the Rosenberg file by Ronald Radosh and Joyce Milton. This episode contains reenactments and dramatized details. And while in most cases we can't know exactly what was said, all our

dramatizations are based on historical research. American Scandal is hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsay Graham for Airship. This episode is written and researched by Corey Metcalf, senior producer Andy Beckerman, managing producer Emily Burr, fact-checking by Alyssa John Perry, audio editing by Mohamman Shazi, music by Throne, sound design by Gabriel Gould. Executive producer for Airship is William Simpson. Executive producer for Audible is Jenny Lauer Beckman, Head of Creative Development at Audible, Kate Naven, head of Audible Originals,

North America, Marshall Louis, Chief Content Officer Rachel Giotts. Copyright 2026 by Audible Originals LLC. Sound recorded copyright 2026 by Audible Originals LLC.