Antonio J. Mendez

Matt Baglio

A dramatic account of a lesser-known aspect of the 1979 Iran hostage crisis recalls how six of the intended American hostages escaped from Iranian militants and were rescued by the co-author and his unlikely team of CIA agents and Hollywood insiders during a high-risk mission in Tehran conducted in the guise of a movie scouting expedition.

How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History

Argo

For the first time, the CIA has authorized a top-level operative to tell all in an unforgettable behind-the-scenes look at espionage in action. an undisputed genius who could create an entirely new identity for anybody, anywhere, anytime, Antonio J. Mendez combined the cunning tricks of a magician with the analytical insight of a psychologist to help hundreds of people escape potentially fatal situations. From "Wild West" adventures in East Asia to Cold War intrigue in Moscow and helping six Americans escape revolutionary Tehran in 1980, Mendez was on the scene. Here he gives us a privileged look at what really happens in the field and behind closed doors at the highest levels of international espionage, some of it shocking, frightening, and wildly inventive--all of it unforgettable.

My Secret Life in the CIA

The Master of Disguise

Jonna Mendez

From the spymaster and inspiration for the movie Argo, discover the "real-life spy thriller" of the brilliant but under-supported CIA operatives who developed breakthrough spy tactics that helped turn the tide of the Cold War (Malcolm Nance). Antonio Mendez and his future wife Jonna were CIA operatives working to spy on Moscow in the late 1970s, at one of the most dangerous moments in the Cold War. Soviets kept files on all foreigners, studied their patterns, and tapped their phones. Intelligence work was effectively impossible. The Soviet threat loomed larger than ever. The Moscow Rules tells the story of the intelligence breakthroughs that turned the odds in America's favor. As experts in disguise, Antonio and Jonna were instrumental in developing a series of tactics -- Hollywood-inspired identity swaps, ingenious evasion techniques, and an armory of James Bond-style gadgets -- that allowed CIA officers to outmaneuver the KGB. As Russia again rises in opposition to America, this remarkable story is a tribute to those who risked everything for their country, and to the ingenuity that allowed them to succeed.

The Secret CIA Tactics That Helped America Win the Cold War

The Moscow Rules

From the spymaster and inspiration for the movie Argo: how a group of brilliant but under-supported CIA operatives developed breakthrough spy tactics that helped turn the tide of the Cold War Antonio Mendez and his future wife Jonna were CIA operatives working to spy on Moscow in the late 1970s, at one of the most dangerous moments in the Cold War. Soviets kept files on all foreigners, studied their patterns, and tapped their phones. Intelligence work was effectively impossible. The Soviet threat loomed larger than ever. The Moscow Rules tells the story of the intelligence breakthroughs that turned the odds in America's favor. As experts in disguise, Antonio and Jonna were instrumental in developing a series of tactics--Hollywood-inspired identity swaps, ingenious evasion techniques, and an armory of James Bond-style gadgets--that allowed CIA officers to outmaneuver the KGB. As Russia again rises in opposition to America, this remarkable story is a tribute to those who risked everything for their country, and to the ingenuity that allowed them to succeed.

Malcolm McConnell

how the CIA and Hollywood pulled off the most audacious rescue in history

The true account of the 1979 rescue of six American hostages from Iran - Now a major Ben Affleck film. On 4 November 1979, Iranian militants stormed the US embassy in Tehran and held dozens of Americans hostage. Beneath this crisis another shocking story was known by only a select few- six Americans escaped the embassy and hid within the city. A top-level CIA officer named Antonio Mendez devised an ingenious yet risky plan to rescue them. Disguising himself as a Hollywood producer, and supported by a cast of CIA operatives, foreign agents and special-effects artists, Mendez travelled to Tehran under the guise of scouting locations for a fake science-fiction film called Argo. After three decades, Antonio Mendez finally details this extraordinarily complex and dangerous operation. A riveting story of secret identities and international intrigue, Argois the pulse-pounding account of the history-making collusion between Hollywood and high-stakes espionage. 'James Bond's Q comes to life. This gripping, true story of a white-knuckle operation reads like a thriller. Full of authentic detail and characters, of bravery and drama, it's a must-read.' Stella Rimington, former General Director, MI5'This true spy story has it all- guile audacity and bravery in a struggle with a fanatic and lethal enemy, a crucial role played by a loyal ally, and a marvellous conspiracy with Hollywood.' James Woolsey, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agencywww.argothebook.com www.themasterofdisguise.com

Antonio J. Mendez

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