The Greatest Heist You've Never Heard Of | Retro Report | The New York Times

[@BeornBorg]

I like how the FBI director said there was a _"better way"_ to clean up the FBI. How the hell would people have known without this group?

[@JohnSmith-zh7cj]

Exactly, sometimes the ends do justify the means.

[@sednabold859]

Well I don't think he could actively encourage security leaks given his position. I don't know what they expected him to say.

[@elhadjiamadoujohnson4166]

Beorn thank you!!!

[@EarlFaulk]

Yeah just like the better way that ol Hoover found to circumvent the law

[@arleciawhite7510]

Agreed

[@garygoodin8539]

J.Edgar Hoover's name should be removed from the F.B.I. building. He was a huge criminal.

[@cozycool3505]

Yes

[@heavenlyprincess9502]

Agree totally 💯

[@leclark5067]

Absolutely

[@madamejam-jam274]

The #1 criminal trying to call others criminals...dude he blackmailed those and he did the same stuff. He makes me sick.....😤💯🧿🙏👏💩🗑

[@shakeerahatch1044]

This man lied about being white and was ashamed of being black smh

[@deadprecedents1]

1)This is what REAL patriotism looks like 2)This is what REAL journalism looks like.

[@robertwalker7010]

Let’s see.

[@Ian-pn1ff]

@@robertwalker7010 fym

[@gabbar51ngh]

Only if Americans today similarly become Anti war and realise they need to negotiate with Russia instead of making profits for arms and ammunition companies.

[@honorladone8682]

Jay Edgar was a very troubled individual. He overcompensated for his lack of self esteem. Very clever getting the scoop on everyone keeping it in inventory right from the get-go. Karma has a way you may not see it but it's in the mail. Philadelphia USA

[@Pesso317]

@@Ian-pn1ffhe’s one of those people who believe everything the government tells them . Also some people don’t care because they can’t understand how it affects them but I can’t blame them for being dumb your government does a lot to trick them

[@bskee001]

Whistleblower to government: "I'm exposing your illegal activities and crimes!" Government to whistleblower: "Don't you know it's illegal and a crime to expose our illegal activities and crimes?"

[@user-jt7bx3ek8w]

Always so impressed at how normal (kindergarten teacher and a religious teacher) people that take down powerful adversaries are and how often that has happened. And the ones with power never see it coming

[@bart234465]

because they think no one has the right to question them

[@epikmanthe3rd]

@@bart234465 Or perhaps it's because they can hide in plain sight.

[@6610stix]

That's because in any place other than a police state, trying to keep widespread illegal activities secret is like trying to keep the tide from going back out.

[@B_Bodziak]

@@6610stix Except it's not fast enough concerning our current WH Administration

[@6610stix]

@@B_Bodziak Maybe that speed is directly porportional to our current administration's penchant for a police state?

[@expresspeace584]

I’m surprised that Netflix and other companies are making so many heist movies and haven’t done this one that actually changed peoples lives. This group of people are heroes!

[@Ian-pn1ff]

FR!

[@illusorymail]

there is a doc now on Media PA

[@thepsychnurse4406]

I agree

[@glennweeks7176]

Hoover was a bigger criminal than any criminal he ever put away...a true mad man!

[@Cyallaire]

@Jean Falco Do you have a source to recommend on Kissinger? Thanks.

[@richardpruett7500]

Hoover conspired with LBJ to murder Pres. Kennedy, Sen. Robert Kennedy, and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and framed innocent men for the murders.

[@c.a.g.3130]

And Jim Comey wanted to fill his shoes.

[@c.a.g.3130]

@Jean Falco Kissinger? Is your head in rectal defilade? Kissinger was still in Deutschland in 1924 when Hoover took over? Were the pen pals?

[@tomacosta85]

@@c.a.g.3130 he did.. They both stink

[@donpeters9849]

When the government breaks the law to harm us, we have every right to break the law to expose it, and bring it down. We are the people Peace

[@lindamaemullins3086]

donald peters -we do not owe anything to liars.

[@jameswellmanti1651]

Agreed

[@robertl.fallin7062]

It was J Edger then, now it's a massive data collection that empowers sketchy charectors, national and maybe more impactful, international actors. Putin is J Edger ten fold but his adversity is us! Just a thought from a old cold war warrior .

[@samiamcramer4truth]

donald peters You are correct. Now why don’t we organize a plot to force our government to free Julian Assange.

[@rogersmoot6194]

@@samiamcramer4truth I agree. It is apparent that our government has failed in its desires and/or attempts to help Julian Assange. He has done much for our country, and we let go of his wrists as he falls to the ground, so to speak---truly despicable.

[@JuicyCharon]

IT's sad whenever a whistle blower is perceived as a traitor. Don't shoot the messenger.

[@elihernandez800]

Snitches get stitches

[@alexbaker4518]

Only the guilty say that.

[@StufiBuy]

GRU defector Stanislav Lunav claimed that nearly every anti war movement was infiltrated and funded by Russian intelligence. They may have been traitors and not even known it. Looking back we know that Vietnam was a misstep and that eastern expansionism was not as great a threat as we believed but had things gone differently these naive and sentimental kids could very well hahe been the western judas.

[@kazkk2321]

L.M ; they are dangerous . Wait until it happens to you. When you are betrayed by a friend or some one close to you in the name of anything from love to politics.

[@Hero.Lone-Wolf]

@@StufiBuy lets not forget that most of the Anti-War sentiments and protest were in fact fuelled by the returning Vietnam War veterans themselves ... They are Traitors too ... I will not be thanking them for their service for sure !!!

[@PacoOtis]

Wow! I'm a Vietnam vet and we were not in Vietnam so that our leaders could lie and deceive as they have done! I've always been proud of "whistleblowers" as they are people who are much more brave than any soldier I knew! We humans sometimes appear to be a pathetic lot! Thanks for the video and best of luck to all of us.

[@robertmoffat5149]

Thank you. You would know better than anyone that there’s a difference between soldiers and warriors. The warrior doesn’t just follow orders.

[@blackmatca6277]

And why were you in Vietnam?

[@francedajao8231]

@@blackmatca6277 because all able men had to, duhh!

[@francedajao8231]

You're so cool, Sir

[@Ian-pn1ff]

@@blackmatca6277 because the US forced able men to be in vietnam and traumatize them, disable them, leave them in poverty and forget them.

[@whispersilk]

Pure genius. I salute these brave and bold people.

[@andreac6024]

I do too! Everyday heroes who was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for a cause bigger than themselves.

[@terriecotham1567]

Kind of like the founding fathers

[@hollystuart736]

Now thier killed or in prison!! Trump picked over 90 judges. So zero justice..AG is VIOLATING his position by being trump personal lawyer. They are arresting all protesters. One today said for no other reason than protesting he is going to prison. We are here again.

[@eldesgraciado6690]

The FBI if full of leftists right now, I bet these hippies are in love with the FBI now a days.

[@DrCruel]

One of the most successful KGB operations of the 1970s.

[@pinkpandamiranda]

As a twenty-something that wasn't around when these news stories were first talked about, I really think this is some of the most important work the New York Times can do. I believe that people need to have access to our history as a nation, and to have it in easy to consume videos like these is just wonderful!

[@nytimes]

*Burglars Who Took On F.B.I. Abandon Shadows* nyti.ms/1adr5Gj One night in 1971, files were stolen from an F.B.I. office near Philadelphia. They proved that the bureau was spying on thousands of Americans. The case was unsolved, until now. Read more: nyti.ms/1adr5Gj

[@simonwhitlock9189]

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing"- William Burke, I would add good women as well. Well done you valiant souls you can be proud of what you helped to achieve.

[@philrabe910]

Of course The Man will say "This is not the way to achieve these goals, you should use the courts." [to discover secret malfeasance in the FBI, yeah, sure.] whistleblowers are heroes.

[@samshields7881]

Really embodies MLK's idea that the moderate often "paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom"

[@busterbiloxi3833]

Except for Snowden and Assange. Those guys are dupes and useful idiots.

[@thebaron44]

Apparently we still need help...as the FBI gave phony documents to a FISA court to spy on the Trump campaign....the FISA court didn't help...we still have an FBI problem.

[@albertopalma1663]

@@busterbiloxi3833 Why? Elaborate please.

[@jamesanton3000]

Buster Biloxi they were heroes but the perception of what he did is not based in reality it’s that simple

[@ritamariekelley4077]

The good old days when the media did their job, true journalism...

[@justNAOMl]

SO GLAD THE RETRO REPORT IS BACK!!!! Absolutely the BEST THING OUT THERE!!! THANKS!

[@SumD-EGuy]

justNAOMl amen.

[@MrYougotcaught]

This should be a shown in Hollywood movies!! An actual heist against the government based on a true story

[@moneyfindersllc6236]

WELL, You're Right -- Except We ALL Know The Ending... :-)

[@paulaltmann8762]

Hellywood is Government

[@briansammond7801]

See kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpu5lIZqrqyWibs - it's a documentary not a drama, but it includes re-creations of the action along with more extensive interviews than what you see here.

[@hilal_younus]

Too bad, Hollywood Movies want to put America in a good light (Which is why they put a Yellowish filter when they show disputed regions or regions which are having negative stereotypes like Mexico , India , Middle East etc... ) So,,, it’s not going to happen in the near future

[@colatf2]

@@hilal_younus uh no? Many Hollywood movies paint the government in a bad light, probably more than paint it in a good light.

[@JerzyFeliksKlein]

I love how this bunch of retirees and pensioners goes "oh yeah, we were badassss!" :) because they were! Respect your elders! :)

[@HollyBluePlanet]

Even Jerry Rubins, one of the Chicago Seven and a personal hero, got a job on Wall Street in the 80's to support his coke habit. sickening. I hated it. I was so uncool for an entire decade.

[@scottmurray5600]

Respect the controls that were introduced to prevent government abusing its power against its own people. If any FBI agent at the time intercepted mail that would be a 4th amendment breach. Did the FBI agents take an oath to defend the constitution? Ooooops, looks like that's a direct breach of that oath. At that point they are hypocrites too.....

[@lindamaemullins3086]

Holly Avila -if so he worked for it.

[@lindamaemullins3086]

scott Murray -yes!

[@ljtl2274]

@@scottmurray5600 And they fell with ease into the lap of pathological hypocrisy. No self awareness or consequential thinking is ever entered into. Anyone with a well developed moral or ethical charcter, would be out work before they had been accepted. 🤪 🤔 🙄 😏 🤫

[@majinvegeta7381]

True Rebels!! And Patriots. Strong willed!!

[@lachlanwelsh5880]

Much better way to do things than attack the Capitol.

[@Scoutsquad45]

Definitely Patriotic acts 👍

[@l.tc.5032]

These people are heroes. We need more people like them.

[@utkarshkant3197]

We have one now Edward snowden

[@usernaam935]

@@utkarshkant3197 now we have dumbasses attacking the capitol 🤦‍♂️

[@morganstarchild3103]

Snowden did the right thing. So did these people

[@GeneDexter]

In 40 years Snowden is going to be hailed as a hero. I won't be there to see it, but will turn in grave if it doesn't happen.

[@BarbRogersMs.SolarTerror]

It will happen , it's inevitable ( not you turning in your grave though ).

[@BarbRogersMs.SolarTerror]

Turning ? I'd like to have a punching bag .

[@artysanmobile]

Gene Dexter He is already a hero to me, and I am not alone.

[@hollystuart736]

No one is doing anything about it. No one is going up against the injustice. They are now rounding up the protesters. Most of the truth tellers are in prison now or dead If no one does anything it is getting worse. because the news and the papers won't tell the truth.

[@judeirwin2222]

Why not take a motion sensor with you, so someone can register your disapproval?

[@RKrk-jj2li]

That dude is still in love with his wife. Ya notice how he looks at her..

[@person-xd3wb]

What a great wife!

[@comosellama5287]

Wow, ok, so who is going to direct this movie. I mean, they have to make this a movie now. The story is too good.

[@manarm5831]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpu5lIZqrqyWibs

[@robertmoffat5149]

What is it worth to make it if nobody sees it?! Look at Judas And The Black Messiah?! An equally important story made into a big Hollywood production and the studios just buried it.

[@yluna5471]

He was just a Bully! Glad someone stood up to him!

[@Dirovame1]

True American Heroes

[@damnmuggle]

ReturnoftheBrotha dude stfu and take your meds

[@jbweld6193]

Dirovame1 these people were straight up traitors.

[@zoperxplex]

JB Weld The greatest traitor was J. Edgar Hoover. He betrayed his oath to respect the law. He was the greatest menace to our freedoms since the Nazis.

[@Cyallaire]

@@jbweld6193 The FBI framed people, murdered people, protected the guilty, "infiltrated" the KKK with dues paying members who brought in plans for renewed racist terrorism, and destroyed untold numbers of lives of those who struggled for greater fairness, peace, environmental protection or decent working conditions. The FBI worked in league with organized crime. Check what was going on with the FBI high ups protecting Whitey Bulger in Boston, and profitting from thuggery. You have no idea what a traitor is.

[@jbweld6193]

@@Cyallaire and that somehow proves these two were not treacherous traitors? No. It just proves you dont like the FBI.

[@edwardhammer5427]

WE THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!! Whistle blowers should be viewed as heroes, not criminals. It's saddening that this country has become, we the government, not THE PEOPLE!

[@GivathBrenner]

They all deserve Nobel Peace Prizes. Hoover....well, how he got the job in the first place is baffling.

[@hazelwalsh3269]

Blair Phillips He didn’t do much get the job... as he invented the FBI... He was a Law unto himself!!! Paranoid and Racist!!

[@kevinlacoursiere684]

@@hazelwalsh3269 Or he just wore his prettiest dress and make-up ;-0

[@marionbaldwin1379]

Same as Trump. On his knees.

[@uniquehill8400]

Not baffling...they knew who Hoover was!!!!

[@Bariom_dome]

Because he was efficient, ruthless, capable of callousness, a bit of a snob, and devilishly cunning

[@MsClaudiaDuran]

Warms my heart watching these old timers relive their glory days, when they pulled some badass stuff.

[@sds5502]

Yeah we did and yea we were

[@usu15550]

Amazing - those are great Americans! Lots of courage and guts....

[@JimCampbell777]

10:33 The FBI said that the method that revealed how the FBI stole from United State citizens was, 'hardly justifiable". Said the thief who had his stolen things stolen by another thief! That's rich!

[@JAchica11]

Ok, so no one can do that now. In these days you'll just disappear, no one will hear from you again.

[@hkm_865]

Edward Snowden? He didn't disappear

[@aaronasbury2848]

+HKM _ Edward Snowden had to seek asylum in Russia in order for our government not to take measures against him. He can never come back or he will disappear. He gave up his life so we would know what the NSA was doing. Yeah, so he pretty much disappeared.

[@darcgibson5099]

he won't "disappear", he'll be tried in court and go to prison. Just like Chelsea Manning - who is now _out_ of prison. There's plenty of reason to be suspicious of government, but so far we're not Russia.

[@philrabe910]

We are actually worse than Russia, because we pretend that there is a veneer of accountability when there is none. [if the only way to expose secret surveillance is breaking the law]

[@philrabe910]

Many in the GOP have said he needs to be executed. "Life in prison is too good for Snowden," came from the FBI. [or one of the Bush goons, I forget]

[@kroon1930]

I love learning new bits about history that I had no idea about. Independent (and investigative) journalism is vital. As are these whistleblowers.

[@KingVikram]

Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. These are the crazy ones that Steve Jobs talked about. Only the crazy ones significantly change our existence very so radically. Thanks to them.

[@moneyfindersllc6236]

THEY Weren't "Crazy". THEY WERE: "BRAVE"!!!! INCREDIBLY... :-)

[@lindamaemullins3086]

They were right not crazy!

[@thomasredxjackson6906]

Ok➖thanks🤠❌™

[@thomasredxjackson6906]

@@lindamaemullins3086 Truthers❌™

[@TechSgtBerry]

As a veteran of many foreign wars, some, where we were not on either side, but, there I was... I swore to "protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign or domestic", I have monitored our politicians for all of my years, since I turned 18, and note that many politicians within our government are enemies of our Constitution. I celebrate free speech, free expression of beliefs, keeping and bearing arms, and all the many Rights, God given, and natural, plus, all which are not enumerated in the Bill of Rights. Hoover kept dossiers on every person he could surveil. That illegal act made him an enemy.

[@EfeTrkmn]

they got some balls to pull off something like that... respect

[@mefford67]

I love that they used Hoover’s own tactics and words against him... it was deliciously ironic!

[@You_work_tomorrow]

People always say we should learn from the past, what people forget is that bad people are also learning from the past. It’s not called illegal monitoring anymore it’s now called social media.

[@stephenramos2824]

Jeff Peng very true...same with the bad people think their the good guys in their eyes.

[@thomasredxjackson6906]

Nice comment/good point🕊

[@jamesedwards866]

Hard to learn from past when they rewrite history. Really study the civil war go very deep into it and you will see its been going on for a very long time

[@ritabruin9350]

wow...what gutsy people. they deserve medals.

[@rapaladude]

The ends definitely justified the means in stealing those documents.

[@JustWowNick]

An investigation of the FBI. OH how the tables had turned!

[@southern_girl_699]

Yes.

[@norbertsmom]

YOU COULDNT TRUST THEM THEN AND YOU CANT NOW SO SAD

[@stevewhite7084]

The look of pride on John Raines's face as he listens to his wife talk about her role is awesome. My wife is so cool is writ large all over his face.

[@AaronMichaelLong]

The whole sick, sad episode of COINTELPRO shows the pernicious problem with government secrecy. How are you supposed have a government which is accountable to the people when its activities are hidden from them? And on the flip side, how is Law Enforcement supposed to investigate actual criminals if their investigations are public knowledge. It's a nuanced and difficult problem, and any particular legal posture has tradeoffs we have to accept as a society.

[@danieldobrosky8378]

that house in Pottstown should be a historical spot.

[@joefoley1480]

"Thank you for your service" a real service for your country and not just killing poor people for the benefit of rich people

[@keithsage7258]

I saw a poster of Hoover in drag back in 68 and I have never seen one since..

[@TracyGreenwood]

The greatest heist that only 392K people have heard of.

[@NikD215]

OMG!!! I used to live across the street from this building and never know this history.

[@MegaDavyk]

True Hero'o exposing the criminal activity of a criminal government.

[@palervokalsa]

Absolutely great content.

[@domingodeanda233]

That was awesome! Great job.

[@samanthaprehn4537]

These men and women are heroes.

[@hazelwalsh3269]

Pity Edward Snowden is Portrayed as a traitor... When he is really a hero whistleblower!!

[@RLC302]

What can we do to help him? When Reagan was president, I believe he enacted some piece of legislation protecting whistleblowers.

[@quintinfranklin9168]

Right on to those 3 brave beautiful beings!

[@jamesarmijo1800]

How Hoover made it to that position strange and those years especially.

[@rosshoover6986]

J. E. Hoover's name should be stuck from every building and history its self.

[@wassup8691]

And nothings changed.

[@njosborne6152]

Wassup Knowledge is power. We stopped the Vietnam War.

[@daynanolan6619]

10:30 how would you go through the courts if the information was being hidden from the public?

[@quamby1able]

They should make a movie about this..., #TrueAmericanHeroes

[@manarm5831]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpu5lIZqrqyWibs

[@stephenramos2824]

Bonnie's 11

[@adamkeim8711]

Webster knows good and well those documents would have never seen the light of day had we relied on "the courts".

[@LiberalViewer]

Great story! Thanks for the video :-)

[@pavlestanimirovic]

Stealing Manhattan soon 2018...

[@timothygathings1531]

Im a black man in this country and people like this is what we call …… heroic

[@BaldwinBay]

Hoover was a freak. Corrupt. Egotistical.

[@edwardlubin322]

Keep the government honest. That's the end goal.

[@johnsradios484]

Still going on now.

[@williambillmulholland4799]

Thank you John for your help.

[@GAR9BALDI]

I remember picking up the phone in m office in Washington DC in the 1960's and hearing a conversation between two other men. The wires got crossed. It was deemed OK to tap all international agency's phones. The World Bank had their own cameras everywhere and huge IBM computers to keep records.

[@dc7370]

The savings and loan theft was pretty good. Over 400 billion. Both political parties did the money dance on that one.

[@williambryant6330]

Why is the FIB building still named after J eager Hoover? His own records convict him

[@ivycurtis9646]

That is awesome. Those people are hero’s

[@amitkar5316]

"Dissent is the lifeblood of Democracy." Spot on. Unfortunately this is something conservative/authoritarian-minded governments forget too frequently, even in the leading democracies of the world.

[@BigSteve_Gaming187]

Government needs oversight. Without it you give them an inch they will take a mile.

[@davidhamblin5287]

That's why Trump was elected! He's not a politician, he's not one of the boys. He's a business man who sometime s speaks in a rougher manner than the smooth liars but keeps his word. Best thing that ever happened to that office

[@LAkadian]

You have that SO backwards. If any candidate comes CLOSE to winning, that's a sure sign they were preselected.

[@andrewells7441]

These people are super heroes for our democracy!

[@ttraderjim]

American hero's!

[@Jacob33333]

I hope one day someone will make a movie about this.

[@WonderMagician]

When elected Congressional officials fail to conduct oversight ..thank goodness for citizens of conscience...who are willing to risk all to keep our government accountable and Just.

[@Hawkeye752]

Copies wound up being delivered to my Alma Mater, Villanova U, showing that several professors were under watch by the Media (PA) Field Office.

[@deniselyman5147]

I didnt know this. Thank God those men put an end to his secret activities.

[@valeriehaider3273]

This has been known by certain circles for years..

[@mahyahtanshu5238]

This reminds me of Christoph Meili exposing UBS and its involvement in WW1 despite its country's neutral status.

[@morecowbell235]

I wouldn't be surprised if Switzerland knowingly held stolen loot for the Nazis and helped bankroll Nazi activities.

[@LaughingblueSu]

Webster is incorrect. They would have never changed without the good people.

[@deadave100]

In the 1980's there was a Russian comedian, who said.. "In Russia, We don't watch TV... TV watches you" Today In America.... That is our reality. :(

[@mhayden5629]

You should move then.

[@LAkadian]

@@mhayden5629 Shut up.

[@HVACSoldier]

This should be a movie. This is something that young people wouldn’t do today. There is too much time to plan something like this, and young kids would rather do other things.

[@Davey-TheDJ]

First off United States belong to We the People not the federal government so that includes the FBI and the NSA we had the right to know what's in those departments

[@kevinharvey8971]

I'm very proud of these people

[@danielmedina2078]

Hoover was a bunch of flamming sticks . . . If you get my meaning 😏

[@southern_girl_699]

Yes.

[@sunnyboknow]

Yes.

[@matterridge9222]

Man we need one of these to happen more than ever.

[@jaygray7102]

"....the method was hardly justifiable. their's a way to take on the unjust laws, through the courts.." Problem is, no one knew about it until it was revealed at which point they could take on the unjust laws - but not until then, and it never would have happened if not for these whistle blowers.

[@EvaSofie]

This, Pentagon Papers, AND Watergate, you go Katharine Graham!

[@unathimalangabi2310]

Would be cool if we were taught this in history.

[@Bobsloth13]

I didn't think Treason had a statute of limitation.

[@mergeandsee]

well done!

[@gotdamnyou5844]

Awesome Job💪

[@janiejohnson2767]

This is no such thing as privacy

[@BarbRogersMs.SolarTerror]

There should be .

[@williamcovarrubias1070]

you can really see the swamp evolving and now look at what has become of our government. Vote republican

[@rockymntnliberty]

What the FBI was doing then seems relatively innocuous compared to what they do now. Also sunset time Federal policing agencies have dramatically increased. Spying, bullying, and abuse of power are the lifeblood of these Federal bureaucratic policing agencies.

[@deaddropholiday]

Hang on a minute. A physics professor asks you to become involved in a break-in at an FBI field office and you don't believe you are being stitched up in a Bureau sting operation or pawns in some inter-agency rivalry just months after the notorious "Huston Plan" was scuppered by Hoover? Here's the thing about "learning how to become an operator". It's pretty easy if you already are an operator.