American Intelligence's Biggest Failure - Robert Hanssen | Forgotten History

Robert Hanssen was one of the most dangerous traitors in American history. An FBI agent who spent more than 20 years spying for the Soviet Union and Russia while working inside the highest levels of U.S. intelligence. His betrayal wasn't just shocking; it caused irreversible damage to national security and led to the deaths of American assets.Born in Chicago, Hanssen was intelligent, devout, and outwardly loyal. But underneath that exterior was a man fueled by arrogance and a desire for power. From the late 1970s until his arrest in 2001, he passed thousands of classified documents to foreign adversaries, including nuclear strategy details, counterintelligence operations, and the identities of U.S. spies overseas.He was finally caught during a dead drop in Virginia, ending one of the longest and most damaging espionage operations in American history. Hanssen’s arrest led to major reforms in FBI counterintelligence procedures and serves as a chilling reminder that betrayal often comes from within. Written and hosted by Colin D. Heaton. Forgotten History is a 10th Legion Pictures Production.====================================================================Help support our channel:Forgotten History Merchandise: https://fh-shop.fourthwall.com/Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenHistoryChannelJoin this channel to get access to perks:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5kKhnQUbZmABUeJJvj9aw/join====================================================================Thanks for watching. Please subscribe using the link below so we can continue making new content. Your subscription to the channel means a lot to us! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ5kKhnQUbZmABUeJJvj9aw?sub_confirmation=1====================================================================About us: Host/Military Historian/Film Consultant/US Army and USMC Veteran - Colin Heatonhttps://www.heatonlewisbooks.comScreenwriter/Director/Producer/US Marine Corps Veteran - Michael Droberghttps://imdb.me/michaeldroberghttps://www.10thlegionpictures.comEmail The Forgotten History Team: droknows@hotmail.comBrand Deal Inquiries: john@smallscreenmarketing.comEditor: Pablo Kawai====================================================================Associated channel for sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, and film related topics:https://www.youtube.com/c/10thLegionPictures====================================================================-COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER UNDER SECTION 107 OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1976- Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. #forgottenhistorychannel Sources:Cherkashin, Victor; Feifer, Gregory (2005). Spy Handler: Memoir of a KGB Officer – The True Story of the Man Who Recruited Robert Hanssen and Aldrich Ames. Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-00969-7.ABC NewsCBS US Dept. of JusticeWise, David (2003). Spy: The Inside Story of How the FBI's Robert Hanssen Betrayed America. Random House Publishers. ISBN 0-375-75894-1.O'Neill, Eric (2019). Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America's First Cyber Spy. Crown. ISBN 978-0-525-57353-1.The New York TinesUS News and World ReportBBCSchiller, Lawrence (2004). Into The Mirror: The Life of Master Spy Robert P. Hanssen. Diane Pub Co. ISBN 0-7567-7435-7.Shannon, Elaine; Blackman, Ann (2002). The Spy Next Door: The Extraordinary Secret Life of Robert Philip Hanssen, the Most Damaging FBI Agent in U.S. History. Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 0-316-71821-1.