Bernard Spindel
Bernard B. Spindel (November 9, 1923 – February 4, 1971) was an American surveillance, wiretapping, electronics and lockpicking expert, generally regarded as the best in his field, and a pilot.[1][2][3][4] He was responsible for eliminating more bugs and wiretaps than anyone in history.[5]
Bernard Spindel | |
|---|---|
 Bernard Spindel (left) and Jimmy Hoffa after a 1957 court session in which they pleaded not guilty to illegal wiretap charges | |
| Born | Bernard B. Spindel November 9, 1923 New York City, United States |
| Died | February 4, 1971 (aged 47) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Surveillance expert, pilot |
Electronic surveillance
Bernard B. Spindel was an electronic eavesdropping and surveillance technician in the early Cold War known for both his operational prowess and his mastery of the technology. Jim Hougan described Spindel as "a wire-man of unequaled genius… the Nikola Tesla of electronic eavesdropping." A 1966 article in Life magazine named Spindel the "No. 1 big-league freelance eavesdropper and wiretapper in the U.S."[6][7]
The Hoffa connection
Spindel is known for his involvement in union leader Jimmy Hoffa's 1964 criminal trial[3] and 1957 trial[8] where in 1957 Spindel and Hoffa pleaded not guilty to accusations of illegal wiretapping. The 1957 indictment stated that in 1953 Hoffa paid Spindel $8,429 in union funds to wiretap Teamster headquarters in Detroit.[8]
Personal life
Spindel was married to Barbara Fox Spindel, founder and co-owner of the B. R. Fox Spindel Company.
In the 1960s, Spindel lived in a small estate in Homes, New York, with his wife, seven children, two dogs and four horses.
Spindel's autobiography was published in 1968, entitled The Ominous Ear.[9][10] He died on February 4, 1971 from a heart attack, having been under a prison sentence for his electronic eavesdropping.[11]
References
- "Wiretap Expert Invokes Fifth At Hoffa Surveillance Hearing". New York Times. 6 March 1964. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- "Hoffa's Lawyers Recall Star Prosecution ithess". New York Times. 13 February 1964. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- "Judge is Assailed at Hoffa's Trial". New York Times. 8 February 1964. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- Lane, Frederick S. (2009). American Privacy: The 400-year History of Our Most Contested Right. Beacon Press. ISBN 9780807044414.
- Hougan, Spooks, p. 108.
- Neary, John (May 20, 1966). "On Assignment with The Ace of the Bugging Business". Life. No. 359. p. 44.
- "Bernard Spindel - Eavesdropper, Wiretapper, Bugger - 1966". spybusters.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- "Indict Hoffa for 'Spying' on Pals". Chicago Tribune. May 15, 1957.
- "The Ominous Ear by Bernard B. Spindel". spybusters.com. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
- Spindel, Bernard. The Ominous Ear. New York: Award House (1968). OCLC 440580.
- "Bernard Spindel, Wiretapper, Dies". New York Times. 4 February 1971.
Bibliography
- Hougan, Jim (1978). Spooks: The Haunting of America & the Private Use of Secret Agents. New York: William Morrow. ISBN 978-0688033552.
Further reading
- Hochman, Brian (Feb. 3, 2016). "Eavesdropping in the Age of The Eavesdroppers; or, The Bug in the Martini Olive." Post45.
- Parnell, A. W. (Feb. 1969). Review of The Ominous Ear by Bernard B. Spindel. American Bar Association Journal, vol. 55, no. 2. p. 169. JSTOR 25724692.