Walter Pforzheimer

Walter Lionel Pforzheimer Jr. (August 15, 1914 – February 10, 2003) was an American intelligence officer, master spy, lawyer, and bibliophile specializing in Intelligence literature and intelligence history. He played a crucial role in the early development of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and its legislative framework, drafting portions of and securing congressional approval for the National Security Act of 1947, which formally established the CIA. He was one of the founding members of the CIA and was the CIA's first Legislative Counsel, acting as the primary liaison between the agency and Congress. Pforzheimer later became a senior CIA officer and a recognized expert on intelligence matters. The CIA today recognizes him as one of their trailblazers and one of their greatest lawyers, but he told his eulogizer that he hated two things; his middle name, and being a lawyer. Throughout his life, he amassed an extensive private library on intelligence and espionage, which became one of the most significant collections in the field, and donated portions of his collection to institutions such as Yale University. Today, it is argued by the historian Timothy Naftali, there is not a single course taught in intelligence history in the English speaking world that has not benefited from Pforzheimer's work.

Early life In 1914, Walter Pforzheimer Jr., was born in Port Chester, New York. and at the University of Texas. Their other brother, Arthur, became a bookseller.

Having a childhood allowance of 50 cents a week, Pforzheimer began his own book collection purchasing first edition copies of his favorite author at the time, Frank R. Stockton. Pforzheimer had to negotiate subpoenas for CIA employees to appear in congress, including a subpoena for William Bundy. Under Pforzheimer's leadership, the HIC expanded rapidly. In its inaugural year, the collection grew to include 3,570 volumes, with Pforzheimer personally acquiring 1,308 books during a European trip across ten countries, all for under $2,500.

Intelligence historians that Pforzheimer taught and cultivated as his protégés around this time include:

Christopher Andrew John Costello David Kahn Dan Mulvenna Keith Melton Hayden Peake John Ranelagh Wesley Wark Nigel West

Pforzheimer's private intelligence collection contained rare artifacts, such as a visa issued to Mata Hari before her execution as a spy in 1917, a transcript from the trial of "John the Painter," an American convicted of sabotage during the Revolutionary War, and a 1699 memoir by spy Matthew Smith. His holdings included intelligence-related letters from figures like George Washington and Nathan Hale—documents the agency did not possess.

In 1994, for his 80th birthday, Festschrift titled "In the Name of Intelligence" was published, featuring contributions from leading intelligence historians such as Christopher Andrew, M. R. D. Foot, Nigel West, and Lord Dacre of Glanton.

Living at the Watergate complex in Washington, D.C., he kept one apartment for himself and another solely for his collection, even reinforcing the floors to support the weight of the books. He frequently hosted retired intelligence officers for discussions over Scotch. In 2002, he arranged for his collections to be transferred to Yale's Beinecke Library, though he insisted they remain with him until his passing, saying, "I go out the door feet first, then my library can go up to New Haven." The books were donated shortly before he died.