Editing Richard helms (section)

==Richard Helms==
Richard McGarrah Helms (1913–2002) was a pivotal American intelligence figure, serving as CIA Director from 1966 to 1973 and shaping U.S. covert operations during the Cold War. Born in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, Helms graduated from Williams College in 1935 and worked as a journalist before joining the Navy during World War II. Recruited into the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), he developed espionage skills that carried into his CIA career, starting in 1947.

Helms rose through the CIA’s ranks, becoming Deputy Director for Plans (1962–1965), overseeing covert actions like the Bay of Pigs and anti-communist operations in Europe, potentially linked to Operation Gladio. As Director under Presidents Johnson and Nixon, he managed controversial programs, including MKULTRA, Vietnam’s Phoenix Program, and Chile’s 1973 coup. Known for his secrecy, Helms destroyed MKULTRA files in 1973 to shield the agency. His refusal to fully cooperate with Watergate investigations led to his dismissal by Nixon, after which he served as Ambassador to Iran (1973–1977).

In 1977, Helms pleaded guilty to misleading Congress about CIA activities in Chile, receiving a suspended sentence. He later worked as a consultant, defending his legacy of prioritizing national security. Helms died in Washington, D.C., in 2002, remembered as a disciplined spymaster whose career embodied Cold War espionage’s ethical complexities.