Secrets Up Their Sleeves: How the CIA Turned Magic Into Spycraft

 

Secrets, Spies, and Sleight of Hand: The CIA’s Bizarre Partnership with a Magician

     In 1953, the CIA did something so offbeat you’d think it belonged in a Vegas nightclub—they hired a magician. And not just any magician, but the legendary John Mulholland, a master illusionist known for pulling rabbits out of hats and making entire showgirls disappear. Why? Because in the shadowy depths of the Cold War, the CIA was determined to teach its agents a few tricks of the magical trade. The agency needed to equip its spies with a skill set that was less Jason Bourne and more David Copperfield, for the same reason we all need a good backup plan: sometimes, a little trickery goes a long way.

     This wasn’t just any sleight-of-hand guide for rookies. The CIA created a manual packed with Houdini-like techniques, full of tips on how to secretly swap microfilm, pass pills, and disappear into thin air without so much as leaving a suspicious footprint. Dubbed The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception, this little tome transformed spooks into certified illusionists, ready to work their magic under pressure. They learned to slip a pill into an enemy’s drink with more finesse than a Las Vegas bartender and to pick a pocket with the ease of a street magician.

     Now, you might wonder how a man who spent his life doing magic shows ended up partnering with America’s top spies. It’s a fair question, but remember, the CIA was in the business of misdirection. To win the Cold War, they needed a bag of tricks that would make even Bond blush. John Mulholland wasn’t just there to give card tricks to the recruits. His role in the MKULTRA program—yes, the same MKULTRA that dabbled in mind control and paranormal psychology—was to teach agents how to blend into a crowd, pass secret messages, and manipulate their surroundings without being seen. And much like CIA operative Corey Pearson in the spy thriller Mission of Vengeance, who had assets trained to slip a drug into an assassin’s drink without being noticed, these agents needed to become real-life escape artists.

     One of Mulholland’s finest tips was a technique he charmingly called “dropsies.” The trick was simple: an agent would intentionally drop an object to distract a target. It’s the sort of thing we all do by accident, but Mulholland taught CIA operatives to use it for more strategic purposes. Take, for example, CIA operative Jim Warjovy, who used “dropsies” to pass secret information in East Berlin. In the middle of a tense exchange with a Soviet agent, he dropped a coin on the floor. While the Soviet’s gaze was down, Warjovy quickly passed a microfilm to his contact. This sleight-of-hand technique, perfected under Mulholland’s guidance, allowed operatives to pass messages, documents, and tiny objects right under the noses of their adversaries—subtle, quick, and invisible, just like any seasoned magician would do on stage.

     And then there were Mulholland’s more theatrical tricks, inspired by Houdini himself. Ever heard of the old “disappearing box” act? Mulholland suggested a way for CIA agents to shuttle people and secrets out of Eastern Europe by turning getaway vehicles into magical boxes. Picture a stage magician’s disappearing act but on wheels. When agents needed to smuggle someone out of East Germany, they used Mulholland’s tactics to create getaway vehicles that concealed agents like props on a stage. It was misdirection at its finest.

     Then came 1973, when Mulholland’s magic manual was supposedly destroyed, like an untraceable vanishing act. But in 2007, retired CIA officer Robert Wallace and spy historian Keith Melton made a discovery worthy of any thriller novel. During a routine dust-up of Cold War archives, they unearthed Mulholland’s original files, dusty but intact, containing tricks the CIA thought had been incinerated for good. They compiled these rediscovered secrets into a book, The Official CIA Manual of Trickery and Deception, now available for anyone interested in learning how to slip a pill into a drink or pull off a covert sleight of hand.

     It’s worth noting that Mulholland’s guide included more than just passing pills and dropping coins. He trained agents in everything from disguise to subtle hand signals. Former Deputy CIA Director John McLaughlin put it best when he said, “Magic and espionage are kindred spirits.” After all, it’s easy to see the similarities: both spies and magicians rely on creating illusions and reading their audience to stay one step ahead. If you’ve ever pulled off a good lie in front of your boss, you can appreciate Mulholland’s genius.

     And if you think this sounds suspiciously similar to a scene from Mission of Vengeance, you’d be right. In fact, that’s exactly what CIA spymaster Corey Pearson does when he employs his own sleight-of-hand-trained operatives in a crowded Dominican disco. Here’s a snippet:

It happened quickly. CIA spymaster Corey Pearson let his plan unfold. The two Dominican Republic ladies, actually low-level CIA assets, walked down Dr. Rosen Street onto Calle Pedro Clisante and passed Whistle Blower, whose table was next to the sidewalk. One toted the luxurious Haumea handbag that the Russian KGB defector Yury Bocharov bought for her at the Blue Mall in Santo Domingo. It hung low and was opened. Whistle Blower was well trained in the art of sleight of hand. She furtively dropped a small  package into it, while simultaneously lifting a forkful of her trifle to her mouth.

   The packet contained a vial of some sort and a Bluetooth microphone disguised as a ballpoint pen. Minutes later, Corey walked at a fast pace across the street and entered the disco, then strolled to the men’s room. The noise and lights engulfed the senses; no one would remember seeing him.

   He swung open the restroom door, then placed a rubber door stopper under it so no one could enter. The killer was peeing up a storm into the urinal. The Furosemide diuretic that the girls imperceptibly slipped into his drink worked quickly.

     When you think about it, espionage and magic do share a strange common ground. Mulholland taught the CIA that if you can make an enemy agent look the other way, even for a second, you can do just about anything right under their nose. And as Corey Pearson proved, whether it’s in the Cold War or a steamy disco in the Dominican Republic, a good sleight of hand can be the difference between life and death.

     So, the next time someone fumbles a coin in front of you or tries to slip something in your drink, remember: it could be an accident, or it could just be a CIA agent taking Mulholland’s magic lessons for a spin. Either way, it’s safe to say John Mulholland would be proud. 

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and the author of the "Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster" spy thriller series.