bout de papier, Vol. 27, No. 2 (2013) — Spring 2013 // Printemps 2013, p. 28
The following is an extract from the concluding chapter of Mark Lijek’s 7he Houseguests: A Memoir of Canadian Courage and CIA Sorcery (pages 281-2). bout de papier thanks Mr. Lijek for permission to reprint.
In September 1997, the CIA announced what it called the Trailblazer Awards, recognizing fifty employees who had made exceptional contributions during the agency’s fifty year history. Several of the names were secret: Tony Mendez’ name was not. Along with his name, the CIA released information explaining why he was among the Trailblazers, Including details of his role in the exfiltration. With the usual sensitivity our government shows its northern neighbor, the Canadians received no advance notice. It probably would not have mattered except as a courtesy, however, as the real action was in the press and among the Canadian people.
Much to my surprise Ken Taylor was being widely denounced as a fake who had perpetrated a fraud.
I first learned of the agency announcement when a Philadelphia news reporter called and asked for my comments. I was stunned, both that the CIA would reveal so much of its tradecraft (presumably exfiltrations are still done from time to time) and because the news was being so thoroughly misunderstood. After verifying the CIA press release was genuine, I called the reporter back and said Tony was a true American hero and I was pleased we could finally thank him publicly for what he had done for us. But this did not in any way diminish what the Canadians had done.
John Sheardown’s warmly welcoming response to Bob Anders’ exploratory phone call remained, in my view, the single most important step in our journey from thoroughly misunderstood. After verifying the CIA press release was genuine, I called the reporter back and said Tony was a true American hero and I was pleased we could finally thank him publicly for what he had done for us. But this did not in any way
diminish what the Canadians had done.
as necessary for Ken to claim credit on AS well as himself.
John Sheardown’s warmly welcoming response to Bob Anders’ exploratory phone call remained, in my view, the single most important step in our journey from the consulate building to the airport in Zurich. Of course there were many critical actions along the way and picking one is necessarily arbitrary. But if we had not been convinced we were truly welcome at the Sheardown’s home, we most likely would have continued trying surviving on our own. I doubt that we would have lasted another week.
Ken’s wholehearted endorsement of John’s action, as well as that of Joe Clark and his government, sealed the deal. They bought us the time for Tony’s plan, brilliant as it was, to be conceived, approved and implemented. The Canadian passports were key as well. The reporter then asked about Ken’s very visible presence during the period when it seemed virtually every American wanted to thank Canada. I replied that it was a critical part of the plan. As long as Iran held the hostages, it was necessary for Ken to claim credit on behalf of his staff and his government as well as himself. Did he do it too well? As I have written previously, the Sheardowns, Zena in particular, may have thought so. But it was necessary for Ken to be convincing… (and) the press was at least as responsible for Ken’s visibility as he was.
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Originally published in bout de papier, Vol. 27, No. 2 (2013) — Spring 2013 // Printemps 2013, p. 28. Read the rest of this issue →
