Jerrold Schecter

Jerrold Leonard Schecter (November 27, 1932 – February 6, 2023) was an American journalist, author, and historian renowned for his expertise in Soviet and Cold War history. He served as the Moscow bureau chief for Time magazine and authored several significant works on Soviet espionage and intelligence operations.

Early Life and Education

Born in New York City, Schecter graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1954. He pursued postgraduate studies at Oxford University in 1954 and was a Nieman Fellow at Harvard University from 1963 to 1964.

Career

Schecter began his journalism career at The Wall Street Journal before joining Time magazine in 1958. He served as the magazine's bureau chief in Tokyo and Moscow, covering pivotal events such as the Vietnam War and U.S.-Soviet relations. Notably, he played a crucial role in acquiring and authenticating Nikita Khrushchev's memoirs, which provided unprecedented insights into Soviet leadership.

In 1970, Schecter played a pivotal role in publishing Nikita Khrushchev's memoirs in the West. He collaborated with Khrushchev's son, Sergei, to smuggle the tapes out of the Soviet Union, leading to their publication in Life magazine and later as a book titled Khrushchev Remembers. This endeavor provided unprecedented insights into Soviet leadership and was considered a significant journalistic achievement.

After his tenure at Time, Schecter served as the National Security Council's spokesman during the Carter administration. In this role, he was involved in critical foreign policy issues, including the Camp David Accords and the Iran hostage crisis. His government service further solidified his reputation as an expert on U.S.-Soviet relations.

He later held editorial positions at Esquire magazine and contributed to various publications.

Major Works

Schecter authored and co-authored several notable books, including:

• The New Face of Buddha: Buddhism and Political Power in Southeast Asia (1967)
• An American Family in Moscow (1975, with Leona Schecter)
• The Palace File (1986, with Nguyen Tien Hung)
• The Spy Who Saved the World: How a Soviet Colonel Changed the Course of the Cold War (1992)
• Special Tasks: The Memoirs of an Unwanted Witness—A Soviet Spymaster (1994, with Pavel Sudoplatov)
• Sacred Secrets: How Soviet Intelligence Operations Changed American History (2002, with Leona Schecter)

His works often utilized declassified documents and firsthand accounts to explore Soviet intelligence operations and their impact on global affairs.

Personal Life and Death

Schecter was married to Leona Protas, with whom he had five children. He passed away on February 6, 2023, at his home in Washington, D.C., at the age of 90.