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Francis Gary Powers was the U-2 spy plane pilot shot down over Russia on May 1, 1960. His son, Gary Powers Jr. opens up about his father, the CIA and a Steven Spielberg film “Bridge of Spies” surrounding one of the most talked-about incidents of the Cold War.
On this episode of Relatively Famous I talk with Gary Powers Jr., as he separates the facts from fiction. What excites me about this episode is the history. I remember being taught about the Cold War while we were actually living it out in real time. The Berlin Wall was a daily story on the nightly news. We learned about the U-2 incident and how Gary Powers was eventually exchanged for a Soviet prisoner. In school, we even took a sanctioned field trip to the Ocean Drive Theater to see Dr. Zhivago so we could better understand the Cold War and the threat of communism. I honestly believe Dr. Zhivago and A Gentleman in Moscow should be required reading and viewing in all U.S. schools.
We jump right into the facts and myths with a question from Warren Croom, a loyal listener and Relatively Famous subscriber: “Why did it take 30+ years for your dad to get the recognition he deserved?” In his answer Gary Jr. talks about the court of public opinion, fueled by conspiracy theories, fake news used to deflect from a military operation, and armchair generals, all played a major role in shaping the narrative around his father.
Before our conversation, I Googled Francis Gary Powers because I wanted to understand what happened and what choices his father had if he were captured. Thankfully, Gary answered the one question I didn’t want to ask but really did want to know the answer to: “Why didn’t your dad use the suicide pin if captured?” Injecting the poison was an option not a command, with a much deeper answer.
It’s fascinating to learn about the books Gary and his father wrote about the experience, the lectures, the museum, and Gary’s commitment to keeping this important piece of history alive for the American people. Gary told me he started giving lectures at high schools because students thought the U-2 incident had something to do with the rock band U2, rather than an event that brought us dangerously close to what could have become World War III. That really says it all about why preserving history matters.
I was also impressed by Gary’s take on the Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks film Bridge of Spies, based on the May 10, 1962, prisoner exchange involving his father. It seems the writers and producers were open to Gary Jr.’s thoughts and concerns. He described it as a wonderful experience and shared that he was hired as a consultant during the film’s production.
There is so much more we discuss in this conversation that I haven’t even touched on in these show notes. If you’re a history buff or military historian, this episode is for you. And if you’re not, I promise you’ll still be fascinated by Francis Gary Powers’ story and the amazing work his son, Gary Powers Jr., is doing to make sure we never forget it.
#GaryPowers #U2SpyPlane #ColdWar #BridgeofSpies #HistoryPodcast