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2-1 (Notes and Activity): Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen

Last updated almost 2 years ago
13 questions
Note from the author:
First, watch the lecture on Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen. AFTER you watch the lecture, answer the retrieval questions about the information you just saw.

Then, complete the activity about Ames, Hanssen, and Assumptions.
First, watch the lecture on Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen. AFTER you watch the lecture, answer the retrieval questions about the information you just saw.

Then, complete the activity about Ames, Hanssen, and Assumptions.
Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen Lecture
Retrieval Questions
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Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen had all of the following in common EXCEPT:

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During what time period did Ames and Hanssen spy on behalf of the Soviet Union?

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Both Ames and Hanssen were given the death penalty as punishment for their treasonous actions.

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Check off the three main reasons why the actions of Ames and Hanssen clearly fall into the category of conspiracy.

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Conspiracies are generally carried out for illegal or harmful purposes, which means they often have devastating consequences. List some of the specific reasons why the actions of Ames and Hanssen were considered so destructive.

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What role did assumptions play in the arrests of Ames and Hanssen?

Ames, Hanssen, and Assumptions Activity
Recall that assumptions are our unquestioned beliefs. We form assumptions based on the way we think the world works. Not only do all humans make assumptions but all humans need to make assumptions.

Sometimes our assumptions turn out to be true and lead us to accurate conclusions. But the problem with assumptions is that the original beliefs we use to make them may be faulty. If we are using faulty beliefs to make assumptions, then the conclusions we reach may also be faulty.

In this activity, you will read a number of statements about Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen. After you read each statement, think of the assumptions that people may have made about Ames and Hanssen based solely on this information.

Write down at least one assumption that you think people probably could have made based on this information. There are technically no right or wrong answers.
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Aldrich Ames was a pretty "average" man (average home, average car, average lifestyle, etc...). All of a sudden in 1985, he started wearing tailor-made suits, had his previously-yellowed teeth capped to be bright white, started driving a Jaguar, and spent about $100,000 renovating his home.

Based on this information, some people may have assumed that _______.
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Some people in the CIA grew suspicious of Aldrich Ames for a variety of reasons and suggested to authorities that he should be investigated. On separate occasions in 1986 and 1991, Ames was given polygraph tests and passed both of them.

Based on this information, some people may have assumed that _______ .
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Robert Hanssen was a known member of Opus Dei. Opus Dei is an institution of the Catholic Church whose members seek to implement to Christian ideals in their occupation and in society in general. They seek to apply Catholic spirituality to all aspects of their daily life, especially in the workplace where professional competence and work ethic is stressed as being of the utmost importance. Opus Dei believes that everyone should aspire to be a saint and perform their work as a service to help society.

Based on this information, some people may have assumed that _______ .
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Aldrich Ames was placed on assignment in Mexico City in 1981. While stationed in Mexico City, Ames engaged in at least three extramarital affairs. One of these affairs was with a woman who worked in the Colombian Embassy and as a CIA informant. Despite a CIA policy that requires employees to disclose any romances with foreign nationals, Ames never reported this relationship to his bosses.

Based on this information, some people may have assumed that _______.
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Beginning in 1985, an alarmingly-high number of CIA informants (Soviets who were secretly giving information to the CIA) began disappearing. The CIA learned that some of these informants had been executed by the Soviet government.

Based on this information, some people may have assumed that _______ .
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After years of investigation, Aldrich Ames was arrested in 1994. Many of the known security breaches were blamed on Ames but there were a few high-profile cases that remained unsolved. Investigators had evidence to prove that Ames was not responsible for these unsolved security breaches.

Based on this information, some people may have assumed that _______ .
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In 1987, some members of the FBI reported that Robert Hanssen had committed a serious security breach. They reported that he had shared classified information with a man who had defected from the Soviet Union. His FBI supervisors took no action and Hanssen faced no punishment for this security breach. A few years later, Hanssen's brother-in-law (who also worked for the FBI) told his supervisor that he had reason to believe that Hanssen was spying on behalf of the Soviet Union. Again, no action was taken.

Based on this information, some people may have assumed that _______ .