Changes

Nelson received special training in the [[Lenin School]] in [[Moscow]] in 1931, and in 1933 acted as an operative for the [[Communist International]] in [[Shanghai]], China. In 1936 and 1937, he served as a lieutenant colonel in the Communist-recruited [[International Brigades]] in Spain.  Although active as a Communist Party organizer in California and Pennsylvania and as a member of the Communist Party National Committee, his most important assignment was [[atomic espionage]].

Nelson received special training in the [[Lenin School]] in [[Moscow]] in 1931, and in 1933 acted as an operative for the [[Communist International]] in [[Shanghai]], China. In 1936 and 1937, he served as a lieutenant colonel in the Communist-recruited [[International Brigades]] in Spain.  Although active as a Communist Party organizer in California and Pennsylvania and as a member of the Communist Party National Committee, his most important assignment was [[atomic espionage]].

In April 1943 the [[FBI]] monitored a meeting in Nelson's home.<ref>[http://www.milnet.com/cia/Venona/preface.htm VENONA: Soviet Espionage and the American Response, 1939-1957], Robert Louis Benson, and Michael Warner, eds.</ref>  An FBI report stated,

In April 1943 the [[FBI]] monitored a meeting in Nelson's home.<ref>Robert Louis Benson and Michael Warner, eds., ''[https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monographs/venona-soviet-espionage-and-the-american-response-1939-1957/venona.htm VENONA: Soviet Espionage and the American Response, 1939-1957]'' (National Security Agency/Central Intelligence Agency, 1996), Preface</ref>  An FBI report stated,

:"Through a highly confidential and reliable source it has been determined that on April 10, 1943, a Russian who is an agent of the Communist International paid a sum of money to Steve Nelson, National Committeeman of the [[Communist Party USA]], at the latter's home in Oakland, California. The money was reportedly paid to Nelson for the purpose of placing Communist Party members and [[Comintern]] agents in industries engaged in secret war production for the United States Government so that information could be obtained for transmittal to the Soviet Union."

:"Through a highly confidential and reliable source it has been determined that on April 10, 1943, a Russian who is an agent of the Communist International paid a sum of money to Steve Nelson, National Committeeman of the [[Communist Party USA]], at the latter's home in Oakland, California. The money was reportedly paid to Nelson for the purpose of placing Communist Party members and [[Comintern]] agents in industries engaged in secret war production for the United States Government so that information could be obtained for transmittal to the Soviet Union."<ref>Herbert Romerstein, "[http://www.aim.org/aim-column/a-valuable-new-book-on-the-kgb/ A Valuable New Book on the KGB]," Accuracy in Media, May 13, 2009</ref>

The [[FBI]] later identified the Russian as [[Vasili Zarubin]], [[KGB]] North American [[Rezident]].  FBI Director Hoover alerted President [[Franklin Roosevelt]] and his advisor [[Harry Hopkins]] of the information,

The [[FBI]] later identified the Russian as [[Vasili Zarubin]], [[KGB]] North American [[Rezident]].  FBI Director Hoover alerted President [[Franklin Roosevelt]] and his advisor [[Harry Hopkins]] of the information,