Steve Nelson (spy)

Steve Nelson was a National Committeeman of the Communist Party USA. In April 1943 the FBI monitored a meeting in Nelson home. 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."

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

"Because of the relationship demonstrated in this investigation between the Communist Party, USA, the Communist International and the Soviet Government, I thought the President and you would be interested in these data. These matters are being brought to your attention at this time for your confidential information inasmuch as the investigation is continuing."

The information was sensitive because it revealed that the FBI had a microphone in Communist leader Steve Nelson's home and could record all of his conversations.

See also

• J. Robert Oppenheimer
• Giovanni Lomanitz
• Perseus (spy)