Changes

A top secret internal FBI memo dated February 1, 1956 from Assistant Alan H. Belmont to the Director and head of the FBI's Internal Security Section, L. V. Boardman, discussed the advantages and disadvantages of using [[Venona project]] materials to prosecute suspects.  In that memorandum, which remained classified forty-one years until the [[Daniel Patrick Moynihan|Moynihan Commission on Government Secrecy]] obtained its release to the public in 1997, Boardman quotes the May 13, 1944 Venona transcript, which named several members of the Perlo group, including Magdoff.  Though Belmont was of the opinion that the VENONA evidence could lead to successful convictions, it was ultimately decided, in consideration of compromising the [[Signal Intelligence Service|Army Signals Intelligence]] efforts, that there would not be prosecutions. <ref>[http://foia.fbi.gov/venona/venona.pdf "VENONA:  FBI Documents of Historic Interest Re VENONA That Are Referenced In Daniel P. Moynihan's Book, 'Secrecy,'"] pgs. 68-71</ref>

A top secret internal FBI memo dated February 1, 1956 from Assistant Alan H. Belmont to the Director and head of the FBI's Internal Security Section, L. V. Boardman, discussed the advantages and disadvantages of using [[Venona project]] materials to prosecute suspects.  In that memorandum, which remained classified forty-one years until the [[Daniel Patrick Moynihan|Moynihan Commission on Government Secrecy]] obtained its release to the public in 1997, Boardman quotes the May 13, 1944 Venona transcript, which named several members of the Perlo group, including Magdoff.  Though Belmont was of the opinion that the VENONA evidence could lead to successful convictions, it was ultimately decided, in consideration of compromising the [[Signal Intelligence Service|Army Signals Intelligence]] efforts, that there would not be prosecutions. <ref>[http://foia.fbi.gov/venona/venona.pdf "VENONA:  FBI Documents of Historic Interest Re VENONA That Are Referenced In Daniel P. Moynihan's Book, 'Secrecy,'"] pgs. 68-71</ref>

==Consequences and subsequent career==

====Postwar subversive activities====

While Magdoff was never indicted on any charges related to espionage, the accusations damaged his reputation during the following decades.  Despite this, Magdoff began a career in academia in the 1950s.  His first and perhaps most influential book, ''The Age of Imperialism'', was published in 1969.  It sold over 100,000 copies and was translated into fifteen languages.  Two years later, after the death of [[Leo Huberman]], he began co-editing with [[Paul Sweezy]] ''Monthly Review'', the leading independent Marxist journal in the United States, and has continued to edit the magazine to this day.  Under Magdoff's direction, the ''Monthly Review'' has focused more and more upon [[imperialism]] as the key unit of analysis for global development and the forces challenging neocolonialism in the [[Third World]].  This perspective put the magazine and its press squarely on the [[New Left]] intellectual agenda since the late 1960s.  His work has also kept him in the forefront of socialist thought in the U.S. from the 1930s to this day.  The [[Great Depression]] left a strong impact on Magdoff's perspective on [[capitalism]], as Magdoff recalls a sense of doom felt in the mid-century by pro-capitalists, holding that nothing since 1929 leads him to believe that the economy has become immune to cycles of severe crisis.

Magdoff began a career in academia in the 1950s.  His first and perhaps most influential book, ''The Age of Imperialism'', was published in 1969.  It sold over 100,000 copies and was translated into fifteen languages.  Two years later, after the death of [[Leo Huberman]], he began co-editing with [[Paul Sweezy]] ''Monthly Review'', the leading independent Marxist journal in the United States, and has continued to edit the magazine to this day.  Under Magdoff's direction, the ''Monthly Review'' has focused more and more upon [[imperialism]] as the key unit of analysis for global development and the forces challenging neocolonialism in the [[Third World]].  This perspective put the magazine and its press squarely on the [[New Left]] intellectual agenda since the late 1960s.  His work has also kept him in the forefront of socialist thought in the U.S. from the 1930s to this day.  The [[Great Depression]] left a strong impact on Magdoff's perspective on [[capitalism]], as Magdoff recalls a sense of doom felt in the mid-century by pro-capitalists, holding that nothing since 1929 leads him to believe that the economy has become immune to cycles of severe crisis.

Magdoff and the late Paul Sweezy together produced five books.  Magdoff's most recent book is ''Imperialism without Colonies'', published when he was 89.  Today Magdoff co-edits the ''Monthly Review'' with John Bellamy Foster.

Magdoff and the late Paul Sweezy together produced five books.  Magdoff's most recent book is ''Imperialism without Colonies'', published when he was 89.  Today Magdoff co-edits the ''Monthly Review'' with John Bellamy Foster.