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Sidney Gottlieb
CIA MKUltra Program Director
CIA chemist who directed MKUltra mind control program for 20 years
Overview
Sidney Gottlieb was a CIA chemist who directed the MKUltra mind control program from 1953-1973. Known as the"Black Sorcerer"and"Dirty Trickster,"he personally administered LSD to unwitting subjects, developed assassination tools including poisoned cigars for Castro, and authorized experiments that caused deaths and permanent psychological damage. He destroyed most MKUltra records before retiring and was never prosecuted.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
MKULTRA DIRECTOR: Ran the CIA's mind control program for 20 years, overseeing 149 sub-projects that experimented on thousands of unwitting subjects with LSD, electroshock, hypnosis, and psychological torture.
FRANK OLSON DEATH: Gottlieb personally slipped LSD into Army scientist Frank Olson's drink without his knowledge. Days later, Olson fell/was pushed from a 13th floor window. Gottlieb never faced charges.
OPERATION MIDNIGHT CLIMAX: Oversaw CIA brothels in San Francisco and New York where prostitutes lured men to be dosed with LSD while agents watched through one-way mirrors.
ASSASSINATION TOOLS: Developed assassination methods including poisoned cigars, toxic handkerchiefs, and contaminated diving suits for use against Fidel Castro. None succeeded.
HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION: Authorized experiments on prisoners, mental patients, and drug addicts who could not consent or complain. Many suffered permanent psychological damage.
EVIDENCE DESTRUCTION: In 1973, ordered destruction of all MKUltra files to prevent accountability. Most were shredded, but 20,000 documents survived in misfiled financial records.
Related Investigations (3)
Criminal Charges & Violations
5 documented violations
Rome Statute Article 7(1)(f)Crimes Against Humanity; Torture: Systematic torture through drug experiments and psychological abuse(International Crime)
Rome Statute Article 7(1)(k)Crimes Against Humanity; Human Experimentation: Non-consensual experimentation causing death and permanent injury(International Crime)
18 U.S.C. § 1111Murder: Death of Frank Olson and other experiment subjects(Violent Crime)
18 U.S.C. § 1112Manslaughter: Deaths from reckless human experimentation(Violent Crime)
18 U.S.C. § 1519Destruction of Records: Ordered destruction of MKUltra files(Obstruction)
Known Associates & Connections
Allen Dulles
CIA Director who authorized MKUltra
Richard Helms
CIA Director who ordered records destroyed
Frank Olson
Victim who died after being drugged
Sources & Documentation
3 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- August 3, 1918
- Birthplace
- Bronx, New York
Education
- •City College of New York
- •University of Wisconsin, Ph.D. Chemistry
Key Timeline
August 3, 1918
Born in Bronx, New York
1951
Joins CIA Technical Services Staff
April 13, 1953
Begins running MKUltra program
November 1953
Drugs Frank Olson with LSD without consent
November 28, 1953
Frank Olson dies falling from hotel window
1954-1966
Operates brothels for Operation Midnight Climax
1973
Orders destruction of most MKUltra records
1977
MKUltra exposed in Senate hearings
March 7, 1999
Dies in Washington, Virginia; never prosecuted