Dancing with the Devil: Sex, Espionage, and the U.S. Marines: The Clayton Lonetree Story

by Rodney Barker

In 1986, newspapers across America called it "the espionage case of the century." While serving as a security guard at the American Embassy, Sgt. Clayton Lonetree, a Native American marine, fell in love with a beautiful Russian woman. Then, a KGB officer posing as the woman' s "Uncle Sasha" recruited Lonetree to become a spy for the Soviet Union. The "sex-for-secrets Marine spy scandal"—as it was called by the press—had all the elements of a great novel. As the investigation proceeded, more marines were implicated, but after a witch-hunt that ruined many reputations and careers, only Lonetree was brought to trial. In this account, journalist Rodney Barker reveals information he obtained from KGB officers—as well as U.S. military and intelligence personnel—which raises questions about whether justice was served in Lonetree's trial.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, History

Audible Audio

First published March 12, 1996

Reviews

[Isabelle Chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an assigned reading for my history of espionage class. I did a class presentation on the story—learning a lot.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is at once a slice of history from the eighties and nineties, a case study of spying during the cold war and biographies of several people involved in "the sex for secrets scandal" in the eighties when it was alleged that US Marine security details at embassies around the world had been compromised by seductive Soviet spies. Mostly, however, its a love story about one such Marine, Clayton J. Lonetree, and the KGB "sparrow" who, in seducing him, fell in love with him.

Barker is no great writer and the book did not accomplish everything he meant for it to accomplish: he never interviewed Violetta Seina, the woman in the case. The best part of it is the love story.

[Dark Passport · Rating 4 out of 5]

”It’s only espionage” remarked Clayton Lonetree to his interrogators, as if this absolved him of betraying his country. The first U.S. Marine to be convicted of spying against the United States, Lonetree fell for the classic honeypot trap while working for the American Embassy in the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Prostitution is comically considered to be the world’s oldest profession, with espionage coming in as a close second. A young Russian woman secretly working for the KGB was functioning in both capacities when she attracted the eye (and another appendage) of Lonetree in the streets of Moscow.

Author and investigative journalist Rodney Barker devoted two years of research to write this book. He uprooted from New Mexico and moved to Washington, D.C. to be closer to Marine Corps Base Quantico and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. He spent two months in Moscow tracking down the two KGB agents who received classified material from Lonetree. What Barker found were more questions than answers.

As noted by his own admission and the observance of many others, Lonetree had long since been infatuated with the Soviet Union, Nazism, and communism. Same as the psychologist who evaluated him in the brig at Quantico, readers will question why Lonetree was ever allowed in the Marine Security Guard program to begin with, let alone be posted at the most sensitive diplomatic post in the world. Unfortunately, it took an international incident before Lonetree’s background was sufficiently investigated to the point of uncovering the series of bad decisions that led him to sell our secrets to the enemy. We learn how the NCIS bungled the ensuing investigation and later tried to blame the CIA and State Department. We get a glimpse of how Soviet women were recruited into the KGB and taught to seduce American men into spying on their country. Although the USSR is long gone, this book is a reminder of how Cold War era issues are reappearing as modern problems today.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is often described as "one of the most notorious spy cases in Cold War history". Some readers viewed it as mostly a "love story". Neither of those viewpoints focus on the real story, the underlying factors that made Clayton Lonetree a victim, not a villain as he was portrayed in the media. Who was primarily responsible for that victimization -- none other than the US Marines! Had the Marines done a competent job of weeding out prospective US Embassy guards, Clayton Lonetree would never have been assigned to the US Embassy in Russia. Had the Marines properly managed the US Embassy Guard Marines, rule infractions would not have been overlooked with regularity. And in the end, what chance did Clayton Lonetree, a Native American, have when tried before a jury comprised solely of Marines who had plenty to lose by voting for an acquittal.

Different perspectives from readers on this Clayton Lonetree story are the result of the author doing an excellent job researching, interviewing (including key players in Russia) and presenting an incredible amount of detail, leaving readers to draw their own conclusions as to whether or not Clayton Lonetree was a victim or a villain. Make your own determination about Clayton Lonetree after reading this all-inclusive personal story.

[Tree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book which painted an fairly representative overall picture of Clayton Lonetree, his past, and what happened during his ill-fated attraction to a Russian KGB agent. The book, unfortunately, relied heavily on only certain sides and as a result painted a slightly distorted picture - perhaps due to intransigence on the part of State and CIA to divulge information - but still paints as good an understanding of the circumstances leading up to this unfortunate affair. It would be nice if the author were to publish an update version (the first came out in 1996, right around the time Lonetree was being released from prison) cataloging what happened to the disgraced Marine afterwards...

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty interesting tale of Cold War espionage, not so much for the spying itself as for the challenging task of investigating the crime, and of the bureaucratic turf issues. Leaves you wondering a bit about what actually was compromised, and how many others there might have been at the Moscow embassy trading on secrets for gain.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good book.

If you are interested in reading about Marines, Espionage, Security, or the State Department, this book is excellent.

As far I know, Clayton Longtree is the only Marine that was ever charged with espionage.