Catching a Double Agent

What would cause a respected FBI agent to commit treason?  Money? Power? Pride?

Robert Hanssen is the notorious FBI agent who was charged with selling American secrets to Russia for more than 1.4 million dollars and diamonds. Hanssen had been selling US secrets to the Russians for over 22 years. His arrest in 2001 in Vienna is one of the most intriguing episodes in FBI history.

Do you know the inside story?

A 2007 movie called Breach tells the story of Hanssen and the young FBI employee, Eric O'Neill, who was assigned to spy on his boss.  It is a story of duplicity, greed, friendship and faith.  The award-winning movie shows how O’Neill uses lessons from his mentor Hanssen to ultimately bring down the greatest double agent of our time.  The film, directed by Billy Ray, stars Ryan Phillippe as O’Neill. Chris Cooper plays Hanssen.

Later this month, Evergreen School and Eric O’Neill are hosting a screening of the film. Eric will be on hand to tell the story beyond the movie and how his experience bringing Hanssen down changed his life forever.

For more information about the event please see www.evergreenschool.com.

John DeMarchi is the Head of School at Evergreen School, a school for children age 2 to grade three. Evergreen is located between Kensington, Silver Spring and Wheaton, Maryland.