→ Presidential Praise: National Security Medal
→ CIA Glory: Dulles Extends “Deep Admiration”
| Arash Norouzi The Mossadegh Project | August 19, 2026 |
Any discussion of the 1953 coup in Iran is sure to conjure up one name above all — Kermit Roosevelt, Jr.
Roosevelt, a grandson of Pres. Theodore Roosevelt, was just one of many CIA agents working to overthrow Premier
Mohammad Mossadegh, yet he gets the lion’s share of the
credit. It’s fair to question, as some do, whether that is warranted.
Roosevelt’s notoriety can be largely traced to the fact that, unlike his colleagues, he wrote an entire book about his exploits in Iran, and proudly did media interviews promoting it.
Countercoup: The Struggle for the
Control of Iran (1979) also had the unusual distinction of having been pulled from release by publisher McGraw Hill due to British objections, with instructions to destroy all existing copies (the reprint had the offensive
parts altered). This controversy just amounted to extra publicity.
Roosevelt, of course, was only allowed to publish his book after the CIA thoroughly reviewed the manuscript before approval. That does not make it an ideal historical account (far from it), but it was grounded in a basic reality which
has been corroborated.
The counter-narative to Countercoup is that Roosevelt’s spy story was self-serving, ego-driven, and hence unreliable. Roosevelt was merely a braggart who exaggerated his role, while it was patriotic Iranians loyal to their king
who emerged, all on their own, to save their country from disaster.
This version of the event — the so-called “national uprising” canard — is what the
Shah himself preached publicly
each year
after the coup on its anniversary, and it’s the story he stuck to for the rest of his life.
Contrary to rumor, Roosevelt never claimed to have single-handedly knocked down Mossadegh’s government. In fact, he always emphasized the impetus of motivated Iranians. “Really all they needed was support, and to some extent,
professional guidance”, he said.
In his book, he wrote at length about the wealthy and well-connected Rashidian brothers (names sanitized as the Boscoe Brothers), and cited
Ardeshir
Zahedi, son of the ex-general installed as Prime Minister, Fazlollah Zahedi, as a particularly helpful co-conspirator.
Roosevelt also stated that the coup was a joint effort between the United States and Great Britain. “We were all heroes”, wrote Roosevelt, referring to the triangular efforts of Americans, Britons and Iranians.
The mechanics of the 1953 coup, its legal and moral basis, and counterfactual scenarios have been debated for generations. And the hierarchy of importance attributed to its Iranian, British and American players remains an ongoing
discussion.
Yet the U.S. government ultimately determined that their covert operation was a success, and that central to that success were the actions of Kermit Roosevelt.
The fact is, at the highest levels of power, the United States was amazed and delighted by Roosevelt’s improvised feats of spycraft. Though they were not able to say so openly, Roosevelt, in their view, was not only a national hero,
but an asset to the entire free world.
This very article, for the first time ever, documents this history clearly and irrefutably with a series of official documents. They expressed “deep admiration”, and testified to Roosevelt’s “courage, resourcefulness, and determination”.
After the 1953 coup succeeded, the CIA certified that Roosevelt played an essential role both in its planning and execution. This was underlined by a remarkable, highly excised document from Aug. 28, 1953 (unreleased until
2017), summarizing a meeting
with many of the CIA’s top brass, a virtual jury of their peers. Clearly fascinated, these men interviewed Roosevelt all about the operation and how he and his collaborators managed to pull it off.
The CIA has maintained this posture ever since.
In a 139-page report “Zendebad, Shah!”: The Central Intelligence Agency and the Fall of Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh, August
1953 (1998), CIA staff historian Scott A. Koch wrote:
“CIA’s role was significant. Without Kermit Roosevelt’s leadership, guidance, and ability to put some backbone into the key players when they wanted to quit, no one would have moved against Mossadeq.”
Koch reaffirmed this view in a 2014 article The Road to Covert Action in Iran, 1953, published in the CIA journal
Studies In Intelligence:
“It is no exaggeration to say that TPAJAX owed its success to Kermit Roosevelt…Roosevelt returned to a hero’s welcome at the highest levels of government.”
Roosevelt’s agility in the face of near defeat was like the field goal at the end of the 4th quarter that gets the extra point that wins the Superbowl. The hail-mary pass that saves the day. The most valuable player’s contribution is
crucial, even though it’s a team effort.
This is affirmed by the official declarations of the Chief Executive,
President Dwight D. Eisenhower,
and the Director of the CIA, Allen Welsh Dulles. Their accolades are preserved in both personal communication and official business, amounting to documentary evidence. These include Eisenhower’s
effusive praise in
his private diary, along with Dulles’ unequivocal gratitude in a letter to Roosevelt.
The honors reached their zenith when Kermit Roosevelt was given the National Security Medal in a private ceremony in 1955 with the President and ten other witnesses. Among them were his wife, mother and son, as well as CIA Chief Allen
Dulles, Sec. of State John Foster Dulles, former Amb. Loy Henderson (another key figure in the coup) and Herbert Hoover, Jr., son of the former President. He was only the second person to ever receive the distinction.
Roosevelt was awarded not merely for his critical actions in Tehran in mid-August 1953, but for the entire four month period from May through August. He had helped pressure and cajole the Shah to dismiss Mossadegh and
appoint Zahedi in the first place. After the fact, he continued to remain active as the U.S. worked to secure their victory by stabilizing the shaky coup regime politically, militarily and financially.
Roosevelt’s significance to the success of Operation Ajax can be debated. His government’s assessment of his potency cannot.
Perhaps the Shah himself said it best when he expressed to Loy Henderson — and to Roosevelt later the same evening —
“I owe my throne to God, my people, my army—and to you!”
Yes, even the Shah, who maintained the lie that Mossadegh was swept from power by a popular revolution, was willing to acknowledge Roosevelt as a factor in his ascension. In the last two of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s memoirs circa 1980, he
freely admitted to coordinating with Roosevelt and Henderson in the context of the events of 28 Mordad.
When it came time to finally write Countercoup and expose the covert CIA operation the Shah ‘owed his throne’ to, Roosevelt first discussed it with the Shah in May 1976.
According to Roosevelt, the Shah not only had no objections but “gave his approval”!
292. Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency to the Station in Iran [Langley, VA to Tehran]
Washington, August 20, 1953.
DIR 16474. 1. CIA officials are joined by the appropriate divisional and branch officers in extending commendation and congratulations to all Tehran Station personnel. Kermit Roosevelt both in HQS
[headquarters] and on scene of action has distinguished himself and served US Govt and CIA well. We respect the Tehran group for their great staunchness in the face of difficulties and
temporary discouragement. We are proud of the Tehran Station personnel who have all to varying degrees contributed greatly to the success of overthrow. Commendation is also extended to CIA official who has done an excellent job
backstopping the operation [less than 1 line not declassified] and has handled with credit the sensitive task of conducting liaison [less than 1 line not declassified].
2. The DCI wished to extend his warmest personal congratulations to Kermit Roosevelt for a superbly and successfully executed mission. Roosevelt’s persistence, extreme competence and courage should be commended most highly.
[Director of Central Intelligence, i.e. Allen Dulles]
3. Commendation also being prepared for CIA official upon latter’s return.
End of message.
• [Annotations by Arash Norouzi]
• Source: Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Iran, 1951–1954 (2017)
• “Source: Central Intelligence Agency. Secret; Priority. [text not declassified] Transcribed specifically for the Foreign Relations series from microfilm in the Central Intelligence Agency that no longer exists. See “Sources”
chapter. No time of transmission appears on the source text.” — U.S. State Department Office of the Historian
• On August 28th, CIA headquarters sent a message to Roosevelt, who was still in Tehran, hailing the contributions of other agents [names redacted] involved in Operation Ajax (TPAJAX).
• After Roosevelt died, his colleague John Waller eulogized him thusly: “Kim was in that Churchillian mode of a 19th-century warrior…He was a man of the times and a good man to have around during the cold war.”
("Kermit Roosevelt, Leader of C.I.A. Coup in Iran, Dies at 84" | The New York Times, June 11, 2000)
[undated draft]
DRAFT
MEMORANDUM FOR: The President of the United States
1. Forwarded herewith is a citation awarding the National Security Medal to Mr. Kermit Roosevelt of this Agency. The recommendation for this decoration has been reviewed by the Honor Awards Board of this Agency and with authority
delegated to the Director of Central Intelligence has received my approval.
2. Because of the extraordinary contribution made by Mr. Roosevelt, it is hoped that an early White House presentation may be arranged.
ALLEN W. DULLES
Director
• Declassified by the Central Intelligence Agency on July 8, 1977.
[Transcribed and annotated by Arash Norouzi]
• Note: Apparent forwarded attachment below.
[undated draft]
I would like to record personal as well as official gratification for the progress achieved by your Agency in a program of the highest national importance. In particular, I wish to commend the part played by Kermit Roosevelt who, in
the face of trying and dangerous circumstances, showed great courage, resourcefulness and determination. Under his leadership CIA agents acted with valiance and professional competence of high order in the accomplishment of missions in
which failure would have had most serious consequences and success has opened up exceedingly valuable and rewarding avenues. In my opinion Roosevelt has served his country in truly outstanding fashion and I hope that this service can be
duly recognized.
Bob
Please get going on the citation
Allen
• Declassified by the Central Intelligence Agency on July 8, 1977.
[Transcribed and annotated by Arash Norouzi]
• Note: The last line was handwritten. “Bob” is likely Robert Cutler, and “Allen”, due to illegibility, is an educated guess.
[undated letter]
Dear Kim,
As you return from your richly deserved holiday I wanted you to have on your desk this note from me expressing my deep admiration for a task well done.
Please give me a call when you get in as I want to see you at your earliest convenience and let you have some ideas on subjects of mutual interest.
Sincerely,
Allen W. Dulles
Director
Kermit Roosevelt. Esq.
Washington. D. C.
[excised box at bottom left]
• Declassified by the Central Intelligence Agency in October 1992.
[Transcribed and annotated by Arash Norouzi]
• Kermit Roosevelt, also known as “Kim”, was Chief of the Near East and Africa Division, Directorate of Plans as of September 6, 1950.
• After the victory in Iran, the CIA asked Roosevelt to help depose Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala. Perhaps this was a topic of conversation on Dulles’ agenda.
The President of the United States of America awards the National Security Medal to
MR. KERMIT ROOSEVELT
for distinguished achievement in the interest of our national security and for an outstanding contribution to a program of great importance to the country.
In a situation, grave and menacing to our security, Mr. Roosevelt demonstrated the highest order of courage, resourcefulness, and determination. When charged with heavy responsibilities in which failure would have had most serious
international consequences, his perseverance and professional competence resulted in the accomplishment of a mission which was of significant value to his country and to the free world. His achievement is in keeping with the highest
traditions of service to the United States and merits the gratitude of his Government.
DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
The White House
September 23, 1953
• Declassified by the Central Intelligence Agency in November 1989 (year is a guess due to illegibility).
[Transcribed and annotated by Arash Norouzi]
• The National Security Medal was established by President Harry Truman (Executive Order 10431) on January 19, 1953. The first recipient was Walter Bedell Smith on February 21, 1953.
“The National Security Medal may be awarded to any person without regard to nationality, including a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, who, on or after 26 July 1947, has made an outstanding contribution to the National
intelligence effort. This contribution may consist of either exceptionally meritorious service performed in a position of high responsibility or of an act of valor requiring personal courage of a high degree and complete disregard of
personal safety.”
Medal description:
“A blue enameled compass rose surrounded by a red enamelled oval, the interior dimensions of which are 1 inch vertically and 7/8 inch horizontally, bearing the inscription "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" at the top and "NATIONAL SECURITY"
at the bottom, the whole enclosed within a laurel wreath of gold-finished bronze surmounted by an American bald eagle standing with wings raised. On the reverse a serial number appears on the eagle and the words "PRESENTED TO" are
impressed on the compass rose. The name of the recipient is engraved below. The medal is suspended by a loop from a silk moire ribbon 2 inches in length and 1 3/8 inches in width, composed of a band of dark blue (11/16-inch), gold
(3/32-inch), dark blue (11/16-inch), gold (3/32-inch), dark blue (1/4-inch), Diagonal gold lines (3/32-inch in width end 3/32 inch apart) extend downward from the wearer’s right to left across the center band of dark blue. The
miniature of this medal is furnished at the time of the award.”
REPORT OF HONOR AWARDS BOARD
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
DATE: 23 September 1953
Convened pursuant to CIA Regulation 20-635
The Board, having considered a recommendation that:
Roosevelt Kermit
be awarded the National Security Medal
for meritorious service or achievement during the period 1 May - 31 August 1953
approves that recommendation.
CITATION
The President of the United States of America, in accord with the provisions of Executive Order 10431, has awarded the National Security Medal to Kermit Roosevelt for distinguished achievement in the field of intelligence
and outstanding contribution to a program of national importance.
In the face of trying and dangerous circumstances, Mr. Roosevelt demonstrated the highest order of courage, resourcefulness, and determination. When charged with heavy responsibilities in which failure would have had most serious
international consequences, his perseverance and professional competence resulted in the accomplishment of a mission which was of significant value to his country and to the free world. His extraordinary achievement is in keeping with
the highest traditions of service to the United States and merits the gratitude of his Government.
Approved
[signed]
Allen Dulles
• Declassified by the Central Intelligence Agency on July 8, 1977.
[Transcribed and annotated by Arash Norouzi] The preamble is a form, filled out with last and first name, etc. One entry on the form is redacted.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower Diary Entry
October 8, 1953 (excerpt)
Another recent development that we helped bring about was the restoration of the Shah
to power in Iran and the elimination of Mossadegh. The things we did were “covert.” If knowledge of them became public, we would not only be embarrassed in that region, but our chances to do anything of like nature in the future would
almost totally disappear.
Nevertheless our agent there, a member of the CIA, worked intelligently, courageously, and tirelessly. [Kermit Roosevelt, Jr.] I listened to his detailed report, and it seemed more like a
dime novel than an
historical fact. When we realize that in the first hours of the attempted coup, all element of surprise disappeared through betrayal,
the Shah fled to Baghdad, and Mossadegh seemed more firmly
entrenched than ever before, then we can understand exactly how courageous our agent was in staying right on the job and continuing to work until he reversed the entire situation.
• Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diary Series, Box 1
• Read Eisenhower’s entire 14-page diary entry here
12 April 1955
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Presentation of the National Security Medal To
Mr. Kermit Roosevelt
1. At 9:50 A. M. on 24 March 1955 the President of the United States presented the National Security Medal to Mr. Kermit Roosevelt. The ceremony took place in the President’s Office in the White House, and
President Eisenhower, when making the presentation read the citation which accompanied the decoration.
2. In addition to the President and Mr. Roosevelt, those present were:
John Foster Dulles (Secretary of State)
Herbert Hoover, Jr. (Under Secretary of State)
Loy Henderson (former Ambassador to Iran)
Allen W. Dulles (Director of Central Intelligence)
Robert Cutler (former Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs)
James S. Lay, Jr. (Executive Secretary, National Security Council)
Mrs. Kermit Roosevelt (the recipient’s wife)
Mrs. Kermit Roosevelt (the recipient’s mother)
Kermit and Jonathan Roosevelt (the recipient’s son)
An unidentified White House aide
(12 Apr 55)
Distribution:
Orig - Subj file
1 - Chrono
5 -
Recorder
CIA Honor Awards Board
• Declassified by the Central Intelligence Agency on July 8, 1977.
[Transcribed by Arash Norouzi]
• Although Roosevelt became the recipient of this honor on Sept. 23, 1953, this document shows that the ceremony did not occur until March 24, 1955.
Related links:
Kermit Roosevelt on CIA Suppression of Iranian Communists (Oct. 1951)
Walter Bedell Smith Tells Pres. Eisenhower Iran Is In Dire Straits (May 1953)
CIA: Mossadegh Unlikely To Fall | Aug. 19, 1953 Draft Study
MOSSADEGH t-shirts — “If I sit silently, I have sinned”
