The Case Against Harry Dexter White Still Not Proven

21 Pages Posted: 31 Jan 2006

See all articles by James M. Boughton

James M. Boughton

International Monetary Fund (IMF) - Policy Development and Review Department; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Date Written: August 2000

Abstract

Harry Dexter White, the principal architect of the international financial system established at the end of the Second World War, was arguably the most important U. S. government economist of the 20th century. His reputation, however, has suffered because of allegations that he spied for the Soviet Union. That charge has recently been revived by the declassification of documents showing that he met with Soviet agents in 1944 and 1945. Evaluation of that evidence in the context of White's career and worldview casts doubt on the case against him and provides the basis for a more benign interpretation.

Keywords: Harry Dexter White, Bretton Woods, McCarthyism

JEL Classification: B31, F33

Suggested Citation

Boughton, James, The Case Against Harry Dexter White Still Not Proven (August 2000). IMF Working Paper No. 00/149, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=879958

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