# Have their been any American Conspiracy Theories That Were True? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2007, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374 "2007-01-10T03:56:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Emerald\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Emerald\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emerald_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/21 "2007-01-10T17:24:13Z")
[QUOTE=astorian] But while Watergate was a real conspiracy, it was exposed in relatively short order. Within 2 years of the burglary, Nixon resigned. It’s not as if Nixon got away clean, and conspiracy buffs were still huddled together 30 years later speculating on what “really” happened at the Watergate hotel. [/QUOTE] Well, we didn’t find out until about 30 years later that “conspiracy theorist” Tom Brokaw was right all along that Deep Throat was none other than… Mark Felt! Ok, ok, Brokaw doesn’t really fit the definition of conspiracy theorist. He did not, however, have any proof for his belief: it was just a hunch. A hunch he was willing to bet money on. I’ve often wondered if anyone guessed we were using spy satellites to spy on the Soviets in the 1960’s. In retrospect, it seems like a pretty obvious conclusion to draw. The fact that we were launching satellites was public knowledge, and everyone also knew about the U-2 flights over the USSR after Mr. Powers’ crash in 1960. At some point when I can afford Nexus/Lexus access I’ll have to research this question more. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/22 "2007-01-10T18:46:25Z")
[QUOTE=Eric79] Got me to thinking have their ever been any conspiracy theories in America that have later prove to pan out to be true or mostly true. I realize what keeps a theory of conspiracy going is mostly cause it can be proven true, but can’t be proven false either. [/QUOTE] It’s hard to say, but the FBI’s [COINTELPRO](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO) might count. That depends on your definition of “conspiracy theory” versus “a real conspiracy that hasn’t been proven yet.” Wikipedia sez it’s difficult to assess to what extent it was historically treated as a so-called conspiracy theory before COINTELPRO was actually proved to exist. As for Tom Brokaw’s guess of Mark Felt, well… I agree that “Mark Felt is Deep Throat!” doesn’t rise to the level of a conspiracy theory, because dozens of people were suspected of the role for going on thirty years, and Mr. Brokaw just happened to be one of the ones that guessed right. A conspiracy theory would likely have involved Woodward denying that Deep Throat even existed. A handful of people knew there was a Deep Throat, and they kept his identity secret. This is a far cry from the typical conspiracy theory of “thousands of NASA employees secretly colluded in creating a hoax of the Moon landing,” or “millions of Jews are secretly conspiring to take over the world.” A conspiracy, by definition, involves others; and I would say your average conspiracy theory involves _many, many_ others. ---
**Author:** ![PBear42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PBear42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PBear42)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/23 "2007-01-10T18:57:30Z")
[Robber Barons?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robber_baron_(industrialist)) Definitely a conspiracy, especially in the sense of restraints of trade and corrupting the political process. But not sure it’s the kind of conspiracy under discussion here. I would hazard to guess, though, that the [muckrakers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muckraker) would have said “yes.” ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/24 "2007-01-10T19:07:15Z")
Do the shenanigans of cigarette companies count? I read a lot of supporting documents and a couple books on the subject for a torts class (forgive me for forgetting the names at the moment… I believe one was written by an ex FDA head) back in law school. I was truly surprised at the revelations of what really happened. The effort expended by tobacco companies to conceal their research, quash suits against them, etc., certainly seem to me to be large enough scale in terms of harm to society, evil overlord corporate profiteering, ruthless treatment of critics and investigators, and underhanded lobbying efforts to qualify as a Vast Conspiracy. Add to that the long term nature of the effort, only coming to light in relatively recent times, and it seems to me that this is one heck of a conspiracy–one that shocked even the most ardent and cynical critics. Rhythm ---
**Author:** ![Themenin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee59a6/32.png) [@Themenin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Themenin)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/25 "2007-01-10T19:26:10Z")
Depending on how you define ‘conspiracy theories’ and what you consider to be American, I think Gladio works pretty well. Back in the weird 70’s the CIA was rumored to be behind half the crazy stuff that went on in Europe. Later on a lot of information surfaced about the Gladio project, and it turned out that the CIA _was_ behind some of it. Not to mention the Vatican (P2). Another personal favorite is MKUltra - [shrill voice and beehive haircut]They’ve _done_ something to him ! He’s _different_. Why won’t anybody _believe_ me ![/shrill voice] Turns out that your nice soothing Doctor was in on it too… The wacky conspiracy theories aren’t any stranger than the real conspiracies, they’re just… less true. Iran/Contra and Cointelpro both sound like good fits to me. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/26 "2007-01-10T19:45:14Z")
Cigarette companies’ conspiracy to squelch evidence of cancer connections and to market to kids? DeBeers artificial inflation of diamond prices? ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/27 "2007-01-10T20:40:25Z")
The 2000 California Energy “crisis”. At the time, anyone who suggested the shortages were the result of artificial manipulation on the part of Enron and other energy providers was dismissed as a conspiracy nut. Turned out to be true, although the truth came out within a few years, not after decades. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/28 "2007-01-10T21:26:08Z")
[QUOTE=ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness] The 2000 California Energy “crisis”. At the time, anyone who suggested the shortages were the result of artificial manipulation on the part of Enron and other energy providers was dismissed as a conspiracy nut. Turned out to be true, although the truth came out within a few years, not after decades. [/QUOTE] Good call. Actually, outside of the West Coast (and, being in New York, I can’t say for sure how prevalent it is _inside_ the W.C.) the notion that that whole energy debacle–up to and including what seems to be Arnold’s path to the governorship–was artificially created may not be so widespread. ---
**Author:** ![mks57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@mks57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mks57)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2007, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/29 "2007-01-10T23:48:29Z")
[QUOTE=ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness] The 2000 California Energy “crisis”. At the time, anyone who suggested the shortages were the result of artificial manipulation on the part of Enron and other energy providers was dismissed as a conspiracy nut. Turned out to be true, although the truth came out within a few years, not after decades. [/QUOTE] I still consider it primarily a self-inflicted injury. Enron may have gamed the system, but the system was very poorly designed. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/30 "2007-01-11T00:44:32Z")
A smaller one that comes to mind is Grover Cleveland’s surgery for cancer. Apparently, in 1893, they discovered a malignant cancer on Grover Cleveland’s hard palate. In strict secrecy, he assembled his medical team on the presidential yacht, where he had it (and a lot of his jaw) removed in a risky surgery. He also had another jaw surgery. When the newspapers broke it, the doctors involved and Cleveland all denied. The press was apparently placated. The surgery was curative. Only in 1917, 24 years later, did all of the details come out. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/31 "2007-01-11T01:03:08Z")
Isn’t that more of a rumor, and not a conspiracy theory? For that matter, what would be the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/32 "2007-01-11T18:03:39Z")
[QUOTE=dahfisheroo] **Mangetout** , zoom all the way in. [http://moon.google.com/](http://moon.google.com/) [/QUOTE] Thanks for posting that **dahfisheroo.**! Right now all my coworkers are looking at me laughing hysterically and wondering if I’ve lost what semblance of sanity I once possessed. Someone at google has a wicked sense of humor. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/33 "2007-01-11T21:35:51Z")
[QUOTE=Fir na tine] Thanks for posting that **dahfisheroo.**! Right now all my coworkers are looking at me laughing hysterically and wondering if I’ve lost what semblance of sanity I once possessed. Someone at google has a wicked sense of humor. [/QUOTE] How do you zoom in? I want to laugh hysterically, too. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/34 "2007-01-11T23:21:54Z")
[QUOTE=JillGat] How do you zoom in? I want to laugh hysterically, too. [/QUOTE] Wait, SDSAB, and you’re not familiar with the UI of [Google Maps](http://maps.google.com/)? The slider bar over on the side of the image lets you zoom in and out. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2007, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/35 "2007-01-11T23:29:29Z")
[Nurse Nayirah](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nayirah) There are scores of proved price collusions involving businesses (agreeing to set prices to milk customers) or corporate officers agreeing to collude to hide bad news/prop up stock prices – people are going to jail all the time for this sort of thing ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/36 "2007-01-12T00:03:02Z")
I’m surprised that more people don’t cry foul over the circumstances of William Casey’s death. The director of the CIA for seven years in the Reagan administration, he reportedly contracted a brain tumor, had brain surgery, and died a few months later. I mean… if this was a spy novel, you’d immediately presume that he was “retired” in a manner intended to keep secrets. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/37 "2007-01-12T01:30:04Z")
[QUOTE=Lumpy] I’m surprised that more people don’t cry foul over the circumstances of William Casey’s death. The director of the CIA for seven years in the Reagan administration, he reportedly contracted a brain tumor, had brain surgery, and died a few months later. I mean… if this was a spy novel, you’d immediately presume that he was “retired” in a manner intended to keep secrets. [/QUOTE] It’s not proven, but I’ve heard rumors (mostly from non-American sources) that the CIA has the ability to give someone a serious case of cancer. I presume this involves injecting the person with cancerous cells, but like all good conspiracy theories this one is short on verifiable details. If see how this would be an attractive assassination method for certain situations – no bullet-ridden bodies or messy explosions – just slip some cancerous cells into the guy’s next flu vaccine, and in a few months he’s no longer a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/38 "2007-01-12T04:07:21Z")
[QUOTE=Diceman] If see how this would be an attractive assassination method for certain situations – no bullet-ridden bodies or messy explosions – just slip some cancerous cells into the guy’s next flu vaccine, and in a few months he’s no longer a problem. [/QUOTE] And then the body’s own immune system recognizes foreign invaders and attacks them. I dunno if that’s a foolproof method. “Making somebody get cancer” can make them die, yes, but over a very long and unpredictable period of time, during which they can still blab secrets and compromise your operation. Take Casey: the Iran-Contra thing wasn’t exposed until November 1986, and Casey is said to have died in May 1987 of a brain tumor. They would have had to have decided to cancerize him the very moment the story hit the presses, wouldn’t they? Seems unlikely to me. And still we haven’t come to a conclusion on what makes a suspicious thing, with some rumored collusion, into a full-blown conspiracy theory. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/39 "2007-01-12T16:29:20Z")
FWIW, Jack Ruby got cancer in jail in the 60s, and thought it was because he was injected with it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374/40 "2007-01-12T16:46:43Z")
IIRC, there was a “conspiracy” to display FDR as vigorous and healthy and to minimize pictures of him in his wheelchair. Cagney’s _Yankee Doodle Dandy_ featured a song and dance skit with a tap-dancing FDR\* - something that I don’t think would play very well today. 😉 \*The Rogers and Hart’s _Off the Record_ scene. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-their-been-any-american-conspiracy-theories-that-were-true/387374.md?page=3)