That would be quite a 45 year conspiracy, but if a guy who washed out of one of your classes said it to you, well then it must be totally true.
He washed out not because he was some sort of despicable character, but because he was a bit slow in picking up Russian. He also had a very high security clearance, back when they were worth the paper they were printed on.
Not a conspiracy, just politics as usual. Believe those in power at your own risk.