[Irene Adler]

"Yet despite providing conclusive evidence on the facts of high profile espionage cases, Venona is nevertheless tantalizing in what it does not reveal. It does not explain what motivated intelligent and highly educated Americans to betray a country which had conferred upon them the highest accolades."

I have always thought that the highly placed spies in the FDR administration, such as Hiss and White, expected to be in a swell position to be picked by the communists to rule the country in the event of a communist uprising/takeover of this country. They really believed this might happen within their lifetimes and wanted to be in a position to take advantage of both their top-level governmental experience and their communist contacts. They expected to be able to pick up the pieces after the communist revolution in the U.S. and then get to wield some REAL power as part of the new dictatorship.

[okie01]

"Yet despite providing conclusive evidence on the facts of high profile espionage cases, Venona is nevertheless tantalizing in what it does not reveal. It does not explain what motivated intelligent and highly educated Americans to betray a country which had conferred upon them the highest accolades."

More likely, as committed Communists, they really believed that stuff.

In their minds, they were doing "the right thing" -- America and the world would be a better place if we all lived in peace and happiness under the Communist umbrella.

In men of weak character, the siren song of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need", can be an irresistible temptation.

The leaders of Communist dictatorships have no illusions; but their minions thrive on them.