[Ads-l] sleeper agent, sleeper

[James Eric Lawson]

Earlier, 'sleeping agent', not in OED:

1939  *The Oakland Post Enquirer* (Oakland, California) 2 Aug 12/4 
(newspapers.com)  It isn’t likely that your next-door neighbor is one of 
this army.
     But he might be.
     He might be a “sleeping agent,” one of a pledged host who do 
nothing save go about their own business until secret orders come.

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oakland-post-enquirer-sleeping-agent/134239775/


1939  *Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser* (Narrandera, New South 
Wales, Australia) 26 Sep 2/7-8 (newspapers.com)  Military intelligence 
services classify spies under four categories. They are “stationary 
agents,” “mobile agents,” “special agents” and “sleeping agents.”

https://www.newspapers.com/article/narandera-argus-and-riverina-advertiser/134241025/


1941  *Santa Ana Register* (Santa Ana, California) 24 Jul 7/3 
(newspapers.com)  These agents, the speaker said, are to be found in all 
walks of life. Some are called “sleeping” agents. They just rent a place 
and apparently have no business, some are taxi drivers, university 
professors, or ambassadors; and sometimes there are four or five agents 
assigned to one job, so, if one fails, subsequent attempts will be more 
sure to succeed.

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-register-sleeping-agent-person/134239145/



On 10/28/23 08:13, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> OED: 1973   ("sleeper" 1955)
> 
> 1945 Barre' Lyndon, Charles G. Booth, John Monks, Jr. _The House on 92nd
> Street_ (film) : Right now you're what we call a sleeper agent. The Nazis
> planted you here long ago.
> 
> 1950 Phila. Inquirer (Oct. 5) 27: Any release of such information would
> have to include the names of the Communist Party's "sleeper agents." These
> "sleepers" are silent party members, and invariably unknown to the
> community or factory in which they work, and unknown to the local Communist
> Party chiefs. "Sleepers" are the agents assigned by the CP underground to
> special spots, in key classified production units of secret war plants, or
> on railroads near vital switches, or in unions or in Government departments.
> 
> JL
> 

-- 
James Eric Lawson

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