Step into the secret world of codes and ciphers, where one remarkable woman quietly shaped American history. Elizabeth Smith Friedman, a true pioneer and brilliant cryptologist, didn’t just break codes; she dismantled Nazi spy rings during World War II, unraveled organized crime networks during Prohibition, and secured vital intelligence for the U.S. government in World War I. Her extraordinary intellect and fearless dedication allowed her to decode the most complex messages, protecting our nation and bringing criminals to justice.
From earning her degree at Hillsdale College to laying the foundation for modern cryptanalysis, Elizabeth Smith Friedman defied expectations, forging a path few women of her era could imagine. Despite often going unrecognized for her critical contributions as a codebreaker, her work was instrumental in countless victories. Join Our American Stories as we uncover the incredible journey of this unsung American hero, whose legacy continues to inspire women in STEM and whose techniques still influence intelligence agencies today.
📖 Read the Episode Transcript
Speaker 1: This is Lee Habib, and this is Our American Stories, the show where America is the star and the American people. Up next, a story from Hillsdale College, one of their students telling it about Hillsdale’s greatest cryptologist. And Hillsdale’s been a proud sponsor of this show from when it started way back in 2016. Let’s get into the story below there.
00:00:39
Speaker 2: My name is Lindsay Larkin. I’m a student from Hillsdale College, and today I am really excited to share the story of a woman who cracked enemy codes during both World Wars, exposed Nazi spy rings in South America, and helped dismantle organized crime networks during Prohibition.
00:01:00
Speaker 3: Her name: Elizabeth Smith Friedman.
00:01:07
Speaker 2: Elizabeth Smith Friedman was born in 18…
00:01:10
Speaker 3: …92 in a small town in Indiana. She is the youngest of nine children.
00:01:18
Speaker 2: From an early age, she has a passion for literature and languages.
00:01:23
Speaker 3: After earning an English…
00:01:24
Speaker 2: …degree from Hillsdale College, she longs for a path beyond the conventional expectations placed on women at the time, and, as fate would have it, an extraordinary opportunity…
00:01:37
Speaker 3: …came her way in 1916.
00:01:44
Speaker 2: She responds to a newspaper advertisement from George Fabyan, an eccentric millionaire with an unusual interest. He hopes to prove that Sir Francis Bacon was the true author of Shakespeare’s plays. This leads Elizabeth to Riverbank Laboratories, one of the first institutions in the…
00:02:06
Speaker 3: …U.S. dedicated to cryptography.
00:02:14
Speaker 2: Though the Shakespearean theory was highly questionable at best, the cryptographic work at Riverbank was genuine. There, Elizabeth meets William Friedman, a fellow codebreaker who would become both her professional partner and husband. Together, they lay the foundation for modern cryptanalysis. When World War I erupts, the U.S. government turns to Riverbank Laboratories for assistance in breaking enemy codes. Elizabeth begins to analyze intercepted messages and develops techniques to decrypt complex ciphers used by German spies. In addition to this, she helps train military intelligence officers in cryptanalysis, laying the foundation for the Army’s cryptographic efforts.
00:03:08
Speaker 3: Elizabeth and William…
00:03:10
Speaker 2: …play a critical role in the war’s efforts. While William later joined the Army, Elizabeth’s expertise is soon called upon in a different but equally vital battle—one taking place much closer to home. During Prohibition, criminal organizations had begun to rely on secret codes to coordinate their illegal liquor trade. The U.S. government needed someone capable of breaking these encrypted messages, and Elizabeth was the ideal candidate. Working with the Coast Guard, she meticulously decodes communications that eventually lead to the disruption of major smuggling operations. Not only does Elizabeth work behind the scenes, but she also takes the stand in court, presenting her findings with remarkable clarity and confidence, even while facing notoriously dangerous criminals. Yet despite these pivotal contributions, she often goes unrecognized. Even during World War II, Elizabeth leads a team for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Intelligence Unit, cracking the secret codes of Nazi spy rings operating in South America. Using painstaking linguistic and mathematical analysis, she decrypts thousands of encoded messages, exposing entire espionage networks that were feeding intelligence to the Axis Powers. Her work not only helped dismantle these networks, but also ensured that vital wartime communications remained secure. Despite Elizabeth’s incredible contributions, public recognition often went to others, particularly J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, but history is clear: Elizabeth’s work was instrumental in these victories. After the war, Elizabeth chooses to live a much quieter life. She spends her remaining years with William until his passing in 1969. Elizabeth Smith Friedman passes away in 1980, with much of her work still classified until 2008. It was only in later years that her immense contributions received the recognition they deserved. Today, her legacy endures not just in cryptology, but in the countless women in STEM who now look to her as a role model. Her techniques continue to influence intelligence agencies, and her story serves as a testament to the power of intellect and perseverance. Elizabeth Smith Friedman was far more…
00:06:01
Speaker 3: …than just a codebreaker.
00:06:02
Speaker 2: She was a pioneer, a patriot, and a woman who profoundly impacted American history.
00:06:12
Speaker 1: And a terrific job on the production, editing, and storytelling by our own Monte Montgomery, himself a Hillsdale grad, and a special thanks to Lindsay Larkin, a Hillsdale College student, with this terrific story on Elizabeth Smith Friedman and what a pioneer she was—indeed a pioneer, a patriot, and a woman who profoundly impacted American history. And unlike Rosie the Riveters—and we’ve told lots of stories about those women who impacted American history—here was one in the area of STEM: a cryptologist doing things like busting organized crime networks and then Nazi networks. And a special thanks to Constituting America for sending us this wonderful story to learn about the terrific work they do. This education nonprofit educates and inspires students across the country on the relevance of the Constitution and the principles of self-governance. A terrific organization. Go to ConstitutingAmerica.org. That’s ConstitutingAmerica.org. The story of Elizabeth Smith Friedman. Here on Our American Stories. Lee Habib here, host of Our American Stories. Every day on this show, we bring you stories of America, stories of us. And it’s because of listeners like you that we’re able to tell the story of this great and beautiful country every day. Our stories will always be free to listen to, but they’re not free to make. If you love what you hear, consider making a tax-deductible donation to Our American Stories. Visit OurAmericanStories.com to give. Give a little, give a lot. Any amount helps. Go to OurAmericanStories.com.
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