The Inventor Who Bugged the Embassy

The creator of the world's first electronic instrument also built a secret spy device. His bug remained hidden in the US ambassador's office for seven years despite being in plain sight.

Leon Theremin is best remembered for the eerie, touchless instrument that bears his name. Beyond music, he was forced to work for the Soviet government on advanced surveillance technology. His invention, known as The Thing, used radio waves to transmit sound without any batteries or wires. It hung as a carved wooden seal on the wall of the American embassy, completely undetected by sweeps for years.