Ep 1. The Codebreaker

In American Experience season 33 episode 1, entitled "The Codebreaker," viewers will be introduced to a remarkable woman named Elizebeth Smith Friedman. Though her name may not be a household one, her contributions to national security during World War I and II were nothing short of spectacular.

Born in 1892, Elizebeth grew up in Indiana before attending college in Ohio. She had aspirations of becoming a Shakespearean scholar but ultimately left school to marry a man named William Friedman, whom she had met while in college. Together, they shared a love of puzzles and codes, a hobby that would ultimately lead them into the world of cryptography.

When the United States entered World War I, Elizebeth and William both applied to work for the U.S. Army's Code and Cipher Section. However, only William was hired initially. It wasn't until Elizebeth deciphered a message that stumped other codebreakers that she was brought on as well. Throughout the war, Elizebeth and William worked tirelessly to decipher German communications, which had been encrypted using complex ciphers. Their work was instrumental in winning the war, as it allowed the Allies to intercept German communications and gain valuable information about enemy plans.

After the end of World War I, Elizebeth and William were recruited to work for the newly formed Bureau of Prohibition, which aimed to enforce the country's alcohol ban. Their work involved intercepting communications between bootleggers and revealing their plans to law enforcement. They were extremely successful at their jobs, but ultimately, Prohibition was repealed and they found themselves unemployed.

However, their skills were still in high demand. When World War II broke out, Elizebeth and William were once again recruited by the U.S. military to work as codebreakers. This time, however, they were tasked with breaking codes used by Axis powers, particularly in South America. They were successful in decrypting countless messages, which played a key role in the Allies' victory.

Despite her incredible contributions to national security, Elizebeth's name was largely forgotten by history. However, "The Codebreaker" seeks to rectify that, telling the story of a brilliant woman who repeatedly broke codes that no one else could and played a crucial role in winning two wars. Through interviews with historians and experts, as well as archival footage and photographs, the episode paints a vivid picture of Elizebeth's life and accomplishments, giving viewers a glimpse into the world of cryptography and the important work of codebreakers.