"There was a possibility I could have been under surveillance"

Julius Rosenberg’s statement, “There was a possibility I could have been under surveillance,” reflects the charged atmosphere of suspicion and paranoia permeating the United States during the era of the Red Scare and McCarthyism. His words acknowledge a lurking sense of threat and uncertainty, a recognition that one’s actions and associations could be scrutinized in secret, perhaps even before any official accusation was levied. The use of “possibility” implies uncertainty but not disbelief, Rosenberg is neither confirming nor denying certainty of being watched, but he holds an acute awareness that governmental observation was a real and present danger, especially for those with political leanings or connections considered subversive.

This understated remark carries both fear and resignation. Aware of his activities and associations, Rosenberg understands that the net of surveillance cast by government agencies like the FBI was wide and indiscriminate, often relying on rumors, guilt by association, and little more than suspicion. Living in such an environment would have inevitably fostered a deep sense of unease, knowing that privacy could be breached at any moment and that innocuous actions might be interpreted as evidence of criminality. Rosenberg’s acknowledgment of this “possibility” illustrates the wider climate faced by American citizens, particularly those with leftist backgrounds or foreign associations, during the early Cold War.

Additionally, his remark serves a dual purpose: it is both a personal reflection and a subtle critique of the state’s intrusive surveillance tactics. It suggests an awareness of larger powers at play, hinting at a loss of agency when surveillance becomes normalized. Such normalization erodes trust, not only in governmental institutions but within communities and families themselves, as the threat of surveillance casts suspicion on daily life. In Rosenberg’s context, just the possibility of being watched was enough to shape conduct and attitude, highlighting the insidious psychological effects of state surveillance on individuals caught in its web.