Gary Powers, Jr Talks Cold War, Father's Legacy
Spy. Traitor. Defector. War hero. Francis Gary Powers represented many things to many people during his lifetime, most of whom he had never met. But to Gary Powers, Jr, his most important title was “dad.”
“I remember the scruff of his beard when he would tuck me in at night,” Powers, Jr told an audience of Benjamin middle school students, faculty and guests on April 4.
Powers, a household name for quinquagenarians and octogenarians alike, was shot down over Russia in May of 1960 while serving as a U-2 pilot for the United States. His son, Gary Powers, Jr, spent the afternoon of April 4 educating a Benjamin School audience about his father’s service, misinformation surrounding his father’s capture, and his efforts to preserve Cold War history.
Powers, Jr remembers first hearing that Steven Spielberg wanted to immortalize his father in the film “The Bridge of Spies.” It was important for him that Spielberg got it right.
“How would they portray my father? And how do you get in touch with Spielberg,” Powers, Jr remembers thinking.
He started with a google search and a blanket email to a host of people affiliated with Spielberg throughout his career. He finally heard back from a gentleman by the name of Mark Platt, a household name in Hollywood circles for producing his broadway hit “Wicked.”
Powers said he was asked to be a technical consultant, and remembers signing on the dotted line, where it said they didn’t ultimately have to listen to his input and he couldn’t turn around and sue them. Overall, Powers said the big picture of the film is historically accurate, even though every scene isn’t.
Powers said growing up he thought his family was like any other.
“This was all normal for us. My perception as a kid was everyone’s dad had gone through something like this,” Powers, Jr told the audience.
It wasn’t until later in life that Powers realized his father’s story was far from average. That revelation sparked a curiosity in Powers, Jr to start asking questions. He hasn’t stopped since. In 1996, Powers founded the Cold War museum and continues to dedicate his life to honoring Cold War veterans and preserving Cold War history.
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