2015 Press Releases

National Archives Hosts Ethel and Julius Rosenberg's Son and Granddaughter November 12
Press Release · Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Washington, DC

Screening and discussion of “Heir to an Execution: A Granddaughter’s Story”

On Wednesday, November 12, at 7 PM, the National Archives hosts Michael and Ivy Meeropol, the son and granddaughter of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, for a screening and discussion of Ivy Meeropol’s documentary Heir to an Execution. This will be their first public appearance following the recent death of David Greenglass, Ethel’s brother and the lead witness for the government against the Rosenbergs.

This event is free and open to the public and will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC. Reservations are recommended and can be made online. For those without reservations, seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The doors to the building will open 45 minutes prior to the start of the program. Attendees should use the Special Events entrance, located on Constitution Avenue at 7th Street, NW. The building is fully accessible. Metro: Yellow or Green lines, Archives/Navy Memorial station.

Heir to an Execution: A Granddaughter’s Story

The trial and execution of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg during the height of the Cold War shook America. They were found guilty of providing secret information about atomic weapons technology to the USSR. The couple was sentenced to death on April 5, 1951 and were executed in June of 1953. In Heir to an Execution (2004; 99 minutes), the Rosenbergs’ granddaughter Ivy Meeropol searches for the “true” Rosenbergs and tries to answer the question that has haunted her family: What drove the Rosenbergs to sacrifice their lives and jeopardize the future of their children? Following the screening, Michael Meeropol will join his daughter to discuss the film and answer audience questions. Presented in conjunction with the exhibit “Making Their Mark: Stories Through Signatures,” in the Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery of the National Archives Building through January 5, 2015.

Rosenberg-related records at the National Archives

To verify the date and times of the programs, view the Calendar of Events online.

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For press information contact the National Archives Public Affairs staff at 202-357-5300.

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