Editing Francis Gary Powers (section)

==Aftermath==
[[File:KellyJohnsonandGaryPowers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Clarence Johnson]] and Francis Gary Powers in front of a U-2]]

Powers initially received a cold reception on his return home. He was criticized for not activating his aircraft's self-destruct charge to destroy the camera, photographic film, and related classified parts. He was also criticized for not using an optional CIA-issued "suicide pin" to kill himself. Powers wore a hollowed-out silver dollar on a chain around his neck that disguised within it a grooved needle embedded with deadly [[saxitoxin|shellfish toxin]] designed to kill by pricking the skin. Powers decided against doing so.<ref>{{cite news |last=Kinzer |first=Steven|date=10 February 2020 |title=This Unassuming Chemist Was the CIA’s Poisoner in Chief |url=https://www.historynet.com/unassuming-chemist-was-the-cias-poisoner-in-chief/ |work=HistoryNet |location= |access-date=25 December 2024}}</ref>

He was debriefed extensively by the CIA,<ref name="CIA0000009451">{{cite web |title = Report of the board of inquiry into the case of Francis Gary Powers (sanitized copy) |publisher = Central Intelligence Agency |url = http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/89801/DOC_0000009451.pdf |date = February 27, 1962 |access-date = July 12, 2010 |page = 1 |archive-date = February 11, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130211222200/http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/89801/DOC_0000009451.pdf |url-status = dead }}</ref> [[Lockheed Corporation]], and the Air Force, after which a statement was issued by CIA director [[John McCone]] that "Mr. Powers lived up to the terms of his employment and instructions in connection with his mission and in his obligations as an American."<ref name="nydn62">''New York Daily News''. March 7, 1962. p. 2</ref> On March 6, 1962, he appeared before a Senate Armed Services Select Committee hearing chaired by Senator [[Richard Russell Jr.]] which included Senators [[Prescott Bush]], [[Leverett Saltonstall]], [[Robert Byrd]], [[Margaret Chase Smith]], [[John Stennis]], [[Strom Thurmond]], and [[Barry Goldwater]]. During the hearing, Senator Saltonstall stated, "I commend you as a courageous, fine young American citizen who lived up to your instructions and who did the best you could under very difficult circumstances." Senator Bush declared, "I am satisfied he has conducted himself in exemplary fashion and in accordance with the highest traditions of service to one's country, and I congratulate him upon his conduct in captivity." Senator Goldwater sent him a handwritten note: "You did a good job for your country."{{sfn|Powers|Gentry|2004|pp=264, 270–80}}

In ''Operation Overflight'', Powers wrote that upon joining the CIA in 1956, he had cosigned a document with Secretary of the Air Force [[Donald A. Quarles]], guaranteeing Powers could return to the Air Force at his previous rank after his CIA service ended, with his CIA service time counting toward his Air Force retirement. Powers, who did not retain a copy of this document, wrote that his six-and-a-half years of CIA service time was not honored due to bad publicity surrounding his case, and was a major factor in him deciding not to rejoin the Air Force.{{sfn|Powers|Gentry|2004|pp=290–291}}

===Divorce and remarriage===
[[File:Francis Gary Powers with wife 1962.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Powers with first wife, Barbara, in 1962]]
Powers sued his wife for divorce on August 14, 1962, claiming she cursed and abused him for no reason.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mrs. Gary Powers Files Counter Divorce Suit |url=https://newspaperarchive.winona.edu/?a=is&oid=TWN19620930-01&type=staticpdf |access-date=23 April 2023 |work=Winona Sunday News |agency=AP |author=<!--not stated--> |date=30 September 1962 |location=Milledgeville, Georgia |page=4 |language=en}}</ref> Powers stated that the reasons for the divorce included her infidelity and alcoholism, adding that she constantly threw tantrums and overdosed on pills shortly after his return.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.suwanneedemocrat.com/community/remembering-the-people-and-events-that-shaped-suwannee-county-history/article_7e83104e-7f25-11e5-9a26-570f0db36611.html|title=Remembering the people and events that shaped Suwannee County history: Barbara Moore – part 2|last=Musgrove|first=Eric|work=Suwannee Democrat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207033145/http://www.suwanneedemocrat.com/community/remembering-the-people-and-events-that-shaped-suwannee-county-history/article_7e83104e-7f25-11e5-9a26-570f0db36611.html|access-date=August 10, 2018|archive-date=February 7, 2017|language=en}}</ref> He started a relationship with Claudia Edwards "Sue" Downey, whom he had met while working briefly at CIA Headquarters. Downey had a child, Dee, from her previous marriage. They were married on October 26, 1963.<ref>VA Marriage Records 1936–2014, Certificate #32518</ref> Their son Francis Gary Powers, Jr. was born on June 5, 1965.{{sfn|Powers|Gentry|2004|pp=287, 292–93, 323}} The marriage proved to be a very happy one, and Sue worked hard to preserve her husband's legacy after his death.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-jun-25-me-powers25-story.html|title=Claudia 'Sue' Powers, 68; Wife of Spy Plane Pilot Downed During Cold War|last=Writer|first=a Times Staff|date=June 25, 2004|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 10, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0458-3035}}</ref>

===Praise===
During a speech in March 1964, former [[CIA Director]] [[Allen Dulles]] said of Powers, "He performed his duty in a very dangerous mission and he performed it well, and I think I know more about that than some of his detractors and critics know, and I am glad to say that to him tonight."{{sfn|Powers|Gentry|2004|pp=295–96}}

===Later career===
[[File:Francis Gary Powers for KGIL, 1973.jpg|thumb|Powers in 1973, reporting for KGIL]]
Powers worked for Lockheed as a test pilot from 1962 to 1970, though the CIA paid his salary.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} In 1970, he wrote the book ''Operation Overflight'' with co-author [[Curt Gentry]].<ref name="Book">{{cite book|last1=Powers|first1=Francis Gary|last2=Gentry|first2=Curt|title=Operation Overflight: The U-2 pilot tells his story for the first time|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e_xoAAAAMAAJ&q=operation%20overflight|location=New York|publisher=Holt, Rinehart and Winston|publication-date=May 1970|isbn=0030830451|access-date=20 Aug 2023}} [https://archive.org/details/operationoverfli00powe Alt URL]</ref> Lockheed fired him, because "the book's publication had ruffled some feathers at [[George Bush Center for Intelligence|Langley]]." Powers then became a traffic reporting airplane pilot for Los Angeles radio station [[KMZT (AM)|KGIL]]. After that he became a helicopter news reporter for [[KNBC]] television.<ref>{{Cite web |title=May Day Over Moscow: The Francis Gary Powers Story - CIA |url=https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/may-day-over-moscow-the-francis-gary-powers-story/ |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=www.cia.gov}}</ref>