How Meeting the CIA Mastermind Behind ARGO Changed the Way I Write Spy Thrillers
Seventeen years ago, in a quiet suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, I met Antonio J. Mendez — “Tony” to those who knew him. I remember that day as if it happened yesterday. It’s not every day you get to sit down with a CIA legend, someone whose courage changed the course of history. Meeting him left a lasting impression on me and inspired me to keep writing my spy thriller series, Corey Pearson — CIA Spymaster. Years later, when the movie ARGO came out, I was one of the first in line to see Ben Affleck portray this remarkable man. But Tony Mendez wasn’t just a Hollywood story. He was the real deal — a master of disguise, a creative genius, and a true American hero.
It was May 20, 2006. A small group of us from the Cleveland branch of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) gathered in Beachwood for a luncheon. That’s when Tony walked in, calm and composed, his presence quietly commanding. Over the next couple of hours, he unraveled the story behind the 1980 CIA-Canadian joint operation that inspired ARGO. He spoke of exfiltrating six fugitive American diplomats out of revolutionary Iran, a mission so daring it bordered on the unbelievable. But it wasn’t fiction. It was Tony’s life.
Tony didn’t hold back. He shared details of the operation that Hollywood missed or chose to dramatize, though the truth was just as compelling. For instance, I learned about H. Ross Perot’s unexpected involvement in the early days of the Iranian Revolution. The billionaire Texan — famous for his no-nonsense attitude — had orchestrated a secret land route to rescue two of his employees imprisoned in Iran. At one point, Perot even called the CIA to offer his help during the hostage crisis. “What’s the holdup?” Perot reportedly asked in his signature blunt style. “If it’s red tape, I’ll put up the money. You can pay me back later.”
The heart of Tony’s operation, of course, was the fake Hollywood movie project. He explained how the CIA created a completely fabricated production company, “Studio Six,” as a cover for the mission. They wrote a sci-fi screenplay, printed business cards, and even staffed an office in Hollywood to make the ruse believable. “The thing about Hollywood directors,” Tony said with a chuckle, “is that most people in the Middle East think they’re nuts — but fascinating. That’s why we chose it. Who would question a crazy Hollywood director scouting exotic locations in Iran?”
The Canadians played a crucial role too. Their embassy hid the six American diplomats for months until Tony’s team could exfiltrate them. Operatives from the Canadian Secret Intelligence Service (CSIS) worked side-by-side with the CIA, taking enormous risks. If any of them had been caught, the Revolutionary Guards wouldn’t have hesitated — they would’ve been executed on the spot. Tony emphasized the painstaking preparation behind the mission. He made dozens of trips to Canada, worked closely with the CSIS, and even coordinated with Hollywood to set up a functioning studio in case Iranian spies ever came sniffing around in Los Angeles. It was deception at its finest — a house of cards held together by ingenuity and nerves of steel.
As Tony spoke, I scribbled notes furiously, not wanting to miss a single detail. He was candid about the liberties Hollywood took with the story in ARGO. “The movie got a lot right,” he admitted. “But not everything.” For starters, he wasn’t the lone CIA officer orchestrating the operation. There were two officers with him — both experts in forgery and exfiltration. And those tense scenes of the six diplomats walking through the market, scouting a location for their fake movie? That never happened. They spent all 79 days hiding inside the homes of Canadian embassy staff.
Then there was the airline ticket drama depicted in the film, with guards calling “Studio Six” to verify the Americans’ identities. It was riveting on screen, but Tony clarified that no such thing occurred. The Canadians had purchased the tickets well in advance, and everything went off without a hitch. CIA officers had even scheduled an early-morning flight to avoid sleepy airline staff and Revolutionary Guards. The guards weren’t even awake yet when the Americans left the country. That said, the Iranians did work tirelessly to reconstruct shredded documents to identify the hostages. It was a race against time, and if Tony or any of his team had been caught, the consequences would’ve been brutal. “If they had caught me,” he said simply, “I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you.”
After his talk, I had the chance to speak with Tony one-on-one. I told him about my spy thriller series and how I was struggling to keep going. He looked at me with an intensity I’ll never forget and said, “Make it fun. Enjoy the shadow wars.” He signed a copy of his book for me that day, leaving me with a personal message that still motivates me every time I write. It wasn’t just his story that inspired me — it was his belief in the power of storytelling to capture the human side of espionage.
Tony Mendez passed away in 2019 after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. But his legacy lives on, not just in the movie ARGO or the halls of the CIA but in the hearts of those who had the privilege of hearing his story firsthand. He was more than a spy — he was a creative genius, a risk-taker, and a man who quietly changed the world. For me, Tony Mendez will always be a reminder that the greatest stories — the ones worth telling — are those where courage meets ingenuity. And every time I sit down to write another adventure for Corey Pearson, I hear his voice reminding me: “Enjoy the shadow wars.”
Robert Morton, a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO), is an accomplished author of the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster Short Story series. Drawing from real-life intelligence operations, he crafts gripping tales that pull readers into the high-stakes world of espionage. Each story offers a thrilling escape — and can be enjoyed in just 20–30 minutes. Perfect for anyone craving fast-paced spycraft!