Today in History - February 21 | When a CIA agent bought a house in cash, co-workers got suspicious
The most damaging CIA leaker up until that point was arrested by the FBI on February 21, 1994.
Aldrich Ames was a CIA case officer who for years had been working as a double agent for Russia.
Since 1985, Ames had been compromising CIA operatives and sources in the Soviet Union and later Russia, in exchange for cash.
The CIA became suspicious that they had a mole after their network of Soviet agents began vanishing.
Double agents Gennady Varenik and Dmitri Polyakov (pictured) were arrested and soon executed by the Soviets.
Meanwhile, Ames was spending far more than he should be on his salary.
Co-workers became suspicious when his normally cheap office clothes were replaced with expensive tailored suits.
As agents began investigating, they found Ames had bought a $US540,000 home in cash.
He was also driving an expensive Jaguar, paying a series of servants and racking up $6000-a-month phone bills.
Surveillance teams later spotted Ames leaving white chalk marks on mailboxes, which they took to be a signal to his Russian handlers.
After his arrest, Ames admitted compromising virtually all agents of the CIA and other American and foreign services that he was aware of.
It is estimated he compromised at least 100 American intelligence operations and his revelations led to at least ten Soviet sources being executed.
He is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
The world's first surf lifesaving club was founded on February 21, 1906, at Bondi Beach in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.
The volunteer organisation was formed in response to the increasing number of beachgoers entering the surf - and drownings off beaches.
The movement quickly spread around Australia, starting with Western Australia and Queensland.
The club proved itself in February 1936 when hundreds of swimmers at Bondi Beach in Sydney were swept out to sea and put in life-threatening danger.
Today volunteer life savers patrol thousands of Australia beaches up and down the country.
Today there are similar clubs in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa.
Saturday Night Live cast member Charles Rocket uttered the phrase that saved the show on February 21, 1981, though it didn't work out for him.
At the very end of the show, host Charlene Tilton asked Rocket about a sketch earlier on, a parody of the "Who Shot JR?" episode of Dallas.
"Oh man, it's the first time I've ever been shot in my life. I'd like to know who f------did it," Rocket said.
Profanity is, and remains, strictly forbidden on US broadcast television.
NBC used the outrage to sack executive producer Jean Doumanian and almost every cast member, including Rocket.
The only cast members to return for the next season were Joe Piscopo and a 20-year-old virtual unknown called Eddie Murphy.
The general consensus was that the following season was much better, sparing the show from cancellation.
Saturday Night Live marked its 50th anniversary this week.
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