it remains one of the most audacious spy plots in history-a bold and extremely dangerous operation to invade Russia, defeat the Red army, and mount a coup in moscow against soviet dictator Vladimir ilich Lenin. after that, leaders in Washington, Paris, and London aimed to install their own allied-friendly dictator in moscow as a means to get Russia back into the war effort against Germany. the Lenin Plot had the 'entire approval' of President Woodrow Wilson. as he ordered a military invasion of Russia, he gave the american ambassador, the us Consul General in moscow, and other state Department operatives a free hand to pursue their covert action against Lenin. the result was thousands of deaths, both military and civilian, on both sides.