Fo r s a le by t h e r t

S u pe i n e nd e n t of c t
Do u m e n s U S G ov e
, . . r n me n t P ri t i
n ng O f c e

W a s h i n gt o n D C 2 0 4
, . 02 P i erc
S t o c N
k u m b e 0 r
5 2 0 7 100 48 74
S ENA T E S E LE C T C O MM ITT EE TO S T UD Y G O V E R N M EN T A L O P E RA TIO N S
W I T H R E S P EC T TO I N T E LL I G EN C E A C TI V I TI E S

F R A N K C H U R C H , I d a ho , C ha i r ma n
J O HN G . TOWE R T e xas Vi c e C ha i r ma n

P H I LI P A H A R
. T
M i h i ga n
,
c H O WA R D H B A KE R I T .
,
R .
,
e n n e sse e

WA LTE O
R F M N DA L
. E
M i n n e s ot a
,
B A R R Y G O L D W A TE R A i ,
r zon a

WA LTE R D H U DDL S
. E TO
N Ke n t u k y ,
c C H A R LE S M C MA THI A S J c .
,
R .
,
M a r y la n d
RO BE TR OM R GAN N
or t h C a r ol i n a
,
R I C H A R D S C H W E I K E R , P e n ns yl v a n i a
GA RY HA RT C ,
ol or a d o

W I LLIA M G M I LLE . R ,
S t a /f Di r e t or c
F R E DE R CK A
I . 0 . S CHW A R Z, Jr .
,
C hi ef C ou nse l

CU R TI S R . S M O T HE R S, C ou nse l t o t he M i n or i t y
R
A UD E Y H A T R Y , Cl e r k f t he C ommi t t e e
o

-
11
 L E T T E R O F T RA N S M I T T A L

On b e h a l f of the Sen a te Select Com m ittee to Study Gove r nment a l

Oper a tions wi t h R espe c t t o Intelligence Activities a n d pu r sua nt to
,

t h e m a n d a te o f Sen a te R esolution 2 1 I a m tra nsmitting herewi t h to

,

the Sen a te the volume of the Committee s Fin a l R epor t entitled The

,

Inv e stiga tion of the Ass a ssin a tion of President J ohn F Kenn e dy : .

Perform a n c e of the In t elligence Agencies .

I w a nt t o express the deep a ppre c i a tion o f the Committ ee t o Sen a tor

R ich a rd S Schweiker a n d Sen a tor G a r y H a rt for their excellent work
.

on this ph a se of the Select C ommitte e s inves tig a tion

.

F R A N K CH U R C H ,

C ha i m an .

(m )
 NO T E

On M ay the Sel ec t Committee voted t o rele a se the se c tion

2 6 , 1976 ,
of i t s fin a l R e port entitl e d The Investig a tio n of the Ass a ssin a tion
.

o f Presid e n t John F Kennedy : P e rform a n c e of the In t e lligence

.

Agen c ies S e n a tors Chur c h B a ker Philip H a rt M o n d a le Huddle

.

, , , ,

sto n M org a n G a ry H a rt M a thi a s a n d Schweiker voted to relea se

, , , ,

this R epo r t S e n a tors Tower a n d Goldw a ter voted a g a inst the rel e a se
.
,

of t h i s report .

This R eport h a s been review e d a n d d e c l a ssied by the a pprop ria te

.

e x ec uti v e a ge n c ies After the Co m mittee s origin a l dr a ft of this report

.

w a s completed copies of it w e re m a de a v a il a ble to the ex e c utive

,

a ge n c ies .Thes e a ge n cies submitte d co m ments to the Com mittee on

s ec urity a n d f a ctu a l a spects of the dr a ft report On the b a sis o f t hese .

c o mm e n ts the C omm ittee a n d s t a ff c onferred wit h rep re se n t a tiv e s o f

,

the a gencies to determine which s e c tions of t he R eport should be r e

dra ft ed to p ro t e c t sensitive intelligence s ou rces a n d methods These .

s e c tions o f t he origin a l dr a ft were then revised t o reect the a ge n cies

con c ern s while ret a ining t he origin a l thrust of the R eport .

N a mes of individu a ls were deleted whe n in the Committ e e s j udge .

m e n t di s closure of their ide n tities would either end a n ger t hei r s a fety
,

or c ons titute a n unw a rr a nted inv a s ion o f pri v a c y Co n s equ e ntly foot .
,

note c it a tions to testimo n y a n d do c ume n ts o c c a sio n a lly c ont a in only

des c riptions of a n individu a l s position
.

(IV)
 CON T E NT S

P a ge
L e tt er of Tr an s mi tt a l iii
I S UMM A R Y A N D F I N D I N G S
. H
A T h e S c o p e of t h e C o mmi tt ee s I n ve s t ig a ti o n

. l
-
B S umm a r y
. N
C Fi n d i n g s
.
D
O
II B AC KGR O UN D F O R TH E W A RREN C O MM IS S IO N I NV E S TI GA
.

TI ON C UB A A ND TH E I NT E LL I G ENC E A G E NC I E S
III TH E UN IT E D S T AT E S G O V E RN M ENT R E S P O N S E T O TH E
A S S A S S I N A T I O N N O V E M B E R 22 196 3 TO J A N U A R Y 1 196 4
.

-
, ,
23
A T h e C I A Re s pon se
. 23
B T h e F B I R e spo n se
. 32
I V TH E I N T E LL I G ENC E A G ENC I E S A N D TH E W A RR EN C O MM I S
S IO N : J AN UA RY T O S E P T E M B E R 196 4
.

4
5
A Th e Rel a ti ons hi p be t w ee n th e FBI a nd th e Wa rren Co mm i s
.

s i on 4
6
B T h e R el a t i on s hi p b et wee n t he C I A a n d t h e W a r r en Commi s
.
'

swn 57
C U n pu rs u ed L e a d s
.

D Kn owled g e o f P lo t s t o A s s a ss i n a t e C a s t ro
. 67
V D E V E L O P M EN T S A F T E R TH E W A RREN C O MM IS S IO N
.

A 196 5 : Termi n a ti o n of th e A M L A S H O pe ra t i o n
. 77
B 196 7 Al l e g a ti on s of C ub a n I n volvemen t i n th e As s a s s i na ti on
. 80
A PP E N D I X A : T h e FBI a nd t h e O s w a ld Sec u rity C as e
A PP EN D I X B T h e FBI a n d t h e De s t ru c ti o n o f th e O swa ld N o t e 95
A PP EN D I X C : C h r on olo gy

(v)
 I S UM M A R Y AND
. F I N DI N GS

The S ele c t Committee s i nvestig a tion of a lleged a ss a s sin a tion a t

tempts a g a inst forei gn le a ders r a ised ques tions o f pos s ible con n ections
between thes e plots a n d t h e a ss a ssin a tion of Preside n t John Fitzger a ld
Kennedy Questions were l a ter r a is ed a bout whether t he a gencies a d e
.

q u atel
y investig a ted these poss i ble connections a n d whether in form a
tion a bout these plot s w a s provided the Pre side n t s C ommiss ion on the

As s as si n a tion of President Ke n n edy ( the W a rren Commission ) As a .

re sult pursu a nt to i t s genera l m a n d a te to review the performa nce o f

,

t he intelligence a genci e s the Select Committee reviewed th e ir specic

,

perform a n ce with respect to their investig a tio n of the a ss a ss i n a tion of

the Pre sident .

A . T he S c op e o f t he C om m i t t e e
s I n v e s t i g a t i on
T he C ommitte e did n ot a ttempt t o du plica te the work of the \Va r r e n
Commiss ion It did not review the ndings a n d con c lusions of the
.

\V a r r e n Commission It d i d n ot r e ex a mine the physi c a l evidence

.
-

which the Wa rren C ommission h a d It did not review one o f the pri n .

c i p a l questions f a ci n g the Commission : whether Lee H a rvey Oswa l d

w a s in f a ct the a s s a ssin of President Kennedy .

Inste a d building upon the Select Co m mitt e e s e a rlier w ork a n d

,

,

utilizing its a ccess to the a gen cies a n d its expe r tise i n their functions ,

the Co mmittee ex a mined the perform a n ce o f the intelligence a gencies

in conducting their i n vestig a tion o f the a ss a s si n a tion a n d their rel a
t i on s h i p s to the W a rren Comm issio n .

In the course of this investig a tion more th a n 50 wit n esses were ,

eith e r interviewed o r depos e d Litera lly tens of thous a nds o f pa g es of .

-

doc ument a ry evidence were reviewed a t t he a ge n c ies a n d m ore th a n

p a ges were a c quired In a ddition the Committee relied a gre a t
.
,

de a l on tes timony t a ke n during the course o f its i n vestig a tion o f

a lleged plots t o a s s a s sin a te foreign lea ders espe c i a lly testimony ,

rel a t ing to knowledge of those plots .

The Committee h a s been i m pressed with the a bility a n d dedic a tio n

'

of m ost of tho se i n the i n telligence community M ost offi ci a ls o f the .

FBI the CIA a n d other a ge n cies performed their a ssigned t a sks

, ,

thoroughly c oni pe t e n t ly a n d p rofessi on a lly Supervisors a t a gency

'

.
, ,

he a dqu a rt ers s imil a rly m e t their responsibilities a n d a r e d eserving

of the hi g hest p r a is e Yet a s this R eport doc um en ts thes e indi
.
, ,

v i d u a l s did n ot h a ve a ccess t o a l l o f the i nform a ti on held by the

most senior offici a ls i n their own a gencies Nor did they contro l or .
,

even infl uence m a ny of the de c isio n s m a de by those se n ior o fci a ls

, ,

decisions which sh a ped the i n vesti g a tio n a n d the process by which

inform a tion w a s provided to the W a rren Co m mission Thus it c a n .
,

not be t oo strongly emph a sized th a t this R eport ex a mines the per

for m a n c e of the senior a gency ofci a l s in light of the inform a tio n
a v a i l a ble to them .

( 1)
 2

M a ny p ote n ti a l witnesses could not be c a lled bec a use of li m it a tions .

of ti m e a n d resources F o r t his re a son t he Committee h a s relied a gre a t

.

de a l on the do c umenta ry record of events The Co m mitte e s R eport .

disti n guishes infor m a tion obta ined from docu m ents from inform a tion
it obta ined through sworn te s t imon y t hrough c it a tions since the d ocu ,

ment a ry records m a y not a cc ur a tely re fle c t the true events On the .

other h a nd the Committee ha s on m a ny o cc a sions noted th a t witnesses

,

m a y h a ve n o re c ollection o f the events describe d i n documents which

[
-

they either prep a red o r in which they were mentioned .

The followin g R e port d e t a ils t he eviden ce developed to d a te The .

R eport is intended to be des c riptiv e of th e f a c ts the Committe e h a s de

v e lo e d
p The Committee
. believes the investig a tio n should conti n ue ,

i n c e r ta in a re a s a n d for th a t re a s o n do e s n ot re a c h a n y n a l c o nclu
,

sio n s Inste a d the Sele c t Com m ittee ha s recommend e d th a t the Sena t e

.
,

Committee on I n tellig e nc e c ontinue t his investi g a tion in thos e a re a s

where the Select Committee s investig a tion could n ot be c ompleted
.

B S u m ma r y
In the d a ys followi n g the a ss a ssin a tion of President Kennedy ,

n othi n g w a s more import a nt t o this cou n try tha n to determi n e the

f a cts o f his de a th ; n o on e single eve n t ha s sh a ken the country more .

Yet the eviden c e the C ommittee h a s developed suggests tha t for dif ,

fe r e n t r e a sons both the C I A a n d the FBI f a iled i n or a vo i ded c a rry

.

,
'

i n g ou t c ert a i n of their responsibilities in this m a tter

,
.

The C o m m itte e emph a sizes th a t this R eport s dis c ussio n of investi

g a t i v e d ecien c ies a n d the f a ilure o f Americ a n intelligen c e a gen c ies

to i n form the Wa rre n Commission o f certa i n inform a tion does not

l e a d to the c o n c lusio n th a t the re w a s a conspira c y to a ss a ssin a te Pres
ident Ken n ed y .

I n ste a d this R eport deta ils the e v iden c e the Committee developed
,

c on c erni n g the investiga tio n those a gencies con ducted i n to the Pres -

ide n t s a ss a ssin a tio n their rel a tionshi p with e a c h other a n d with the

,

I V a r r e n Commissio n a n d the effe c t their own oper a tions m a y h a ve h a d

,

o n the c ourse o f the in v estig a tion It pl a ces p a rt icul a r emph a sis on .

t h e effe c t their Cub a n oper a tio n s see med t o h a ve on the investig a tion .

How e er t he C o mmi t tee c a utio n s t h a t it ha s seen n o e v iden c e th a t

v
,

Fidel C a s t ro or others i n t he Cub a n go ernm e nt plotted Presid e nt v

K e n ned y s a ss a ssin a tion in ret a li a tion fo r U S opera tions a ga inst

.

Cub a Th e R eport d e t a il s these op e ra tions to illustra t e why th e y were

.
-

rele a n t t o t he inv e stig a tion Thus the CIA opera tio n involvi n g a
v .
.
,

high le vel Cub a n o ffi c i a l c ode n a med A M LASH is des c ribed in order
,
-

,
t o illustr a t e why th a t opera tio n a n d its po ssible r a mi c a tio n s should , ,

h a v e b e en ex a m ined a s pa r t of the a ss a ssin a t i on in v e st ig a ti on Simi

. .
.

l a r ly a lthou g h C ub a n exile groups o pposed to C a stro m a y h a v e be e n

,

ups e t w ith K e nnedy a dministr a ti on a c tions whi c h re stri c ted their

a c tivities the C o mmitt e e h a s no eviden c e th a t such groups plotted the
,

a ss a ssin a tion .

Almost from the d a y C a stro t ook power i n Cub a the United St a te s ,

be c a m e the ce n ter of a ttempts to depos e him Cub a n exil e s a nti . ,

c o nn n u n i s t s busi n ess int e rests u n d e rworl d gures a n d the Un ited

, , ,

St a tes G o e rn me n t a ll h a d their own re a sons for s e eki n g to ov e r

v

throw the C a s tro governme n t These i n terests ge n era lly oper a te d .

i n dependen t ly of the others

; but o n o cc a sion a few fro m e a c h group .

would j oin fo rces in a c ombined e ffoi t .

 3

In April 196 1 a forc e of Cub a n exiles a n d soldiers of fo rt une b a c ked

,

by the CIA a ttempted a n i n v a sion of C uba a t the Ba y of Pigs In

,
.

Novembe r o f th a t ye a r the Unite d S t a tes Govern ment decided th a t

,

further such ove r t p a ra milit a ry opera t i ons were no lo n ger fe a sible ,

a n d emb a rked o n Oper a tion M O N G O OS E This oper a tion a tt e mpted .

to use Cu b a n exiles a n d disside n ts i n side Cub a to overthrow C a stro .

When the United St a tes f a ced a m a j or co n front a tion with the Soviet
Un ion during the Octob e r 196 2 C ub a n missil e crisis it termin a ted ,

M ON GO O S E ; the C I A s c overt oper a tions a g a inst Cub a were r e

d u c e d ; a n d the F B I a n d other a gencies o f government be g a n to r e

stri c t the p a r a milit a ry opera tions o f exile groups This r a ther sudden .

shift a g a in s t p a ra milit a ry a ctivity of Cuba n exile groups gen er a t ed

-

hostility Suppo rt ers of some of t hese gro ups were a ngered by t he

.

ch a nge in governm ent policy They viewed this a s a we a keni n g o f the .

U S will to oppose C a stro

. . .

Throughout thi s period the CIA h a d been plotting the a ssa ssin a tion ,

of C a stro a s a nother method of a chieving a ch a nge in the Cub a n gov

e r n m e n t Betwe en 1
. 960 a n d e a rly 196 3 the CIA a ttemp t e d to use under
worl d gures for this a ss a s si na tion By M a y 196 2 the FB I knew of .
,

su c h plots a n d in J une 196 8 le a rned of their te r min a ti on

,
.

Follow i ng a June 196 3 decision by a Specia l Group of the N a

t i on a l S ecu ri ty Council to incre a se covert oper a tions a g a in s t Cub a -

the CIA renewed co n t a ct with a high lev e l Cub a n gover nme n t of ci a l -

c ode n a med A M L ASH At his rs t meeting w ith the C IA in over a

-
.

ye a r A M LASH proposed C a stro s overthrow through a n inside

,

j ob with U S support A M LAS H co n sidered the a ss a ssin a tion of

,

. . .

C a stro a n e c ess a ry p a rt o f this inside j ob Shortly a fter this meeting

.

with AM LASH C a stro issued a public w a rning reported prominently

,

in the U S press a bo ut the United St a tes meet i ng with terrorists who

. .

wished to elimi n a te Cub a n le a ders He t hre a te ned th a t Cub a w ould .

a nswer in kind .

Five d a ys a fter C a stro issued this thre a t the Coordin a ting Com ,

m i t t e e for Cu b a n a ffa irs a n inter a gen c y pl a nning c ommittee s u b

-

ordin a te to the N a tion a l Security Council s Speci a l Group met to

,

endorse or modify then exist ing contingency pl a ns for pos sible r e

ta li a tion by the Cub a n Government R epresent a tives of the CIA a n d .
,

of the Sta te Defense a n d Justice Dep a rtments were on this Co m

,

m i t t e e The CIA represe n t a tives o n this Commit t ee were from its

.
"

Speci a l Affa irs St a ff SAS ) the st a ff r esponsible for Cuba n m a t

-

ters genera lly a n d the A M LASH oper a tion Those a ttendi ng the meet .

ing on September 12 a greed un a nimously th a t there w a s a strong

likelih o od C a stro woul d ret a l i a te in so m e w a y a ga i n st the r a sh o f
covert a c tivi ty in Cub a .

At this S ep tembe r 12 m e eting this Committee concluded C a stro

woul d not risk m a j or confron t a tion w ith the United St a tes It there .

fore rej ected the possibility th a t Cub a wou l d ret a li a te b y a tta cking

Americ a n ofci a ls within the United St a tes ; it a ssigned n o a gency the

res p onsibility fo r consider a tion of this c o n ti n gency .

Withi n weeks o f this m e eti ng the C I A esca l a ted t he level of i ts

c ove r t o per a tions informi n g A M LA S H the Uni t ed St a tes suppo rted
,

his c oup Despite w a rni n gs from c ert a in CIA st a ffers th a t the opera
.

tion w a s poo rly conceiv e d a n d i n se cure the he a d of S A S Desmond , ,

Fitzgera ld met A M LAS H on Octo be r 29 196 3 told him he w a s the

, , ,
 4

person a l represent a ti v e of Attorney Ge n er a l R obe rt Kennedy a n d

st a ted the United St a tes would support a c oup O n November 22 a t .

,

a p r e a rr a nged meeti n g a CIA C a s e O fc e r tol d A M LASH he would

'
-

be p rovided ri fles with tel e s c opi c sight s a n d explosives with which .

to c a rry ou t his pl a n He w a s a lso offer e d a poison pe n devi c e

. .

Followi n g the President s d e a th se a r c hes o f FB I a n d CIA les

,

re v e a l e d th a t Lee H a rvey Osw a ld w a s n o t u n know n to the inte lligence

a ge n c ies In l a te 1959 the FBI ope n ed a se c urity le on Osw a ld
.
,

a ft e r his def e ctio n to the Soviet Unio n After Osw a ld s return t o this

.

c ou n try in June 196 2 h e w a s interview e d twi c e by F B I a ge n ts ; on

,

e a c h o cc a sion he repe a tedly lied He a lso refused to be polygra phed .

a bout his n eg a tive a nswe rs to ques tio n s o f ties w ith So v iet int e llige n ce .

Yet the FBI clos e d the Osw a l d se c urity c a se immedi a tely a fter the
se c o n d i n te r v iew T he c a se w a s reope n ed in M a r c h 196 3 but Osw a ld
.
,

w a s n ot i n t e r v iewed by t h e FBI u n til August 1 0 1 96 3 when he r e , ,

q uested a n i n ter i e w a fter his a rr e st i n N e w O rl e a n s for disturbi n g

v .

t he p e a c e O n the o cc a sio n of this third i n terview h e a g a i n repe a tedly

.
,

lied to FB I a gents A month l a ter Osw a ld visit ed M exi c o C ity where

.
,

he visit e d both t he Cub a n a n d Sovi e t diplom a ti c est a blishm e nts a n d ,

c o n t a c ted a v i ce c onsul a t the l a t te r who w a s i n f a c t a KGB a gent .

Despite re c ei v i n g this inform a tion on O sw a ld s M exi c o C ity a c tivity

.

the F B I f a iled t o inte nsify its i n vestig a tive effo rt s It f a iled to inter .

vie w him be fore the a ss a ssin a tio n despite receiving a note from him
w a rning the FBI to le a ve his wife a lon e .

Imm e di a tely a fte r the a s s a ssi n a tion FB I Director J E dg a r Hoove r , .

ordered a complet e re view of t he F B I s h a n dli n g o f th e Osw a ld se '

c a rity c a se Within six d a ys he w a s gi v en a repo r t which det a iled

.

serious i n v estiga ti e de c ie n c ies As a result of these de c ie n c ies

v .

seve n teen FBI person n el in c luding one Assist a nt Dire c tor were dis
, ,

c i pl i n e d The f a c t th a t the FBI felt there were investiga tive d e c i e n

.

c i e s a n d the dis c iplin a ry a c tio n s it took were never publi c ly dis c losed
by the Bure a u o r c om muni c a ted t o t he W a rre n C o m mission .

The evide n ce suggests th a t duri n g the I V a r r e n C omm issio n investi

g a t i o n t o p F BI of ci a ls were continu a lly c oncerned with protec ti ng
the Bure a u s re put a tion a n d a voidi n g a n y criticis m for not ful lling

investiga tive responsibiliti e s Within weeks a fter the a ss a s si n a tion the

.
,

FBI a t t he urgi n g o f s e nior G ove rnment ofc ia ls issued a re p ort c o n

,
. .

,
-

e lu d i n
g th a t O sw a ld w a s the a ss a ssi n a n d th a t he h a d a c ted a l on e .

The Bure a u issued its report on the b a s is of a n a rrow in v estig a ti on

focused on Osw a ld without co n du c ting a bro a d investiga tion of the
.

a ss a ssi n a tion which w o uld h a ve reve a led a n con

l s pir a cy forei
y g n o r ,

dom e stic .

Despite knowledge of O sw a ld s a pp a rent interes t in pro C a stro a n d

-

a n ti C a stro a c ti v iti e s a n d top level a w a reness o f c e rt a i n C IA a s s a s s i

-

n a tion plots the FBI a c c ordi n g to a l l a gents a n d supervisory per

, ,
'

s o n n e l w ho testied b e fore the Co m mittee m a de no sp e ci a l i n vestig a

,

tive effort into questions of possible Cub a n governme n t or Cub a n exile

i nvolvement i n the a ss a ssin a tion indepe n dent o f the Os w a ld i n vesti
g a t i on There is no indic a tion th a t the F BI or the CIA di r e c ted the
.

interviewing o f Cub a n sources or of sources within the Cub a n exile

c ommunity The division of t he FBI responsible for inves tiga ting
.

c rimin a l a spe c ts of the a ss a ssi n a tion a n d not the division responsible ,

for investiga ting subversive a ctivities ( in c ludi n g t hose o f Cuba n

 5

groups ) w a s prim a ri ly responsible for t he in v est i ga tion a n d served

,

a s li a ison t o the \V a r r e n Com m ission .

Director Hoover himself p e rceived the Wa rren Commission a s a n

a dvers a ry He repe a tedly rem a rked th a t the Commission p a rt i c u
.
,
l a r ly the Chief Justi c e w a s se eking t o c riticize the F B I a n d,

merely a ttempti n g t o nd ga ps in the F BI s investiga tion On two

.

sep a ra te o c c a sions the l a tter immedi a tely upon rele as e of the Com
,

mission s R eport Direc to r Hoover a sked for a ll deroga tory m a teri a l

,

on IV a r r e n Com m ission members a n d sta ff cont a ined in t he FB I les .

Nei t her the CIA n or the FB I to ld t he Wa rren Commi s s ion a bout

the CIA a ttempts to a ss a ssin a te Fidel C a stro A l len Dulles former .
,

Directo r o f C e n tra l Intelligence w a s a member o f the Wa rren Co m ,

mis s ion a n d presum a bly knew a bout CIA plots during his tenure wi t h .

the Age n cy a lthough he prob a b ly w a s un a w a re of the A M LASH

,

oper a tion FB I Dire ctor Ho over a n d senior FBI ofci a ls a lso kne w
.

a bout these e a rlier pl o ts In July 1 96 4two m onths before the W a rren

.
,

Commissi o n issued its 2 6 volume report of its investiga tio n a n d n d

-

ing s FB I ofci a ls le a rned t h a t a Cub a n offici a l ( n ot known t o the

,

Bure a u a s A M LASH ) w as pl ott i ng with t h e CIA to a ss a ssin a te

Ca stro However there is n o evidence t his knowl e d ge a ffected the FB I

.
,
'

investiga tion o f the President s a ss a ssin a tion in a n y w a y The A t t or

.

ney Genera l a n d other government ofci a ls knew there ha d bee n pre

vions a s s a ssin a tio n plots with the underworld N o ne o f the testimony .

o r documents re c eived by t he W a rren C ommi s sion men t ioned the C IA

a ss a ssin a tion plots The su bordin a te ofcers a t the FB I a n d the CIA

.

who a cte d a s li a isons wi t h the W a rren Commission did not know of

the C I A a s s a ssin a tio n a ttempts .

The A M LASH plot w a s more relev a nt t o the Wa rren Commis

sion s wor k tha n t he e a rly CIA a ss a s sin a tion plo ts w ith the und e r

world Unlike tho s e e a rlier pl ots the A M LASH o pera tion w a s in

.
,
progre s s a t the time o f the a ss a ssin a tion ; unlike the e a rl ier pl ots the ,

A M LASH o p e ra tio n could cle a r l y be trac e d to t he CIA ; a n d unlike

the e a rlier plots the CIA h a d endo rsed A M LA S H s pro pos a l fo r a
,
-

coup the rst step t o him being C a stro s a ss a ssin a tion despite
,

,

C as tro s thre a t t o ret a li a te for such pl otting No o n e directly involved

.

in either a gency s investiga t io n w a s t old o f the A M LASH opera tion

.

No one inv e stiga te d a c onnection be t ween the A M LASH o pera tion

a n d Pr e sident Kenned y s a s s as sin a tion Alth ough Os w a ld ha d be en

.

in conta ct with p r o C as tro a n d a nti C a stro groups for m a ny months

- -

be fore the a ss a ss in a tion the CIA did not c o n duct a thorough inves tiga
,

ti on o f questions of Cub a n Govern men t o r Cub a n exi le inv olv e ment

in the as sa s sin a tion .

C IA offi c i a l s knowledge a ble of the A M LASH plot tes tied they

did not rel a t e it t o the President s a ss a ssin a tion ; h owever those a t CIA
,

a n d FBI respo nsible for t h eir a ge ncy s investig a tion testi ed th a t ha d

,

the y bea n a w a re o f the plot they w o uld h a ve c onsidered it relev a nt to

-
,

their investiga tion The individ u a l who directed the CIA i n ve s t i ga t l on

.

for the rst month a fter the a ss a ssin a tion testied t h a t he felt knowl ,

edge o f the A M L ASH opera tion would h a ve been a vit a l f a ctor i n

sh a ping his inves tiga tion His succes s or a t the CIA a lso st a ted th a t .

knowledge of the AM LASH pl ot w oul d h a ve m a de a di fference i n 1 118

investiga tion Individu a ls on the Wa rren Commission st a ff h a ve ex
.

pressed simil a r opinio ns a s t o a l l pl ots a ga inst C as tro There is a lso .

 6

e v iden ce th a t C I A i n vestiga tors re q u e sted n a m e tra ces whi c h should

h a ve m a de them a w a re of t h e A M LASH opera tion but for so m e r e a ,

son th ey did not le a rn of th a t op e r a tion

, .

Alth ough the Wa rren C ommissio n c on cluded its work in Septe m ber
196 4the inv e stig a ti o n of the a ss a ssin a t ion w a s n ot to end Bo t h FBI
,
.

Director Hoover a n d CIA Deputy Director for Pl a n s R ich a rd He lm s

pledged to keep the m a tte r a s a n open c a se .

I n 196 5 th e FBI a n d t he CIA r e c eived infor m a tion a bout th e A M

,

LASH o pera ti on whi c h i n di c a ted the e ntire opera tion w a s inse c ure
,
,

a n d c a used t h e CIA t o te rmin a te it Despite the f a c t th a t th e i n form a

.
,

tio n then re cei e d m ight h a ve ra i se d doubts a bo ut the investiga tion of

v

the Preside n t s a s s a ssin a tio n n either a ge n c y r e ex a mined the a s s a s s i

,
-

n a t io n .

T he a s s a ssin a tio n of Presid e n t Ken n edy a ga in c a me t o the a ttenti on

of the i n telli g e n c e a ge n c i e s i n 196 7 Preside n t J oh n son too k a person a l
.
.

int e rest i n a lleg a tio n s th a t C a stro h a d reta li a ted Although t h e FBI .

received su c h a lleg a ti o n s no i nvestiga tio n w a s c on du c te d

, .

O n the very d a y Preside n t Joh n so n re c eived t h e FBI reports of

these a lleg a tio n s he m e t with C IA Dire c tor R i c h a rd Hel m s The next
,
.

d a y Helms ordered the CIA Insp e c t o r G ener a l to prep a re a report

,

o n Age n cy spo n sor e d a ss a s si n a tio n plots Although this r e port r a ised .

the quest io n of a possible c onnec tion b et w e en the CIA plots a g a inst

C a stro a n d the a ss a s s i n a t on of Preside n t Ke n nedy it w a s not fur ,

n i s he d to CIA inves tig a tors who were to r e v iew the Ken n edy a s s a s s i

n a t io n i n vestiga tion O n c e a ga mi a lthough t hes e C IA i n vestiga tors

.
,
.

requested i n form a tio n th a t should h a ve led them to dis c over the

A M LASH opera tio n they a pp a re n t ly did n ot re c eive th a t inform a t ion
,
.

0 . F i n d i n gs
T heCo m mittee emph a sizes th a t i t ha s not u n c overed a n y eviden ce [ .

suffi c ient t o 1u s t i fv a c on c lu sio n th a t there w a s a conspira cy t o a ss a s

'

s i n a t e President K e nnedy .

The Committee h a s however developed evidence whi c h impe a ch es

, ,

the pro c ess by whi c h the intelligen c e a gencies a rrived a t their own
con c lusions a bou t the a ss a ssi na tion a n d by which t h ey provided i n ,

form a tion to the Wa rre n Co m mission This eviden c e i n dic a tes th a t .

th e i n v estig a tio n of the a ss a ssin a tion w a s d ecient a n d th a t f a cts

which m ight h a ve subst a nti a lly a ffe c t ed t he course of the i n v e s t i g
.

tion were not pr ovided t he Wa rren Commission o r those individu a ls

w ithin t he FBI a n d the CIA a s well a s o th e r a en c ies of G o v er nment
g , ,

who were ch a rged with i n vestiga ting the a ss a ss i n a tion .

T h e C o m mittee h as found th a t the FB I the a g ency wit h prim a ry ,

responsibility in the m a tter w a s ordered by Director Hoover a n d,

pressured by hi g her gov e rnme n t offi c i a ls to conclude its i n vestig a tion ,

qui c kly The FB I conducted i t s investig a tion in a n a tmos phere o f con

.

ce rn a mong senior Bure a u of c i a ls th a t it would be criti c ized a n d its

reput a tion t a rni s hed R a ther th a n a ddressing i t s i n ves tiga ti on t o a ll
.

sig nic a nt circumst a nces in c l udi ng a ll possi b ilities o f c on s p ira c y the

, ,

FBI in v estig a tion focu se d na r rowly on Lee H a rvey Osw a ld .

The Co m m itte e ha s found t h a t e v en with this n a r row fo c us the F BI ,

investig a tion a s well a s the CIA in q uiry w a s decient on the speci c

, ,

question o f the s ig nic a nce of Os w a ld s c ont a cts with pro C a stro a n d -

a n ti C a stro gr o ups for the m a ny mont hs be f o re the a ss a ss in a tio n

-
.
Those i n dividu a ls directly re sp o nsible fo r the investig a tions were not
fully c onvers a nt with t he uctu a tions in Ame r ic a n policy tow a rd
those who oppo s ed C a stro a n d they l a cked a working knowled ge of,

pro C a s t ro a nd a nti Ca stro a cti v ity They did not kn o w the ful l extent
- -
.
.

of U S op e ra tion s a ga ins t C ub a in cluding the CIA effo r t s t o a ss a s

. .

s i n a t e C a s tro The Commit t ee fur t her found th a t these investig a tive

.

defi ciencies a r e p roba bly the re a s on th a t si gn ic a nt le a ds rec eived by

intelligen c e a ge ncies were not pursued .

Se n ior Bure a u o f ci a ls should h a ve re a lized the FB I efforts were

fo c used too n a rrowly to a llow for a full investiga tio n They should .

h a ve re a lized the sig nic a nce of Osw a ld s C uba n cont a c ts could not be

fully a n a lyzed wi t hout the dire c t involveme n t of FBI perso n nel who
ha d expe r tise in such m a tters Yet these senior ofci a ls pe rm itted the .

investig a ti on to t a ke this course a n d viewed the Wa rren Commission

inv e stiga tion in a n a dvers a ri a l l ight .

Senior CI A of ci a ls a lso should h a ve re a lized th a t their a gency w a s

not utilizing i t s full ca p a bility to investig a t e Osw a ld s pro C a st r o a n d -

a nti Ca stro connections They should h a ve re a lized th a t C IA oper a

'
-
.

tions a g a inst Cub a p a rticul a rly opera tions involvi n g the as s a ssin a tion
,

of C a stro needed t o be considered in the inves tiga tion Yet they

,
.
,

directed their subordin a t e s to conduct a n investiga tion wi t hout telli n g

them of these vita l f a c ts The s e ofci a ls w hom the W a rren C om
.
,

m i s si on relied up on for expertise a dvised the Wa rren Commissi on ,

t ha t the CIA ha d no evidence of fo r eign conspir a cy .

W h y senior ofc i a ls o f t he FBI a n d the CIA permitted the investi

g a t i on to g6 forw a rd in light of these d eciencies a n d why they per
, ,

m i t t e d the Wa rren C ommission t o re a ch its conclusion without a ll

re l eva nt informa tion is still un c lea r Cert a inly c oncern with public .
,

repu t a tio n proble m s o f coordin a tion between a gencies possible

, ,

bure a ucra ti c f a ilure a n d emb a rra ssment a n d the extreme comp a r t ,

ment a tion of knowledge of sensitive oper a tions m a y h a ve cont r ibuted

t o th e s e s hortcomin gs B ut the p os sibility exists th a t senior ofci a ls in
.

"
both a gencies m a de conscious decisi ons not to disclose potenti a lly
import a n t i n form a tion .

Bec a use the Select Committee to Study G overnmen t a l Opera tio ns

With R espec t to Intelligen c e Activities ended on M a y 31 1976 a , ,

n a l resolu t ion o f thes e questio ns w a s impossible Neverthele s s t he .

,

Committee decided t o m a ke its ndings public beca use the people h a ve ,

a right t o know how these speci a l a gencies o f the G overnment fulll

their re sponsibilities .

The Comm ittee r ecommends th a t i t s suc c essor the Sen a te Select ,

Committee on In t elligen c e the p e rm a nent Sen a te C ommittee oversee

,

ing intelligence opera tions c on ti n ue the inves tig a tion in a n a tt emp t to

,

reso l ve these questions To a ss ist i t s succ es sor this Com mittee h as for
.
,

w a rd e d a ll l e s pe r t a i n ing to this investiga tion .

This pha se of the Committee s work will undoubted ly stir contro

ve rs
y .Few events i n recent memory h a ve s o a roused the emotions o f
this N a tion a n d the world as those in D a ll a s in November 1963 , ,
.

Conspir a cy theories a n d theorists a bound a n d the public rem a ins u n ,

s a tised R egrett a bly this R epor t will n ot put the m a tter to rest Even
.
,
.

a fter a ddition a l investig a tive work no a ddition a l evide n ce m a

y come ,

to light on the ultim a te question o f why President Kennedy w a s .

a ss a ssin a ted .
 10

Fi n a lly ce rt a in underworld intere sts were opposed to C a stro Be

,
.

fore his ta ke over Cub a h a d been very import a nt to these interests

, ,

but C a stro ha d forc ed the u n derworld o u t R emov a l of C a s tro l ikely .

me a n t th e se interes t s could return to Cub a .

1

In a ddition to this strong a nti C a stro sentime n t in the priv a te sector -

the United Sta tes Government w a s pursuing a policy of opposition to

C a stro regime The precise government policy v a ried during the
.

e a rly 196 0s a s did the spe c ic government a ction implementing th a t

policy Both pl a n n ing a n d implement a tion o f the policy involved
.

a lmost a ll m a j or d ep a rtments of the Feder a l government including ,

the intelligen c e a ge ncies .

Th e i n telligen c e a ge n c ies ha d two prim a ry resp onsibilities All the .

intelligence a gen c ies coll e cte d i n for m a tio n on C ub a n p r o C a stro a n d ,

-

a n ti C a st r o a c tivity
-
Their combi n ed efforts resulte d in a n extensive
.

i n telligence network in Cub a in other C a ri bbe a n c ou n t r ies a n d in t he , ,

United St a t e s a n etwork whi c h rep o rt ed on a wide r a nge of m a tte rs

,
.

Se c ond the intell igen c e a gen c i e s p ri m a rily t h e C I A u n dertook cove r t

, , ,

oper a tio n s a g a inst Cub a The te c hniques utilized in these c overt oper a .

tions r a nged fro m prop a ga nd a t o p a ra milit a ry a c ti on a n d included , ,

the outright i n v a sion a t the B a y of Pigs These oper a tions were c on

,
.

du c ted n ot on ly thro ugh individu a l s directly empl oyed by the a gen c ies ,

but a lso through c ert a in of t he a nti C a stro groups oste n sibly inde -

pe n dent of t he intellige n c e a gencies .

Obviously it is difc ult t o dis c o v er the det a i l s o f a n y i n te ll igen c e

,

oper a tio n si n c e i n t elligen c e oper a tions were designed to p re v ent su c h

,

dis c ov e ry Ex c ept i n a few inst a n c es the Selec t Com m i t tee h a s not

.
,
.

a t tempte d t o unr a vel these oper a tions but h a s inste a d foc used on the ,

gen e r a l n a t ure of the opera tions .

I n 196 1the Preside n t w a s for c ed to a dmit pu b li c l v t h a t the B a y o f

Pi gs i n v a sio n w a s a n o pera tion s p o n sored by the CIA I n N o v e mber .

196 1 a fter a period of re a ppr a is a l following t h e f a ilure o f the B a y of

,

Pi g s i n v a si on a n other a ppro a c h to the Cub a prob lem Opera tio n

,
.

M ON G OOSE w a s c o n c eived As des c ribed i n m ore det a il in t he Sele ct

, . .

Com m ittee s R epo rt Alleged Ass a ssin a tion Plots Invol vi n g Foreign

,

1
I deed dur i g th e m i ss i le cr i s i s
n . n FBI i for m a t repor t ed th a t h e b el i eves , an n n

h e could a rr a g e t o h a ve F i del C a s t ro a ss a ss i t ed
n U derworld fig ures s ti ll na n
h a ve c h a els i s i de Cu b a th rou gh whi c h th e a ssa ss i a ti o o f C a s t ro could h
nn n n n e
success f ull y a rra g ed n .

He sa i d th a t i th e eve t th e U it ed S t a t es Gover m e t i s i t eres t ed

n n n n n n
i h a v i g th e a tt e m p t m a de h e w ould r a i se th e ecess a r y m o e y d
n n , n n an
would wa t o thi g f ro m th e Gover me t excep t th e a ssura ce th a t such
n n n n n n
an u der t a k i g would i
n wa y a dversel y a ff ec t th e a ti o a l secur ity
n n no n n .

He expressed co de ce i hi s a b i l ity t o a cco m pl i sh thi s m i ss i o with ou t

n n n n
an y a dd iti o a l co t a c t with Gover m e t represe t a ti ves
n n d w ith a n n n an
m i i mu m o f co t a c t s w ith pr i v a t e i d i v i du a ls
n n n .

Th e Bure a u repor t ed thi s co t a c t t o th e A tt or ey Ge er a l d co cluded n n n an n :

T h e i f or ma t wa s t old th a t hi s o ffer i s ou t s i de our j ur i sd i c ti o w hi ch

n n n .

h e a ck owled g ed N o co mm it m e t s w ere m a de t o h i m A t t hi s ti me we do
n . n .

t pl a t o f urth er pursue th e m a tt er O ur rel a ti o shi p with h i m h a s

.

no n . n
b m os t c a re f ull y g u a rded
e e n d w e w ould f eel o b l ig a t ed t o h a dle yan n an
reco t a c t o f h i m co cer i g thi s m a tt er if such i s des i red ( M e mora du m
n n n n . n
f ro m Hoover t o th e A tt or e y Ge er a l n n ,
 11

Le a ders M ONGO OSE w a s to use Cub a n exiles in opera tions desi g ned
,

to foment a n intern a l revolution in Cuba .

2

The Soviet U S confro n t a tion du r ing the Cub a n missile crisis in

. .

October 1962 w a s a fa c tor le a ding t o a nother re a ppra is a l of Americ a n

,

policy tow a rd C ub a This resulted in Oper a tion M ONGOOSE bei n g .

ph a sed out a n d t he Speci a l Gro u p ( Augm ented ) ordering a h a lt t o

a ll s a bot a ge oper a tions
3
.

As the Ass a ssin a tio n R epo r t ha s det a iled fro m 196 0 until 196 2 the ,

Centra l Intelligen c e A gency m e t regul a rly w i t h underworld gure s

plotting the a ss a s sin a tion of F i d e l C a stro I n e a rly 196 3 Willi a m l
.
,

Ha rvey the C I A s cont a ct t o t hese underworld gures to l d them t he

,

,

CIA w a s n o longer intereste d in a ss a ssi n a ti n g C a stro 4

.

After the mi s sile c risis CIA opera tion s a g a inst C ub a a pp a rently ,

decre a sed while op e ra tions by C ub a n exile groups o n thei r o w n c on

,

tinned O n M a rc h 18 196 3 there w a s a repo rt ed a tta c k on a Soviet

.
, ,

vessel o ff the no r the r n co a st of Cub a by members of two e x i le groups ,

Alph a 6 6 a n d the Second N a t ion a l Fro n t of E s c a mb r a y There w a s
, .
5

a no ther repo r t e d a tt ac k o n a Soviet vessel o ff the n o rthern co a st o f

Cuba on the evening of M a rc h 2 6 27 196 3 by members o f a nothe r -

, ,

a nti C a stro group Comm a ndos L

-

This a pp a ren tly c a used consider a ble c oncern withi n the U S Gov . .

e r n m e n t th a t such a ctivity by Cub a n exile groups cou l d produ c e a

confront a tion with the Soviets O n e witness st a ted the whole a pp a .

7
,

r a tus o f governme n t Coa st Gu a rd Customs Immigra tion a n d N a tu , , ,

r a l i z a t i on FB I CIA were working together to try to keep these

, , ,

opera tions from going to Cub a .

8

These moves to re strict e x ile a ctivities h a d a n i m p a c t o n New

Orlea n s a t the time Lee H a rvey Osw a ld w a s living there As repo r ted .

Alleged Ass a ss i a t i P lo t s I volv i g Foreig L ea ders

2
n on pp 139 n n n ,

.

14 8 re f erred t o h ere i a ft er a s th e Ass a ss i a ti o

, R ep or t n n n .

T h e Comm itt ee h d i scovered s i ce th e i ssu a ce o f it s Ass a ss i a ti o R epor t

as n n n n
th a t i a dd iti o t o th e CIA d Dep a r t me t o f De f e se th e F BI w a lso
, n n an n n , as c on
su it ed i M O N G OO S E pl a i g I N ove mb er 196 1 th e Bure a u su b mitt ed it s
n nn n . n ,

o w n po i t pro g r a m o f a cti o a g a i s t C a s t ro a dvoc a ti g s t ro g supp r t o f

ve -
n n n ,
n n o
reb el a cti v ity withi Cu b a ( M e mor a du m f ro m Bel mo t t o Tolso
n . n n n,
3
M e m or a du m f or th e record f ro m Ge er a l L a sd ale
n n n ,

T h e Ass a ss i a ti o R epor t d i scussed a t le gth wh o k ew o f th e C I A a ss a s
n n n n

s
i
s na ti plo t s a g a i s t C a s t ro So f a r a s h a s b ee det er m i ed k owled g e o f plo t s
on n . n n ,
n
i volv i g th e u derworld w ere k ow b y a u mb er o f g over me t o fc i a ls ou t
n n n n n n n n
s i de th e CIA For ex a mple FBI D i rec t or Hoover prep a red m em or a du m d a t ed
.
, a n
Ma y 10 196 2 i whi c h h e recou t ed a pr i v a t e mee ti g h e h a d with th e A tt or e y
, , n n n n

Ge er a l th a t d a y Hoover o t ed
n . n

Ma h eu h a d b ee hi red b y CIA t o a ppro a c h Gi n w ith a propos iti o a nc a n a n

o f pa yi g t o hi re so me g u m a t o g o i t o Cu b a d k i ll C a s t ro
n n n n an .

He f ur th er st a t ed th a t CIA a d mitt ed h a v i g a ss i s t ed Ma h eu i m a k i g n n n

th e b u ggi g o f L a s V e g a s n .

A copy f thi s me mor a du m wa s d i ssem i a t ed t o M essrs Tolso Bel mo t

o n n . n, n ,

Sull i v a d D L
n, a n h e oa e .

5
M e mor a du m f ro m M i a m i F i eld Of ce t o FBI He a dqu a rt ers
n ,

M e mor a du m f ro m J Ed ga r Hoover t o D i re t or o f Bure a u o f I t ell ige ce
n . c n n

an d R ese a rc h Dep a r t m e t o f S t a t e d a t ed Apr i l 1 196 3 Su b j ec t

, A ti C a s t ro
n , , . : n -

Ac ti v iti es i th e U it ed S t a t es I t er a l Secur ity Cu b a N e t ra l ity Ma tt ers

n n n n -
'
u .

7
Sec ti o C hi ef t es ti mo y n pp 1922 n , . .

8
C hi e f J M WAV E t es ti mo y
, pp 2 1 22 n , .
, .
 12

on pa ge on e of the New Orlea ns Times Pic a yune on August 1 196 3 -

, ,

the FBI seized more th a n a t on o f dyna m ite 20 bomb c a sings n a p a lm , ,

m a teri a l a n d other devices a t a home in the New Orle a ns a re a on

July 31 News p a per intere st in the s eizure continued with p rominent
a rti c les in t he Times Pi c a yune on Au g ust 2 a n d August 4The W a r
.

-
.

ren Com m ission le a rned th a t on Au g ust 5 O sw a ld cont a cte d a Cub a n , ,

e x ile in New Orl e a ns C a rl os B r i n g ui e r offering to help in tra ining

, ,

a nti C as tro forces Then on August 7 Os w a l d returned a n d left his

-
.
,
.

M a rine Corps tr a ining m a nu a l for B r i n gu i e r T w o d a ys la ter B rin .

,

guier s a w O sw a l d h a ndi n g out pro C a stro liter a ture which re s ulted -

in fighting a n d their a r rest Osw a ld subsequently a ppe a r ed o n a r a dio .

d eb a te wi th B r i n g u i e r a gai n t a king a pro C a stro position ,

.
9

Addition a l FBI reports provided to the Wa rren Commission de

t a iled other f a c ts con n ected to this a nti C a stro a ctivity in New Orle a n s -

a t the time of Oswa ld s cont a ct with B r i n g ui e r On Jul y 24ac cord

.
,

ing to FB I reports ten Cub a n exiles a rrived in New Orle a ns fro m

,

M i a m i These ten j oined a n existing group o f exiles a t a tr a ining

.

c a mp north of New Orl e a ns which w a s dire cted by the s a me i n

,

d i v i d u a l s who were i nvo l ved in procuring the dyn a m ite the FB I

seized By l a te July some 28 Cub a n exiles were a t the tr a ining c a mp
.
, ,

a llegedly a w a iting tr a nsport a tion to G u a tem a l a where they w o ul d

work for a lumber compa ny .

'
Some o f those who owned the l a nd on which the C ub a n exiles w ere
st a yin g beca me con c erned a bo ut the FB I i n terest i n the a nti C a stro
a ctivities a n d ordered them to le a ve C a rlos B r i n gu i e r w a s c a lled upon .

to a ssis t in getting this group b a ck to M i a mi .

10

Although this w a s the extent of the W a rren Com m ission investiga

tion of this in c ident a t le a st on e FB I re p ort on the seizure of m a te
, ,

ri a ls which w a s not p rovided the Wa rre n Commission r a ises ,

a ddition a l q uestions a bout the purpose o f Oswa ld s cont a ct with

B r i n gu i e r Indee d B r i n gu i e r himself believed Oswa l d w a s a ttempt

.
,

ing t o inltra t e the a nti C a stro movement in ord e r to repo rt its -

a ctivities to p ro Ca stro forces -

11
.

A report of the M i a mi Of ce o f the FB I reve a le d some o f the i n

form a tion the FBI ha d on this incident :
On June 14 196 3 inform a tion w a s received th a t a group
, ,

of Cub a n exiles ha d a pl a n to bomb the Shell renery in Cub a .

O n June 15 1963 United St a tes Customs Agents seized a

'
, ,

twin Be e c hc r a ft a irp l a n e on the outski r ts o f M i a mi Florid a , ,

a lo n g with a qu a ntity of exp l osives .

A and a lon g with Americ a n

were i n v olv d a n d det a ined but n ot a rrested by t he , ,

Unite d St a tes Customs Agents It w a s a sce r t a ined tha t .

f . su p plied the money a n d explosives for this opera tion .

[ He ] is well known a s a former g a mbling conce s sion oper a tor

in H a v a na .

O u Jul y 19 1963
'
a dvis ed there w a s a nother pl a n t o
, ,

bomb Cub a using bomb ca s i n g s a n d d yn a mite loc a ted on the

,

outskirts of New Orl e a ns Louisi a n a , .

9
W a rre R epor t pp 407 408
n , .
, .

1
M e mor a du m f ro m N ew O rle a s F i eld
n n O i c e t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers ,
11
W a rre R ep or t V ol X pp 4345
n , .
, . .
 13

On Ju l y 31 1963 the Federa l Bure a u of Investiga tion

, ,

( FBI ) a t New Or l e a ns Lo uisi a na obt a in e d a S e a rch w a rr a nt , ,

a n d s eize d pounds o f dyn a mite a n d 20 bomb c a s ings

ne a r La combe L oui s i a n a T his m a teri a l w a s l oc a ted on the
, .

property of brother of [ of ] M i a mi Bea ch

a n d f o rmer ope r a t o r of a c a sino in the N a cion a l Hote l ,
H a v a n a C uba , .

Investiga t ion determine d th a t this d yn a mite w a s purch a s e d

a t Collinsville Il l inois by for A w ho w a s invo l ved in
, , ,

the June 14 1963 s eizure s a t M i a mi A tra nsport e d the

, , .

dyn a mite to New O rl e a ns in a r e nt e d tr a i l e r Al so i n vo l ve d in .

this bo m b pl ot were
a d vise d o n June 1 4196 3 B o f Co l lins vi l le I l li , .

,

n oi s re cent l y a rriv e d in M i a mi
, F l ori d a in a F o rd s t a tion , ,

w a gon with a l o a d o f a r m s for sa l e Americ a n a dve nturer s .

a n d mercen a ri e s to ok B a roun d t o
a nd

,

meet the d iffe r e nt Cub a n exi l e le a d ers in M i a mi 1

.
2

O n a not he r oc c a sion a n in t e l ligence a gency c onduct ed a se n s i t ive

,
op era tion whi ch d e ve l oped infor m a tion o n t he l oc a tion of a rms ca c he s
a n d t r a ining c a mp s in a n ot her coun t r y T ha t info r m a tio n w as given .

to t he ot her cou ntry w hich then ra i d e d the c a mp s a n d s eize d t he ma

,

t e r i a l s R a i d s a n d se izures s uch a s t h e se a pp a ren t l y we r e c o mmonp lac e

.

t hroughout the summ e r a n d f a ll of T ho s e indivi d u a l s a pp a r

e n tly s pon s oring this a ctivity were a n g ered by thes e r a ids a n d s eizu r e s .

R e port s i n the le s of the inte ll i gen ce a genci e s in m i d 1963 d oc u -

ment a se ri es of mee tings a mong m a j o r l e a d er s of the a n t i C a stro -

14
movement The s e r e po r ts indic a te th a t s om e of thes e l e a de r s c l a ime d
.

the support of the United St a tes Gove rnmen t .

Whether t h es e w e r e i n f ac t re l a ted to d eci s ion s by t he U S G ove r n . .

ment i s n ot kn o wn bu t s uch mee tings fo ll owe d the Jun e 196 3 d eci s ion
,

of the S p e cia l Group t o step up v a rious c overt opera ti ons d e s i gne d

to encou r a ge d is si d ent groups ins i d e Cub a t o worse n economic c on ,

d i t i on s in the country a n d t o c a use Cub a ns to d oub t t he a bility of t he

,

C ast ro regim e to d efen d the cou n t r y 1

.
3

C on t emp o ra neous l y t he CIA t ook s te p s to ren ew i t s c on t a ct with a

,
'

high l eve l Cuba n of cia l c od e n a med A M LASH T he C I A s previ o us

-
.

cont a ct with him ha d be en s p or a d ic ; he ha d not be en in d ire ct con

t a c t with t he CIA s ince be fore the mis sile c risi s o f Octobe r 196 2 .

T he e xa ct pu r p os e the CIA h a d for r enewing c o nt a c t is unknown ,

but the r e i s n o evid e n ce the CIA int en de d a t t his tim e t o u se A M L ASH

in a n as s a s s in a ti on o pera tion .

O n Au g ust 16 196 3 t he Chic a g o Sun T imes ca rri e d a n a rtic l e cl arim

. ,

ing th a t t he C IA ha d d ea l ings wit h a n underw orl d gu r e S a m ,

'

G i a n c a n a T hi s p rom p t e d Direc tor M c C on e to a s k t he Deputy Di r ec t o r

.

for P l a ns R ich a rd He l ms for a repo r t a bout t he a rticle M c Gon e

, ,
.

te s tied th a t H e l m s ga ve him a mem ora n d um on the CIA op e ra ti on

M mor a du m f ro m M i a mi F i eld O fce t o F BI H a dqu a r t ers
e n e ,
3
I t e l l ig e ce o fcer s t es ti mo y
n n pp 2 1 2426
n , .
-

, .

1
For ex a m pl e memor a du m fro m M i a mi Fi eld O fce t o F B I He a dqu a r t ers
. n ,

pp 5 10 .
-
.

1
M emo du m f t h Spe c i l Group
ra n or e a ,
 l 4
involving Gi a n c a n a and o ra lly i nformed him tha t it involved a s s a s
s i n a t i on o n Au gu st
Within weeks of Helms rep o rt t o the DCI CIA ca se o f cers held
,

their rst 196 3 m eetin g with A M LASH Although be fore this meeting .

C I A s interest in A M LASH m a y h a ve been to ga in intelligence a n d

to cultiv a te him a s a n a s set for covert oper a tions the c a se of ce rs ,

le a rned th a t A M LASH w a s inte re st ed p rim a rily i n getting t he United

S t a t es to inv a de Cub a or in a ttempting a n inside j ob a g a i nst C a stro
,

,

a n d th a t he w a s a w a iting a U S pl a n of a c tion This w a s commun i 17

. . .

c a t e d to CIA He a dq u a r ters o n Septem ber 7 .

L a te in the even i ng of September 7 Premier C a stro held a n i m ,

p r omp t u three hour interview with Asso c i a ted Press reporter D a niel
-

H a rker a n d in th a t inte r view wa rn ed a g a ins t the United St a tes a i d

ing terrorist pl a n s t o elimi n a te Cub a n l e a ders He s t a ted a cc ordi n g .

,

to H a rker United St a t e s le a ders would be in d a n g e r i f they hel ped in

,

a n y a ttempt to do a w a y with l e a ders of Cub a We a r e prep a red to

.

ght them a n d a nswer in kin d United St a tes le a ders should think th a t .

if they a r e a idi n g terrorist pl a n s t o elimin a te Cub a n lea ders they ,

th e ms elves will n ot be s a fe He a dded : Yet the C IA a n d other .

dre a m ers be lieve their hopes of a n i n surrec tion or a s u c cessful guerrilla

w a r T hey c a n g o o n dre a ming forever
18
. .

Of course di s cussions a m ong Cub a n exiles rega rding the a ss a ssin a

,

tion of C a stro were co mmon a mong the more milit a nt Cub a n exiles .

a ss a ssin a tion w as p a rt of the a mbie n c e o f th a t time

nobody could be involved in Cub a n oper a tions without h a v

ing ha d some sort of a discussion a t some time with some
Cub a n who sa id the w a y to cre a t e a revoluti on is to
shoot Fidel a n d R a ul so the f a ct th a t s omebo dy would
ta lk a bout a ss a s sin a tion j ust w a sn t a nything re a lly out of

the o rdin a ry a t th a t time .

19

'
One FB I repo rt o n a Cub a n exile orga n iz a tion reported a n exile group
m e e ting in August 196 3 A milit a ry o fcer from a L a tin Americ a n
'

coun try w a s there :

[ He ] a cted tou g h t a lking a bo ut a s s a ssin a tions a n d left n o
,

doubt he is a milit a ry m a n He offered tr a i n in g c a m ps mili .

,

t a ry equipment a n d milita ry ba ses from which Cub a could be

,

a tt a cked He spoke very dero g a to r il y of the Centr a l I n t e ll i

.

gence Agenc y ( CIA ) a n d expl a ined th a t his pro p osed o p era

ti ons ha d the s a nction a n d s upport of t op Unit e d St a tes
mili t a ry of c i a ls .
20

1
A ss a ss i n a ti on R epor t p 107 , . .

1"
C h a r a c t er i z a ti on o f thi s ph a se o f th e A M L ASH oper a ti o n i s d i spu t ed Th e .

A ss a ss i n a ti on R epor t con cluded thi s wa s a n a ss a ssi n a ti on oper a ti o n b u t sever a l .

CIA ofci a ls i n volved do n ot a g ree w ith t h i s co n clusi o n However th e CIA c a se .

,

o fcer f or thi s oper a ti on a g reed th a t A M LASH hi m sel f b el i eved a ss a s i n a ti o n s

wa s t h e rs t s t ep o f a n y coup i n Cu b a a n d th e CIA m e t w ith h i m on th a t b a s i s .

18
Thi s a cco u n t o f th e i n t erv i ew a ppe a red i n th e M i a m i Her a ld p 1A Sept em . . .

b e r 9 1963 W hi le o th er m a j or n ew sp a pers c a rr i ed th e s t or y so m e d i d n ot i n
. .
,

c l u d e P re m i er C a t ro s wa r n i n g

s .

1
C hi e f J M WAV E t es ti m o n y
. p 35 , . .

20
M emor a n du m f ro m M i a m i F i eld O f ce t o FBI Hea d q u a r t ers .

Th e Co mm itt ee f ou n d n o ev i de n ce t o suppor t such a cl a i m o f suppo r t b y A meri

c a n m i l it a r y oi c e r s .
 15

C a stro s September 7 st a tement c ould h a ve been referring to i n for

m a tion he ha d received rel a ting to such a ss a ssin a tion plots h a tched by

exile le a ders In a ddition there were p a ra mi lit a ry ra ids o n Cub a by
.

exile grou ps shortly be for e C a s tro s interview However C a stro s

.
,

w a rning a bout the s a fety of U S lea d ers a iding terro r ist pl a ns

. .

t o elim i na te Cub a n le a ders suggests he w a s a w a re o f some a ctivity

a ttribut a ble to the U S Gove r nment

1 2
. . .

At this time re v iew a n d a pprov a l of covert opera tions a g a inst Cub a .

were the re s pons ibility of the N a tion a l Security Council s Speci a l

Group ch a ired by M c Ge or ge Bundy R es ponsib i lity for developing

,
.

covert a ction p ropos a ls w a s delega ted to a n Inter a gency Cub a n Co

ordin a ting Committee ch a ired by a Coordin a tor from the St a te
De pa rtment .
2

On S eptembe r 12 only three d a ys a fter the Associ a t e d Pre ss story

,

a bo ut C a stro s September 7 wa rning to U S le a ders w a s ca rried in

. .

Americ a n newsp a pers the Cub a n Coordin a ting Committ e e met The ,
.

purpose of thi s meeting w a s t o conduct a bro a d review o f t he ,

Government s Cub a n contingency p l a ns a n d t o come up with a n e n

d o r s e me n t or modific a tion o f the exis ting pl a ns Specic a lly the C .

m i t t e e a ccording to this memor a ndum un a nimously a gree d

, ,

th a t there w a s a str ong likel ihood th a t C a stro wou l d ret a li a te

in som e w a y a g a inst the ra s h o f covert a ctivity in Cub a At the .

s a me time the C o ordin a t or emph a s ized th a t it w as his V iew

,

th a t a n y C a stro ret a li a tion will be a t a l ow level a n d n ot a long

a tr a ck which would pre c ipit a te a direct co nfront a tion with

the Unite d St a tes ? 3

The Coo rdin a t or a ga in a ccording t o th i s memora ndum referred t o

, ,

the meeting a s a bra inst orming se s s ion This memora ndum l iste d

.

the pos sible ret a li a tory a cti ons Cuba might under t a ke .

4 Actions a ga inst U S ta rgets in L a t in Am eri ca employing

. . .

C a stro a l lied forces .

( ) 0Incre a s ed a ttempts a t kidn a ping or a t t empts a t a ss a s s i

n a ti on o f Americ a n ofci a ls or ci t izen s ( L ikely ) .

Act ions a ga inst t a rget s in the U S . .

S a bota ge or t errorist bombings ( Un l ikel y ) .

A t t ac ks a ga i ns t U S a c i a ls ( Unlikely ) . . .

Cub a n control l e d r a i d s by unm a rked bo a ts or a ircra f t

in the Keys ( Un l ikel y ) .

4
( d ) J a mmi n gs o f U S r a dio st a tions ( Likely )
2
. . .

21
T h e i d i v i du a l wh o w a s th e C I A poi t of record fo work i g with th e
n

n

r n

W a rre Co mm i ss i o w ro t e i 1975
n n n

T h ere c a b o ques ti o f ro m th e f a ct s surrou d i g th e C a s t ro a ppe a r

n e n n n n

a ce whi c h h a d t b ee expect ed d h i s a gree m e t t o th e i t erv i e w

n no n , an n n ,

th a t thi s even t represe t ed a m ore th a ord i a r y a tt e mp t t o g e t a me

,

n -
n -
n s

s a g e o th e record i th e U it ed S t a t es ( CIA m e mor a du m

n n n . n ,

A C I A a al y s t Cu b a a ffa i rs re a ch ed a s i mi l a r co cl us i o ( Br i e g
n on n n n . n

of Sel e c t Co mm itt ee s t a ff .

2
A s a ss i a ti o R epor t p 170
s n n , . .

m M e m or a du m f n th e Rec ord b y D O D represe t at i ve

or Sub j ec t n :
, ,

M i u t es of Cu b a Coord i a ti g C o mmitt ee mee ti g h el d at Dep a r t me t o f S t a t e

n n n n n n ,

1430 h ou r s 12 S e pt emb e r 1963

, .
 16

The memor a ndum con c luded by not ing the C oordin a t o r ha d st a ted

th a t the S t a te Depa rt ment would provide a list o f the most signic a n t

C a stro a ctions o n Frid a y Septe m ber 13 a n d exp e ct c omm e n t by Sep , ,

tember 17 from the members The next meeting w a s sch e duled for .

Septembe r 18 .

O n Septe m ber 13 196 3 the C o ordin a to r circul a ted a list of those , ,

.

possible ret a li a to ry a c tions by the Cub a n Government whi c h w e a greed

a t o u r meeting of September 1 2 represent situ a tions whi c h h a ve
p riority in a review o f o ur c ontinge n c y pl a nn i ng The list of pos 25
.

s i ble a ctions included : A c tions a g a inst U S T a rgets in L a tin A meric a

. .

Through C a stro Allied Fo rces In c re a sed Att empts a t Kid

-

n a pping or Attempts a t Ass a ssina tio n of Ameri c a n Ofci a ls o r

Cit i zens It a lso i n cluded a c a tegory A c tions Aga i n st T a rgets in the
.

US . W hile the Comm i ttee d e cided a t i t s Septe m ber 12 meeting th a t

.

s a bot a ge or terrorist bombing w a s a n unlikely a ction th a t pos s i b i l ,

ity w a s included in t he S e ptembe r 13 list The po s sibility of Att a c ks .

Ag a i n st U S Ofci a l w a s n o t included in t he September 13 list

. .

.

On September 2 7 196 3 the Coordin a tor of Cub a n A ffa irs prep a red , ,

a mem or a ndum li s ting a ssignments for contingency p a pers rel a ting to

possible ret a li a tory a ctions by the C a stro re gi m e The Subc ommittee .
26

on Cub a n Subversion w a s dire c ted t o submit p a pers on the p ossible

incre a sed a tte mpts a t kidn a ppin g or a ttempts a t a ss a ssin a tion of
Americ a n ofci a ls or citizens by October 4The m emora ndum note d : .

This exercise will be p a r t of the Subco mm ittee s study o f me a s u res t o

meet genera l intensic a tion by C a stro regime of subve rsive efforts in

L a tin Americ a .
27

Possible a tt a cks a ga inst U S o fci a ls in the United St a tes w a s not . .

considered a likely contingen c y a t the September 12 meeting a n d so

the September 27 memor a ndum g a ve no a gency responsibility for th a t
contingency With rega rd to s a bo t a ge or terror i stic bombings a ga ins t
.

U S territory the a ssi gnme n t w a s given to the Justice repres e n t a tive

. .
,

to bring Co ordin a ting Committe e s V iews to the a ttention of t he

FB I .
28

The a v a il a ble i nf orm a ti o n [indic a tes th a t the CIA Speci a l A ffa irs
'
'

St a ff w hi c h w a s resp onsible for Cub a n o pera tions w a s a s a n o rga niz a , ,

t i on a l entity both plotting with A M LASH a n d a t the very s a me time

p a rticip a ting in this intera gency review of contingency pl a ns fo r pos
sible Cub a n ret a li a tion M oreover SAS a s a n orga niz a tion a l entity .
29
, ,

m
( E m ph s i s dded )
I bt d

. a a

M e mor a n d u m t o th e I n t erdep r t m en t l Coord i n ti n g Co m m itt ee o f Cu b n a a a a
A a i r s f ro m Coord i n t or o f Cu b n A ff i rs
, a
re : P oss i b le e t l i t or y a a , R a a
Ac26ti o n s b y C s t ro Gover n men t a .

M a
em or n du m t o th e I nd e p a r t me n t a l Coord i n ti n g C o mmitt ee o f Cu b n A f '
a a
a
f i rs f ro m Coord i n t or o f Cu b n A a i r s
,
a
Su b j ect : C on ti n g e n c y P pe r a ,
a
A ss ign men t s re P oss i b le e t l i t or y Ac ti o n s b y C s t ro Govern men t
2
R a a a .

I bi d .

m
I bi d .

Bec a use th e Select Co mmitt ee s t a ff o l y rece t l y d i scovered th e docu me t s

29
n n n

d i scussed a b ove it h a s h a d oppor t u ity t o ques ti o th e perso s wh o prepa red

, no n n n
th em or wh o a tt e ded th ese mee ti g s T h e Selec t Co mmitt ee s t a ff h a s reques t ed
n n .

a u mb er o f a g e c i es t o prov i de ph o t o cop i es f a ll docu me t s

n n th e Cu b a o n on n

Coord i a ti g Co mm itt ee i clud i g docu m e t s

n n th e poss i b i l ity o f re t a l i a ti o n n n on n

d i s a w a it i g res p o se f rom th e e a g e ci es Th e Comm i t t ee s ta ff h b ee

,

an n a n s n . as n
t old i f or ma ll y th a t t h e C I A represe t a ti ves o thi s Co mmitt ee were f ro m it s
n n n
Spec i a l Affa i rs S ta ff .
 18

Fitzge r a ld used a n a l i as a n d w a s int r od uced to A M LAS H a s a per

son a l represent at ive o f Atto r ney Gener a l Kenn edy

.
33

According to t he c a se of c e r s r epo r t on the October 2 9 meeting

,

Fitzger a ld tol d A M LASH th a t the United St a t e s w a s n ot p r epa red

to s upport a n is o l a ted upri si n g According to this rep or t Fitzge r a l d .
,

told A M LAS H th a t the United St a tes w a s prep a r ed to provide s u p

port on l y a fter a re a l coup ha d been e ffected a n d the group inv olved ,

w as in a position to r e quest U S recognition a n d suppo r t The memo . . .

r a n d u m goes on to s a
y
Nothing o f a n opera tion a l n a tu r e w a s discussed a t the Fitz
ger a ld meeting After the meetin g [ A M LASH ] st a ted th a t
.

he w a s s a tised wi th the policy discussion but now desired t o

k n ow wh a t technic a l support we could p r ovide him 4 3
.

Wh ether A M LASH inte r preted t hi s me e t i n g a s CIA end ors ement ,

of his propos a l t o initi a te the coup by a ss a ssin a tion is n ot cle a r When .

int e r viewed by the CIA Inspector Gener a l st a ff in 196 7 Fitzger a ld

'

, ,

who i s now de a d s a id t h a t A M LASH spoke of the need for a n a ss a s

,

s i n a t i o n we a pon specic a l ly a high p o wered rie with telescopic

, ,
-

sights or some other we a pon which cou l d be used t o a ss a ssin a te C a stro

f r om a dista nce Fitzger a ld s a id he re j ected t his request a n d o r dered
.

the c a se of cer who served a s inte r preter t o te ll A M LASH the United

, ,

St a tes s imply did n ot do such things Fitzgera ld s executive of cer .

35
,

who w a s not a t t he mee t ing but w a s ful l y briefed on t he A M LASH

.

opera tion a lso to l d the Insp e ctor Gener a l s t a ff th a t Fitzgera ld ha d

,

re j ected A M LA S H s requ e st
.
36

Fitzgera l d s r e collecti on of this meeti n g i s supported by a CIA

memo r a ndum of a convers a tion wi t h A M W H I P a Cub a n exi l e w ho

h a d ta lked to A M LASH a fter this October 2 9 meeting According .

to th a t memora ndum the meeting s a tis ed A M LASH a s fa r a s policy ,

w a s c oncerned

but h e w a s n ot a t a ll ha p p y wi t h the f a ct t h a t he still w a s

n ot given the techni c a l a ssis ta n ce for the oper a tion a l pl a n a s
he s a w it He could n ot underst a nd why he w a s denied cert a in
.

s m a ll pieces of e q uipment which permitted a n a l solution to

the p roblem while on the other h a nd the U S Government
, , ,
. .

ga ve much equipm ent a n d money to exile groups for th eir

i ne ffective excu r sions .
37

Fitz g e r a l d s recol l ection of t he O c tobe r 29meetin g conicts with the

ca se of cer s sworn t estimony before the Se l ect Committee l n 1975 a n d

1976 The c a se of cer who w a s a l so the interpreter for F l t z ge r a ld

0

.
, ,

a"
I he Co mm itt ee f ou d evi de c e th t t h e A tt or e y G e er a l a u th or i ed or
n no n a n n z ,

w as a w re o f th i s represe t ti o Hel m s t es ti ed h e d i d t seek th e A tt or ey

a n a n . no n

G e er a l s a pprov l b e c a use h e th ou ght it w u e c ess r y ( Hel m s

n a as nn a .
,

pp 117
.

3
C se f c er s M m or du m f or R c ord
a o

e an e ,
35
196 7 I spec t or G e er l R epor t p 90
n n a , . .

3"
l bi l : o
3"
CIA M e m or du m f or th e R e c ord
an ,
 1
9

testi ed t h a t Fitzge ra ld g a ve a ss ura nces t ha t the Unite d St a t e s not

only would support the gove r nment which emerged a fte r a succe ssful
coup but a ls o ga ve genera l a ss ura nces th a t the United S t a tes wou ld
,

help in bringing a b out t h a t coup T h e c a s e o f cer testied th a t he .

37 a

reca lled no d i s cussion of wh a t sp e cic supp o r t the CIA woul d give

a n d he did not rec a ll Fitzger a ld sa ying the U S would h a ve no p a rt . .

of a s s a ss ina tion .

Q W a s it a lso c le a r th a t in s ome w a y or other Fitzger a ld

.

w a s promising th a t suppo r t would be given for the pl a nning

of a coup oper a tion a s you h a ve s a id which w a s n ot con
'

tingent on whether the opera tion w as successful or n ot ?

A Th a t w a s implied denitely th a t suppo r t would be
.
, ,

given a n d a g a in I repe a t A M LASH did interp ret it th a t

, , ,
37 b
w ay 0

The c a s e of cer returned to He a dqu a rters sometime in Novem ber .

By Novem ber 19 Fitzgera ld ha d told th e c a se o f cer th a t h e w a s

,

a uthorized to tell A M LASH th a t the ries tele sc opic sights a n d ex , ,

plosives would be provided The c a se ofc er a lso w a ited a t He a d .

qu a rte rs whi l e a b a l l point pen w a s f a shi oned with a needle on it which

could be used to in j e ct a l etha l dose of pois on The pen prov e d d if cult .

to fa shion a n d it w a s n ot re a dy until a few d a ys befo r e the Novem

be r 22 meeting The ex a ct purp ose the CIA h a d for offering A M LASH
.

the pen is di s cu s sed i n det a il in the Ass a ss in a tion R epo r t .

38

On November 19 A M LASH told a CIA o f cer th a t he pl a nned t o

,

return t o Cub a immedi a tely O u November 20 1963 a CIA ofcer .

38 3 '

, ,

telephoned A MLASH a n d a s ked hi m t o p ostpone his r eturn to Cub a

i n order to a ttend a meeting on November 22 A M LAS H a sked i f the .

m eeting would be i nte resting a n d the CIA of c e r responded he did ,

not know whether it wou l d be intere sting but it w as the meeting

A M LASH ha d r e q u e s t e d .
38 b

At e a rlier meetings with the CIA A MLASH h a d only received gen ,

er a l a ssur a nces of U S support for a coup pl a n a n d thus the Novem

. .

ber 20 telephone c a ll w a s the rst in dic a tion th a t he might receive t h e

speci c support he requested O f course A M LASH could not h a ve .
,

known with cert a inty wh a t support i e we a pons he w ould rec eive ,

. .
, ,

until November 22 .

The c a se ofcer met with A M LASH on November 22 1963 At tha t ,

.

mee ting the c a se of c e r referred to the President s Novembe r 18

,

speec h in M i a mi a s a n i n dic a tion th a t the P r esident suppo r ted a coup ,

Th a t speech describe d the C a tro gove r nmen t a s a s m a l l b a nd of s

conspir a tors w hi ch formed a b a rrier which once removed wou ld

C a se ofc er s t es ti m o y

pp 77 80 n , .
.

37 "
C a se of cer t es ti m o y pp 79 80 n , .
-
.

3"
A ss ss i ti o R epo t pp 88 89
a na n r , . .

38 "
CIA c a b le t o He a dqu a r t er s,
38"
CI A ca b le t o H e a dqua rt er s ,
 20

ensure United St a tes suppo r t fo r progressive go a l s in Cub a The c a s e .

39

ofcer told A M LASH th a t Fitzgera l d ha d helped w r ite t he sp e ech 4

.
0

The c a se ofcer a lso to l d A M LASH th a t explos ives a n d ri fles with

telescopic sights would be provided The c a se ofce r showed A M
4 1
.

LASH t he poison pe n a n d suggested he could use the commerci a l

poison B l a ck Le a f 4
,
O in it The c a se ofce r c a nnot rec a l l specic a l ly .

wh a t h a ppened to the poiso n pen ; he does not believ e A M LASH c a r

ried it w ith him when he l eft t h e m eeting He does reca ll th a t A M .

LASH w a s diss a ti s ed w ith t he device As A M LASH a n d the c a se .

ofcer b r oke up their mee tin g they we r e to l d the President ha d been ,

a ss a ssin a te d .

T w o other events which occu r red in the October November 196 3 -

time period should be note d in this discussion o f U S C ub a n rel a tions . .

.

The rst is t h a t t a l ks be tween the Cub a n d eleg a te to the UN L a ,

Chuga a n d a U S deleg a te Willi a m Atwood were propose d by the

,
. .
, ,
-

Cub a n s on September 5 Although there we r e discussions a bout the .

loc a tion for such t a l ks a n d Atwood s expressed U S interest no c on

. .
,

crete pl a ns fo r meetings were m a de On November 29 L a C huga i n .

,
4
quired a g a in o f Atwood a bout U S interest in t a lks . . .
3

3"
W a s hi g t o P os t n p A 15n , . .

4
C a se Of c er t es ti m o y

n ,

T h e f c t th t th e CIA i t e ded P res i de t K e ed y s spee c h t o serve a a

a a n n n nn

s
s i g a l t o d i ss i de t ele m e t s i Cu b a th a t th e U S w ould suppor t a c oup i s
n n n n . . c on
r m ed b y CIA p per c o m ple t ed less th t w o w eeks ft er K e ed y s a ss a s
a a , an a nn

i
s na ti w hi c h su gges t ed s t a t e m e t s th e J o h so a d m i i s t r ti o c ould m ke
on , n n n n a n a
w hi c h w ould s ti m ul t e ti C a s t ro a c ti o
th e p r t o f d i ss i de t ele m e t s i
a an -
n on a n n n
th e Cu b r m ed f or c es T h e pa per s t a t es th a t Cu b d i ss i de t s
an a .

an n

m us t h a v e sole m a ssur c es f ro m hi gh level U S spokes m e espe c i ll y

n an . . n, a
th e P res i de t th t th e U it ed S t a t es w i ll exer t it s de c i s ive i ue n c e
n , a n n
dur i g a d i mm ed i t el y ft er th e c oup
n n a a .

C iti g K e ed y s spee c h o f N ove m b er 18 196 3 th e CIA pa per c o c luded

n nn

it , . n
re m i s f or P res i de t [ J oh so ] d o th er d m i i t r ti o sp kes m e t o i s t i ll
a n n n n an a n s a n o n n

g e u i e se se o f U S c o mm it m e t t o our e ffor t s ( M e m or a du m f or th e D CI

a n n n . . n . n ,

Co s i der ti o s f or U S P ol i c y T o w rd Cu b
n a n d L ti A m er i ca
. . a a an a n ,

T h e C hi e f o f J M W A V E t es ti ed th t l th ou gh thi s oper ti o o ft e w
1
a a a n n as
t sked t o g t w e po s i t o Cu b a h e c ould t re c ll b e i g t sked t o ge t r i es
a e a n n , no a n a
an d t eles c op i c s i g ht s i t o Cu b T h e do c u m e t ry re c ord reve ls h o w ever th t
n a . n a a , , a
th e J M WA V E s t ti o w t sked t o suppl y th e explos iv es r i es a d t eles c op i c
a n as a , , n
s i ght s t o A M L ASH T h e C hi e f o f th e J M WA V E s t ti o t es ti ed h e d i d t re c ll
. a n no a
see i g th e c b le c o t a i i g th ese i s t ru c ti o s
n a n n n n n .

Q W s it c o mm o t o drop c a c h es o f r i es or t eles c op i c s i g ht s f or
. a n
a ge t s n ?

A I w ould t ec ess r i l y h ve k o w w h t w a s i e a c h c ch e
. no n a a n n a n a .

Q Well w s it c o mm o
. t o y our k o w led g e t o drop r i es w ith
, a n n ,

t e le 0 pi s i g ht s
sc c ?

A Well I thi k th e thi g th t w ould b e u c o mm o w ould b e t ele

.
. n n a n n
s c opi c s i ght s M y o f our c ch es w ere w e po s c ch es
. an I thi k if a a n a . n
I w ere look i g t c ch e l i s t d I w t eles c ope it m t ch ed up
n a a a an sa a on a
w ith Spr i g eld 03 r i e th t pro b b l y w ould h a ve s t ru c k m e b e i g
a n

, a a as n
u u u l b u t I d i d t see th e i ve t or i es o f l l th e c c h es
n s a no n n a a
pp 47
. .

( C hi e f J M W A V E t es ti m o y , n . .

4
Ass 2
ss i ti o R epor t p 89 C se O i e t es ti m o y
a na n p 46 . . a c r n , . .

4
Ass ss i ti o R epor t pp 173 174; W i ll i m A t w ood t es ti m o y
3
a na n p 9 , .
a n ,
. .
 21

Second the Frenc h report er J e a n D a niel ha d a brief in t e rview

, , ,

with Pres ident Kenned y on Octobe r 24 before setting o ff on a n a s ,

s i gn me n t in Cub a At th a t m e etin g the Pres ident expres sed h is feeling

.

t h a t C a stro ha d be tra y e d t h e re volution 4

4
.

D a niel tra velled to Cub a b ut got no h int of a simil a r meeting with

C a st ro Then on November 19 the d a y a ft er the President s sp e ec h in
.
,

M i a mi C a stro cont a c t e d D a niel a n d spent six hours ta lking to him

,

a bout U S Cub a n rel a tions D a niel a g a in met C a stro on November 22

. . .
,

spending most of t h e d a y with h im D a niel s report of this meeting

.
.

,

W h en C a s tro He a rd t he Ne w s des cri be s C a s t ro s re a cti on t o w o rd

,

of the a ss a s sin a tion After word th a t President J ohn son h a d b e en

.

sworn in re a ched C a stro h e a sked : Wh a t a u t h ority doe s he exercise

,

4
over t h e C IA ? 5

4

Da n i el Un offi c i a l E nvoy : A H i s t or i c R epor t f ro m Tw o Ca p i t a ls
,

,

New Re
pu b l i c
,
5
D a n i e l W h en C a s t ro He a rd th e N e w s N e w Re pub l i c
,

,

,
I I I T H E UNITED STATE S GO V E R N M ENT
. R ESPONSE To
T H E AS SASSINATION : NO V E M BE R 22, 1963 T o J A N
UA R Y 1, 196 4
T h is section o f t h e R epo rt discu s se s the perform a nce of t h e FBI
a n d the CIA during t h e weeks immedi a tely following the a ss as sin a

tion of President J ohn F Kennedy . .

The perform a nce o f th es e a gencies should not be ev a lu a ted in i s ol a

tion Senior gove r nment of ci a ls both within t he a gencies a n d out
.
,

side th em w a nted the investiga tion completed promptly a n d a ll

,

con s pirac y T umor s dispelled For ex a mple only three d a ys a fter the
.
,

a ss a s si n a tion Deputy Atto rney Genera l Nichol a s K a tzenba ch wrote

,

Presidenti a l A ssist a nt Bill M oyers :

It is impo rt a nt t h a t a l l of the f a cts surrounding President
Kennedy s a ss a ssin a tion be m a de public in a w a y which will

s a tisfy people in the United St a tes a n d a bro a d tha t a ll the

f a cts h a ve be en told a n d th a t a st a tement to this effect be
m a de n ow .

1 T h e p u b lic must be s a ti s ed tha t Osw a ld w a s t h e

.

a s s a s sin ; t h a t h e d i d not h a ve confeder a tes who a r e still a t

l a rge ; a n d t h a t the evidence w a s such th a t h e would h a ve

bee n convi c t ed a t tri a l .

2 Specul a tion a bout Osw a ld s m otiv a tion o ught to be cut

.

of f a n d we s h ould h a ve some b a sis for re butting t ho ught th a t

t h is w a s a Communist conspir a cy or (a s th e Iron Curt a in

press is s a yi ng ) a righ t wing conspir a cy t o bl a me it o n the-

Comm uni s ts 1
.

On Novembe r 29 196 3 President J ohnson told Director Hoov er

, ,

th a t a lth ough he w a nted t o get by on j ust the FBI rep ort the only
,

,

w a y t o stop the ra s h of investiga tions w a s to a ppoint a h igh level

-

committ ee t o ev a lu a te t h a t rep ort On Decembe r 9 196 3 Deputy A t .

2
, ,

torney Genera l K a tzenb a ch wrote e a ch membe r of the I Va r r e n Com

mi s sion recommending th a t the Commissio n immed i a tely issue a press

rele a se st a ting th a t the FB I report cle a rly showed there w a s no
intern a tion a l conspira cy a n d t h a t Osw a ld w a s a loner
,
.
3

A . T he CI A R e s p ons e
T h is section d e a ls with the C I A s immedi a t e response in i n v e s t i ga t

ing the a ssa ssin a t i on It discus s es wh a t inform a ti on the CIA received

.

a lle g ing Cub a n involvement in t h e a ss a ssin a tion a n d the steps t a ken ,

by the Agency to inv e stiga te those a llega tions .

M e m or
1
andu m f ro m N i c h ol a s d e B Ka t e b a c h t o B i ll M o y ers
. z n ,

M e m or
2
andu m f ro m Hoover t o M essrs T olso B el m o t M o h r Sull iv D e. n, n , , a n,

L o ch d
a , an R ose n,
M e m or
3
a du m f ro m De Loa h t o T olso
n c N o su c h rele a se w s i ssued
n, a .

( 23)
 2 4
Since Osw a l d ha d c ome to t he a ttention of the CIA in Octob e r a n d
Novembe r 1963 the Age ncy needed no o r ders t o begin a n invest ig a tion
,

o f the a ss a ssi n a tio n On Novembe r 8 the CIA r eceived a n FB I repo r t .

,

d a ted October 31 196 3 discu ssing the Bu r e a u s i n ves tiga tion of , ,

Osw a l d s a c tivities in New Orle a ns On November 15 th a t report w a s

.
,

fo r w a r ded to SAS Cou n te r inte ll igence the CIA section s p e ci a lizing ,

in Cub a n a ffa irs The routing s l ip on the rep ort indic a tes it w a s sent
.

to the Cou n te r i n telligence Divisio n of t he CIA on Nov e mber The

Chief o f SAS Counte r inte l li gence r e c a l led th a t i mmedi a t ely a ft er the
a ss a ssin a tion Director M c C on e req uested a ll Agency m a te r i a l on
,

Osw a ld The Chief testied th a t he prob a bly repo r ted seein g a r ecent
.

FBI report on Osw a l d but he cou l d n ot r emembe r whether SAS ,

ha d routed the repo rt to the Counterintelligence Division before or

a fter the a ss a sin a tio n s 5
.

The CIA M exico St a tion a lso re a l ized th a t Lee H a r vey Osw a ld ha d

come to its a tten tion in e a rly O c tober a n d c a b l ed CIA Hea dqu a rt ers
a t 5 : 0 0 p m on the a fte rn oon of the a ss a ssin a tion Oth er CIA sta tions 6
. .

a n d overse a s elements of the St a te D e p a rtment a n d Defense Dep a rt

ment soon be ga n repo r ting a n y info r m a tion they received which might
be relev a nt t o the a s s a ssin a tion .

For the rst twent y four hours a fter t h e a ss a ssin a tion the CI A s -

a ttentio n focused prim a r i l y o n Osw a ld s Sep t ember 2 7 196 3 visit

, ,

to M exico City C IA He a dqu a rte r s w a nted a l l r e l ev a nt info rma tion

.

developed by its M exico St a tion i n order to begi n i t s a n a lysis o f the

inform a tion O n the morning of Novembe r 2 3 Director M c Con e me t
.
I

with P r esident J ohnson a n d his n a t ion a l security a dvisor M c Ge o r ge '

Bundy to brief them on the informa tion C IA He a d q u a rters h ad

,

received from its M exico St a tion M c C on e s memo r a ndum for the .

record of tha t meeting cont a ins the essenti a l inform a tion extr a cted
from t he M exico St a tio n s c a ble which ha d been rece ived by th a t "

time .
7

According to t h e 196 7 Inspector Gener a l R epo r t CIA H e a d q u a r ,

ters c a bled the A M LASH c a se o f cer on the morni n g o f November 2 3 ,

a n d ordered him to bre a k cont a ct with A M LASH due t o the Presi

dent s a s s a ssin a tion a n d to return to He a d q u a rte r s Neithe r those

.
8

w ho pre p a r ed the L G R eport n o r current C I A of ci a ls c o u l d loc a t e .

,

a cop y of th a t ca b l e The c a se ofce r testied he rec a l led r e ceivi n g su c h .

a c a ble but could not r e c a ll whether it m a de spe ci c menti o n o f the

,

President s a ss a ssin a tion as the r e a son for bre a kin g cont a ct wi t h

A M LASH a n d returning He did connect th a t c a b l e s inst r uctions .

9

wit h the a s s a ssi n a tion 1

.
0

M oreover Sept e m b er 16 196 3 th e CI A h d sked th e F B I t o o bt i i f

, on , . a a a n n or
m ti o
a n onth e F i r P l y f or Cu b Co mm itt ee w hi c h th e A g e c y c ould use i
a a a n n a
prop g d c m i g I c qu i r i g th e i f o m ti th e F B I obt i ed c opy
a an a a pa n . n a n n r a on , a n a
of on e o f O s w ld s le tt ers t o F P CC h e dqu r t ers
a

a a .

5
C hi e f S A S / OI , pp 6 7 , . .

All ti m es h ve b ee c o v er t ed t o E s t er S t d rd T i m e T h e ss ss i ti o
a n n a n an a . a a na n

o cc urred t 1 30 E S T a : .

M r ch 8 1976 W l t r E ld er D CI M C exe c u tive ofc er g ve t h

. .

7
O

n a a e ,
c on e s a e
Co mm itt ee t cc ess t o M r M C
, ,

s a c le d r d m e m or d f ro m thi s ti m e
a . c on e s

a n a an an a
per i od T h e follow i g d i s uss i o i s b sed i p r t
. th ese c ords n c n a ,
n a , on re .

L G R epor t p 94
8
. . .
,
9

1
C a se Of c er p 53 , . .

I bi d
 26

ber E a rly th a t mo r ning the 24 t h the M exico St a tion ca b l ed i t s r e

,
'

s p on se to a He a dqu a r te r s r equest fo r the n a mes of a l l known cont a cts

o f cert a in Soviet pe r sonnel in M exico City The pu r pose of obt a ining .

these n a mes w a s to determine the signic a nce of Osw a l d s cont a ct

with the Soviets a n d to a sse s s their a ctivities A M LA S H S re a l n a me .

w a s i n c l uded i n the l ist of n a mes o n the M exico S t a tion c a b l e

? 1

Ka r a m e s s i n e s w a s a sked wh a t wou l d h a ve been done with this c a ble .

Q The mess a ge repo r ting b a ck on this g a ve a ll cont a cts

.
,

known co n t a cts th a t t hese individu a ls ha d in M exico City .

And wh a t is the next step in you r p r ocess

A Y o u check these n a mes ou t t o s e e w hethe r yo u r l es give
.

y evide n ce of sus picious a ctivity And if t hey don t if they

an .
,

simp l y d on t indic a te a n y suspicious a ctivity th a t would be

,

the end o f it If it does i n dic a te suspicious a ctivit y t hen you

.
,

wou l d fo ll ow f r om t here a n d yo u would p a s s t his inf o rm a ,

tion on t o ot he r int eres ted p a r ti e s w ithin t he Age n cy or within

the Gove r nment a n d you would c a r r y on from there a n d i n
,

v e s t i g a t e further .

Q Th a t is the point I a m getting to

. Is it rou t ine
sta nd a r d oper a ting p r ocedure to check the CI [ c ou n t e r i n t e lli "

gence ] le on th a t n a med individu a l ?

A Y e s un l ess the desk ofcer th a t r eceives it h a ppens to
.
,

know who t h a t fe ll ow is a n d doe sn t h a ve t o check And th a t

h a ppens quite frequently .

The E xecutive Ofce r i n the Speci a l A ff a i r s Section w a s a sked wh a t

wou l d h a ppen if those a t the CIA investig a ting t h e a ss a ssin a tion ha d
r equested a n a me tr a ce on A M LASH .

A The n a m e t r a ce wou l d h a ve given wh a tever we knew

.

a bout the i n dividu a l except ou r oper a ti on a l co n t a c t s with him -

.

It wou l d be biogra phic inform a tion .

Q I Ve ll if the Counterintelli ge n ce Division a sked for

.

,

inform a tion on A M LASH even if t hey we r e fu r nish e d bio ,

g r a phic a l i nfo r m a tion i t would not cont a in the f ac t th a t he ,

w a s invo l ved in some a ss a ssin a tion plot .

A Tha t s cor r ect Th a t wou l d no r m a l l y go t o t he c a se of

.

.

cer concerned who would be a le r ted by t he n a me tr a cers th a t

,

somebody ha d a sked fo r A M LASH .

Q And wh a t wou l d the c a se of cer h a ve done in th a t c a se ?

.

A We ll in this c as e I m sure he would h a ve go n e a n d t a l ked

.
,

to M r Fitz g era l d a bout it

. .

Q Do
. you know whether t h e c a s e of cer did ?

A I don t know no
.

,
.

Q So in other words t he f a ct tha t t he CIA w a s invo l ved

.
,

with A M LASH wou l d norm a l ly h a ve been kept from

the CI counterintel l i ge n ce investi g a to r s
, .

A It woul d h a ve been held b a ck f r om the o r din a ry c a se

.

ofcer yes Whether i t wou l d h a ve been hel d b a c k from the

,
.

A M L ASH C se Ofc er
20
a pp 5455 ( R e f erred t o h ere i a ft er
,
. . n as th e
C se O i e )
a c r .

C a b le f ro m M ex i c o S t a ti o t o CIA He dqu a r t ers

2
n a ,

K
2
m
a ra i e e ss n pp 242 5
s, . .
 27

men in ch a rge I don t know Th a t would h a ve b e en u p to the

,

.

Chi ef o f SAS in this c a se Fitzgera ld a n d the DDP

, ,
.
23

Thus e a rly in the morning o f November 2 4 the CIA of ci a ls

, ,

i nvestig a ting the a ss a s sin a tion ha d come a cross A M L A S H S n a me

.

H a d routine p rocedure be en followed th a t n a me would ha ve been ,

checked in Agency l es Opera tion a l inform a tion i e det a i l s o f .

, . .
,

C IA p l ots with A M LASH to a ss a ssin a te C a st r o would not h a ve been ,

routinely provided The decision to pr ovide such inform a tion would

.

h a ve been m a de by Fitzger a ld or He l ms The A M LASH C a se Ofce r .

c a n rec a ll no discussion a bout connections between A M LASH a n d the

a ss a s sina tion of Pres ident Kenn e dy
25
.

CIA les on its investiga tion of the President s a s s a s sin a tion c on

t a in no evidence th a t suc h inform a tion w a s p r ovided The Desk Ofc er .

who coordin a ted the CIA inves t iga tion o f the a s s a ssin a tion testi ed
he w a s n ot then a wa re o f a n y a ss a ssin a tion plo ts a n d ce rt a inly w a s
not then a w a re of the A M LASH p l ot .

Q Did you know th a t on Novem be r 22 196 3 a bout t h e

.
, ,

time Kennedy w a s a ss a ssin a ted a C IA c a se ofc er w as p a ss ,

ing a poison pen offering a poison pen to a high level Cuba n ,

-

t o u se to a ss a s sin a te Ca stro ?
A No I did n ot
.
, .

Q Woul d yo u h a ve dr a wn a link in your mind between

.

th a t a n d the Kennedy a ss a ssin a tion ?

A I cert a inly think th a t th a t would h a ve be come a n a b
.

s ol u t e l y vit a l f a ctor in a n a l yzing the events surrounding

the Kennedy a ss a ss in a tion .
26

On Novem ber 24a t 10 a m Dire c tor M c Con e met with the Pre si
, . .
,

dent a n d briefed h im a bout C IA oper a tion a l pl a ns a ga inst Cub a Tha t .

brie ng coul d not h a ve inc luded a discussion of A M LASH since

B c Con e testied t h a t he w a s not a w a re of the A M LASH a ss a ssin a tion
e or t ? 7

On Novem b er 25 a t p m the M exico St a tion disp a tched a . .

,

c a ble reminding He a dqu a r ters of C a stro s September 7 196 3 st a te

, ,
"

ment thre a tening U S le a ders . . .

28

The C a se Ofcer s cont a ct rep ort on the Novembe r 22 meeting

w i t h A M LASH be a rs the d a te November 2 5 He t e sti ed it w a s p rob .

a bly p r ep a red on eith er Novembe r 24 or The report does n ot note

t ha t the poiso n pen w a s offered to A M LASH a lthough it does st a te
th a t A M LASH w a s told he would receive explosives a n d ries with
telesc opic sights The C a se Of cer testi ed the cont a ct repo rt does
.

n o t discuss the poison pen bec a use Fitzger a ld ordere d him t o omit

th a t m a tter He prob a bly showed the report t o Fitzger a l d on the

.
30

2
E xe c u t ive Of c er pp 36 37 , . .

2
N o do c u m en t i n th e A M L A SH le m e n ti on ed th e po i son p e n so eve n a cc ess ,

t o hi s le w ould n ot h a v e gi ven a p erso n k n o w led g e o f thi s k e y fa c t .

25
C se O i c e
a

pp 59 6 0
r, .
, .

2
D esk O i c pp 31 32
e r, .
, .

2
Mc C t es ti m o y
on e p 59 n , . .

23
C a b le f ro m M ex i c o S t ti o t o CI A He a dqu r t ers a n a ,
2"
C se Of c er
a 6 p 61 , , . .

I bi d p 65
3
. .
, .
 28

s a me d a y but rec a l l s no discussion with Fitzge ra l d a bout a pos si ble

,

connec tion between the A M LASH opera tio n a n d P r esident Kennedy s

a s s a ssin a tio n The C a se O f cer a l so st a ted th a t the r e w a s n o re a son t o

31
.

ma ke such a connection a n d he ce r ta in l y m a de no such conn e c tio n in

his mind When a sked why he did n ot a ssoci a te P r eside n t Kennedy s
.
32

a ss a ssin a tion by a p r o C a st r o a ctivist w ith his o w n involveme n t in the

-

A M LASH oper a tion the C a se Ofcer st a ted he does not know t o this ,

d a y th a t Os w a l d h a d a n y pro C a st r o le a nings -
.
33

The c a se of ce r s a id he w a s re a ssigned shortly a fter returning t o

He a dqu a rters He testi ed th a t he w a s neve r invo l ved in discussions
.
'

a t the CIA a bout p ossible connections between hi s Novembe r 2 2 meet

ing with A M LASH a n d P r esident Kennedy s a ss a ssina tio n 4
.
3

At noon o n Novembe r 2 5 D a L a tin Americ a n a ppe a red a t the ,

,

,

Americ a n Emb a ssy in M exico Cit y He to l d Emb a ssy personne l tha t .

35

he w a s in the Cub a n consul a te on Septembe r 17 a n d s a w Cub a ns

w ho discussed a ss a ssin a tio n p a y Osw a l d a sum of money He l a ter .

r epe a ted his sto r y t o t he CIA M exi co St a tion Chief The C I A a n d .

the W a rren Commission l a te r conc l uded t h a t the story w a s a f a b r i

c a tion but the Agency w a s cle a r ly conce r ned with D s sto r y a t the
,

time .
36

On the evening o f Novembe r 2 5 a senio r Ame r ic a n Emb a ssy of ci a l ,

in M exico City informed a se n ior M exic a n governm e n t o ffi c i a l of the

known f a cts a bout Osw a l d s v isit to M exico City This memor a ndum
.
37

concludes by posing questio n s designed t o determine whethe r Osw a ld s

visit to M exico City w a s p a r t of a pi e conceived p l a n to a ss a ssin a te -

the P r eside n t a n d whethe r the Cub a ns were involved in such a p l a n .

On November 2 6 Di r ecto r M c Con e a g a in met with President ,

J ohnson who to l d him th a t the FB I h a d resp o nsi b ilit y fo r investi

,

ga ting the P r esident s de a th a n d di r ected him to m a ke CIA r esou r ces

a v a i l a b l e t o a ssist the Bure a u The Desk Ofcer testied t h a t there .

w a s a fee l ing in the CIA th a t the Bure a u m a y h a ve been dere l ict in

i t s h a nd l i n g o f Os w a l d be fo r e the a ss a ssin a t io n a n d t h a t the C I A ,

investi ga tive efforts should be a s independe n t a s possible of t he

FBI s .
38

L a ter i n th a t d a y t he M exico S t a ti o n c a bled He a dqu a r t e rs on the

,

det a ils o f its inte r r o ga ti o n o f D It a l so repo r ted other in fo r m a tion

.
39

f r om a sensitive a n d re l i a b l e source which te n ded to conrm D s

story th a t Os w a ld m a y h a ve been p a id by the Cub a ns to a ss a ssin a te

P r esident Ke n n ed y This re p o r t h a s neve r been s a tisf a ctori l y ex
.

pl a ined a lthough it w a s m a de a v a i l a ble to the Wa r r en Commiss ion

,

31
C a se Of c er pp 115116 ; C se O i e
, 6 pp 59 6 0 . a c r, , .
.

2
C se O i e
a pp 115 116
c r, .
.

a
Ca se Of c er p 91 , . .

3
C a se O f c er p 115 ; C se O i , p 76 . a ce r, . .

35
T hi s i c i de t i s d i s c ussed i th e W rre R epor t pp 308 309; C b le f ro m
n n n a n , .
, a
M exi co S ta ti o t CIA He dqu r t ers n o a a ,
3"
D l t er d m itt ed th t th e s t ory b ou t O s wa ld h d b ee f b r i c t ed ( C b le

a a a a a n a a . a
f ro m M ex i c o C it y t o CIA He dqu r t ers I t h d lso b ee de t er m i ed
a a , a a n n
b y th e F B I th t O s w ld pro b b l y w a i N e w O rle s
a Sep t em b er 17 ( C b le
a as n an on . a
f ro m CIA He dqu r t ers t o M ex i c o S t ti o
a a a n,
3
M e m or a du m n .

3"
D sk of c er
e pp 6 2 63 . .
, .

3"
C a b le f ro m M ex i c o S ta t i o t o CI A Hea d q u a r t ers n ,
 29

sta ff In a n y event these repo r ts cert a i nly must h a ve fueled suspi c i ons
.
,

of Cub a n involvement in the a ss a ssin a tion B a sed on the evidence it .

reviewed the W a rren Commission l a te r determined t h a t D s stor y

,

w a s a f a bric a tion .

T h e Ameri ca n Amb a ss a dor in M exico l a ter sent a c a ble to the St a te

Dep a rtment t h rough CIA ch a nnels In th a t c a ble he g a ve h is opinion .

th a t th e Cu b a ns were involved in the a ss a ssin a ti on a n d recommended ,

cert a in inv e stiga tive steps which s hould be t a ken in M exico 4 .

0

On t h e sa me d a y a c a ble listing DDP Helms a s the rele a sing ofcer

,

w a s dis p a tched t o CIA st a tions in Europe a n d C a n a d a This c a ble .

st a te d th a t st a tions s h ould c a refully ex a mine m a teri a l obt a ined from

a speci ed sensitive a n d reli a b le sour c e bec a use of obvi ous s i gn i
,

c a n c e of a ny scra p info rm a tion which be a rs on [ the ] a ss a ssin a tion

issue 4
.
1
The Des k O f cer in ch a rge of t he CIA investiga tion w as
u n a w a re t h a t such a mess a ge h a d been sent out a n d w a s a t the time
un a w a re of the se nsitive a n d reli a ble source mentioned 4 .
2

On Novem ber 27 a Europe a n St a tion c a bled info r m a tion t o He a d

,

qu a rters whic h ha d bee n obta ined through t h e use o f this s ensitive a n d

reli a ble source Th a t inform a tion indic a ted tha t A M LASH w a s i n
.

discreet in h is conversa tions This c a ble does not reference a n y He a d .

13

qu a rte rs c a ble a s st a tion c a bles oft en do but since it report s infe r

, , ,

m a tion obt a ined through the use of the sensitive a n d reli a ble source
which ha d been speci ed in the Novembe r 26 c a ble w h ich Helms r e
le a sed i t a p pe a rs likely th a t it w a s ind e ed a response to the Helms
,

reques t The c a ble from the Europe a n St a tion w a s pl a ced in the

.

A M LASH le but w as not dissemin a te d t o those investiga ting t h e .

a ss as sin a t ion .

By Novem ber 27 th e M exico St a tion a nd C IA He a dqu a rters were '

a lso be ginning to ques tion t h e a c cur a cy o f D s story The c a bles

.

between t h e M exi c o St a tion a n d H e a dqu a rt ers i n di c a te the possibility

th a t the story w a s a f a b ric a tion Neverth eless on Novemb er 2 8 He a d .
, ,

qu a rt ers c a bled a reminder to the M exico St a tion to follow a ll le a ds

.

The St a t ion w a s ins truct ed t o continue investiga ting the possibility

of Cub a n o r Soviet involvement be c a use He a dqu a rt ers ha d n ot ex ,

cluded t h e possi b ility t h a t ot h er persons were involved w it h Osw a ld 44 .

L a ter t ha t d a y H e a dqu a rters le a rned th a t M exic a n a uthorities

pl a nned to a rrest Sylvi a Dura n a ga in a n d w a rned the st a tion th a t
t h e M exic a ns must t a ke responsi b ility for t h e a rrest After le a rning .

tha t t h e U S Am ba ss a dor w a s co ntinuin g to p ress for a vigorous

. .

inves tig a tion into Cuba n i nvolvement He a d q u a rte rs a lso w a rned ,

th e St a tion C h ief t h a t th e Amb a s s a dor w a s pus h ing the c a s e too h a rd

a d his propos a ls could l e a d to a
n a p with t h e Cuba ns 4 Fin a lly 6
.
,

t h e Agency co ncluded t h a t D s story w a s a f a b ric a tion a n d te r mi

n a t e d its interest in h im
4 7
.

C a b le f ro m M ex i c o S t a t i o t o CI A Hea dqu a r t er s n ,
1
C a b le f ro m CIA He dqu a r t ers t o va i ou E uropea a d C a dia s ta t i o s r s n an an n n ,

P rec i se t ex t o f thi s c a b le pa ra p h r a sed t o pro t e c t s si ti ve i t ell i ge c e e n n n

sour es d m e th ds
c an o .

D esk Of c er / 7 6 pp 2 7
,
2 8
, . .

3
C a b le f ro m E urope a s t a ti o t o CI A He a dqu a r t ers
n n ,

A ca b le fro m CI A He a dqu a r t ers t o M ex i c o S t a t i on ,

4

7
I bi d
 30

On November 30 Director M c Con e met with the Pres id ent a t 11a m

, .

The meeting l a sted for a n hour a n d a h a l f M c Con e s memora ndum .

for record st a tes th a t the President a ga in r a ised the question of

Cub a a n d th a t M c Con e pointed o u t speeches m a de by President Ken

n e d y on September 5 Septembe r 1 3 a n d Novembe r 20 ,
The , ,

memora ndum a l so refers to a discussion of a Cub a n a r ms ca che which

h a d be en discovered in V enezuel a I Vhi le the r e w a s a discussion of the

.

a lleg a tio n s m a de by D t h e memora ndum records no ac tion w as

4
required on the Osw a ld situ a tion
.
9

On D e cember 1 M oCon e met with the Preside n t a n d Bundy M c

, .

Cone s memora ndum of the meeting indic a tes they a ga in discusse d

D s story L a ter th a t d a y He a d q u a rters c a bled the M exico St a tion

.
,

st a ted th a t the W hite House h a d be en told the s tory w as a

'

a nd

f a bric a tion .

He a d q u a rters a lso informed the St a tion th a t it ha d rece ived i n for

m a tion from a s ensitive sou r ce th a t a Cub a n a a irlines ight t o H a v a n a
h a d be en del a yed in M exico City from 6 p m unti l 11p m E S T on . . .

the d a y of the a s s a ssin a tion to a w a it a n unidentied p a ssen er who ,

g

a rrived in a twin en g ine a ircr a ft a n d bo a rded the Cub a n a a ircr a ft

-

without g oin g th r ough cus t om s According to th e CIA inform a tion .

50
,

the uniden t ied p a ssenger rode in the cockpit on the ight to Ha v a n a .

This c a b l e w a s fou nd in the M exico St a tion l e but the Agency ha s no .

record o f a n y follow u p a ction on the report T he FAA w a s cont a cted

1 -
.
5

by the Se l ect Comm i ttee s t a ff in order to dete rm ine the origins of the
twin en gine a i r cra ft but indic a ted it would h a ve no records such a s
-

, ,

ight pl a n s from th a t time period

-

,
.

On December 2 M c Con e met w i t h the President a n d Bundy a t

,

10 a m L a ter th a t d a y the M exico St a tion reported it h a d re as on to

.
,

doubt its e a r l ier conclusion th a t D w a s fa bric a ting At 3 p m

. .

th a t a fte r noon Directo r M c Con e s c a lend a r reve a l s he a ttended a

,

meeti n g on Cub a in the CIA con fe r ence r oo m .

On Decembe r 3 C IA He a dqu a rters rst received inform a tion from

,

the M exico St a tion on a Cub a n Americ a n Acc o r d ing to P a ssport .

-

O f ce records his le t here w a s checked on Decembe r 4by a r e pr e

,
'

s e n t a t i v e of the CIA This CIA r e p resent a tive testi ed th a t he c ould

.

not rec a l l such a check o r the report .

52

The CIA received its r st r eport from a Cub a n a gent on De c e m

be r 4 This a gent repo r ted th a t he be lieved he h a d met Osw a ld in
'
.

Cub a M exico or the United St a tes since his fa ce seemed f a mi l ia r

, , .

He a l so reite r a ted hi s belief th a t the Cub a n government em ployed

a ss a ssins a n d h a d c a rried ou t a t l e a st one a s s a s sin a ti o n in M exico
53
.

On December 5 the M exico St a tion c a bled th a t a sou r c e s a w the

,

Cub a n America n bo a rd a ight from M exico City to H a va n a r e

ported th a t he looked suspicious It a l s o r epo r ted wh a t w a s then

.

4
known a bout h is itiner a ry On Decembe r 8 CIA He a dqu a rt ers c a bled 5
.
,

9
M e m or du m for th e R e c ord b y Di re c t or M C
an c on e ,

I bi d
5
C b le f ro m CI A He dqu r t ers t o M ex i c o S t ti o
a a a a n.
5
L e tt er f ro m CIA t o Se t e Sele t Co mm itt ee na c ,
52
CIA L i i so O f c er t e ti m o y
a n p9 s n , . .

53
C b le f ro m M ex i co S t ti o t o CIA He dqu r t ers
a a n a a ,

5
CI A C b le f ro m M ex i c o t o He dqu r t ers
a a a ,
 31

its Florid a Sta tion ordering it t o h a lt two pl a nned oper a tions a ga ins t
Cuba pending a high level policy re v iew One of t h ese opera tions -
.
55

w a s the delivery of ries teles copic sights a n d explosives to , ,

AM LASH .

A De c em ber 9 memora ndum to Director M c Con e discusses U S . .

oper a tions a g a inst Cub a Although t h e memora ndum did mention a .

plot for a coup in Cub a i t does not refer to t h e A M LASH opera tion , .

It noted t h a t :
These non C ommunist a nti C a stro diss ident Cub a ns - -

a ssert th a t t h ey must h a ve solem n a s sur a nces from hi gh

level U S spokesm a n especia lly the President th a t the
. .
, ,

United St a tes will exert its d ecisive inuence during a n d

immedi a te ly a ft e r the coup to p revent their person a l liquid a
tion a n d a p o litic a l regression .

2 CIA h a s a ttempted in a gener a l a nd very limite d m a n

.

ner to provide the se a ssur a nces but it rem a ins fo r the Presi ,

dent a n d other Administr a tion spokesma n to instill a genuine

sense o f U S commitment to our efforts . . .
56

On Decem be r 10 Directo r M oCo n e met with C IA st a ff in th e ,

Agency conference roo m a t noon to discuss Cub a On December 12 .

the M exico St a tion reported th a t the FBI w a s a ttempting to com

p l e t e t h e M exico a spects o f the c as e .
57

The desk of c er in ch a rge of the investig a tion rec a lled s ometime

in t h e l a tter p a rt of December he compl e ted a n d submitted a brief
,

repo r t on h is i nvestig a tion which w a s t h en t a ken to the President

" .
58

Afte r he prepa red the r eport he w as given a n opportunity to review ,

the FB I report on its p a rt of the investiga tio n The desk of c er testi .

e d t h a t in reviewing the Bure a u s report he le a rned ma ny new f a cts

w h ich he felt were signi c a nt but which h a d not be en known to him

d uring h is investig a tion As a n ex a mple he testi ed th a t until re a d .
59
,

ing the FB I report h e ha d n ot known th a t O sw a l d a llegedly sh ot a t

,

Genera l W a lker in April

T h e desk ofcer rec a lled a meeting in l a te Decembe r 1963 with
Helms Ka r a me ss i n e s Angleton a n d others where the CIA report w a s
, ,

discussed According to the des k of cer Angleton suggeste d th a t his

.
,

own Cou n terinte lligence Divis ion t a ke over the investig a tion a n d
He l ms ac c eded t o th i s s uggestion Accordin g to one o f Angleton s sub .
61

ordin a te s he did n ot become involved with the investiga tion until

,

J a nu a r y 2 3 196 4when the W a rren Commission bega n requesting i n

, ,

form a tion from the C IA a t which time Angleton desi gn a t e d him th e ,

poi nt of record fo r a ll m a tters rel a t ed to th e a ss a ss in a tion a n d the

Wa rren Commi s sion .

6 2

5
le f ro m CI A Hea dqua rt er s t o J M WA V E S t a t i o
Ca b n,
M e m or du m f or th e D CI P ol i c y Co s i dera ti o s f or Cu b
5"
an ,
"
n n a a nd L a ti n
A m er i c a ,

C b le f ro m M ex i c o S t ti o t o CI A He dqu a r t ers
5"
a a n a ,

D esk Of c er
8
6 pp 6 9 , , . .

69
I bi d .

I bi d .

1
D e s k Of c er pp 60 6 1 , .
, .

M r Ka a me s i e c ould re c ll
. r m ee ti g s
s n s a no n on th e s t ru c t ure o f th e CI A

s

i ves ti g ti o ( K a m s i
n a n . p ra e s ne s , .

S t a su mm a r y o f i t er i e w o f CI A a ly s t
2
n v na ,
 32

B . T he F B I R e s p on s e
The FB I investig a tion of t he a ss a s sin a tion of P r esident Kenn edy
w a s a m a ss ive e ffort Lite r a l l y thous a nds of le a ds were fo ll owed in the
.

e l d by hundreds o f a gents m a ny o f whom worked a round the c l oc k ,

during the d a ys immedi a te l y fol lowing the a s s a s sin a tion The FBI .

l es produced by this investig a tion a r e in excess of ve h u ndred a n d

ninety v olumes .

Two divisions a t FB I he a dqu a rt ers supervise d the as s a ssi n a tion

investiga tion Bec a use the Bure a u s j urisdiction w a s origin a lly predi
.

c a t e d upon st a tutes which m a de it a c ri me to a s s a u l t a Feder a l of ce r

,

prim a r y responsibi lity for the i nvestig a tion w as a ss umed by the Gen
e r a l Inv e stiga tive Division which regu l a rl y supe r vis ed those kinds ,
o f c r imin a l investig a tions Ce rt a in res po n sibi l ities for the investig a
.

tion were a ssumed by the Domestic Intelligence Division which ha d

conducted a security investig a tion o f Osw a l d in c onnection with his
trip to the Soviet Unio n a n d a ctivities on beh a l f of the F a ir Pl a y for
Cub a Committe e .

Alth ough the Domestic Intelligence Di v ision d i d p a rticip a te in the

Bu r e a u s inquiry the c a se w a s h a ndled prim a r ily a s a t r a dition a l

,

crimin a l investi ga tion Lee H a rvey Osw a ld w a s ch a r ged with the

.

murde r o f the President a n d a s the identi ed sub j ect of a c r imin a l ,

c a s e beca m e the focus of t he Bure a u s inv e s tiga tion The investiga

,

.

tion col l ected evidence on Osw a ld s b a ckground a ctivi ties a n d c on

, ,

t a cts a n d specic d a t a rel a tive to the a c t of the a ss a ss in a tion i t sel f

, .

The investiga tion t hus relied he a vil y upon interviews of eyewitnesse s ,

a n a lyses of ph y s ic a l evidence a n d b a l list i c tests The Committee ha s , .

found no evid e nce th a t t he Bure a u ever conducted a wide r a nging .

-

investiga tion which exp l ored la rger questions s uc h a s p ossible forei gn ,

involvement in the a ss a ssin a tion .

I . T he I n v e s t i ga t i v e A t t i t u d e o f S e ni or FB I O e i a ls

Almost immedi a tely a fter t h e a ss a ssi n a tion Di r ector Hoover the , ,

J ustice Dep a r t ment a n d the Wh ite House exert e d pressure on

senio r Bu r e a u ofci a l s to c omp l ete their investi g a tion a n d i s sue a

f a ctu a l re p ort su p porting the conc l usion th a t Osw a ld w a s the lone
a ss a s sin Thus it is n ot sup risin g th a t f r om i t s inception the a s s a ss i
.
,
.
, ,

n a tion investiga tion focused a l most exc l usivel y on Lee Ha rvey

Osw a l d .

On November 23 196 3 J Edga r Hoover for w a r ded a n FBI memo

, . .

r a n d u m to President J ohnson which det a iled the resu l ts of the B u

re a n s pre l imin a ry inqui r y into the a ss a ssin a tion a n d b a ckg r ound

info r m a tion re l a tive to Lee H a rve y Osw a l d The memor a ndum .

63

st a ted th a t sta te comp l a ints we r e l ed on No vembe r 22 196 3 ch a rg

, ,

ing Osw a l d with the murder o f P r eside n t Kennedy a n d det a iled

evidence which indic a ted th a t Os w a l d h a d i n deed a ss a ssin a ted the

President Althou g h the memora ndum did not i n form President
.

J ohnson t h a t t he FBI h a d a n o p en security c a se on Osw a ld a t the

time of the a ss a ssin a tion it did p r ovide a l imited description o f .

Os w a l d s b a ckgr o und inc l udi n g his vi s it to the Soviet Union a n d

.
'

a ctivities fo r the F a ir Pl a y fo r C ub a Committee

4 6
.

L e tt er f ro m Hoover t o P res i den t J o h n son , wi th a tt a ch m en t .

6 4
I bi d .
 34

T he following not a tio n a ppe a rs a t the bottom of this memor a ndum

in Di rector Hoover s h a ndwriting :

The Presidenti a l R epo rt on both m atters should not be p r e

p a red until a ll a lleg a tions a n d a ngles h a ve been comple t e d .
69

The F B I delivered these reports to the White Hous e a n d the A t t o r

ney Genera l on December 5 1963 ,
.

I n a Nov e m b er 2 9 196 3 memor a ndum Hoover recounted a te le

, , ,

phone convers a tion he h a d tha t d a y with Pre s ident Johnson :

The President c a lled a n d as ked i f I a m f a mili a r with the
p roposed group they a r e tryi n g to get to study my report
two from the House two from the Sen a te two from the cou r ts , , ,

a n d a cou ple of outsiders I replied th a t I h a d not he a rd of .

tha t but ha d seen report s from the Sen a te Investiga ting

Committee .

The President st a ted he w a nted to get b y j ust with my le

a n d my repo rt I tol d him I thought it wo uld b e ve r y b a d t o
.

h a ve a ra sh o f investiga tions He then indi c a ted the only w a y .

to stop it i s to a ppoi n t a high level c ommittee to ev a lu a te m y -

r epo r t a n d tell the House a n d Sen a te not to go a he a d with the

investiga tion I st a ted th a t would b e a three ring circus

.
-
.

I a dvise d the Presiden t th a t we hope to ha ve the investi '

g a t i o n wr a pped up tod a y but p r o bab l y won t h a ve it be fo re ,

the rst of the w e ek a s a n a ngle in M exico is givin g troubl e "

the m a tter of Osw a ld s getting from the Cub a n Em

b a ssy a n d coming b a ck t o this countr y with it : t h a t we a r e n ot

a ble to prove th a t f a ct ; th a t we ha ve info rm a ti on he w a s t here

on September 18 a n d we a r e a bl e to prove he w a s in Ne w
Orle a ns on th a t d a te ; th a t a s t ory c a me in ch a n g ing t he d a t e
to September 2 8 a n d he w a s in Mexic o on the 2 8t h .
70

on Dec ember 3 196 3 the U P I wire c a rried a story reported in

, ,

v a r l ou s newsp a pers under t he following le a d

'

An exh a ustive FB I repo r t n ow n e a rly re a dy fo r the White

Hou se will indic a te th a t Le e H a r vey Osw a ld w a s the lone
a nd un a ided a s s as sin of President Kennedy Government ,

source s s a id tod a y 1
.
7

When he w as informed of these news a rticles Dire ctor Hoove r wrote , ,

I thought no one knew t his o utside the FBI Ac c ording to Wi lli a m .

72

S u lll v a n Hoo ver him s el f ordered the report le a ked to the pres s in
,

,

8
I bi d
M e mor a du m f ro m Hoover t o Tolso Bel mo t D L h M o h r Sull i v a
.

7
n d n, n , e oa c , , n an
R ose n,
W i ll i a m O Sull i v a for mer Ass i s t a t D i rec t or i c h a rg e o f th e Do mes ti c I t el
n, n n n
D i v i s i o s t a t d th a t N ove mb er 29 196 3 th e F B I h d d a t a t o sup
.

li ge nc e n e on , , a no
por t th e o clus i o th a t th ere wa s f ore ig co sp i r a cy ( S t a tt i t erv i ew o f
.

c n n no n n . n

Wi ll i a m O Sull i v a . n,
W a s hi gt o E ve i g S t a r
71
n n n n ,

Hoover h a dwr itt e o t e U P I ti cker f

72
n n n on o
 35

an a ttempt to blunt the drive fo r a n in d epend e nt inves tiga tion of the

a ss a ss i n a t ion
73
.

In a D e cember 196 3 memor a ndum prep a red t o a i d the Dire ctor in

brieng t h e President W C Su ll i v a n wrot e : ,
. .

No evidence h a s bee n developed which w ou l d indic a te

Osw a ld s as s a s sin a tion o f the President w a s inspired or di

r e c t e d by thes e [ pro C as tro org a niz a tions o r by a n y foreig n

4
] -

country .
7

2 . I n v e s t i ga t i on by t he G e n e r a l I n v e s t i ga t i v e Di v i s i on
The evidence developed b y the Committee reve a ls th a t cert a in senior
FBI of i a ls in M a y 196 2 le a rned of the 196 0 196 2 CIA unde r world

p l ot s t o a ss a ssin a te Fid e l C a stro a n d le a r ned from a n inform a nt in

July 196 4th a t meeti ngs between the CIA a n d a Cub a n ofci a l de a l t
,

with the a ss a ssin a tion of C a stro Inform a tion concerning these plots .
75

w a s n ot gener a l knowledge within the Bure a u F o r ex a mple Alex .

,
R osen t h e As s ist a nt Direc t or in ch a rge o f the Gen e ra l Investig a tive
-

Division during the a ss a s sin a ti on investiga ti on testied th a t he ha d ,

been u n a w a re of CIA efforts to ki ll C a stro a n d o f C a stro s ret a li a tion

thre a t R osen w as a lso un a w a re of a n y discussi o n of possible Cub a n

.
76 -

involvem e nt in the as s a ssina ti on For exa mple he tes t ied : .

,

I don t re m em ber the C a s tro n a me coming up Obviously it

.

did but I do n ot rec a l l it It is not xed in m y mem o ry a t a ll

, .

a s being pertinent to the investig a tion

77
.

Th e C ommittee he a rd simil a r testimony from the He a dqu a rters

of ci a ls w ho were a ctu a lly responsible for the Division s d a y to d a y -

su pervision of the a ss a s sin a tion c a se One o f these superv isors testi .

78

e d th a t he ha d no kn ow l edge w h a tsoe ver of a n y Feder a l investi

ga t i on of possible Cub a n government involvement in the a ss a ssin a tion

of President Kennedy An other supe r visor te stied th a t he never .
79

7"
i n t erv i ew o f W i ll i a m C Sull i v a n
S ta 6 .
, .

T h e Bure a u i n respon se t o a C o mm itt ee reques t f or docu m en t s i n a le tt er

,

d a t ed s t a t ed th a t it h a d n o docu men t s per t a i n i n g t o a n y FBI rele a se of

th e re f ere n ce d prel i mi n a r y repo r t Oth er perso n s poss i b l y k n owled g e a b le o f th e .
,

a lleg ed le a k h a ve n ot b ee n ques ti o n e d

,

.

M em or a n du m f or th e record f ro m J E dg a r Hoover
7
m em or a n du m .
,

f rom Sull i v a n t o Bel m on t ,

Sull i v a n t old th e C omm itt ee s t a ff th a t hi s i n iti a l v i ew o f hi s respon s i b i l ity

i n th e i n ves tig a ti o n [ a s h e a d o f th e I n t ell ig e n ce D i v i s i o n ] wa s t o resolve ques

ti o n s o f i n te r n a ti on a l i n volve m en t i n th e co n sp i r a cy ( S t a ff i n t erv i ew o f W i ll i a m .

C Sull i v a n
.
,

M em or a n du m f ro m M i a m i F i eld Ofce t o FB I He a dqu a r t ers 7

76
,

T hi s Cu b a n ofc i a l i s re ferred t o a s A M L A SH i n thi s repor t a n d i n th e Com

mi t t e e s Ass a ss i n a ti on R epor t

.

T h e FBI could n ot h a ve ch a r a c t er i zed th ese mee ti n g s i n volv i n g th e Cu b a n

oi c i a l a s th e A M L ASH oper a ti o n b ec a use th e y d i d n ot k n o w th e Cu b a n h a d
b een code n a m ed A M L ASH b y th e CIA
-

R osen 4
.

7"
pp 142 1 For f ur th er d i scuss i o n o f th e re t a l i a t on th re a t
, .
,
.
i
.

"
p 23
I bi d
t es ti m o n y o f Superv i sor II 4
.
, . .

Tes ti m o y o f Superv i sor I

n p , . 19; / ,

27 / 7 6 p 25 t es ti m o y o f Superv i sor III

, . n , 6, p . 9 .

Tes ti mo y o f Superv i sor 1

7"
p 13
n , . .
 36

a ttended a n y c onferen c e o r meetings w here there w a s discussion of

whet her C a stro or the Cub a n gove rn ment were re s p onsible for the
a ss a ssin a tio n According to o n e of these supervisors the Genera l I n
80
.
,

v e s t i g a t i v e Divisio n s responsibility w a s p rim a rily d e a ling w

physic a l a spects of the c a se the we a pons the bullets the scientic a p , ,

,

proa ch to it c ircu m st a n c es of [ Osw a ld s ] a p prehension a n d s u b se

,

quent ki l ling a nd t ha t w ou ld be a bou t i t

, [ Emph a sis a dded ] .
81

3 T he . Dome s t i c I n t e l li ge n oe Di v i s i on
In Nov e mb er 196 3 Willi a m Sulliv a n w a s the he a d of t he Domesti c
,
'

In t elligen c e Divisi on which w a s re sponsible fo r the subversive ,

a spects o f the a ss as sin a ti o n c a se Sulliv a n told the Committe e st a ff

.

tha t he ha d never been inform ed of a n y as s a ssin a tion plots a ft er 196 2 ,

in c lud i ng the A M LASH opera t ion Al t h ough he ha d b een a pprised .

82

of e a rlier Agency effo r ts to use underworld gur es t o a ss a ssin a te

C a stro by a memora ndu m det a iling Directo r Hoover s M a y 10 196 2
,

,

c onvers a tion wi t h Attorney Genera l Kennedy S ul li v a n s impression ,

w a s th a t these pl a ns h a d o n ly b een in the discussion st a ge

Ac .
83

cording to S ulliv a n the Bure a u m a de a n a ll o u t effo rt t o investi

,
-

g a te possible for e i gn consp ira cy i n the President s a ss a ssin a tion

.

Sulliv a n c ould n ot re c a ll sp e cic me a sures the Bure a u h a d ta ken a n d

st a ted th a t he be lieved there were c e r t a in g a ps in the FBI

inves tiga ti o n 4
.
8

l i t h i n the Domestic Intellige nce Divisi on the a s s a ss in at i o n i n ,

v e st i
g a t i on w a s supervised by a s q u a d of sever a l H e a d q u a rters a g ents
i n the Soviet S e ction One of the Soviet Section supervisors who con
.
85

ducted the investiga tion de s cribed it as follows :

our investiga tion w a s prim a rily concentra t e d on Le e
H a rvey O sw a ld w a s he the a s s a ssin a n d t o get the complete
,

b a ckground inves tiga ti on of him i t w a s a n invest ig a tion '

of Lee H a rvey O swa ld the ma n ,

.

Question : But it didn t include Cub a ?

Su pervisor : Well it in c luded Osw a ld s con t a c ts within the ,

Cub a n a re a .
86

This So v iet Section supervisor could not re c a ll whether he h a d k n ow n

of the CIA pl ots a g a inst C as t ro or C a stro s w a rn in g of September 7
,

Although in l a te 196 3 he h a d been a ssigned the r e sponsibi l ity

of going thro ugh every le in the FBI to see whether a n y l e a d ha d

Supervi sor t es ti m o y
8
p 24 T h e thi rd c a se upe rv i sor withi
n , . . s n

th e Ge er a l I ves tig a ti ve D i v i s i o i s dece a sed

n n n .

'
Sup e v i sor t es ti m y
51
r p 12 on , . .

S t a ff i t erv i ew o f Wi ll i a m C Sull i v a
g3
82

'
n . n,

I bi al .

I bi d
T h e Do mes ti c I t ell ig e ce D i v i s i o h a d superv i sed th e FBI secur ity c a se
.

85
n n n on

L e H a rve y O swa ld b e f ore th e a ss a ss i a ti o

e W ithi th a t D i v i s i o th e E spi o n n . n n,

n a g e Secti o ( whi ch h a dled Sov i e t m a tt ers ) d th e N a ti o a l iti es I t e l l i

n n an n n

g e ce Sec ti o ( whi c h h a dled C u b a ma tt ers ) h a d spec i c respo s i b i l iti es i

n n n n ,
n n

thi s c a s e .

Sov i e t Secti o Supervi sor t es ti mo y

8
n pp 5 22 n ,
.
, .

I bi d p 25
87
. .
,
 37

b een overlooked in the ca se to his knowledge the Bure a u never ,

,

conducted a n investiga t ion to determine whether the Cub a n gove rn

ment w a s responsible fo r the a ss a ssina tion of President Kennedy The .

S upervisor noted th a t i f such a n investiga tio n ha d be en c onducted ,

it would ha ve b een the responsibility o f the N a tion a lities I n t e lli

gence Section of the Domesti c Intell igence Division .
88

The Select Committee a lso ex a mined former FB I o ffici a ls who ha d

'

been in the N a tion a liti e s Intelligence Section in the e a rly 196 08 These .

ofci a l s were the Bure a u p ersonnel most fa m ili a r with Cub a n m a t

ters a n d the a ctivities of a nti C a stro groups a t the time of the a ss a s -

s i n a t i on The Chief o f the N a tion a lities Intellige n c e S ect i on testied

.

the investiga tion of the a s s a s sin a tion w a s not in t he division

a n d I w a sn t privy to a n y of the discussions e ven the

,

ph a ses th a t spilled ov er to the d ivision w ere h a ndle d in the

[ S oviet ] Section
89
.

Another offici a l i n the N a tiona lities In t elligence Section reputed ,

to be the le a d i n g C ub a expert within the Bure a u te stied t h a t he w a s ,

never in fo r m e d of a n y CIA a ss a ssina tion a ttempts a ga inst Fidel

C a stro T his supervisor ha d n o re coll e ction o f a n y Bure a u inves t iga
.
90

tion o f C ub a n involvem e nt in the as s a s sin a tion .

Q Were there e v er a n y meetings th a t you rec a ll where

.

there were discussions as to whether o r not the Cub a ns were

invo l ved in the a ss as sin a tion of President Kennedy ?
A No I don t rec a ll I would s a y no
. .
-
. .

Q Do y ou know if th a t p os sibility w a s investig a ted ?

.

A Well I c a n t e v en s a y th a t for sure no I c a n t

.
,

, ,

.

Q Do you reca l l a t a n y time ever seeing a n y memor a nd a

.

or instructions th a t Cuba n source s be cont a cted to see if there

w a s a n y C u b a n involvement in the a ss a ssin a tion of President
I

Kennedy
A There were no suc h co m munic a tions t o m y know l edge
.
, ,

ever se nt out from He a dqu a rte rs .

Q If they were sent out in a ll l ikelihood y ou wou l d h a ve

.
,

known a bout it ?
A Y e s I thi nk I would h a ve It s t h a t would h a ve b een a
.
, .

norm l a y of ha ndling this kind of thing

a w 1
.
9

This sup e rvi sor d oes not reca ll ever being info rmed o f C a s t ro s w a rn

i n
g of ret a li a ti on He did tes tify th a t h a d he be en inf o rmed he w o uld
'
.
,

h a ve conduct ed t he investi ga tion d i fferently .

Q We h a ve h ere a c opy of a n a rti c le from the New Orle a ns

.

Times Pic a yune o n Septe mber 9 1963 which I think ha s r e

-

, ,
c e n t l y b een in the pr e ss a ga in I will re a d a portion of it t o you . .

It sa ys Prime M iniste r Fidel C as tro turned up tod a y a t a

r e ception a t the Br a zili a n Emb a ssy in H a v a n a a n d submitt ed

t o a n improm ptu inte rview b y A s s oci a ted Pre s s Corres pond
en t D a niel H a rker .

8
I bi d p . 19 .

9
For mer Secti C hi e f t e t i m y on , s on ,
p . 36 .

S u pe rv i sor t es ti mo y 6 p 33 n
I bi d p 34
, , . .

1
.
, . .
 38

Now we h a ve be en to ld by CIA experts th a t C a stro giving

,

a n in t erview a t th a t time w a s somewh a t unusu a l .

Would you a gre e with th a t ?

A Yes . .

Q And it w a s a lso unusu a l th a t he would go t o a re ception

.

a t the Br a zili a n Emb a ssy ?

A Uh huh . .

Q And the rst p a ra gra p h of the a rti c le s a ys Prime

.
,

M inist er C a stro s a id S a turd a y night U S le a ders would be . .

in d a n g er if they helped in a n y a ttempt to d o a w a y with le a d

ers of Cub a Then it goes on from there .

.

Do you rec a ll e v er see i ng t h a t a rt icle or he a ring th a t st a te

m en t from C a stro ?
A No I don t In retrospect th a t cert a inly l o oks like a
.
,

.

p ointed si gna l If it ha d c om e to o u r a ttenti on you ,

know if this a r ticle ha d been r ou t e d t o us it would h a ve b een

,
r
,

a typic a l r e a ction b y he a dqu a rte rs to instruct t h e key eld ,

offic e s h a ndling Cub a n m a tte rs to a lert t he i r sources a n d b e

a w a re you kno w be p a rt icul a rly a w a re of a nything th a t
, ,

might indic a t e a n a ss a ssi na tion a ttempt but there w a s n o su c h

communi c a ti on to my kn o w l e dge e v er sent o u t from h e a d , ,

qu a rte rs .
92

The Committee a l so took tes t imony from the N a tio n a lities I n t e lli
gen c e S e ction e x p ert o n a nti C as tr o exiles in the Unite d Sta tes This -
.

supervi s or testied th a t he w a s never a sked t o c onduct a n investiga tion

o f whe t her a u v Cub a n exile group w a s involved in the a s s a s s i n a tion
' 93
,

a n d stressed th a t he w a s not p a rt of t he a s s a ssin a tion t e a m H e

.

note d ,

If there would b e a nythi n g of interest to me they m a y h a ve ,

given it to me I don t re c a ll a n y specic incident a bout th a t .

,

but they were h a n dling the a ss a ssin a tion ; I w a s h a ndl ing the
exile s We were p r e t t v mu c h a p a rt I ha d little c ont a ct with
-
. .

4
them on the a ss a ssin a tion p e r s e ,
.
9

T he Doe v/Ine n t a i w R e c or d The Co mmittee s review of FB I i n

s t r u c t i on s to i t s eld off
i ces in the United St a te s a n d to leg a l a t t a c he ,

offi c es a round the world conrms th a t FB I He a d q u a r t ers did not ,

inform el d a gents involved in the investig a tion of the C IA plots

o r C a stro s w a rning Additiona lly no instructions were ever iss ued
? 5
,

b y FB I He a d q u a rte r s a u t horizing a n inte lligen c e i nv e s t i g a tion to

determine whether there h a d b e en forei gn involvement in t he a s s a s
F or ex a m p le t he FB I ha d sources in the eld w h o m i ght ha ve be en
,

a ble t o provide relev a nt inform a tion o n pos sible Cub a n involvemen t in

9
I bi d pp 3234
.
, . .

3
Su p erv i sor I p 16 , . .

I bi d p 6
9
.
, . .

T hi s superv i sor a lso t es ti ed th a t h e could t rec a ll y occ a s i o wh ere th e no an n

i ssue o f poss i b le f ore ig i volve m e t i th e a ss a ss i a ti o wa s r a i sed ( I bi d p
n n n n n n .
, .

5
E a ch o f th e eld a g e t s i vo l ved i th e a ss a ss i a ti o i ves tig a ti o wh o t es
n n n n n n n
t i e d b e fore t he Co mmitt ee co r m ed thi s fa c t n .
 39

the a ss a s sin a tion but those sources w ere ne v er utilize d The i n s t r u c

,
.
96

tions from FB I He a dqu a rters were v ery ge n er a l in n a ture a n d did not

focus on su c h a pos s ibility T he o n ly B ure a u c ommuni c a tion which .

coul d h a ve b ee n con strued a s a h instruction to interview security i n '

form a nts w a s rescinded by a n instru c tion issued on t he foll owi n g d a y .

Those se c urity in forma nts would h a ve i n cl uded indi v idu a ls f a mili a r

with Cub a a n d Cub a n exile m a tters .

At 9:4 0 p m o n Nov e m ber 22 1963 t he Burea u disp a t c hed a t e le

.
, ,

t y p e t o a ll of its eld of c es whi c h re a d :

Al l offices immedi a tely cont ac t a ll inf orm a nts security ra ci a l , ,

a n d crimin a l a s well a s o t her sour c es

,
for i nform a tion be a r ,

ing on a s s a ssin a tion of President Kennedy All offices i m .

medi a tel y esta blish where a bouts of bomb i ng suspects a ll ,

known Kl a n a n d h a te g roup membe rs known r a ci a l ex ,

t r e m i s t s a n d a n y other individu a ls w ho o n t he b a sis of i n fo r

,

m a tion a v a il a ble in your les m a y possibly ha ve been

involved .
97

At a bout 11 p m o n November 22 196 3 the Bure a u sent a nother

.
, ,

telet ype to its eld offi ces :

T h e Bure a u is co nducting a n inv e stig a tion t o determine who
is respo n sible for the a ss a ssin a ti on Y ou a r e t he r e for e i n .

s t ru c te d to f ollow a n d r e s ol v e a
lle g a t i on s p e r t a i n i n g t o t he ll a

a s s a s s i n a t i on Th is m a tter is of utmost urgency a n d should be

.

h a ndled a ccordingly keeping the Bure a u a n d D a ll a s , the ofce

of origin , a pprised fully of a ll devel opments [ Empha sis 98
.

dded ]
a .

However a t a m
,
o n Nov e m b er 2 3 196 3 t h e Bure a u dis
.
, ,

p a tched the following teletype to a ll of i t s eld ofces :

Lee H a r vey Osw a ld ha s be en developed a s the pri n c ip a l sus
pe c t in the a ss a ssin a tion of President Kennedy H e ha s been .

form a lly ch a rged with t he President s murder a long with the

murder of D a ll a s Tex a s p a trolm a n J D Ti p pett b y Tex a s . .

sta te a uthorities In view of developments a ll offices should

.

r e su me n or ma l c on t a c t s w i t h i n f or m a n t s a nd o t he r s ou r c e s

with res pect to bombing suspects h a te group members a n d ,

known ra ci a l extremi s ts D a ily te letype summ a ries ma y b e .

dis c ontinued All inves ti ga tion be a ring directly on the Presi

.

dent s a ss a ssin a tion should be a fforded most expeditious ha n

d li n g a n d Bure a u a n d D a ll a s a dvised [ Emph a sis a dded ] .

99
.

9"
It i s a lso i n s t ruc ti ve t o n o t e th a t CI A D i rec t or Jo h n M c C on e t eleph o n ed FBI
D i rec t or Hoover on th e m orn i n g of N ove mb er 2 6 196 3 a n d a ft er n o ti n g th a t th e , ,

P res i den t wa n t ed t o ma ke sure th e CI A wa s gi v i n g th e FBI f ull suppor t specif ,

i c a ll y o ff ered t o m a ke C I A s ope r a ti o n a l resources i n M ex i co a v a i l a b le t o th e

Bure a u .

T h e Co mm itt ee h a s see ev i de ce th a t th e FBI a sked th e CIA t o co duc t

n no n n an
i ves tig a ti o or g a th er i f or m a ti o
n n th e a ss a ss i a ti o c a se b t m i ddle level
n n on n n , u -

CI A perso el d i d rou ti el y prov i de th e Bure a u with i f orma ti o th a t ca m e t

nn n n n o
th e i r at t e ti o i th e a ss a ss i a ti o c a se
n n n n n .

2 M e
: I bi dm or a du m f ro m FBI He a dqu a r t ers t o a ll F i eld Ofc s
n e ,

9
M em or a du m f ro m FBI He a dqu a r t ers t o a ll F i eld O f ces 11
n ,
 4
0

Thus t he Committe e found th a t FB I He a dqu a rters never i h

,

st r u cted eld a ge n ts to conta c t inform a n t s or sourc es fa mili a r with

Cub a n m a tt ers to determ i ne whether they ha d a n y inform a tion con
c erning Cub a n inv olvement in the a ss a ssin a tion Thos e Cub a n issues .

whi c h were explored rel a t ed solely to O s w a ld a nd O s w a ld s c ont a cts

,

r a ther th a n the l a rger i ssue of determ inin g whether subversive a c t i v i

ties o f the Cub a n government or Cub a n exile community were relev a nt
to the a ss a ssin a tion No counterintelligen c e progra m o p er a tion or
.
, ,

investig a tion w a s e ver initi a ted o r discussed to pursue this question

. . .

T he F BI I n v e s t i g a t i on i n Ill e cc i c o 0 i t g The FBI Le g a l A t t a c h e .

( Leg a t ) in M exico is the highest r a nking Bure a u of c i a l in th a t coun

try thus the Bure a u s a ss a ssin a tion inves tiga tion there w a s under his
, ,

dire ction The Lega t st a te d th a t while conducting the i n vestiga tion

.
,

he pro c eeded under the impression conveyed t o him bv Bure a u He a d

qu a rters th a t Osw a ld w a s the l on e a ss a s si n He further st a te d :

,
.
10 0

Our investig a tion w a s d e dic a ted or directed tow a rd est a b

l i s hi n g O s w a ld s a c tivities i n M e xi c o a n d looki n g towa rd t r y

ing t o est a blish whether he ha d b een a c c omp a nied b y a n y o ne

while he w as in M exico .

We were a ble to ge t hi m i n get hi m out where he st a yed I , ,

.

don t rec a ll th a t we were a ble to es t a bl ish where he w a s every

d a y in M exico [ E m ph as is a dded ]
.
10 1
.

Bure a u docume n ts a n d testimony of know ledge a bl e ofci a ls re e a l e d v

th a t the investig a tion w a s a s c ir c um s cri bed a s the Le g a t t e s t i e d .

10 2

O n Nov e m ber 2 3 1968 the M exi c o Leg a t infor m ed He a dqu a rters :

'
, ,

[ The ] Amb a ss a dor is gre a tly c on cerned th a t Cub a ns

behind subj ect s a ss a ssina tion of Presid e n t He feels th a t

.

both we a n d C IA doing everyt hing po ssib le there to est a b

lish o r refute Cub a n connectio n .
3

O n Nov e m b er 2 4196 3 the Le g a t c a bled FB I He a d qu a rters :

I

, ,

Amb a ss a dor h ere feels Soviets m u c h too sophistic a ted to pa r

t i c i p a t e in d irection o f a ss a ssin a tion of Preside n t b y subj ect ,

but thinks Cub a ns stu pi d e nough to h a v e p a rtici p a ted in such

direction ev en t o extent o f hiring subject If this should b e .

c a se it would a ppe a r l ikely tha t the contr a ct would h a ve been

,

m a de with subj ect in U S a n d purpose of his trip t o M exico . .

w a s to set up get a w a y route Bure a u m a y desire to give .

consider a t ion to polli n g a ll Cub a n sources in U S i n effort . .

4
to conrm o r refute this theory .
10

L eg a t t es ti mon y 6 p 23 , , . .

I bi d pp 2 2 24
, ,

T h e ev i den ce a lso es t a b l i sh es th a t th ere wa s con f us i on a s t o whi ch U S

. .

102
. .

a g en cy wa s con duc ti n g th e i n ves tig a ti o n i n M ex i co Al th ou gh th e A mb a ss a dor .

a nd high level g over n m e n t ofc i a ls i n W a s hi n gt o n b el i eved th a t th e FBI wa s

-

co n ducti n g th e i n ves tig a ti on i n M ex i co th e F B I s pos iti o n wa s th a t a l th ou gh th e .

,

FBI would cooper a t e on l y th e S t a t e Dep a r t m en t a n d CIA h a ve j ur i sd i c ti o n i n

g e tti n g i n ves tig a ti ve resul t s a b ro a d ( M em or a n du m t o A Bel mo n t

,

. .
,

Iro n i c a ll y n e ith er th e L eg a t n or th e Bure a u superv i sor sen t down t o d i rec t

coord i n a t e th e i n ves tig a ti o n k n ew wh e t h er th e S t a t e Dep a r t men t or th e

,

a nd

C IA wa s i n f a c t i n ves tig a ti n g i n M ex i co .

FBI ca b le M ex i co L eg a t t o He a dqu a r t ers

, ,
1
F B I c a b l e M ex i co L e g a t t o He a dqu a r t ers
, ,
 4
2

developments i n the FBI investi g a tion in the U n ited St a tes The .

Am b a ss a d o r w a s a lso concerned a bout the g ra vity of D s a llega tion

a n d requ e sted th a t the inv e stig a tion of D s cl a im be given the high

est priority J Edga r Ho o ver sh a red the Amb a ss a dor s conce r n ov er

1
.
11
.

the a llega tion noting : ,

Amb a s s a dor m a y b e one of the psuedo investig a tors a -

Sherlock Holmes but h e ha s m a de a lot of st a tements whi ch , ,

i f true throw an entirely different light o n the wh ole

,

pi c ture 1
.
1 2

The su p ervisor s presence in M exi c o City w a s short lived He a r -

.

rived on Nov e m b er 27 a n d returned to FBI He a dqu a rters o n Decem

b er 1 196 3 The supe r vis or tes t i ed t h a t on th e morning a fter his
, .
I

a rriv a l in M exi c City th a t he the Lega t a n d t h e CIA Sta tion Chief

o ,

met with the Amb a ss a dor At this meeting the A mb a ss a dor .

,

expressed his opinion th a t h e felt th a t th is w a s denitel y a

cons p ira cy a n d th a t we must tur n over the la st ston e to nd
out if there is a n y overt c onsp ir a c y o n the p a rt of t h e Cub a ns .

He a lso m a de referen c e I believe to previous bo a sts b y , ,

C a stro th a t h e would ende a vor to get b a ck a t a ttempts by

Americ a n forces to a ss a ssin a te him .

At th a t time we tried to stress to Amb a ss a dor th a t eve r y bit

of inform a tion t h a t we ha d devel o ped i n W a shin gt on a t "
,

D a ll a s a n d else w here indic a ted th a t this w as a l one j o

, ,
.
113

The superv isor a lso t e s tied th a t he k nows of n o investi g a tion in

M exi c o t o determine i f there w a s Cub a n involvemen t in the as s a ssin a

tion of Presid e n t Ke n ned y ot h er th a n dis p rovin g the D a llega ,

4
tion Once D a dmitted he h a d f a bric a ted his story th e Amb a s s a
.
11
t
,

d or a dvised th a t it w a s no lon g er nec e ss a ry for [ the su pe r visor]

to sta y Sulliv a n s previ ous st a tement th a t the s u p ervisor w a s

.
5

selected to go t o M exi c o to direct a n d coo r dina te the entire investiga

tion th ere a n d pursue it vi g orousl y u n t i l t he d e s i r e d r e s u lt s a r e oh
ta i ne d c a nnot be recon ciled unless the thorou g h investiga tion a n d
,
11

desired results were t o discredit D s a llega tions 1

.
17

Q Wh a t I a m tryi n g t o understa nd is wh a t w a s
.

done other th a n wh a t ende d up being the disprovin g of t h e

D a l lega tion It l ooks l ike a nega tive investiga tion

.

w ell l e t s g e t down there a n d w a s h it out a n d get this a m

,

b a ss a d or o ff o u r b a cks a n d we wil l a ll b e h a ppy a n d ga y .

1
M emor a du m f rom Sull i v a t Bel mo t
n n o n ,

O nef or mer FBI i i l t old th e Committ ee th a t Hoover s l a b el i g th e A mb a s

o c a

n
s a dor a S h erlo k Hol m es h d t h effe t w ithi th e Bure a u o f c a us i g FBI

c

a e c n , n
pers l t o d i sreg a rd wh a t th e A mb a ss dor wa s s a yi g
onn e

a n .

3
FB I supe rv i sor t es ti mo y p 10 n , . .

Th e supe r v i sor su b se q ue t l y t es ti ed th at h e h a d k owled g e o f A mer i c a

n no n n

a tt emp t s t o a ssa ss i a t e Fi del C a s t ro n .

I bi d p 38
1"
. .
,
5
M e mor a du m f ro m Bel m o t t o Sull i v a
n n n,
W i l l i a m O Sull i v a w hi le a d m itti g th a t thi s wa s a poor ch o i ce o f words
1
. n, n

,

de i ed th at h e se t th e superv i sor t o M ex i co spec i c a ll y t o pl a c a t e th e A mb a s

n n
s a dor a d d i sprove D
n

.

S e l ec t C ommi t tee sta ff i n te vi e w of W C S u l l i v a n

7
r . .
,
 4
3

Superv isor : Well possibl y o n o ne h a nd you cou ld s a y yes

, ,

we w a nted denitively to p ro tect t h e Bure a u from a n y future

a lleg a tions th a t the investig a tion w a s sho ddy .

I be l ieve there w a s a feeling th a t w e h a d a n outsider h ere ,

p oss ibly a Sh e rl ock Holms who w a nted t o ins ert himse l f ,

o n this so we went down there cert a inly to cover our

s elves to p a cify the Amb a ss a dor but in n o w a y were we
, ,

going t o try to w a te r it down 11

.
8

T he supervisor a lso testied tha t h e ne v er h a d the opportunity t o

question D On the morning h e a rrived in M ex i co City the CIA

.

,

turne d D over to the M exic a n poli c e a n d denied the superviso r s

repe a ted reques ts to interrog a te He le a rned th a t the M exi c a n

po l ice ha d exh a ustively interroga ted D a n d th a t h e ha d reca nted

his a llega tions The s upervisor testied .

Q There could h a ve b een a fee ling of gr a titude t o the

.

M exic a n p olice s interrog a tion th a t resulted in this guy s

reca nti ng his story th a t you wouldn t h a ve the cha nge to get
,

it out of him .

A T h a t could be very denitely I know the pressure w a s

.
,

o ff when the M exic a n police c a me a n d to ld us this w a s a

comp l et e fa bric a tion .
12

8
Superv i sor , 6, p 4
. 3 .

m
I bi d p
. 57
, . .

m
I bi d p 58
.
, . .

However th e ,
FB I M ex i co C ity L eg a t l a t er h a d a ccess t o D

a nd i n t errog a t ed
hi m .
I V THE INTELLI G ENCE AG ENCIE S AND T H E WA RR EN
.

CO MM I S SION : JANUA R Y TO SEPTE M BE R 1964

Lega lly ss a ssin a tion of President Kennedy a n d the subse q uent
, t he a

murder o f Le e Ha rvey Osw a ld w ere within the j urisdi c tio n of Tex a s

st a te a uthorities However in the d a y s immedi a tely following the
.
,

a ss a ssin a tion m a ny America ns questioned how a President could b e

,

a s s a ss in a t e d despite the v a st U S intellige n ce a pp a ra tus M a ny were . . .

a lso o penly skeptic a l of the FB I ndings th a t O sw a l d w a s the l one

a s s a ssin .

Congress a n d the President felt tha t p ublic c oncern could o n l y be

a ssu a ged by a thorough a n d independent investig a tion of the a ss a s
s i n a t i on. T w o resolutions were submitted in Congress c a ll i n g for -

congressiona l investig a tions into the circumst a nces surrounding the

a ss a ssin a tion The St a te o f Tex a s est a b l ished a C ommission fo r the
.

s a me purpose The W a rren C om m ission est a blished by President

.
,

Johnson s Executive O rder o n November 29 196 3 preempted the eld

, , .

The President st a ted th a t h e esta bl ishe d the Commission to ensure

a thorough a n d independent investig a tion of the circumst a nces sur
rounding the a s s a ssin a tion Bec a use the only previous investi g a tions
1
.

o f the a ss a ssin a tion were those conducted b y the D a ll a s Po l i c e Dep a rt

ment a n d the Federa l Bure a u of Investiga tion a n d re c ogn izing public ,

criticism a n d skepticis m directe d tow a rd these a ge n cies it w ould a p ,

pe a r th a t the Commission s investiga tion w a s to b e ind e pendent from

the Bure a u s As t he W a rren Commission s report note d : Bec a use of

.

the numerous rumors a n d theories the Commission concluded t h a t the ,

publ ic interest in insuring th a t the tr uth w a s a scert a ined could not be

met b y mere l y by a ccepting the r eports or the a na lyses o f Federa l o r
Sta t e a genc ies ?

When it beg a n i t s subst a ntive work in mid Decembe r the Commis -

sion received a tremendous nu mber of reports from v a r ious Federa l

a n d St a te a gencies By fa r the l a rg est n u mber o f reports w ere supp l ied
.

the C ommission by the FB I The FBI forw a rded a v e volume D e ce m .

-

ber 9 196 3 report summ a rizing the Bure a u s investiga tion i mmedi a te ly
,

a fter the a ss a s sin a tion Subsequently the Commi ss ion requested a n d

.
,

received the report of t he eld investi g a tion from w hich the Decem
b er 9 196 3 repo rt h a d bee n derived The W a rren Commission noted
, , .

in i t s re port :
As th e se i nves tiga tive repo rt s were received the s t a ff bega n ,

a n a lyzing a n d summ a r izing them The m embers of t h e leg a l .

st a ff divide d in t o te a ms proceeded to orga nize the f ac ts

, ,

reve a l ed b y these investiga tions dete rm ine the issues s ort out , ,

t he u nreso l ved problems a n d r e commen d a ddition a l investi ,

g a ti e n by t he C ommiss ion .

1
W a rre Commi ss i o R epo r t i x
n n ,

W a rren Co m mi ss i o R epor t p x
.

2
n , . .

(4
5)
 4
6

After reviewing the a ccumul a ting m a teri a ls the Commis ,

sion dire c ted numerous a ddition a l requests to Federa l a n d

S ta te a gencies .

Bec a use of the dilige n ce coopera tion a n d f a cilities of Fed , ,

era l investig a tive a g encies it w a s un n e c ess a ry for the Com ,

mission to employ investig a to rs other th a n the members of ,

the Comm i ssion s lega l s t a ff

.
3

With only minor iso l a te d exceptions the enti re body of f a ctu a l ,

m a te r i a l from which the Commi s sion derived its ndings w a s supplied

by th e intelligen c e community prim a rily the FBI Even when m a te , , .

ri a l w a s provided by a n a ge n cy other th a n t h e FBI th a t a gen c y ,

usu a lly checked with th e Bure a u before supplying inform a tion to the
Co m mi s sion M oreover C IA a n d Secret Service personn el reviewed
.
,

Director Hoover s testim ony before the Commissi on prior t o the a p

p e a r a n c e of CIA Director M c C on e a n d DDP Helms a n d S e cret Se r v

ice Dire ctor R owley to ens u re th a t there were no conicts in tes timony .

Thus the Co mmission w a s depe n de n t u p on the intelligen c e a gencies

,

for the f a cts a n d preli min a ry a n a lysis The C o mmissi on a n d its st a ff .

did a n a lyze the m a teri a l a n d frequently requested follow u p ag ency -

investiga tions ; but if evide n ce on a p a rticul a r p oint w a s not supplied

t o the Commission this se c ond step would obviously n ot b e re a ched
, ,

a n d t h e C ommission s ndings would b e formul a ted witho ut t he benet

of a n y inform a tio n o n the omitted point .

On t h e c ruci a l question of whether Osw a ld w a s involved in a c on

s pi r a c y to a ss a ssin a te the President the Wa rren Commission noted .

th a t the Se c ret Servi c e CIA a n d FBI a n d Tre a sury Justice St a te

' '

, , ,

a n d Defense Dep a rtme n ts independently a rrived a t the s a m e conclu

sion tha t t h ere w a s no eviden c e of a conspir a cy
,
.
5

It must be re m e m be re d th a t the purpose of the Co m mittee s i n

quiry w as to a llow for a n ev a lu a tion of the intelligen c e a gencies ( both

prior a n d subsequent to the a ss as sin a tion ) a n d the process b y which
inform a ti on w as provided to t he Wa rren Commission T h e following .

s e cti on discusses t he F BI s a n d the C I A s rel a tion s hip t o t he \Va r r e n

Commiss i on .

A . T he R e la t i on s hi p B e t w e e n t he F B I a nd t he W a r r e n C om mi s s i on
Di rector Hoover initi a lly opposed President J ohnson s decision to

cre a te t he Wa rre n Co m m iss ion ; but on c e t h e Commission w a s est a b 6

li s he d b y Executive Order h e h a d to a c c ept th a t d e cision a n d r e ,

sp e nd t o the Com m ission s requests Nevertheless h e repe a tedly tol d

.
7
,

others in the Bure a u th a t th e Wa rren Commi s sion w a s looki n g for

g a ps in the F BI s i n vesti g a tion seeki n g to critici ze the

and w as
FB I The m e mo r an d a o f other se nior Bure a u offici a ls a lso reve a l a
.
8

W a rre C omm i ss i o R epor t pp x ii x iii

3
n n , .
, .

W a rre Co m mi ss i o R ep r t p 374
5
n n o .

M em or a du m f ro m H ver t o M essrs Tolso Bel mo t M o h r D L h

. .

6
n oo . n, n , , e oa c ,

R ose d Sull i v a
n an n,
Cover S h ee t
7
with a tt ach ed m em or a du m f ro m Ho ver t M essrs
,
n o o .

Tolso Bel m o t M h r D L c h R ose

n, n d Sull i v a
o e oa n an n,
Belm o t Moh r Sull i v a R ose FBI
, , ,

d m f ro m H oover t o Tolso
'
Me m
E
or a n u n, n , , n, n,

I spec to r d De L h
n an 64 ; Hoover h a dw ri tt e
oa c o t e o memora d um f ro m
,
n -
n n n n

R ose t o Belmo nt
n ,
 4
7

deep con c ern th a t the FBI might be ch a rged w ith some dereliction in
connection with the President s d e a th Thus a lthough t he C ommis
.
9
,

sion ha d t o r ely on the FBI to conduct the p r im a ry investig a tion o f

the President s de a th their rel a tionship w a s a t tim e s a lmost a d v e r

,

sa r i a l
1
Such a rel a tionship w a s n ot condu c ive to the coopera tion
.
0

neces sa ry for a t horough a n d exh a ustive investiga tion .

1 T he F B I
.

8 P e r c e p t i on f
o t he W a r r e n C or i /mi s s i on as m
a
A d ve rs a ry
In the d a ys immedia te ly following the a ss a ssin a tion of Presid ent
Kennedy the Bure a u w a s subj ected to its rst m a j or public criticism
,

in ye a rs for its h a ndling of the Lee H a rvey Osw a l d se curity c a se b e

fore the a ss a ssin a tion M a ny Americ a ns were skeptica l of the Bure a u s
.

investiga tive ndings th a t Osw a ld w a s the a ss a ssin a n d th a t he a cted

a lo ne If t he Wa rr en C ommiss i o n repor t ed th a t the Burea u s ha n
.

d li n g of the a ss a ssin a tion inves tiga t i on or the Osw a ld se c u rity c a se

w a s d e cient in some m a n ner t he FBI would h a ve been open to em ,

b a r r as s me n t a n d criticism G iven t his possibil ity a n d FB I Dire c t o r

.
,

Hoover s known hostility to criticism or emb a rr a ssment of the Bure a u

,

i t is not a t a ll su r prising th a t from its inception the Commission w a s ,

pe r ceived a s a n a dvers a ry by both Hoover a n d senior F BI of ci a l s .

Af t er the Wa rren Commission h a d been est a bli shed e a ch time ,

Hoover received word th a t a p a rticu l a r person w a s being consi d ere d

for the Commis s ion st a ff he a sked wh a t the Bure a u h a d on the
,

individu a l Although dero ga t ory inform a tion p e r t a ining t o bo t h

.

Commissio n m embers a n d st a ff w a s b r ought to M r H oo ver s a ttention .

,

the Bure a u ha s informed the Committee st a ff th a t there is no doc u

ment a ry evidence which i ndic a tes th a t such inform a tion w a s dis
se min a ted while the W a rren Commission w a s in session .
12

On December 10 1963 Ho over informed Assist a nt Director A l a n

, ,

Belmo nt th a t he would be pers on a lly r esponsible for reviewing every

piece of p a per th a t went t o the \V a r r e n C om mission Hoover a lso .

design a ted the FBI He a dqu a rters inspector w ho ha d previously been

a s signed to supervise the D a ll a s eld investig a tion a s the B ure a u

l i a ison with the W a rren Co mmission In a mem or a ndum recounting .

t he D e cember 1 0t h meeting where this inspect o r w a s briefed on hi s

,

new a ssignment the Director wrote ,

I tol d [ the inspector ] th a t I w a nted him to est a blish the

c l osest a n d most a mi a ble working rel a tionship wit h M r R a n .

M emor a du m f ro m Se ti Chi ef t o S ull i v a
n c on m e m r a du m f r m n, o n o
Secti o C hi ef t o Sull i v a
n n,
10
M em or a dum f rom Hoover t o T olso Bel m o t M o h r D Lo h R se F BI
n n, n , , e ac , o n,
I spec tor d Sull i v a
n an p 4; H ver h a d wri tt e
n, te . m e m r a du m
oo n n no on o n

f ro m R ose t o Bel m o t n n ,
1
T h e C omm itt ee d th e Bure a u de ed th e i r t erms such th a t d i ssemi a
an n ,

n
ti o i cludes i for m i g th e perso hi m sel f f th e dero g a t or y i for m a ti o Add i
n

n n n n o n n .

tion all y i order t o e sure th e pro t ec ti o o f i d i v i du a l pr i v a c y th e Co mmitt ee

, n n n n ,

d i d t reques t a ccess t o y dero g a t or y i f orm a ti o

no an n n .
 4
8

ki n I told him tha t I ha d person a l ly known M r R a nkin quite

. .

well s ince he ha d served a s Solicitor Genera l under Attorneys

G ener a l Brownell a n d R ogers .

I a lso a lerted [ the inspector ] th a t there were indic a tion s

th a t the Chief Justice who he a ded the Presidenti a l Commis
,

sion w a s ende a vo r ing to nd f a ult with the FBI a n d certa in

,

inform a tion ha d bee n lea ked by the Chief Justi c e to [ a news

p a p e r m a n ] w hi c h w a s critic a l of the F BI s function ing in

D a ll a s pri or to the a ss a ssin a tion .

I told [ the inspector ] a n d M r Belmont th a t the C hief J u s .

tice ha d n ow dem a nded a ll of the s o c a lled r a w re po r ts -

upon which the FBI report of the a ss a ssin a tion w a s predi

c ate d a n d in doing so th a t Chief Justice h a d ch a r a cterized '

the FBI repo rt a s bei n g in skeleton form I st a ted the Chief

.

Justice ha d furt her a dded in hi s st a tement to the press : In

order t o ev a lu a te it we ha ve to see the m a teri a ls on which the

report w a s prep a red .

I sta t e d th a t this sta te ment b y the C hief Justice I felt w a s

entire ly unw a rra nted a n d could cert a inly h a ve been phr as ed
better so a s not to l e a ve the impression a t le a st by innuendo , ,

th a t the FB I ha d not done a thorough j ob .

13

On J a nu a r y 2 8 1964Lee R a nkin met with Hoover a t the Commis

, ,

sion s direct ion to di s cuss the a llega tion tha t O sw a ld w a s a n FB I i h

form a nt According t o a Hoover memor a n d um of J a nua ry 31 196 4:

.
,

R a nkin st a te d th a t the Co mmissio n w a s c onc erned a s to

how this m a tter c ould be resolved a n d it w a s for t his re a s on ,

th a t they a sked him t o see me He st a te d th a t the Co mmis .

sion did not d e sire t o initi a te a n investig a tion on the o u t

side a s it might a p pe a r the Commissi o n w a s i n v e s t i g a t

i ng t he FBI .

I t old M r R a nkin t ha t Le e H a rvey Os w a ld w as never a t

.

a n y time a c ondenti a l inform a nt und e r c ov e r a g ent or even , ,

a sour c e o f inform a tion for the FBI a n d I w o ul d like to s e e ,

th a t cle a rly st a t e d on the record of the Commission a n d I

woul d be willing to so st a te under o a th .

I c ommented t o him tha t I ha d n ot a p preci a ted wh a t I i n

t e r pr e t e d a s c a r p ing criticism by the Chief Justi ce when he
referred t o the Bure a u s report o ri gi n a lly furnished t o the

4
Commissi o n as being a skeleton repo r t
.
1

Throughout the Wa rren C ommiss ion s existence A l a n Belmont

,
'

kept H oover informed d a ily

1 the inte r n a l Commission meeti ngs a n d decisions ;
.

2 the a re a s l n whi c h the C om m l s s mn w a s request i ng i n

.

form a tion o r fu rther FB I i n v e s t i ga t l on ; a n d

,

1"
M e mora du m fro m Hoover t o Tolso
n n .

1
M em or a du m f ro m Hoover t o M essrs Tolso
n . n, Bel m o t M o h r Sull v a
n , ,
0

i n,

R ose FBI I spect or d D L h

n, n an e oa c ,
 5O

2 . T he F B I
S H a n d li n g o f t he O s w a ld S e c u r i t y C a s e
Immedi a t e ly a fter the a ssa ssin a tion J Edga r Hoo ver ordered a , .

c omplete a n a lysis of a n y inves tiga tive deciencies in the Osw a ld

c a se .

On D e cember 10 1963 Assista nt Director J H G a le of the
21
, , . .

Inspe c tion Division reported th a t there were a number of inves tiga tive
a n d rep or ting deli n quencies in the ha ndling of the Os w a ld security

c a se G a le wrote :
.

Osw a l d should h a ve b e en on the Security Index ; his wife

should h a ve been inte rviewed be fore the a ss a ssin a ti on a n d ,

investig a tion i n t e n s i e d not held in a b e v a n ce a ft er Os -

w a ld cont a cted Soviet Emb a ssy in M exico .

22

In the p a ra gr a ph immedi a te ly preceding G a le s re c ommend a tion s for

discip l in a ry a ctions he observes : ,

Concer ning the a dministr a tive a c tion re c ommended herein

a ft er there is the possibility th a t the Presidenti a l Commission
,

investiga ting i nsta nt m a tter will subp oen a the investiga ting
Agents If this occurs the possibility then exists th a t the
.
,

Agents m a y be questioned concerning whether a d m inistra tive

a c tion h a d been t a ken a g a inst them However it is felt these .
,

possibilities a r e sufficiently remote th a t the recommended

a ction should go forw a rd a t this tim e It a ppe a rs unlikely a t .

this ti m e th a t the Commission s subpoen a s would go down to

the Agent level .

23

Director Hoover responded In a n y even t such gross incompetency ,

c a nnot be overlooked n or a dministra tive a cti o n pos tponed .

2

Assista nt Dire c tor Ga rth a De L oa c h responded t o G a le s report as

follows :
I recommended th a t the suggested disciplin a r y a c tion be held
in a bey a nce until the n di n gs of t h e Presidenti a l Commission
h a ve been m a de p ublic This a ction is recomme n ded in a smuch .

a s a ny le a k to the gener a l public or p a rticul a rly to the

,

comm u nic a tions medi a con c erning the FB I t a king d i s c i pl i ,

n a ry a ction a ga i n st its personnel wi t h respect to c a p tion ed

m a tter would be a ssumed a s a direct a dmission th a t we a r e
re s ponsible for negli g ence whi c h might h a ve resulted in the
a ss as sin a tion of the President At the prese n t time t here a r e .

so m a ny wild rumors gossip an d specul a tion th a t even t he .

,

slightest h int to outsiders conc ern ing disciplin a ry a ction of

this n a ture would result in consider a ble a dverse re a ction
a g a inst the FBI I do not believe th a t a n y o f our personnel
.

will be subpoen a ed Ch ief Justice W a rren ha s indica ted h e

.

pl a ns to issue n o subp oen a s There is however the pos si b i l .

, ,

ity th a t the p ublic will le a rn o f disciplin a ry a ction bei n g

T h e Bure a u s h a dl i g o f th e pre a ss a ss i a ti o O swa ld ca se i s d i scussed

21
n n -
n n in
Appe d i x A
n .

M
2
e m or a du m f ro m G a le t o Tolso
m I bi d
n n,

Hoover s h a dwr itt e o t e o m em or a du m f ro m G a le t o Tolso

.

2"
n n n n n n,
 51

t a ken a ga inst our personnel a n d therefore sta rt a b a d u n , , ,

j u s t i a b le re a ction
? 5

Director H oo ver h owever respon d ed to De L oa c h s r e c omme n d a

, ,

tion I do not concur

,

.
2

On D e cember 10 1963 17 Bure a u empl oyees ( ve eld investig a tive

, ,

a gents one e l d su pervisor thr e e s p e c i a l a gents in ch a rge four he a d

, , ,

qu a r t ers su pe r vis ors two he a dqu a rters section chiefs one inspector
, , ,

a n d one a ssist a nt director ) were c e nsured or pl a c ed on prob a tion for

sho r t c omings i n connection with the investig a tion o f O s w a ld prior

to the a s sa ssin a tion Alth ough the tr a nsfers of some of thes e a gents
.
27

were dis cussed a t th a t time cert a in tra nsfers were held in a bey a nce ,

until the iss u a nce o f the Wa rren Commission s report on September 24

,

One of the spe c ic short c omings i d entied by Assist a nt Directo r

G a le w a s the f a ilure t o include Osw a ld s n a me on t he Security Index
.
29

Indeed of the seventeen a gents supervisors a n d s enior offici a ls w ho

, , ,

were di sciplined not a si ngle one believed th a t Osw a ld met the criteri a
,

for the Secu r ity Index In this reg a rd Assist a nt t o the Dire c tor Ala n
.
,

Belmont not e d in a n a ddendum to M r G a le s December 10 1963 .

,

mem ora ndum

It is signica nt to note th a t a ll of the supervisors a n d ofci a ls
who c a m e into cont a ct with this c a se a t the se a t of govern
men t a s well a s a gents in the eld a r e un an imous in the
, ,

opini on th a t Osw a ld d i d n o t meet the criteri a for the S e cu

r ity Index If this is so it woul d a ppe a r th a t the criteri a a r e
.
,

n o t sufciently specic to include a c a se such a s O sw a ld s

a nd ra ther th a n t a ke the positio n t h a t a ll of t hese employees

,

were mist a ken in their j udgment the c riteri a should be ,

ch a nge d This ha s now b een recommended b y Assist a nt

.

Di rector G a l e .
30

M r Hoover m a d e the foll ow ing h a ndwritten not a tions next to M r

. .

Be l mont s a ddendum : They were worse th a n mist a ken Ce rt a inly no

.

one in fu l l p ossession of a ll his fa culties c a n cl a im O sw a ld didn t

fa ll w ithin this criteri a 1 3

On Sep t e mber 24 1964 t he s a m e d a y the Wa rren Commission s

.

, ,

repo rt w as offi ci a l ly rele a sed As s ist a nt Director Willi a m C Sulliv a n ,

.

wrote :
In a nswer to the q uestion a s to w hy Lee H a rvey Oswa ld w a s
not on t he S ecurity In dex b a sed on the fa cts con c erning ,

M emor a du m f rom G a le to To l so
5
n n,
Hoover s h a d w r itt e o t e

m em or a du m fro m G a le t o Tols
n n n on n on ,
M em or a du m f rom G a le t o Tolso 12
2"
n n,
M emor a du m f ro m G a le to Tolso
n n,
M em or a du m f ro m G a le t o Tolso
2"
n n,
See Book II I t ell ig e ce Ac ti v iti es d th e R ight s o f A m er i c a s pp 9193
,

n n an n ,

.

for a d i scuss i o o f th e Se ur ity I dex I t i i m por t a t t o o t e h owever th a t

n c n . s n n , ,

u der th e procedures th e i t th e i clus i o o f O swa ld

n Secur ity I dex
n n e ec , n n on n

would t h a ve resul t ed i th e d i ssemi a ti o o f O swa ld s a me t o th e Se re t

no n n n

n c
Serv i ce .

I bi d

.

H oo e r s h a nd w r i tt en n ot e n me m a d m f o m G a l e t o T ol s on
1
n
v o or n u r ,
 52

Os w a ld which were a v a il a ble p rior to his a ss a ssin a tion of the

President it w a s the j udgment o f the a ge n ts h a ndli n g the
,

c as e in D a ll a s a n d New Orlea ns the eld supervisor a n d the , ,

SAC in New Orle a ns a s well a s s upervis ors a t the Se a t of ,

Government th a t such f a cts did not w a rra n t the inclusion of

,

Osw a ld in the Security Index The m a tter h a s o f course be en .

, ,

r e ex a mined in the Bure a u a n d M r

-
G a l e by m emora ndum .

12/ 10/ 63 expressed the opinion th a t Osw a ld should h a ve b e en

pl a ced on the Security Index prior to 11 22/ 63 The Director
'
.

concurred with M r G a le s op inion a n d a dministra tive a ction .

h a s be en t a ken .
32

Hoover wrote on this Su lliv a n memor a ndum t h a t the Burea u per

s on n e l who f a iled to include Osw a l d o n the Securit y Index could
,

not ha ve been more stupid .

a n d now th a t the Bure a u h a s be en

d ebunke d publicly I intend t o t a ke a dditi on a l a dministr a tive

a ction
33
.

C ert a in FBI a gent s te stied befo re the Wa rren Commission on

M a y 5 1964 One of the a gents h a d previously requested to t a lk t o
,
.

Hoover a n d he le a rned from Al a n Belmo nt on the morning of M a y 6

, ,

196 4tha t he would b e a l lowed to see the Directo r l a ter th a t d a y A c

,
4
.
3

c ording t o the a gent the Direct or could n ot h a ve been more ple a s a nt ;,

he quoted Ho over a s s a ying th a t Eve r ything w a s in order a n d th a t

he h a d nothin g to worry a bout

I n deed t his is ex a c tly wha t the .
35
,

a g ent recounted t o his spec i a l a gen t in ch a rge u p on hi s return t o

D a ll a s M r Hoover s version of the meeting differs consider a bly

.
36
.

from the a gents Acc ord i ng t o the Dire cto r : .

I di s cu s se d wi th him the situ a tion which ha d d e veloped in

D a ll a s a n d of emb a rr as sment which h a d be en c a used .
37

On Septe mber 2 8 196 4 four d a ys a fter the Commission s report ha d

, ,

been issued eight of the B ure a u employees a ga inst whom disciplin a ry

,

a ction h a d been t a ken in December 1 96 3 were a g a in c ensured or put ,

on proba tion for re a sons identi c a l t o those th a t l ed t o a c tion being

,

t a ken a ga inst them in De c ember 196 3 Some o f the eigh t were a lso .

tra nsferred on this occas ion In a ddition t o the a bove eight three .
38
,

other employ e es who ha d not been disciplined in De c embe r 1963 were

disciplin e d a s follows :
1 A Speci a l A g ent in D a l l a s w a s censured a n d pl a ced on
.

prob a tion for fa iling to properly h a ndle a n d supervise this

m a tter ;
2 A n inspe c tor a t FBI H e a dqu a rters w a s c ensured for not
.

exercising s u i c i e nt im a gin a tion a n d fores igh t to initia te

ac ti on to h a ve S e curity Index m a t eri a l diss e min a t e d to S e c ret
S e r vice ;
M emora du m f ro m W O Sull i v a t o A H Bel m o t
3"
n . n . . n ,

Hoover s h a dwr itt e o t e m e m or a du m f ro m Sull i v a

.

3"
n n n on n n t o Bel mon t ,

9/ 24/ 64 .

FBI Spec i a l A g e t
3
p 71 n ,
. .

35
I bi d .

3"
SA C t es ti mo y
' p 19 n . .

M emor a du m f ro m Hoover t o Tolso

,
3
n n,

M e mor a du m f ro m G a le t o Tolso
33
n n,
 53

An A s sista nt t o the Di rect or a t FB I He a d q u a rte r s w as

3 .

cens ured for hi s o vera l l re sponsibility in t his entire m a tter .

39

I n a memor a ndum dissemin a t ed t o senior bure a u offi ci a ls on Oc t o ber 12

196 4Hoover note d
,

There is no question in my mind but th a t we f a iled in c a rrying

through some of the most s a l ient as pec t s of the Osw a ld i n
v e s t i ga t i on It ought t o be a l esson t o a ll but I doubt if some
.
,
4
even re a lize it n ow .
0

J Edg a r Hoover did not be l ieve th a t thes e disciplin a ry a cti ons

.

would ever become known ou t s ide the Bure a u a n d they did not until ,

October 1975 Although none of the inform a tion m a de a v a il a ble to the

.

Commi s sion by t he FB I suggests the sli ghtest investiga tive deciency

i n the Osw a ld secu ri ty c a s e Bure a u of ci a ls were continua lly c on ,

cerne d with the possibility th a t the FB I might be rega rded a s r e

sponsibl e for n egligence th a t res ulted in the a ss as sin a tion of President

Kennedy bec a use of p i e a ss a ssin a tion investiga tive d e ci encies in the -

4
Osw a ld c a se .
1

3 T he Bu
. re a u sR e a c t i on t o t he W a r r e n C om m i s s i on R e p or t

On S e ptember 25 , 196 4
,
when the FB I received a copy of the W a r
ren Commission s R eport the Directo r noted : I w a nt this c a r efully

,

reviewed a s it perta ins t o FB I s hortcomings by G a le Ch a p t er 8 te a rs

On September 29 196 4M r Hoover a fter re a ding a
.

4
us t o pieces .
2
, , .
,

W a s hi n gt on P os t a r ticle ca ptioned Pr a ise is V oiced for S t a ff E n

ga ged in Wa rren R e port directed th a t the Bure a u s l e s on the 84 ,

st a ff membe rs list ed in the a rticle be c hecked 4

On Oct o be r 2 196 4
.
3
, ,

the Director w a s informed th a t Bure a u les conta in deroga tory i n

44
form a tion concerning the fo l lowing individu a l s a n d their rel a tives .

O n September 30 196 4Ass ist a nt Direc t or G a le presente d A s soci a te

, ,

Direc t or Clyde To lson with a mem ora ndum c a pti oned Shortcomings

in h a ndling of Lee H a rvey Osw a ld ma t ter by FBI pe rs onnel G a le .

The Co mmissi o n ha s now set forth in a very d a m ning m a nner

so me of the s a me gl a ri ng we a k nesse s fo r whi ch we pr e v mu s ly
d i sc i pll n e d our personnel such a s l a ck of v 1gor o u s i n v e s t l g a

3'
I bi d .

Ad mi i st r a ti ve Cover S h e t t o me mor a du m f ro m FB I Superv i sor t o G a le
n e n ,

1
M em ora du m f ro m A Bel mo t t o C Tolso
n . n . n,
3
Hoover s h a dwr itt e o t e o m e m or a du m fro m D L h t o M o h r

n n n n n e oa c ,

3
Hoover s h a dwr itt e o t e a

n W s hi g t o P o t a r ti cle T h e Fed
n n on a n n s ,

er a4l D i a ry .

M emor a du m f ro m R ose t o Bel mo t
n n n ,

O n N ovemb er 8 196 6 m e mor a n d a were f ur i sh ed t o P res i de ti a l A ss i s t a t

, ,
n n n
Ma rv i W a t so se tti g f or th b a ck g rou d i f or m a ti o i clud i g dero g a t or y ma
n n, n n n n, n n

t e i ls o
r a seve pr i v a t e c iti ze s wh o wro t e u fa vor a b le a r ti cles co cer i g th e
n n n n n n n

W a rre Co mmi ss i o d i g s A Feb ru a r y 3 1975 FBI mem or a du m whi ch d i s

n n n n .
, ,
n
cusses th ese mem or a d a a d th e i r d i ssemi a ti o i 196 6 t o th e W hit e House
n n n n n
rec ou t s n :

N o i for m a ti o wa s developed or f ur i sh ed t o th e W hit e House co cer

n n n n n

i g i mm or a l co duc t
n th e p a rt o f th e seve a b ove l i s t ed cr iti cs o f th e
n on n
W a rre C ommi ss i o w ith th e excep ti o o f th e i f or ma ti o f ur i s h ed
n n n n n n

rega rd i n g [ i de tity of i d i v i du a l deleted f re a so s of pr i v a cy ]

n n or n .
 4
5

ti on a fte r we ha d esta blished th a t O s w a ld visited the S oviet

4
Emba ssy in M exico .
5

G a le no t e s sever a l insta n c es where the t e stimony o f FBI a ge n ts m a kes

the Bure a u look rid i culous a n d ta ints i t s public im a ge These i h

.

st a nces include :
One a gent t estied t h a t c onditi ons i n the D a ll as poli c e st a tion
a t the time o f dete ntion a n d i n t errog a tion of Os w a ld were not
t oo much unl i ke G r a nd C entr a l St a tion a t rush hour m a ybe

,

like Y a nke e St a dium du ri ng the Wo rld Se ri es ga mes It is

'

questi o n a ble w hether the a gent sh ould h a ve descr ibe d condi

tions in such a n e d i t or i a l i z i n g a n d a mboy a nt m a nner but -

r a ther shoul d ha ve in dic a ted conditions were crowded .

16

Mo re i m porta ntl y G a le s mem o r a ndum reve a l s a dichotom y between

,

the Bu re a u s public po si tion a n d wh a t Bure a u ofc i a ls rega rd e d a s

the t r uth :
T he Co mmission report indic a tes tha t we did n ot h a ve a stop
on Osw a ld s p a ssport with the Dep a rt m ent o f St a te a n d did

not kno w Osw a ld a p plied fo r a p a s spo rt in June 196 3 to ,

tra vel to Wes t ern E u rope a n coun tries S oviet Un i on Fi nla n d , ,

a n d Po l a nd This is a nother specic ex a mple o f ho w this c a s e

.

w a s imp r o p erly investiga ted The s a me perso nnel a r e r e s po n .

sible for t his ex a mple a s were previously criticized fo r n ot

using a ppropri a te te chniqu e s a n d m a king a more vi g orous
a n d thorough investig a tion t o determine with wh om Os w a ld ,

in conta ct o r whet her he ha d i n te lligence a ssi g nment The .

B u r e a u by le t t e r t o t he C om mi s s i on i n d i c a t e d t ha t t he fa c t s
d i d n ot w a r r a n t p l a c i n g a s t op on t he p as s p or t a s ou r i n v e s t i
i

a t i on d i s c l os e d n o e i d e n c e t ha t O s w a ld w a s a c t i n g u nd e r
g p

t he i ns t r u c t i on s or on be ha lf of a n y for e i gn G o ve r n m e n t or
or i ns t r u m e n t a li t y t he r e of I n s p e c t or f e e ls i t w a s pr op e r a t
.

t ha t t i m e t o t a k e t hi s

p u b li c

p os i t i on H ow e p e r , i t i s f e l t
.

t ha t w i t h O s w a ld s ba c k gr ou n d w e s hou ld ha v e ha d a s t o p

on hi s pa s s p or t , p a r t i c u la r ly s i n c e w e d i d n o t kn ow d e n i t e ly

w he t he r or n o t he ha d a n y i n t e lli ge n c e a s s i gn me n t s a t t ha t
4
t i me [ E m ph a sis a dded ]
.
7
.

Not surpri s ingly G a le sta te s in the observ a ti ons section of this

,

memora ndum :
We previ o usly took a dmini stra t ive ac tion a ga inst tho s e r e
sponsible for t he investiga tive sho rt c omings in this c a se some
of which were brought ou t by the Com m ission It is felt th a t .

it is a p propri a te a t this ti me t o consider further a dm inistr a

tive a ction a ga inst t hose prima rily c ulp a ble for the d erelie
tions in this c a se which h a ve n ow ha d the effe c t of
4
p u bl i c l y e m b a r r a s s i n
g the Bure a u [ Emph as is a dded ] . .
8

0
M em or a du m f ro m G a le t o Tolso
n n.
I bi d .

7
I bi d .

3
I bi d
 55

Aft er reviewing t he G a le memora ndum Al a n B elmont for w a rded ,

a one p a ge memora ndum t o Clyd e Tol s on on October 1 1

-
96 4Belmont ,
.

a rgue d th a t :

I think w e a r e m a king a t a ctica l error by t a king this dis

c i p l i n a r y a ction in t his c a s e a t this time The W a rren Com .

mi s sion rep ort ha s j ust been rele a se d It conta ins criticism of .

t he FBI We a r e currently t a king a ggressive s t ep s to ch a l

.

l e n ge the ndin gs of the W a rren Commission in so f a r a s they

pert a in to t he FBI It is m ost import a nt therefo re th a t we .
, ,

do not p rovide a f oo thold for our c ritics o r the gener a l public

t o serve upon to s a y in effect See the Commission is right

, , ,

M r H oover h as t a ken strong a ction a ga inst person n el i h

.

volved in this c a se a n d thus a dmits th a t the Bure a u w a s in

error 4 9
.

M r Hoo ver dis a gre ed with Belmont s obs erv a tions writing :
.

,

We were wrong The a dministr a tive a ction a pproved by me.

wi ll st a nd I do not intend t o p a lli a te a ctions whi c h h a ve

.

resulted in f orever des troying the Bure a u a s the t o p level i n

v e s t i ga t i v e org a niz a tion

.

By lett er d a ted Septembe r 30 196 4the Bure a u infor med the W hi t e , ,

Ho us e a n d Acting Attorney Gener a l K a tzenb a c h th a t the Commis

sion s report is se ri ously in a ccura t e i n sof a r a s its tre a tment of the FB I

is c once rned In a n O c t ober 1 196 4memor a ndum t o Clyde Tol so n

.
51
,
'
,

Al a n Belmont c onsidered whet h er a copy of this lette r should be se nt

to t he Wa rren Commission Belmont wrote : .

It is note d th a t this l e tter is a n indict ment of t he Commis

sion in t h a t we ch a rge th a t in the Commi s sion s a ppro a ch
,

inste a d of a dopting a re a listi c a n d obj ec tive a ttitude t he ,

Commissi on w a s more interested in a voiding p ossible c r i t i

c i s m Be a ri ng this in mind if we send a copy o f this letter t o
.
,

the C ommission now it wi l l prob a bly m a ke the letter public ,

together with a denite a nswer .

I suggest we m a y wa nt to w a it a few d a ys before we con

sider sending a copy of this letter to t he Commi ss ion Cer .

t a i n l y we owe n o co urte sy to t he C ommission .

52

After reviewing the O ct ober 1 196 4Be l mont mem ora ndum H oover , ,

wrote :
W e might a s well l a y down a n d l et a nybody a n d everyb ody
kick us a round a n d n ot d e fe n d n or r e t a li a t e .
53

9
M emor a du m fro m Bel mo t t o Tolso
n n n.
5
Hoover s h a d w r itt e o t e m emor a du m f ro m Bel mo t t o Tolso

n n n on n n n,

M r Tolso a lso d i s a g reed with M r Bel m o t I

. n a dde du m t o th e G a le . n . n an n

m e mor a du m Tolso w ro t e
n M os t o f th e a d mi i s t r a ti ve d i rec ti o s with respec t
n :

n n

t o t h e Secur ity I dex th e pro m p t su b mi ss i o o f repor t s t

n ,
d t th e O swa ld n . e c . an no

c a se per se ( M em or a du m f ro m G a le t o Tolso
.

n n,
1
L e tt er fro m Hoover t o Je k i s n n ,
a
M em or a du m f ro m Bel mo t t o Tolso
n n n,
Hoover s h a d w r itt e o t e

th e m e mor a du m f ro m Bel mo t t o Tolso
n n n on n n n,
 56

On
'

October 1 196 4a senior Bure a u ofci a l inst r ucted the FBI I n

, ,

spe c t or w ho ha d h a ndled the B ure a u s li a is o n with the Wa rren Com

,

missi on to telephoni c a lly c ont a ct Commission G ener a l Co unsel J Le e

, .

R a nkin a n d inform him th a t he did the B u r e a u a g re a t di s service a n d

h a d out M c C a r t hye d M c C a r t hy
- 4
A mem o ra nd u m d a te d October 2 5

196 4reects th a t this reques t w a s c a r ri ed o u t

.
,

On October 6 196 4 C a r t ha D De L oa c h forw a rded t o Assist a nt

.

, , .

Dire c tor John M ohr a memor a ndum c a pti oned Cri ticism o f the FB I

Following the Assas sin a t i on of the President in w hich he wrote : ,

The criticism concerning the FB I a n d its role in events sur

rounding the a ss a s sin a ti on o f President Ken n edy ra ises three
questions which merit c onsidera tion a t this ti m e .

( 1) Wh a t is the public im a ge of the FB I a t the present

time a r

Certa inly it c a nnot be deni ed th a t the public im a ge of the

,

FBI ha s b e en a ffected i n cert a in a re a s by the criticism m a de of

the Bure a u a n d its role in the events t a king pl a c e p ri or
a ss a ssin a tion of the Pr e sident It is be l ieved this situ a tion .

re a ched one sta ge during the d a ys immedi a te l y following this

event a n d w as clim a xed by D a ll a s Chief of P oli c e Curry s

sta tements whi ch left the implic a tion this B ure a u w a s serious
ly dere l ict in disch a rging its r e sponsibilities a s a n in t elligence
a gency .

The second st a ge the most a cute followed the issu a n c e of

, ,

the W a rren R eport .

While there is a dmitted l y no a bsolu t e w a y t o a ssess a publi c

im a ge it is believed the im a ge of the FB I improved stea dily
,

since the week following the a ssa ssin a tio n a n d it improved ,

imme a sura bly up u n ti l the relea s e of the Wa rren R eport At .

the time we suffered a rough setb a ck Following the rele a s e .

of the Direct or s testimony we h a ve been well on the ro a d

,

b a ck to good prestige There is every i n dic a tion this improve

.

ment will c on tinue if we follow ou r current progr a m rega rd

ing this situ a tion .

( 2 ) W h a t h a s been done to co unter a ct this c riticism o f

'

the FB I ?
Immedi a te ly following the a ss a ssin a tion we undertook a ,

progr a m des ign ed to elimin a te the misunderst a ndi n g a s to

the st a tutory responsibilities of the Secret Service a n d the
FBI whi c h existe d a mong the u n info rm ed Every a p
p r op r i a t e medium such a s the news medi a r a di o scripts , ,

FB I t ours correspondence speeches a n d police tr a i ning w a s

, ,

u sed to cle a r the a i r concerning our responsibility .

F or the m ore educ a ted group those who were not n e c e s ,

s a r i ly bi a sed a n d who were a w a re o f the st a tutory a uthority

,

of the FBI we furnished full expl a n a tions for ou r a ctions

prior to the a ss a ss in a tion with respect to Lee H a rvey Osw a ld .

5"
M e m or a du m f ro m R ose t o Bel mo t
n n n ,

T h e FBI I spect or could t rec a ll th e i de tity o f th e Bure a u ofc i a l wh o

n no n in
s t ruc t ed h i m t o ma ke th e ph o e c a ll ( S t I t erv i ew o f FBI I spect or
n . a n n ,
 58

Files on this ph a se of the CIA inv e stiga tion reec t the Soviet
orient a tion o f the i nvestiga tion The CIA st a ff exh a ustively a n a lyzed
.

the s i gn ic a nce of Osw a ld s a c t ivities in the Soviet Union but there

,

is no corresponding C I A a n a lysis of the sig n ica nce of Osw a ld s con

t a cts with pr o C a stro a n d a nti C a st r o g roup s in the United St a tes

- -

During the Wa rren C om mission investig a tion t he Commission ,

worked dire c t ly with desig n a ted CIA ofci a ls The Commi ssion st a ff .

w a s given a cc e ss to CIA les o n the a ss a ssin a t i on i n cluding m a teri a l ,

obt a ined from sensitive sourc es a n d methods .

However the Wa rren C ommission st a ff did n ot work directly with

,

a nyone from SAS Although the C I A centered i t s work on t he as s as

.

s i n a t i on in i t s Counteri n telligence Division the Ch ief o f SAS ,

Co rm t e r i n t e ll i g e n c e testied th a t the SAS h a d no dir ect r ole in the

investiga tion of the a ss a ssin a tion .

60

SAS w a s n ot completely removed from investig a tive work on the

a ss a ssin a tion T h e C oun terintelligence St a ff o cc a si o na lly reques t ed a
.

n a me check o r simi l a r infor m a tion fro m SAS but there is n o eviden c e ,

w h a tsoever th a t SAS w a s a sked o r ever vo l unte ered t o a n a lyze

Osw a ld s cont a ct s wi t h C ub a n groups The Chief of SAS / CI testied

.

he could r ec a ll n o such a n a lyses .

61

M oreover SAS c a p a b ilities to obt a in inform a tion fro m Cub a a n d

,
-

fro m Cub a n exiles were not fully utilized The C I A J M WA V E Chief

,
.

of St a tion in Fl orid a w a s a sked wh a t his st a ti on s c a p a bi lity in this -

reg a rd w a s :
Well in rela tionship to C ub a ns living in the United S t a tes
, ,

I would s a y th a t our c a p a bility w a s q uite good N ow i f you .

a r e referring to our c a pa bility t o con d uct a n investig a ti o n in .

Cub a I would ha ve to s a y it w a s limite d

,
.
62

He summ a rized his st a tion s p a rt icip a tion in the investiga tion in the

follo w ing testimony :

W e felt th a t t he n a ture o f our c a p a bility w as to simply r e
s pon d to wh a t we were a ble to obt a in in the M i a mi a re a a n d ,

from our sources in a p as sive w a y bec a use this w a s a n i nv e s ,

t i ga t i on th a t w a s bein g cond u c ted in the United St a tes with

the prim a ry responsibility with a gen c ies other th a n CIA .

We ha d n o re a son a t the pa rt icul a r time to feel th a t there

w as a n y kind o f a c a se h a rd inform a tion th a t the C u b a ns
, ,

we re behind t he a ss a s sin a tion But we h a d no persu a si on

tha t this w a s being mounted by the Cub a ns a t tha t p a rticul a r

In d eed a ll the evidence suggests th a t the CIA investiga tion into a n y

Cub a n conne cti on whether pro C a stro or a nti C a stro w a s p a ssive in
,
- -

n a ture The S p eci a l A ffa irs Sta ff did conduct n a me tra ces on the
.

request o f t he C I A invest iga tors The JM W A V E st a tion p a s sed a long

.

a n y inform a tion its intell i gen ce network collecte d on the a s s a ssi n a tion .

S A S did interrog a te o n e defect or fro m Cub a n intelligence a bout his

0
C hi e f S A S / OI t es ti mo y
, n , p9 . .

1
C hi e f S A S / OI t es ti mo y
, n , pp 912 . .

2 '
C hi e f J M WA V E t es ti mo y
'
n 6 p 13
14
. .
, , ,
6
I bi d , .
 59

knowledge of Cu b a n involvement but there is no evidence th a t the ,

CIA m a de a n y a frm a tive effort to c oll e ct such inform a tion Indeed .

,

A M LASH himself ha d a ccess to high government ofci a ls in Cub a He .

w a s never a sked a bo ut the a s sa ssin a tion of President Kenn edy in meet

in gs with the CIA i n 196 4a n d 196 5 .

Some CIA witnesses before the S elect Co m mi ttee h a ve a rgued th a t

a n intensive investig a tion into Cub a n involvement w a s not w a rr a nted

by the f a cts known a t the time a n d in a n y event the FB I h a d prim a ry

,

responsibility for the in vestig a t i on Yet in view of Osw a ld s pr e o c c u .

p a tiou w ith C u b a a n d his visit t o M exi c o City ostensibly to obt a in

,

vis a s t o Cub a a n d the Sovi e t Union it would a ppe a r th a t potenti a l ,

involvement with pr o C a stro or a nti C a stro groups should h a ve bee n

- -

investiga ted .

E ven if CIA investig a tors did n ot know t h at t h e CIA w a s plotting

to ki l l C a stro they c ert a i n l y did k now th a t t h e Agency ha d been op
,

c r a ting a m a ssive cover t oper a tion a g a inst Cub a since 1 96 0 The con .

s pi r a t ori a l a tmosphere o f violenc e which developed over the c ourse of

three ye a rs o f CIA a n d exile group oper a tions should h a ve led CIA ,

investig a tors t o a s k whether Lee Ha rvey Osw a ld a n d Ja ck R uby ,

who were known to h a ve a t l e a st touched the fringes o f the Cub a n

community w ere inuence d by th a t a tmosphere Simil a rly th a t a rgu .

ments th a t the CIA domestic j urisdiction w a s limited belie the fa ct

CIA Cub a n opera tions h a d cre a ted a n enormous d ome s t i c a pp a ra tus ,

which t he Agency used both to ga the r intelligence dom e s tic a lly a n d t o

r u n oper a tions a g a inst C ub a .

CIA re cords rel a ting to its investiga tion of Presiden t Kennedy s

a ss a ss in a tion including docu m ent s a cquired a fter issu a n ce of the

,

Wa rren Commi ssi on R eport a r e cont a ined i n a pproxim a tely 57 le

,

fo l ders The Sel e ct Committee st a ff ha s reviewed those re cords a n d

.

t a ken testimony from key g ures in the CIA investiga tion All of the .

evidence reviewed by the Committe e suggests th a t these inv e stiga tors

conducted a thor o ugh profe s sion a l inv e stiga tion a n d a n a lysis of the
,

inform a ti on they ha d So fa r a s c a n be determined the CIA furnished

.
,

the W a rren Com mission di rectly or through the FB I a ll sign ic a nt , ,

inform a tion CIA inv e stiga tors h a d except a s othe r wise noted in this ,

report .

For ex a m pl e one of the CIA m a il surveil l a nce oper a tions did a o

,

q uire a t le a st some of Osw a l d s correspondence from the Soviet Union

.

Despit e the f a ct th a t this oper a tion w a s of the highest sensitivi t y a t

th a t time the CIA did furnish the FB I with the inform a tion t he
,

Agency h a d a cquired Simil a rl y the C I A interroga ted a former

.
65
,

KGB ofcer who ha d a c c ess to Osw a ld s KGB dossier D e spite the

.

extra ordin a ry sensitivity of this defecto r the C IA furnished the W a r ,

ren Commission the deta ils of his know l edge a n d a n a ssessment of his
reli a bi l i t y .

The CIA investiga tion of Cub a n m a tters for the Wa rre n C ommis
sion w a s n ot comp a r a ble t o i t s effort in the Soviet a re a The CIA st a ff .

for Cub a n a ffa irs w as not in dire c t cont a c t wi th the Wa rren Commis
5
C I A L e tt er t o R ocke feller Co mm i ss i o n / 75 . .

T h e A g en cy re g ul a rl y suppl i ed i n for m a ti o n g a th ered b y thi s ma i l su r vei l l a n ce

pro g r a m t o t h e Bure a u See th e Selec t Co mm itt ee s t a ff repor t Do mes ti c C I A
. ,

a n d F B I M a i l O pe n i n g

.
 60

sion a n d the cou n t erin t elligence chief of th a t sta ff never met with the
,

Commission or its sta ff .

66

Ap p a rently neith e r the Wa rren Commission a s a b od v nor its sta ff

,

w a s g iven det a ils of CIA 0 1 1w opera ti o ns Althou g h C I A m a npower

in Florid a fa r surp a ss ed the FBI the Wa rren Commissio n a n d i t s ,

s t a ff relied com p let ely o n the FBI for rep ort s a bo ut the Cub a n exi le
c omm u n i t v in Flo r id a Appa rently un a w a re of the f a ct th a t the C IA
.
,

m a int a ined a size a ble book on a ll Cub a n exile orga niz a tions th eir .

le a de r ship a n d a ctivities the W a rren Commi s sion a sked the FBI t o

, ,

p rovide i n form a t i on on a l l such org a n i z a tions The Commissi o n w as .

informed by t he FB I th a t t he CIA could p rovide pertinent inf orm a

tion on c ert a in exile org a niz a tio ns but there is no evidence th a t the

,

W a rren Commission either a sked t he C IA a bout th a t i n te rest o r

pursued the m a tter in a n y w a y wi th the CIA There would seem t o .
7

ha ve be en some obl i g a ti on for the C I A to disclos e the genera l n a ture

of its oper a tion s which might a ffect the Commission s investiga tion
.

In a n y event t h e Wa rren C ommi s sion did not p ursue with the CIA
,

the ques tions of Osw a ld s pro C as tro a n d a nti C a stro c o nta cts Of the
- -
.

thi rty four requests t o the CIA from the W a rren Commission on le
-

a t the Ar chives o f t h e Uni t e d Sta tes fteen de a l wi th the Soviet Uni o n ,

or with O sw a ld s st a y in the Soviet Union but o n lv on e re q u e sts i n

,

fo rm a tion on a Cub a n m a tter Th a t is a req uest fo r the CIA to furnish .

inform a tion a bout J a ck R u by s a llege d visit t o Cub a in 1959

.

0 Un pu r su e d Le a d s
.

In the course of its inv e stiga tion the Select C ommittee noted sev .

era l inst a n c es w here det a iled knowl edge of the intelligen c e a gencies

opera tions with respect to Cub a n m a tters would h a ve been of a ssist

a nce to the W a rren C ommission in its i n vestig a tion It i s p ossible th a t .

the Wa rren Commission a n d its st a ff e i ther re c eived briengs on

Cub a n ope r a tions or were told inform a ll y a bout these oper a tions .

However the Committee ha s ne c ess a rily relied on the do c ume n t a ry

,

record to determ ine w hether the Wa rren Co m m ission or its st a ff w a s

a w a re of speci c det a ils The fo llowin g discu s sion is b a sed on a com
.

p a ri son of the d ocuments l oc a ted in CIA les with those i n Wa rr en

Com mi s sion les .

Given t he thorough investig a tion the CIA a n d the FB I conducted

of most of the le a ds they received their f a ilure t o follow signic a nt ,

le a ds in the Cub a n a re a is surprising These le a ds r a ise signic a nt .

questions a n d there is no evi dence the Wa rren Commission st a ff w a s

,

ever provide d inform a tion which would h a ve a llowe d it to pursue the

le a d s .

On December 1 1963 CIA received inform a tion th a t a November 22

, ,

Cub a n a a irlines ight from M exico City to Cub a w a s del a yed some
f i ve hours from p ,m to p m E S T a w a iting a n u n. .
,
i dentied p a ssenger This unidentied p a ssenger a rrived a t the a i r
.
68

ef S A S / C I
C hi , pp 7 8
. .
, .

Th e i dex o f Wa rre C o mmi ss i o docu me t s co t a i

7
n n such reques t n n n n no .

C a b le f ro m CIA H e a d qu a t e s t o M ex i o St at i o
3
r r c n,
T h e CIA a lso rece i ved high l y rel i a b le i f orm a ti o th a t ma y o f th e Cu b a n n n n
d i plo ma ti c perso el i M ex i co C ity h a d g o e t o th e a i rpor t a t a b ou t thi s ti m e
nn n n
on N ovemb er 22 A g a i t h ere i s
. ev i de ce C I A ch ecked
n, thi s i for ma ti on
no n on n .
 61

por t in a twin en gined a ircr a ft a t 10 : 30 p m a n d b oa r d e d the Cub a n a

-
.

a ir l ines pla ne without p a ssing through custo ms where he would h a ve ,

needed to identify himsel f by displ a ying a p a ssport The individu a l .

tr a velled t o Cub a in the c oc kpit of the Cub a n a a irlines pl a ne t hus ,

a ga in a voiding iden t ic a tion by the p a ssengers

6 9
.

In response to a Sel e c t Co mmittee r equest of J a nu a r y 9 1976 the , ,

CIA wrote it h a d no informa tion indica ting th a t a foll ow u p investi -

ga t i on w a s conducted to determine the identity of the p a ssenger a n d

h a d no further info r m a tion on t he p a s senger a n d no e x pl a n a tion for ,

w hy a follow u p investig a tion w a s not conducted

-
70
.

In e a rly December 196 3 even more intrigu ing inform a tion w a s r e ,

c e i v e d by the CIA a n d p a ss ed a lmost im m edi a t ely t o FBI In the c a s e

,
.

of t he Cub a n Ameri c a n a fo l low u p investiga tion w a s conducted

-

,
-
.

A l though the inform a tion a p pe a red t o rel a te t o the President s a ss a s

s i n a t i on a n d one source a lleged the Cub a n Ame r ic a n w a s involved -

in the a ss a ssin a tion the follow u p inves tiga tion w a s not c onducted a s
,
-

p a rt of the F BI s work for the Wa rren C ommission

.

The C I A le a rned t h a t this Cub a n Ameri ca n crosse d the border f r om

'
-

Tex as into M exico on November a n d th a t the border h a d be en

closed by M exic a n a ut horities immedi a te ly a fter the a ss a ssin a tion a n d

reopen e d on November The Cuba n Ame r ic a n a rri ved in M exico
City on November 2 5 He sta yed in a hotel until the evening o f No
.
:

v e mb e r 27 when he dep a rt e d on a l a te evening r egul a r l y sche d ule d

,

Cub a n a a irlines ight to H a v a n a using a Cub a n courte sy v is a a n d ,

a n expired U S p a ssport He w a s the only p a ss enger on th a t ight

. . .
,

which ha d a crew of nine .

73

In M a rch 196 4 the CIA re c eived a re p ort from a source which

,

a lleged the C u b a n Ameri c a n h a d received his permit t o enter M exico

-

on November 20 in Ta mp a Florid a The s a me source a lso s a i d the

4
, .
7

Cuba n Ameri c a n w a s somehow involved in the a ss a ssin a tion

-

.
75

Ther e is no indica tion th a t CIA followed u p o n this report ex c ept -

to a s k a Cub a n defe c tor a bout hi s knowledge of the Cuba n Americ a n s -

a c tivities
76
.

The FB I d id investiga te this individu a l a fter receiving the C IA

report of hi s unusu a l tr a vel Ho wever by the time the W a rren R ep o rt .
,

w a s pub l ished the Cub a n Americ a n w a s still residing in Cub a a n d

,
-

therefore outside F BI s j urisdiction Befo re the FBI termin a ted the

.

c a se it ha d deve l oped the following confusing a n d incom ple t e

,

inform a tion .

The Cub a n America n a pplied for a U S p a ssport a t the U S Con

-
. . . .

sul Oi c e in Ha v a n a i n June In July 196 0 he w a s issued a p a s s ,

p ort but it w a s only v a lid unti l J a nu a ry 196 3 when he wou l d become

, ,
23 ye a rs old .
78

C I A c a b le from He a dqu a r t ers t o M ex i co S t a ti o

9
n,
L e tt er f rom CI A t o Selec t Co mmitt ee
7
,

C I A c a b l e f ro m M ex i co S t a ti o t o He a dqu a r t ers
7
n ,

C I A a b le f ro m M ex i co S t a ti o t o He a dqu a r t ers
7"
c n ,

C I A c a b le f ro m M ex i co S t a ti o t o He a dqu a r t ers
7"
n ,

c ab le f rom M ex i co S t a ti o t o He a dqu a r t ers n ,

3M

e m or a du m f ro
n m C I A a a l y s t t o Hel m s a tt a ch me t
n , n .

M e mor a du m f r m W a shi gt o F i eld Ofce t o FBI He a dqu a rters

7
n o n n ,

Me mo r a du m fro m W a s h i ng t o n Fi e l d O f c e t o F B I He a dqu a r t ers

7
n ,
 62

In M a y 196 2 the C ub a n Am e r ica n req u e st e d th a t Cub a n a utho r ities

-

permit him to retu r n t o Cuba The Cub a n Ameri ca n s c ousin s a id the

.
80 -

Cuba n Ameri c a n a ppa rently did tra vel to Cuba sometime a fter M a y
-

196 2 a n d spent sever a l wee k s there

,
In A u gust 1962 the Cub a n .
81
,

Americ a n m a rried a n Americ a n wom a n They lived in Key West until .

June 196 3 wh e n they move d t o T a m p a In Au gust 1963 his wife

, .
,

moved b a ck to Key Wes t bec a use of m a rit a l problems His wife a n d .

others cha ra cterized the Cub a n Ameri c a n a s pr o C a stro - -

.
82

T he Cub a n Ame r ic a n a llege dly told FB I sources th a t he h a d

-

origin a lly left Cub a t o eva de C ub a n milit a ry service Neverthele s s .

,

some sources told t he FB I th a t the Cu b a n Americ a n ha d r eturned t o -

Cub a in 1963 bec a use he fe a re d being dra fte d in the Unit e d S t a t es ,

while others a ttributed his return to his worry a bout his p a rents or
a bout his o w n he a lth

.

It w as a l s o repo rte d to the FB I th a t the Cuba n Ame r ic a n ha d a -

bro t her in the Cuba n mili ta r y who w a s studying in the S oviet Union 4
.
8

On November 17 196 3 a ccording to severa l sour c es the Cuba n

, , ,

Ameri c a n w a s a t a get toget her a t the home of a member of the T a mp a

Ch a pter of the F a ir P l a y for Cub a Com m ittee w here colo r slides of ,

Cuba were shown .

There w a s some t a lk a bo ut t he C u ba n Americ a n h a ving be en -

a t the res idenc e for some time w a iting for a telephone c a ll

from Cuba which w as very importa nt It w a s understo od th a t .

i t a l l d e p ended on hi s getting the go a he a d order for him to

le a ve the Un i t e d St a tes He indic a ted he ha d been refused .

tra ve l b a ck to his n a tive Cub a [

.
85

O n November 20 196 3 t he C ub a n Americ a n obt a ined a M exic a n

'
-

, ,

tourist c a rd a t the Honora ry Consul a te of M exi c o in T a mp a a n d on

November 2 3 cro s sed the bo rder into M exi c o a t Nuevo L a redo Since .
86

the Cub a n Americ a n w as a pp a rently not listed a s the driver of a n y

-

vehicle crossing the border th a t d a y the F BI concluded he crossed in ,

a priv a tely owned a utomobile owned by a nother person

87
.

At a regul a r monthly meeting of the T a mp a F P C C in De c embe r

196 3 a wom a n told the group t h a t she ha d te le phoned Cu ba a t 5 : 00
,

a m a n d w as inform e d th a t the Cub a n Americ a n h a d a rrived there

.
-

s a fely v i a Tex as a n d M exico An other source rep orted th a t a s o f 88

September 196 4 the Cub a n America n w a s not working in Cub a but

.

spent a gre a t de a l of time pl a ying dominoes .

89

The preceding w as the extent of the FB I a n d the CIA investiga

tion So fa r a s c a n be det ermin e d neither the FBI nor the CIA told
.
90
,

8
M emor a du m fro m FBI He a dqu a r t ers t o M i a m i F i eld O f ce
n ,
8
M emor a du m f ro m T a mp a F i eld Ofce t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers
n ,
3
M emor a du m f ro m T a mp a F i eld O f ce t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers
n ,
83
M em or a du m f ro m T a m pa F i eld O fce t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers
n ,
8
M em or a du m f ro m T a m p a F i eld Ofce t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers
n ,
85
M em or a du m f ro m T a m p a Fi eld O ffi ce t o FBI He a dqu a rt ers
n P res i ,

de t Ke ed y ma de sever a l pu b l i c a ppe a ra ces i T a m p a N ovem b er 18

n nn n n on .

8"
M emor a du m f rom M ex i co F i eld Ofce t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers
n ,
8
M em or a du m fro m FBI He a dqu a r t ers t o M ex i co F i eld O i
n ce ,
88
M e mor a du m from T a m p a F i eld Ofce t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers
n ,
39
M emor a du m fro m T a m p a F i eld O i t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers
n ce ,
9
A CIA em plo y ee d i d ch eck th e U S P a sspor t O i le thi s i d i v i du a l i
. . ce s

on n n
e a rl y Decemb er 1963 a ft er th e M ex i co S t a ti o c a b led a reques t f or a c h eck I n . n

Ma y 1964 a de fec t or f rom Cu b a i t el l ig e ce wa s a sked i f h e k n ew a ythi g

,

, n n n n n
ab ou t t h i s i n d i v i du a l n d h e respo n ded i th e e g a ti ve
a n n .
 63

the Wa rren Com m i s sion a bout the Cub a n Americ a n s stra nge tra vel -

.

Wa rren Commission les cont a in a n excerpt of the FBI check on the

Cub a n A m erica n a t the P a ssport O ffi ce but nothing else In respo n d
-

, .

i n g t o the Commission s request for inform a tion on the M i a mi c h a pter

of t he F P CC FB I report ed th a t the T a m p a c h a pter ha d 16 members

,

in 196 1a n d w a s a c tive in M a y 1963 The FBI respon s e did not discuss .

the Cuba n Americ a n or the Nov e mber a n d December 196 3 meetings

-
.
91

M oreover a p ossible c o n n e c tion between Osw a ld a n d the T a m p a

,

ch a pt er o f FP CC h a d a lre a dy been i ndic a ted Osw a l d a ppl i ed to V T . . .

Le e n a tio n a l president of the F P C C for a cha rter for a New Or l e a ns

, ,

ch a p t er Lee wrote Osw a ld on M a y 29 196 3 suggesting Osw a ld get in

.
, ,

t ouch with the T a m p a c h a p t er whi c h Lee ha d perso n a lly orga nized ,

9

Thus the suspicious tr a ve l of this individu a l coupled with the possi

,

b i l i t y th a t Osw a ld ha d cont a ct ed the T a mp a ch a pter cert a i nly sh o uld

h a ve prompted a fa r m ore thorough a n d timely inves t iga tion th a n the
FB I conducted a n d the results should h a ve been volunteered to the
Wa rren Co m missio n reg a rdless of i t s f a ilure to req uest such info r m a
,

tion .

In the two preceding c a ses the Wa rren Commission st a ff w a s a p

p a r e n t l y n o t furnished with W h a t now see m s to be signi c a nt inform a
t i o n rel a ting to possible Cub a n involvement In other inst a nces the .
,

Wa rren Commission sta ff levied requirements on the FB I for i n for

m a tion on pro C a s tro a n d a nti C a stro groups a p p a re n tly una w a re
- -

th a t other a gencies coul d m a ke a signi c a nt contribution to the Com

mi s sion s work
.

On M a rc h 26 196 4 J Lee R a nki n t he Ge n era l Counsel of the

, , . ,

Wa rren C om m ission wrote Director Hoover requ e sting t he F B I to ,

furni s h the Com m ission with info rm a tion on cert a in pro C a stro a n d -

a nti C a stro
-
orga niz a tions w hich were then a ctive in the Un ite d
St a tes In a letter of M a y 20 196 4 R a nkin a ga in wrote Hoover :
.
93
, ,

As a result of my letter of M a rch 2 6 196 4with res pect t o , ,

b a ckground m a teri a ls on the F a ir Pl a y for Cub a Committee

a n d certa in other s u bversive gr o u ps it w a s a greed th a t your ,

Agency would a w a it fu r ther instructions from this

Commi s sion .

The Commission would n ow a ppreci a te your providing t he

following inform a t ion on the F a ir Pl a y for C ub a Committee ,

JI I R E D RE Alph a 6 6 a n d 30t h of November
,

,

,
4
M ovement .
9

R a nkin s l e tter went on to det a il the n a tur e of the requeste d

inform a tion :
1 a ll reports from D a ll a s a n d Fort Wort h in 196 3 on a ctive mem
.

b ers of the groups ;

2 summ a r ies of the groups a ctivities in Tex a s in 196 3; a n d
.

3 a genera l summ a ry of the a ctivities of such g roups o utside Tex a s

.

in 196 3 wi t h p a r ticul a r referen ce to a ctivities i n c erta i n p a rts of t he ,

c ountry .
95

91
M e m r a du m f ro m Ho ver t Ra ki
o n o o n n,
W a rre C o m m i ss i o R epor t V ol X X pp 5 145 16
9
n n -

4
. .
, , .

9"
M em or a du m f ro m Ra k i t o Hoover
n n n , 6 .

5
M em or a du m f rom Ra k i t o Hoover
n n n ,

I bi d .
 64

FB I Director Hoo ver responded t o this request on June 11 196 4 ,

En c losed with this letter were 15 reports on n a med individu a ls a n d 4

.

6
memora nd a on the identi ed orga niz a tions All 4 6 m emor a nd a were .
96

prep a red by FB I eld ofces in v a ri ous cities a n d a ll were d a ted a fter

M a y 20 , In o ther words it a ppea rs th a t FB I He a dqu a rters ,

simply direct ed its e ld 0 i c e s in ide n tied c ities to prep a re the

responses The individu a l r esponsible for prep a ring this re sponse a t
.

FB I He a dqu a rters ha s n ot bee n question e d by the Select Commi tt e e

on t his m a tt er However his supe rior w a s a sked whether he thought
.

the FB I resp onse provided a f a ir a n d a c cur a te picture of the i n for

m a tion FB I held on thes e groups .

Q Would you h a ve received th a t c orresp ondence [ of June

.

11 196 4
, ] a n d be a sked whether it w a s a n a cc ur a te or f a ir por
t r a ya l of these [ Cub a n ] groups ?
A No bec a use this corresponden c e would h a ve been the r e
.
,

s u lt s of inv e s t ig a tions we ha d c onduc t e d regul a r l y submitted ,

by inv e s tiga tive reports or by lette rhea d m emos a n d there ,

would be no need for me t o re v iew th a t a n d s a y this w a s a f a ir

po rt r a y a l of the investiga ti on .
98

In a ddition H o over s lett er directe d the Commission s a ttenti o n t o

,

the f a c t th a t the CIA a n d the Dep a rtment of the Army m a y h a ve

pertinent info rm a tion c once r ning th e s e orga niz a tions O n the copy .
99

of the let t er not pro v ided the Wa rren Comm ission but kept in FB I ,

les there i s a note whi c h sta t e s th a t the CIA a n d the Dep a rtment of
,

the Arm y in fa ct ha d opera ti on a l i n t e rests in identied orga niz a

tions a n d c erta in individu a ls inv olved wi t h th e se groups This FB I .

10 0

letter a le r te d the Wa rren Co m mission t o the f a ct th a t the Army a n d

CIA might provide pertinent inform a t i on on th e se gr oups a n d indi

v i d u a ls ,
but it did n ot dis c lose the fa c t th a t those other t w o a g encies
a c tu a lly ha d a n opera tion a l interest th a t those a gencies might

,

be using the groups or i n dividu a ls for inte lligen ce collection or in

c overt opera ti ons The Sel e ct Committee w a s un a ble to lo c a t e a n y doc u
.

menta ry evid ence th a t the Commissi o n pursued this m a tter wi t h either

the CIA or the Army .

At this ti m e the C IA w as in fa ct funding a n d spon soring the a c t i v i

ties o f s ever a l a nti C as tro groups Al t h o ugh most CIA cont a c ts with
-
.
1

thes e groups in the F a ll of 196 3 were for g a thering intelligen ce a n d

issuing pro p a ga nd a p a r a milit a ry o per a tions of t hese groups m a y
,

h a ve received Agency support .

The Dep a rt ment o f the Army w a s in c onta ct with the members a n d

le a dership on on e group App a rently the Arm y a ttempted t o use i n
.
,

d i v i d u a l s a ss ocia ted w ith the g roup to colle c t intelligence on Cub a .

10 2

Wh ether pursuing these connections to the C IA a n d the Army would

ha ve a ffecte d the W a rren Commission s investiga tion is d i i c u lt to

M emor a du m f rom Hoover t o Ra k i

n with a tt a ch me tn n, n .

I bi d
9
Secti o C hi ef
n p 45
, . .

9"
M emor a du m f rom Hoover t o Ra k i
n with a tt a ch m e t
n n, n .

10"
M em or a du m f ro m Hoover t o Ra k i
n n n,
M em or a du m f ro m Hoover t o Ra k i
n n n,
L e tt er fr o m De p a rt me t f De f e se t o Selec t Co mmitt ee
n o n ,
 66

The CIA specic a lly w a nted the F P C C s forei gn m a iling list a n d

other d ocuments O n Septe mber 2 6 196 3 FB I Hea dqu a rters wrote

.
111
, ,

i t s New York o ffice a bout the prop osed CIA oper a tion concluding : ,

New York should promptly a dvi s e whether the m a te ri a l r e

quested by CIA is a v a il a ble or obta i n a ble be a ring in mind t he ,

con denti a l n a ture a n d purpose of C I A s request If a v a il a ble

.
,

it should be furni shed by cover lett er with enclosures suit a ble

for dissemin a tion to CIA by li a ison 11
.
2

At the bottom of the He a dqu a rters copy of this directive is the not e :
We h a ve in the p as t utilized techniques with re spect t o
coun t ering a cti vities of mentioned orga niz a tion in the U S . .

During Dece mbe r 196 1 New York prep a red a n a n onymous

,

le a et w hich w a s m a iled t o selected F P CC members through

out the cou n try for purpose of disrupting F P CC a n d c a using
split between F P CC a n d i t s S oc i a lis t Workers P a rty ( S W P )
s upporters whi ch te chnique w a s very effec t ive Also during
,
.

M a y 196 1 a eld survey w as completed wher ein a v a il a ble

,

public s ource d a ta of a dverse n a ture r e a g r d i n g officers a n d

le a ders o f F P C C w as com piled a n d furnished M r De L oa c h .

for use in cont a cting his sources .

It is not ed with res pect to present sta tus o f FP CC during

,

Ju l y a n d August 196 3 severa l New York sources report ed

, ,

FP C C w a s on the rop e s for l a ck o f fu n ds a n d in d a n ger of

being t a ken over by Progr e s sive L a bor members .

113

By A i r t e l of Oct ober 4196 3 the New York offi c e re sponded t o the

, ,

He a dqu a rt ers directive sa ying : The NYO pl a ns to conta ct a n ( i n

form a nt ) on a bout 6 3 a n d it is believed p ossible th a t this sour c e

4
will be a ble t o furn ish both of the a b o ve mentioned item s .
11

By A i r t e l of October 28 196 3 the New York O ffi ce report ed to

, ,

He a dqu a rters
'
O n 10 / 27/ 6 3 [ the inform a nt ] w a s cont a c te d by a gents of
,

the New York office This source furnished a pproxim a tely 100
.

photogra phs of d a t a pe r t a i ning to the curren t n a nces a n d

genera l a ctivities of the FP CC In a ddition the s ource fur .
,

n i s he d other document s a n d informa tion reg a rding the

FP CC m a iling lis t Aft er proc essing the photogr a phs
. ,

prompt disse min a tio n will be a ffected a n d the m a te r i a l of

interest to CIA per referenc ed Bure a u letter w ill be i mm e d i
a tel y forw a rded t o the Bure a u

.

The FB I doc uments indic a te processi n g of the 100 photo

gr a phs w a s not completed be fore the a s s a ssin a tion The New .

York offic e bega n a n exped ited review of the m a te ri a l s o ob -

t a i n e d on the a fter n oo n of t h e a s s a ssi n a tion to determine

whether it con t a ined a nything a bout Osw a l d This w a s men
t i on e d in a Novembe r 2 3 me m
.

ora ndum to Willi a m Sulliv a n .

m I bi d
1

1
13
M em or a du m f ro m FBI He a dqu a r t ers t o N ew Y ork F i eld O ffice
n .

I bi d
M emor a du m f ro m N ew Y ork F i eld Ofce t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers
.

11
n ,
 67

T ha t
memor a ndum a lso reported the New York office s e x pe

dited re v iew uncovered a letter Osw a ld h a d written Ted Le e

a b out Osw a l d s F P CC a c tivities in New Orle a ns
115
.

By letter of Novembe r 27 the New York o ffice wrote He a d

qu a rters :
On 6 3 [ the info r m a nt ] furni shed the a bove m a teri a l
,

to a gents of the NYO En c losed for Bure a u a r e s ui t a ble for .

diss emin a t ion d a ted a n d c a pti oned a s a bo ve cont a ining i h

, ,

form a tion furni shed by [ inform a nt ] .

116

Encl ose d with this let t er w a s a c opy o f the foreign m a i l ing li s t of

F P CC as of October 11 7

It shoul d be no ted th a t there is no re a son t o be l ieve th a t a n y of this

FBI or CIA a ctivity ha d a n y direct co nnection with Osw a ld T he .

CIA cou l d not h a ve received the inform a tion it requested the FB I t o

obt a in until a fter the as s a ssin a tion so there is no re a son to think the ,

CIA prop a ga nd a progra m w a s underw a y before the a ss a ssin a tion .

Al t hough the FBI li a ison w a s told by the CIA th a t a n y a ction the

CIA took a ga inst the F P C C woul d be cle a re d rst w ith FB I E u 11 '
,
8

re a u documents do n ot indic a te a n y request for such cle a r a n c e .

Kn ow le d ge o f P lot s t o A ss a s s i n a t e Cas t r o
The Wa rren Co mm ission w a s con c erned with the genera l subj ect
of pol i tic a l a ssa s sin a tion F o r ex a mple the C ommission requested i h .
,

form a tion from the St a te Dep a rtment on a lleged a ttempts a t p oliti 9

c a l a s s a ss in a tion i n other co untries However none o f th e se r e q uests .

,

involved the plots conce ived by the CIA ; a n d the W a rren Commission
did n ot a s k if the United S t a tes gover nment h a d sponsored a ss a ssin a
tion a ttemp ts .

With the exception of Allen Du l les it is unlikely th a t a nyone on ,

the Wa rren Commission knew of CIA a ss a ssin a tion efforts Former .

S en a tor John S h erm a n Cooper a member o f the Commission a dvised , ,

the S elect Co mmittee tha t the sub j ect never c a me up in the C om

mi s sion s de l ibe ra tions Lee R a nkin Chief Coun s el for the Wa rren
1
.
20
,

M emor a du m f ro m N ew Y ork F i eld O fce t o FBI He a dqu a r ters

15
n ,

A cop y o f wh a t prob a b l y i s th e s a m e le tt er wa s t ur ed over t th e W a rre C m n o n o

mi ss i o b y Ted Le
n W a e Co mmi ss i o les t th e Archi ves co t a i ed i f
e .

n n a n n n or
ma ti o th a t m y h a v e co me f ro m th ese ph o t o g r a ph s o f docu m e t s However
n a n .
,

W a rre Co mm i ss i o les co t a i
n re fere ce t o y CIA i t eres t i F P C C or
n n n no n an n n
t o th e F B I ope r a ti o whi c h yi elded th e ma i l i g l i s t n n .

M em or a du m f ro m N ew Y ork F i eld Ofce t o F B I He a dqu a r t ers

11"
n ,

w / a t t a c h me n t .

17
I bi d .

8
M em or a du m f ro m FBI l i a i so t o Li a i so Sec ti o C hi e f 9
n n n n ,

1
S t a t e Dep a r t me t I for ma ti o R epor t re Ass a ss i a ti o o f P res i
n n n : n n
de t R e mo o f P a a m a C o mm i ss i o Docu m e t # 2 79; S t a t e Dep a r t m e t I
n n n . n n n n
f or m a ti o R epor t
n re A tt e m p t ed Ass a ss i a ti o o f V i ce P res i de t C h a g
, : n n n n
M y o R epu b l i c o f K ore a Co mm i ss i o Docu me t # 280 ; S t a t e Dep a r t m e t I
n, , n n n n

forma ti o R epor t n re A tt e mp t ed Ass a ss i a ti o o f P res i de t Suk a r o

, : n n n n ,

I do es i a Co mm i ss i o Docu me t # 2 83 ; S t a t e Dep a rt me t I for ma ti o R epor t

n n , n n n n n ,

re A tt em pt ed Ass a ss i a ti o o f P res i de t Suk a r o I do es i a C o mmi s

: n n n n n n .

s i o Docu me t # 2 84; S t a t e Dep a r t m e t I f or m a ti o R epor t

,

n n re A t n n n , :

t e m p t ed Ass a ss i a ti o f P res i de t d G
n ll Co mm i ss i o Docu me t # 285 ;
n o n e au e . n n
S t a t e Dep a r t me t I form a ti o R epor t n re P res i de t O l y mp i o To g o
n n , : n , ,

Co mmi ss i o D cu me t # 2 86 n o n .

1
2
S t a ff d i scuss i o with A mb a ss a dor Joh S h er m a Cooper 5
n n n .
 68

Commi ssio n a n d Burt Griffin How a rd Will e n s a n d D a vid Belin of

, , ,

the Commission st a ff h a ve a ll st a ted they were not a w a re of the CIA

p l ots
12 1
.

M a ny governme n t offi c i a ls h owever were a w a re th a t the CIA used , ,

the u n derworld in a ttempts to a ssa ss i n a te C a stro Attorney Gener a l .

Kennedy ha d b een informed o f these plots a n d FB I Director Hoover 122

,

knew there h a d been su c h opera tion s Allen Dulles who ha d been ,

123
,

Dire c tor o f Cen t r a l Intelli gen c e until November 196 1 w a s a member ,

of t he W a rren Comm i s sion a n d knew o f the CIA pl ots with under ,

world g ures whi c h ha d t a ken pl a c e d uring his tenure a t the Agency .

1

Si n c e C IA FBI a n d Justi c e Dep a rtme n t les a ll c ont a ined i n form a

, ,

tio n a b o ut these plots wi t h the u n derw o rld a n y numb e r of govern m ent ,

offi c i a ls m a y h a ve known th a t the CIA ha d a tt e m p t e d to a ss a ssin a te

C a stro .

Nev e rtheless it might h a ve a ppe a red t o th s e g overn m ent offi c i a ls

,
o

th a t there w a s n o cle a r re a son to conne c t these un d erworld plots to

the Presi d ent s a ss a ssin a tion M ost governm e nt o ffi ci a ls w ho were

.

a w a re o f them prob a bly a ssumed they h a d ended in 1 96 2 Since th a t .

time the Cub a n missile crisis ha d occurred a n d U S Cub a n hostility

, . .
-

h a d cooled Offici a ls a t both the CIA a n d the FB I were a w a re th a t

.

Willi a m H a rvey ha d told his underworld c ont a cts in e a rly 196 3 th a t

the CIA w a s no longer interested in C a stro s a ss a ssin a tion So these
.

unsuccessful plots were offici a lly termin a ted well before President
Kenn e dy s a ss a ssin a tion

.

M oreover Fidel C a stro prob a bly wou l d n ot h a ve been cert a in th a t

,

the C IA w a s behind the underworld a ttempts Elements of the under .

world a n d o f the Cub a n exile c ommunity whi c h were n ot a ffili a ted in

a n y w a y with CIA were a lso interested in a ss a ssi n a ting C a stro It is .

unlikely th a t C a stro c ould h a ve distinguished the CIA plots with the

underworld from those plots n ot b a cked by the CIA In f a ct the .
,
methods the CIA used in these a ttempts were desi g ned t o prevent the
Cub a n government from a ttributi n g them t o the CIA .
12 6

The A M LASH oper a tion w a s cle a rly different CIA c a se officers .

,
n ot underworld gures were in dire c t cont a ct with A M LASH ,
a d told h i m they were wi t h the C I A Upon meeting A M LASH M r
n .
,
.

F i tzgera ld a senior CIA oi c i a l t old him th a t he w a s the person a l

, ,

repres e nt a tive o f Attorne y G e nera l R obert Kennedy Fi tz ge r a ld .

12 7

a n d the c a se oi c e r a ssured A M LASH th a t his proposed coup ha d the

support of the United St a tes government Thus if a nyone le a rned .

12 8
,

of the oper a tion he would h a ve know n th a t t he CIA w a s cle a rly

,

res on s i b le for it .
.

n a dd i t i on the A M LASH o p era tion w a s underw a y a t the tim e o f

,

the Pres i dent s as s a ssina tion Wh ile the a ss a ssin a tion plots a g a i n st

.

C a stro w hl c h i nvolved the underworld m a y n ot h a ve be en c on sidered

, ,

m
1
f ro Bur t G r i i n t o D a v i d Bel i n
Le t t e r m p 3 ; s t a ff i n t erv i ew w ith

,

Howa rd W i ll i n s m e m or a n du m f ro m Bel i n t o th e R ocke feller Co mmi s

.

si on p 1
,

. .

12 3
Ass a ss i n a ti on R epor t pp 130131 , . .

I bi d .

12
Ass a ss i a ti o R epor t pp 91 92
n n , .
.

25
M em ora du m o f FBI l i a i so t o CIA
n n
196 7 L G R epor t p 55
,

.
, . .

1
2
196 7 L G R epor t pp 8891
.
, . .

1
28
I bi d
 69

rele va nt t o the Pres ident s as s a s sin a tion the A M LAS H o pera tion ha d
,

p a rti c ul a r si gnic a nce .

V e r y few individu a l s i n the Unite d St a tes government knew o f the

A M LASH plot M r M c Con e w ho w as then Director o f Centra l In
. r .
,

t e lli ge n c e t e stied he did not know o f t he A M LASH opera tion

,
.

Q Were you a w a re o f a n y e ffort to a ss a ssin a te M r Ca stro

. .

through a n a gent known a s AM L ASH ?

A No . .

Q I would like to dra w your a tte n tion to [ the f a ct th a t ]

.

a t the very moment President Kennedy w a s shot a CIA o f ,

c e r w a s meeting with a C ub a n a gent a n d offering him

a n as s a s sin a tion device for use a g a inst C a stro .

I t a ke it you didn t he a r a nything a bout th a t opera tion ?

A [ Indic a tes .

M r Helms who w a s Deputy Dire c tor for Pl a ns knew o f the op

.
, ,

e r a t i on a lthough h e would n ot c h a r a cterize the oper a tion a s a n a s

,

s a s s i n a t i o n plot The c a se offi cer w ho met with A M LASH on N o

130
,
.

v e mb e r 22 simil a rly rej ecte d such a c h a r a c teriz a tion

131
.
,

Sever a l individu a ls o n the CIA Speci a l Affa irs St a ff knew of the

opera tion but they were not in direct cont a ct with the Wa rren C om
,

mission Desmond Fitzger a ld Chief o f SAS knew of the opera tion

.
, , ,

a s did his executive o f fi cer who ha s t e stied th a t he reg a rded it a s a n

a ss a ssin a tion p lot The C hief of SAS Counteri n telligen c e a lso knew
132
.

o f the oper a tion a n d testied th a t he reg a rded it a s a n a ss a ssin a tion

,

plot Others within the SAS who h a d a ccess to the A M LASH le

.
133

obviously k n ew a bout the oper a tion but since there is no record of the ,

poison pe n in th a t l e they m a y n ot h a ve known th a t key fa c t Thos e ,

.

CIA t echnici a ns w ho f a bric a ted the pen woul d h a ve been a w a re of its

existence but prob a bly would n ot h a ve known a nything e l se a bo ut the
,

oper a tion .

J a mes Angleton w h ose Counterintelligence Division c o nducte d ,

CIA re s e a rch for the Wa rren Co m mission h a s testied th a t he w a s ,

n ot a w a re of the A M LASH oper a tion a lthough he did suggest tha t ,

he ha d re a son to suspect there w a s something to H a rvey s meetings

4 His a ssist a nt who w a s m a de point of

wi t h underworld gures

.
3
,

record for t he Wa rren Commission ha s s ta ted h e did not know of a n y

,

a ss a ssin a tion pl ot s a g a inst C a st r o In 1975 a fter being questioned ' 135

.
,

Jo h M c C o t es ti mo y
n p 59; A ss a ss i a ti o R epor t pp 99100
ne n , . n n , . .

Hel ms t es tim o y
13"
pp 133 135 ; See Ass a ss i a ti o R epo r t pp
n , , n n ,
.

17 4
.

17 6 f or fur th er d i scuss i o
,
n .

C a se O i e t es ti m o y 6 p 22
c r n , , . .

E xec u ti ve Ofcer t es ti m o y p 15 n , . .

C hi e f S A S / OI te s ti mo y 5 / 6 p 24 n
pp 3134 I t i s i mpor t a t t o o t e th a t M r
, . , . .

A g le t o t es ti mo y
n n n , . . n n .

A g le t o t es ti ed h e wa s o ft e i co t a c t with Dulles a ft er th e l a tt er h a d le ft
n n n n n
th e A g e c y A g le t o t es ti ed th a t Dulles co sul t ed with h i m b e f ore a g ree i g t o
n . n n n n
P res i de t Jo h so s reques t th a t h e b
n n th e C o mm i ss i o
n

d th a t h e wa s i e on n an n
f reque t co t a c t w ith Dulles A g le t o h a s a lso i d i c a t ed th a t h e d Dulles
n n . n n n an
i for m a ll y d i sc us s ed th e pro g ress o f th e Co mm i ss i o s i ves tig a ti o
n d th a t n

n n an
Dulles co sul t ed with h i m a b ou t wh a t f ur th er i ves tig a ti o th e CIA could do
n n n .

So if Dulles rel i ed solel y o A g le t o t o d i sc re t el y ch eck m a tt ers whi ch Dulles n n n ,

d i d t feel th e e ti re Co mmi ss i o sh ould k ow ab ou t h e would ot h a ve le a r ed

no n n n , n n
o f th e A M L A SH ope r a ti o n .

S ta ff i n t e rv i ew of C I A a n a l y s t
" 5
,
 70

by the R oc kefeller Comm ission on this po i nt he noted knowledge of ,

a n ongoing a s s a ssin a tion plot might h a ve c h a nged his thi n king a b o ut

Osw a ld s Mexic a n trip

.
6

Thom a s Ka r a m e s s i n e s who h a d some con t a c t with the Commission

, ,

ha s t estied th a t he w a s un a w a re o f the CIA a ss a ssin a tion plots .

137

Thus a ccordi n g to the testimony M r Helms w a s the only CIA

, ,
.

offi c i a l w ho w a s both in c ont a ct wi t h the Wa rren Commission a n d

k n owledge a ble of the AM LASH oper a tio n O u severa l occ a sio n s M r .
'
.

Hel m s ha s be en questio n ed a bout whether he informed the Wa rr e n

Commission O f the C I A a ss a ssi n a tion plots .

C H A I R M A N C H URC H Since you ha d k n owledge of the CIA

involvement in these a ss a ssin a tion plots a ga inst C a stro
[ from the co n text the question is n ot specic a lly focused on
the A M LASH plot ] a n d knew it a t the time ,
I wou l d
h a ve thought th a t ought to h a ve been rel a ted to the
Commission be c a use it does be a r on the motives wh a tever
,

else .

M R H E LM s :
. M r Allen Dulles w a s a membe r O f the .

Wa rren C ommissio n A nd the rst a ss a ssin a tion plot ha p

.

pened during his ti m e a s director W ha t he s a id to the W a r .

ren Commissio n a bout this I don t know Bu t a t le a st he

.

sitting right there in [ the Commission s ] deliber a tion s

a n d k n ew a bou t this a n d I a m sure th a t the s a me thought

,

th a t occurred to you must h a ve oc c u r c d to him .

138

S E N A T OR M OR GA N : [ in 196 3] you w e re not j ust

a n employee of the CIA Y ou were i n the top echelon the .
,

m a n a gement level were you not ? ,

M R H E L M s Yes I w a s Sen a tor M org a n

.
, .

S E N A T OR M OR GA N : you ha d been p a rt of a n a ss a ssin a

tion plot a ga inst C a stro ?
M R H E L M s : I w a s a w a re th a t there ha d been efforts m a de
.

to ge t rid of him by thes e me a ns .

S E N A T OR M OR GA N : you were ch a rg ed with furn ishing

the Wa rren Commission i n form a tion from the CIA inform a ,

tion th a t you thought w a s relev a n t ?

M R H E L M : No sir I w a s instructed to reply to inquiries
.
,

from the Wa rre n Co mmissio n for i n form a t ion from the

Agency I w a s not a sked to i n iti a te a n y p a rti c ul a r thing
. .

S E N A T OR M OR GA N : in other words if you weren t

a sked for it you didn t give it

, .

M R H E L M s Th a t s right sir
.

,
.
" 39

M r Helms a lso st a ted th a t he thou g ht the Wa rren C ommission

.

could ha ve reli e d on public k n owledge t h a t t he United St a tes w a nted

t o get rid o f C a stro

.

I don t rec a ll th a t I w a s either instru c ted or it oc c urred to m e

to cover W i th the W a rren Co mm i s s mn the pre c i se d e t a i ls of

the Agency s oper a t i ons not be c a use I m a de a S i gn i c a nt

1
3"
M emor a du m f ro m CIA a a l y st
n n ,
37
Ka ram i e ss ne s,p 32 . .

38
Hel ms t es ti mo y 7 pp 36 37
n
Hel ms tes ti mon y 7/ 17/ 75 pp 118119
.
, .

39
.
, , .
 j udgment n ot to d o this but my recollection a t the time ,

w a s th a t it w a s public knowledge th a t the United St a tes w a s

4
trying to get rid of C a stro .
1 0

In testimony before the R ockefeller Commission M r Helms w a s , .

di rectly a sked whether he linked Osw a l d s pro Cub a n a ctivity with -

the possibility th a t C a stro ha d ret a li a ted for CIA a ttempts a ga inst

him .

Q Now a fter Preside n t Kennedy w a s a ss a ssin a ted i i i

.
,

Novembe r 196 3 a n d a fter it bec a me known to you th a t the ,

in d ivid u a l L ee H a rvey Osw a ld w a s believed very bro a dly

, ,

to h a ve d one the shoo ting th a t Osw a ld ha d ha d some a ctivity ,

in the F a ir P la y for Cub a Comm ittee did you hold a n y

convers a tions with a nybody a bout t he possibility th a t the
a s s a s sin a tion o f President Kennedy w a s a r e t a i l i a t i o n by

Osw a ld a ga inst t he a ctivity the t a lks a n d pl a ns to a ssa s sin a te ,

C a stro ?
A No I don t rec a ll discussing th a t with a nybody I don t
. .

.

re c a l l the thought ever h a ving o ccurred to me a t the time .

The rst time I ever he a rd such a theory a s th a t e n u n i c i a t e d

w as in a very pe c uli a r w a y by President Johnson .

Q I a m n o t a sking you a bout a story Amb a ss a dor I a m

.
, ,

a sking y ou whether o r n ot there w a s a rel a tionshi b etwee

p n

Osw a ld s cont a ct s with the Cub a n s a n d h i s support for the

,

C a stro government his a ttempts in Septembe r 1963 to get a ,

p a s sport to Cub a to tr a vel t o Cub a his a ttempts to penetr a te , ,

a n t i C as tro gr oups Did this connection ever enter your mind ?

-
.

A I don t rec a ll its h a ving done so

.
41
.
1

M r Helms a lso testied he did not believe the A M LASH opera tion
.

w as releva nt to the investig a tion o f President Kennedy s

14
a ss as sin a tion
2
.

The testimony of the A M LASH C a se O i c e r is simil a r He st a ted '

.
,

I nd it very di ffi cult t o l ink the A M LASH oper a tion to the a ss a s

s i n a t i on I find no w a y to link it I did not know of a n y other CIA
. .

a s s a ss in a tion a ttempts a g a in s t Fidel C as tr o so I h a ve nothing to -

link .
3

Director Hoover k n ew of CIA e ffort to a ss a ssin a te C a stro using

underworld c onta cts Wh i l e Hoover m a y h a ve a ss umed th a t those .

plots te r m i n a ted in 196 2 in Ju n e 196 3 the FBI le a r ned th a t Willia m , ,

H a rvey ha d tol d his underworld cont a cts th a t the CIA w a s n o longer

interes te d in a ss a ss i n a ting C a stro In Octobe r 196 3 a n inform a nt r e .
,

ported to the FB I th a t the CIA ha d recently been meetin g with a

Cub a n o ffi ci a l ( A M LASH ) but there is no eviden c e the FB I then ,
h a d a ctu a l knowledge of the a ss a ssin a tion a spect O f the oper a tion i n
volving the Cub a n 4 4 .
1

Aft er rec eiving a rep o r t of a n a ss a ssin a tion plot a g a inst C a stro in

J a nu a ry 196 4the FBI li a ison to the C I A checked to see if the CIA
,

w a s invo l ved in the plot 4 According to a memora ndum prep a red by .

1 5

Hel m s t es ti m o y p 82 n , . .

R i ch a rd Hel ms t es ti mo y R ocke f eller C o mm i ss i o

" 1
pp 389391 n , n, . .

1"
Hel ms t es tim o y Rockef eller C o mmi s i o n , pp 389 3912 s n, . .

C a se O f er t es ti m o y
c 5 p 116 n , , . .

1
M emor a du m f ro m M i a m i F i eld O f ce t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers
n ,

T h e F B I k ew th e t rue a me of th e Cu b a oi i l b t wa s u awa re th a t h e
n n n c a , u n
h a d b ee cod e
m
anmed -
n .

f ro m F B I l i a i so n

,
 72

the FBI li a ison : The Agency curre n tly is not inv olved in a n y a c t i v

4
ity whi c h includes pl a n s to a ss a ssin a te C a stro This memora n dum .
16

w a s distributed to two Section Chiefs a n d to the Bure a u supervisor ,

responsible for a nti C a stro a ctivities In Febru a ry this i n form a tion

-
.
,

w a s p a ssed to a t le a st one eld o ffi c e .

In l a te July 196 4a n FB I info r m a nt a g a in repo rt ed th a t the CIA

,

h a d m e etings with the Cub a n offi c i a l ( A M LASH ) This report indi .

c a t e s th a t the purpose of th ose mee t i n gs h a d been to pl a n the a s s as s i

n a tion of C a stro The informa nt report ed th a t the Cub a n of c i a l h a d
4
.
1 7

been unh a ppy with the CIA resp on se a n d th a t Attorney Gener a l Ken
n e d y h a d refused to suppo r t the p l a n He a lso reported tha t the
4 1 8
.

4
pl a n h a d not bee n c ompletely put to rest Be c a use the inform a nt r e .
1 9

quested th a t the Bure a u not inform the CIA or the White House a bout
this report it w a s not dissemin a ted outside the FBI He a dqu a rters
,
.

a dvised the e ld off i c e in c ont a ct with the infor m a nt to keep them a d ,

vised .
1 50
The FB I supervisor involved noted on h i s c opy of the com
m u n i c a t i on to the eld o ffi c e th a t the Bure a u a cting on orders from
, ,

the Attorney Genera l w a s investiga ting a reported u n de r world pl ot

,

a g a inst C a s tro a n d th a t this might be the s a me a s t h e a lleged plot

,

involving the Cub a n ( A M LASH ) .

In hindsight the A MLASH opera tion seems very rel e v a nt to the

,

investiga tion of President Kennedy s a ss a ssin a tion It is d i i c u lt to

.

underst a nd why those a w a re of t he opera tion did not t hink it releva nt ,

a n d did not inform those investig a ting Preside n t Ken n edy s a s s a s sin a

tion of p ossible connections be tween th a t opera tion a n d the

a ssa ssin a tion .

The Desk Offi c er who w a s in c h a rge of the i niti a l CIA investiga tion
o f President Kennedy s a s s a s sin a tion rst le a rned of the A M LASH

,

opera tion when he t esti e d be fore the Select Commi t t ee :

Q Did you know th a t o n November 22 1963 a bout the
.
, ,

time Kennedy w a s as s a ssin a te d a CIA c a se Offi c er w a s pa ssing ,

a p oison pen o f fering a pois o n pen t o a high level Cub a n to

,

use t o a s s as sin a te C a s tro ?

A No I did n ot
.
, .

Q Would y ou ha ve dra wn a link in your mind between

.

th a t a n d t he Kennedy a ss as sin a tion ?

A I c erta inly think th a t th a t wou ld h a ve be e n b e c ome a n
.
w

a bsolute ly vi t a l f ac t or in a n a lyzing the events surrounding

the Kenn edy as s a ssin a tion .

15 1

Severa l Wa rren Commission sta ff members h a ve a ls o sta ted th a t a

c onne c tion betwee n CIA a ss a ssin a tion oper a tions a n d President
Kennedy s a ss a ssin a tion should h a ve been inv e stiga ted For ex a mple

.
,

1
I bi d
M mo a du m f ro m M i a m i F i eld Ofce t o FBI He a dqu a r t er
.

4
1"
e r n , 7
I bi d .

9
I bi d
M em or a du m f ro m FBI He a dqu a r t ers t o M i a mi F i eld Ofce
.

1
5
n ,

Desk Ofcer pp 31 32
,
.
, .
 74

Kennedy died the c a se offi cer w a s tr ying to give A M LASH

a poi son pen Th a t is the o nl y c onn e c tion th a t I reme m ber

. . .

Fin a lly the CIA a n a l yst who w a s the point of record c oor d i n a t
, ,

ing the CIA resea rch for the Wa rren Commission prep a red a memo ,

r a n d u m st a ting he w as u n a w a re of the plots until 1 975 a n d express ing ,

con c ern a bout the Wa rren C om mission s ndings in light o f this n e w

inform a ti on .

The conduct of the A M LASH oper a tion during the f a ll of 196 3 ,

sh ould h a ve r a ised m a j or concern s within the CIA a bout its possible

conn e ction with the Kennedy a ss a ssin a tion The Chie f o f SAS C oun .

t e r i n t e lli ge n c e h a s testi e d he w a s a lw a ys c oncer ned a bout the oper a

tion s security In d e ed v a rious reports re c eived by the CIA during

.
16 7
,

the f a ll o f 196 3 cont a ined inform a t i on which should h a ve r a ised ques

tions a bout the opera tion s security I n 196 5 when CIA ties to the
.
,

Cub a ns involved in the A M LASH opera tion were s e vered the Chief ,

of SAS Count e rintelligence pointed out the security problems in the

oper a tion ?

Am ong other t hings noted in th a t mem or a nd um is the possibility

th a t A M LASH h a d been a provoc a tion i s a n a gent sent by Cub a n ,
. .
,

intelligen c e to provoke a cert a in re a ction from the C IA .

159

Until Select Committee st a ff informed offici a ls a t the CIA the ,

Agen c y w a s un a w a re th a t in October 196 3 the FB I ha d received a

report th a t the CIA w a s meeting with A M LASH Th a t rep ort con .
16 0

t a i n e d inform a tion which indic a tes th a t the FBI inform a nt k new the
d a te a n d l oc a tion of on e of the m e etings In July 1964the inform .
16 1
,

a n t g a ve t he FBI a ddition a l d et a ils a bout the A M LASH oper a tion ,

including the f a ct th a t the opera tion h a d i n volve d a ss a ssin a tion -

plotting .Thus a n opera tion the CIA felt to be extr a ordin a rily
16 2
,

sensitive perh a ps so sensitive th a t its existe n ce could not be dis c losed

,

t o the W a rren C o mmission w a s kn o wn t o a t l e a st one FB I inform a nt ,

in the United St a tes .

Fin a l ly the opera tion should h a ve been of concern bec a use Desmond
,

Fitz g era ld ha d person a l l y met with A M LASH The Chief o f the CIA .

J M WA VE st a tion t e stied tha t Fitzger a l d h a d a sked him if he shou l d

meet with A M LASH The C hief told Fitzger a ld th a t he should n ot .

mee t A M LASH bec a use such a m e eting could prove very emb a rr a ssing
for the CIA if A M L ASH w a s working for Cub a n intelligence
, .

M y recollection o f this AM LASH c a se is a s follows At .

some point in time I ha d a convers a tion with Desmond F i t z ,

ger a ld in Wa shin gton during on e of my periodic visits to

E xecu ti ve O f cer p 44 , . .

15"
M emor a du m f t h record f ro m CIA a a l y s t
n or e n ,

C hi ef S A S / OI t es ti m o y 6 pp 2324
5 7
, n , , . .

5 3
U d a t ed me m or a du m f ro m C hi e f S A S / OI t o C hi e f W H D Cu b a
n n , , .

1
5"
U d a t ed m e m or a du m f ro m C hi e f S A S / C I t o C hi e f W H D Cu b a
n n , , .

16"
I n196 5 th e FB I d i d p a ss t o CIA i f or m a ti o th a t th ey re e i ved f ro m A n n c

tha t h e w a a w a re o f th e AM L ASH ope ra t i o Th e y e d th e CIA th e pp t

s n . o er

o or u
mi t y t i t er r o g a t e A
o n b t th FBI d i d ot p a ss t th e CIA i f o r ma ti

, u e n o n on re

vi e w ed i O ct b er 196 3
n o .

M emora du m f ro m M i a mi F i eld Ofce t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers

n ,

M emo r a du m f ro m M i a mi Fi eld O i c e t o FB I He a dqu a r t ers 7

n ,
 75

W a shin gton from M i a mi W e discussed tha t meeting the

. at
n a ture o f our a ppro a ch to the milit a ry est a blishment in C ub a .

In the context o f t h a t convers a tion M r Fitzger a ld a sked ,

.

me if whether I thought it would be a good ide a for him to

meet one o f these Cub a n milit a ry person a lities a n d he sub ,

sequent l y i d entied to me the person a lity he w a s t a lking

a bout w a s A M LASH M y a dvice to him w a s th a t it would
.

prob a bly not be a good ide a for him to meet him a n d the only ,

t hing th a t I coul d see coming ou t o f th a t kind o f cont a ct

w ould be a person a l feel for wh a t m a kes som e o f these

people tick in hu ma n terms a n d th a t th a t w a s too high a

, ,

p rice to p a y fo r the prospect if a nything went wrong

16 3
. .

T he Chief S A S / C o u n t e r i n t e l li ge n c e ha d simi l a r reserv a tions When .

questio ned a bo ut the security of the A M LASH opera tion he testied : ,

Q Did you know b a ck in November 1963 th a t the CIA w a s

.

meeting with A M LASH ?

A Yes a n d I ha d expressed my reserv a tions a bout such a
.
,

m e eting I d idn t consider him to be responsible

.

.

Q Di d you know th a t M r Fitzger a ld met with A M LASH

. .

in l a te October of 1963?
A I be l ieve I did I h a ve v a gue recollections of th a t now
. .
,

yes .

Q W ha t w a s the purpose of th a t meeting ?

.

A I be l ieve this w a s rela ted to the a ss a ssin a tion a n a s s a s s i

.
,

n a tion plot a g a inst C a stro a n d a s to this I ha d reference ,

before I couldn t rec a ll the ex a ct time fr a me but I thought

.

,

it w a s nonsense I thought it woul d be counterproductive

.

if it ha d been succ essfu l so I op posed it ,

.

Q Did you know th a t M r Fitzgera ld went a he a d with it ?

. .

A Yes M r Fitzgera l d a n d I did n ot a lw a ys a gree

. . . .

Q B ut he to l d you he w a s going a he a d with the opera tion ?

.

A I expre s se d my reserv a tions a bout it He went a he a d

. . .

4
He d idn t as k my permission He w a s my boss

. .
16

T hus inform a tion on the A M LASH oper a tion a n oper a tion wh i c h

, ,

tho s e who investiga t ed the a ss a s sin a tion of President Kennedy now

believe would h a ve been relev a nt to their inquiries w a s not supplie d ,

to either the Wa rren Comm ission or the FBI Even the CIA personnel .

responsib l e for investig a ting the a ss a ssin a tion were not info rm ed of
the opera tion .

Ch i ef , J MW AV E , t es ti mon y 5, pp . 7980 .

1
C hi e f , S A S / OI , pp . 20, 2 1 .
V DE V ELO P M ENTS AFTE R
. THE WA RR EN CO MM ISSION
Before the Wa rren Commission iss ued its report on the a ss a ssin a tion
o f President Kennedy on September 24 1 96 4 b oth the CIA a n d the , ,

FB I ha d a s s u red the Commission th a t they wou l d n ever close t he

c a se W hen a ppe a ring before the Wa rren Commission CIA Deputy
.
,

Director for Pl a ns R ich a rd Helms sta ted :

Q a fter the Commission completed its report you
.

woul d keep the m a tter open i f there w a s a n ything new th a t

d e ve l oped in the future th a t could be properly p resented t o
the a uthorities ?
A Yes I would a ssume the c a s e will never be closed
. . .
1

FBI Director Hoover m a de a simil a r st a tement before the Wa rren

Commission :
so fa r a s the FB I is concerned the c a se will be c on ,

tinned i n a n open cl a s si fic a tion for a ll tim e 2

:

A . T e r m i n a t i on f
o t he A M L A S H O p e r a t i on
Although 196 5 developments in the A M LASH oper a tio n should
h a ve r a ised questions a bout the possibility of a connection between
th a t oper a tion a n d the President s a ss a ssin a tion there is no evidence
,

th a t either the FB I or the CIA investiga ted such a possibility .

As the Select Committee s Ass a ssin a tion R eport noted :

T ow a rd the l a tt e r p a rt of 196 4A M LA SH be c a me m ore i n ,

'

s istent th a t the a s s a ssin a tion o f the Cub a n le a dership w a s a

necess a ry initi a l step in a successful co up .

3

A f a l l 1964memora ndum s t a tes :

A M LASH w a s told a n d fully underst a nds th a t the Unite d
St a tes Governm ent c a nnot be come invo l ved to a n y degree in
"

the rst s t ep of hi s pl a n If he n e eds su pp o r t he re a lizes

.
,

he will h a ve t o get it elsewhere .

F YI : This is where B 1 could t in nice l y in giving a n y

s upport h e wou l d request
4
.

A M LASH a n d B 1were then put in cont a ct with one a n oth e r a n d B 1 ,

ke pt the CIA informe d of their plotting .

5

In e a r l y 196 5 the Agency beg a n receiving indic a tions th a t the

,

A M LASH opera tion w as not secure By th a t time a number o f other .

Hel ms tes ti m o y V ol V W a rre Co mmi ss i o He a r i g s p 124

1
n , .
, n n n , . .

Hoover t es ti mo y n ,
V o l V W a rre C ommi ss i o He a ri g s p
.
,
n n n , . 100
.

3
A ss a ss i a t i o Re port p
n n , . 89 .

I bi d .

pp 89
5
I bid , .90 .

( 77 )
 78

individu a ls outs i d e the CIA ha d been brought into the oper a tion ,

a n d the Agency le a rned th a t on e o f these i n dividu a ls w a s in cla n

destine con t a ct with Cub a n intelligence .
6

Severa l months l a ter A a Cub a n exile who ha d been involved ,

,

in tra nsporting explosives to New Orle a ns in 1963 cont a ct ed the ,

Immigra tion a n d N a tura liz a tion Service with inform a tion a bout the
A M LASH opera tion This inform a tion w a s turned over t o the FBI .

which informed the CIA R epresent a tives from both a gencies inter .

r og a t e d A j ointly in June

The in t erroga tion est a bli s hed th a t
the Cub a n exile kn ew th a t ( 1) A M LASH a n d others were pl a nning
a coup which involved the a ss a ssin a tion o f C a stro a n d ( 2 ) the CIA ,

ha d been involved with A M LASH a n d others in the plotting .

Although A cl a imed th a t he a n d A M LASH were lifelong friends

,
8

the repo rt s o f the interrog a tion do n ot indica te th a t he knew O f the

f a ll 196 3 A M LASH C IA meet ings The 196 7 I G R eport noted th a t "

.
9 '

. .

inform a ti on given by A sug ge s ted a l ink betw e en the A M LASH

opera tion a n d the 196 0 196 2 CIA plots to as s a ssin a te C a st ro using

underworld cont a cts In other words the inf o rm a tion A provi ded .
,

ra ised the po s sib i li ty tha t unde r world gures w ho were a w a re of t he

a ss a ssin a t i o n p l ots in which Willi a m H a rvey p a rticip a ted m a
y h a ve ,

a lso been a w a re o f the A M LASH oper a tion

10
.

0 11 July 2 196 5 the FBI sent s ome o f the det a ils obt a i ne d from the
, ,

interrog a tion to the White House the Atto r ney Genera l a n d then DCI , , ,

Admira l R a b or n The C I A re a ction t o the inform a tion w a s t o

r
.
11 '

termin a te the entire A M LASH opera tion It c a bled i t s s t a tions : .

.

Convi ncing proof th a t entire A M LASH group ins e cure a n d

th a t further c ont a ct with key members o f group c onstitutes a
men a ce to CIA oper a tions Under no c i r c u mt a n c es a r e .

newly a ss igned s ta ff personnel or newly recruited a gents to

be exp osed to the opera tio n .
12

In a n unda ted memora ndum the Chief o f SAS C ounterinte llige n ce ,

vvr o t e :

The A M LASH circle is wide a n d e a ch new friend of whom

we le a rn seems to ha ve k n ow e l d ge of pl a n I believe the prob .

lem is a more serious a n d b a sic o n e Fidel reportedly knew .

th a t this grou p w a s plotting a g a inst him a n d once enlisted

its suppo r t Hence we c a nnot rule ou t the pos sibility of
.
,

provo c a tion .
13

In mid 196 5 the CIA interrog a ted A M W H I P on e o f the Cub a n

-

exi l es who ha d been involved with the A M LASH opera tion from the
6
a le f ro m E uropea s t a ti t o CIA He a dqu a t ers
C b n on r .

M emor a du m f ro m N ew Y ork F i eld O fce t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers 7

n ,

9
8
M e mor a du m f ro m New Y ork F i eld O ffi ce t o FBI He a dqu a r t ers
n ,

I bi d
I G R epor t p 103
1"
. . . .
,
1

m
M e m or a du m f ro m FB I He a dqu a r t ers t o N ew Y ork F i eld O ffi ce 7
n ,

C b l f ro m C IA He a dqu a r t ers t o v a r i ous E urope a

a e S t a ti o s d J M W A V E n n an
St io
a t n . i A M W E I R le n .

1
U d a t ed m em or a du m f ro m C hi ef SAS / C I t o C hi e f W H D
n n ,
.

P rovoc a ti o i thi s co t ex t i s th e use o f
n

n a g e t b y i t ell ige ce a ge c y
n an n an n n n

t o i nduce a respon se f ro m a n o th er i n t ell ige ce a g e c y n n .

 79

beginni n g ; a person who knew a bout the meetings between A M LASH

a n d the CIA c a se officers in the f a ll o f 1 963 The report o f the interro .

g a t i o n c a utioned th a t a n a lysis of the results w a s difficult since the

ex a min a tion w a s conducted in English a n d the subj ect ha d difficulty
underst a nding the questions The report recommended a second ex a m
.

i n a t i on be conducted in Sp a nish Nevertheless the repo rt tent a tively.

,

concluded th a t the subj ect w a s deceptive during the interrog a tion a n d

14
withhe l d pe r tinent inform a tion in on e or more r elev a nt a re a s .

The report noted tha t the subj ect a pp a rently lied in response to
cert a in questions de a ling with A M LASH a n d with both the subj ect s

a n d A M L A S H S ties to Cub a n intel l igence During the ex a min a tion

15
.
,

the subj ect told the interrog a tor th a t A M LASH ha d no pl a n t o over

throw C a stro a n d th a t the sub j ect h a d never considered A M L A S H s

v a rious a ctivities a s constituting a pl a n for such a n obj ective T he 1

.
6

subj ect s a id A M L ASH never control l ed a vi a ble group inside Cub a

which could a ttempt a coup a g a inst C a stro The subj ect s a id
1
.
7

A M LASH ha d strong connections with Cub a n intelligence a n d w a s

prob a bly cooper a ting with it in v a rious w a ys Although A M LASH .

ha d not mentioned these c onnections t o his CIA c a se officers the sub ,

j cet sta ted th a t A M LASH ha d mentioned them to him a n d a lmost ,

everyone else A M LASH met There is no record O f a second interro

.
18

g a t i o n.The l a st documents in the le on this individu a l a r e d a ted only

months a fter this interroga tion indic a ting th a t the CIA termin a ted
,

a ll cont a ct with him .

A l though the CIA ha d received inform a tion th a t the A M LASH

opera tion w a s insecure a n d the possibility th a t A M LASH w a s a prov

oc a tion there is no evidence th a t the CIA investiga ted the po ssibility

,

o f a connecti o n be tween its f a l l 1 96 3 m e etings wi t h A M LASH a n d ,

the a ss a ssin a t ion o f President Kennedy M oreover CIA l es conta ined .

,

a t le a st some FBI repo rts on A the Cub a n exile who w a s involved

in tr a nspo rt ing expl osives to New Orle a ns in 196 3 These rep o rt s det a il .

his involvement with a nti C a s tro exiles a n d underw orld gures who
-

were oper a ting the guer r i ll a tra i ni n g c a mp in New O rle a n s in Ju ly

1963 .

The FB I c l e a rly m a de the connection between A s 196 3 a c t i vi

ties a n d the f a ct th a t in 196 5 he w a s knowledge a ble of CIA

involvement in pl a ns to a s s a ssin a te Ca stro But there is no evidence .
19

th a t either the F BI or the CIA m a de a n y investig a tion O f this con

n e c t i on It w a s n ot until 196 7 th a t both the A M LASH oper a tion
.

a n d the President s ass a ssin a tion including the f a cts developed in

,
196 5 were reviewed by either a ge n c y
, .
19a

1
R epo r t o f I terro ga ti on
n .

1
R ep or t of I t erro g ati o
n n .

I bi d .

1
I bi d .

1"
I bi d .

1"
U n a ddressed m e m or a n du m f ro m F BI He a dqu a r t ers ,

I t s h ould b e n o t ed th a t th e co mmitt ee fou n d n o co n clus i ve ev i de n ce t h a t

C a s t ro wa s awa re o f A M LA S H S 196 3 de a l i n g s with th e CIA

.

D u r i n g Sen a t or M c Gov e r n s recen t t r i p t o Cu b a h e wa s prov i ded with a

,

n o t e b ook co n t a i n i n g de t a i ls o f n u m erous a ss a ss i n a ti o n plo t s a g a i n s t C a s t ro

whi ch C a s t ro b el i ev e d were C IA i n sp i red A M LA S H s 196 3 mee ti n gs with th e
.

CI A were n ot me n ti on e d wit h i n t h i s n o t eb ook .

 80

B 196 7 : A lle ga t i ons of Cu ba n I n v olv e me n t i n t he A s s a s s i n a t i on

.

In la te J a nu a ry 196 7, Wa shin gton Post columnist Drew Pe a rs on

met with Chief Justice E a rl Wa rren Pe a rson told the Chief Justice .

th a t a Wa shington l a wyer ha d told him th a t one of his cl ients sa id the

United St a tes ha d a ttempted to a ss a ssi n a te Fidel C a stro in the e a rly
196 0 s ,
20
and C a stro ha d decided to ret a li a te Pe a rson a sked the
21
.

Chief Justice to see the l a wyer ; however he declined The Chief ,

.

Justice told Pe a rson th a t it would be necess a ry to inform Federa l

investiga tive a uthori t ies a n d Pe a rson responded t h a t he preferred ,

th a t the Secret Service ra ther th a n the FBI be n ot i e d

'
.
22

On J a nu a ry 31 196 7 the Chief Justice informed Se c ret Servi c e

, ,

Director Ja mes J R owley o f the a lleg a tions R owley testied :

. .

The w a y he [ the Chief Justice ] a pproa ched it w a s tha t he ,

sa id he tho ught thi s w a s serious enough a n d so forth but he ,

w a nted to get it o ff his h a nds He felt th a t h e ha d to th a t it .

ha d to be to l d to somebody a n d th a t the W a rren Commission ,

w a s nished a n d he w a nted the thing pursued I suppose by

, , ,

ourse l v e s or the F BI .
23

According to R owley Wa rren a n d Pe a rson a rr a nged for the l a wyer ,

to s e e hi m on Feb r u a ry 8 On Febru a ry 10 196 7 R owley told , , ,

the Chief Justice th a t neither Pe a rson n or the l a wyer ha d c a lled a n d ,

th a t he would forw a rd the inform a tion to the Bure a u .

25

On Febru a ry 13 196 7 R owley wrote Hoover informi n g him o f the

, ,

a lleg a tions Hoover immedi a tely s e n t the R owley letter to six se nior
.

Bure a u offi c ra ls o n a n eyes only b a S I S FBI files c ont a i n no record

.
26

o f intern a l meetin s or d i s c u ss ro n s concerning the a lleg a tions S uper

'

g
-
.

2"
T h e Selec t C o mmitt ee f ou d co cre t e ev i de ce o f a t le a s t e ight plo t s i ln n n nvo v
i g th e CI A t o a ss a ss i a t e F i del C a s t ro f ro m 196 0 t o 196 5 E a c h o f th ese plo t s i s
n n .

descr i b ed i de t a i l i th e C o mm itt ee s Ass a ss i a ti o R epor t

n n

n n .

2
M emor a du m f ro m R owle y t o H oo ver
n ,

Secre t Serv i ce D i rec t or J a mes J R owle y co rmed th e a lle ga ti o s de t a i led . n n

in th a t me mor a du m i hi s t es ti mo y b ef ore th e Co mmitt ee o Feb ru a r y 13
n n n n ,

197 6 T h e Sec re t Serv i ce h a s i f or m ed th e Co mm itt ee th a t th e y d

. t h a ve n o no
copi es of e ith er th e R owl e y me mo or th e FBI res po se or a y n , n
o th er ma t er i a ls per t a i i g t o th e R owley W a rre m ee ti g or th e re t a l i a ti o
n n -
n n n
a lleg a ti o n .

2"
M emor a du m f ro m R owley t o Hoover
n ,
2"
J a mes J R owle y t es ti mo y
. p 17 n , . .

R owley a lso t es ti ed th a t th e C hi e f Jus ti ce d i d t s t a t e wh e th er thi s wa s th e no

rs t ti me h e h a d h ea rd th a t th e U it ed S t a t es Gover me t h a d plo tt ed t o a s n n n
i
s a s s na t C a s t ro ( R o w le y
e p .
, .

2
Th e l awy er t es ti ed th a t such m ee ti g wa s ever a rr a g ed or eve d i s no n n n
cussed with h i m .

M e mora du m f ro m R owley t o Hoover

n m e m or a du m f ro m R ose t o ,
n n

De Loa h c ,

I t wa s R owley s u ders t a d i g th a t e ith er P e a rso or th e l awy er wa s t o mee t

n n n n
with hi m Fe b ru a r y 8 196 7 or else co t a c t h i m t o a rr a g e a m ee ti g o
on , ,
n n n n

a o th er d a t e R owle y s ti ll h a d t h e a rd f ro m e ith er b y Feb ru a r y 10 196 7 d

n . no , , an
h e deci ded t o f or w a rd th e i f or ma ti o t o th e FBI ( R owle y n p n .
,
.

Ass i s t a t F B I D i rec t or G a r th a D L a h l a t er i f or med Ma r i W a t so

n e o c n v n n

th a t R owle y h a d ma de sever a l a tt e mp t s t o co t a c t th e l awy er b t th e l awy er

n

, u
re fused t o keep th e a ppoi t m e t s ( M em or a du m f ro m D L h t o Tolso n n . n e oa c n,

3/ 17 / 6 7 N e ith er R owle y th e l awy er rec a lled y suc h a tt e m p t s )

n or an .

Bure a u pe rso el h a ve t es ti ed th a t use f th e ey es o l y cl a ss i ca ti o

.

9"
n on
nn O n
i t er a ll y d i sse mi a t ed ma t er i a l wa s ex t re mel y r a re T hi s cl a ss i c a ti o wa s
n n n . n

empl o y ed o n l y wh e ma t er i a l w a ex t reme l y se s iti ve

n s n .
 82

or offici a ls of the Cub a n Governm ent were invo l ved with Le e

H a rvey Osw a ld in the a ss a ssina tion o f President Kennedy .

T his Bure a u is n o t conducting a n y investiga tion re ga rding

this m a tter However should M r Pe a rson [ t he l a wyer ]
.
, .
, ,

or [ his ] sourc e of inform a tion c a re to volunteer a n y informa

tion to this Bure a u it would be a cc epted There a fter con
, .
,

sidera tion wou l d be given a s to whether a n y a ddition a l

investig a tion is w a rra nt ed .
32

T he supervis or test ied

Everyone in the higher echelons re a d this a n d there w a s a
decision m a de a pp a rently some pl a ce a long th a t line a s t o
whether there w a s a n y b a sis in f a ct for [ these a llega tions ]
or not And t o this d a y I don t rec a ll how or wha t decision
.

w a s m a de o r who w a s invo l ved in it but I ha d the responsi

b i l i t y then [ upon orders from su periors ] o f concluding it by
prep a ring this a n d st a ting th a t no further investi ga tion w as

going to be conducted .
33

When a sked why the FB I d id not investig a te such a serious a llega

tion p a rticul a rly in light of Director Hoover s testimony before
,

the Wa rren Commi ssion tha t the a ss a s sin a tion cas e wo u ld a lwa ys
4
rem a in open the supervisor responded
,
3

I underst a nd your thinking a n d I c a n t truthfu l ly a n d

'

l ogica ll y a nswer your question beca use I don t know

.
35

The letter w a s a pproved a n d sent to R owley on Febru a ry 15 196 7 ,

.

A copy w a s a lso sent to the Acting Attorney Genera l a n d the Deputy

Attorney Genera l bu t the inter na l FBI memora ndum from Ro s en
,

to De Loa c h s t a te d
Considera tion w as given t o furnishing this inform a tion to the
Wh i te H o u se but sin c e this m a tter doe s not con c e rn nor is it
, ,

pertinent to the p resent Administra tion n o letter w a s being ,

sent .
36

Although the Genera l Investig a tive Division supervisor te s tied

tha t he w a s instru cted t o put thi s l a ngu a ge in the memor a n dum he ,

c a nn ot rec a ll who i ssued these ins t ru ctions or their b a sis ,

.
37

President Johns on subsequentl y le a rn ed of the a llega tions a n d the

Bure a u s de c ision not t o investiga te On M a rch 17 196 7 Ca r t ha

.
, ,

De Loa c h received a telephone c a ll from Presidenti a l Assist a n t M a rvin

Wa tson w ho informed him th a t The President h a d instructed th a t
, ,

32
L e tt er f ro m Hoover t o R owle y ,
3"
Gen er a l I n ve ti g a ti ve D i v i s i o n Superv i sor
s pp 1112 , . .

3"
Hoover t es ti ed b e fore th e W a rren Co mm i ss i on
Well I c a n a ssure y ou so f a r a s th e FBI i s co n cern ed th e ca se wi ll b e
co n ti n ued i n a n open cl a ss i c a ti o n f or a ll ti m e T h a t i s a n y i n f or m a ti on
,

.
,

com i n g t o us or a n y repor t co mi n g t o us f ro m a n y source wi ll b e th or

ou gh l y i n ves ti g a t ed so th a t we wi ll b e a b le t o e ith er prove or d i sprove
.

th e a lle g a ti o n ( J E d g a r Hoover t es ti m o n y
. . W a rren Co mm i ss i on , ,

V ol I p
.
, .

35
Gen er a l I n ve ti g a ti ve D i v i s i n Superv i sor
s o p 16 ,
. .

3"
M e m or a n du m f ro m R osen t o De L oa c h
pp 46 47
,

37
Gen er a l I n ves tig a ti ve D i v i s i o n Superv i sor y ,
. .
 83

the FBI i n terview [ the l a wyer ] con c e rning a n y knowledge he might

h a ve reg a rd i n g the a ss a ss in a tion o f President Kennedy Wa t s on .
39

st a ted th a t This request stemmed from a communi c a tion which t he

,

FBI ha d sent to the W hite House some weeks a go 4 De Loa c h ex .

pl a ined th a t he believed this communic a tion w a s a c tu a lly suppli ed by

Secret Service According to De L oa c h he briefed W a tson on D re w
.
,

Pe a rson s d i scussion with Chief Justi c e Wa rren a n d then

,

told Wa tson th a t under the circumsta nces it a ppe a red th a t

, ,

[ the l a wyer ] did n ot w a nt to be interviewed a n d even if he ,

w as inte rvi ewed he would prob a bly n ot divulge the iden t ity
of his sources who a pp a rently were clients Wa tson st a ted th a t .

the Pr e sident s till desired th a t the FBI conduct the intervi ew

in qu e stion I told W a tson th a t under the c ircumst a nc e s we
.
, ,
ha d no a l tern a tive but to m a ke this a ttempt ; however I hoped ,

he a n d the President re a lized th a t this might be putting the

FB I int o a situ a ti on with District Att orney G a rri son who ,

w a s nothing more th a n a publicity seeker 41

.

De Loa c h c onc l u d e d :
Un d er the circumst a n c e s it a ppe a rs tha t we h a ve no a lter .

n a tive but to i nterview [ the l a wyer ] a n d then furnish the

4
resul t s to Wa tson in b l ind m e mora ndum form .
2

The res pon si bi l ity for inte rviewing the Was hin gt on l a wyer w a s
signed t o the General Investiga tive Division This a ssi gnment i s .

itsel f s omewh a t puzzling bec a use the Domestic Intel l igence Divis i on ,

h a d been a ssigned r e sponsibility for p ossible foreign invo l vement in

4
the a s s a s sin a tion .
3

The l a wyer w a s interviewed by two a gents from t he FBI s VVas h

i n gt on Fie ld Offi c e both o f who m ha d ha d supervi so ry responsibi l ity

o n the a ss a s sin a t ion c a se within their o f fi c e T he s e a gents testied '

.

th a t they were briefe d a t FB I Hea dqu a r ters prior t o the interview ,

but neither c ou ld rec a ll the det a i l s of tha t brieng or w ho w a s pres

44
ent B oth a gents testie d th a t they were surprised d uring the
.

interview when the l a wyer recounte d United St a te s a ss a s sin a tion

4
efforts t a rgeted a t Fi d e l C a stro T hese a gents st a ted th a t they could .
5

not ev a l u a te the l a wyer s a ll ega ti ons or q ues tio n him in d et a i l on

them since they ha d not been bri efed on the CIA a ss as s in a tion effo r t s
,
: 6

3"
M emor a du m f ro m De L
n oa c h t o To l s on ,

I bi d .

1
I
bi d
a
I
bi d .

T h e FB I He a dqu a r t ers superv i sor i n th e Ge er a l I vestig a ti ve D i v i i o wh o

3
n n s n,
wa s respo s i b le f or th e i t erv i ew with th e l awy er could ot expl a i why i t wa s
n n ,
n n

a ss ig ed t o hi s d i v i s i o s t a ti g I ve o ft e wo dered a b ou t th a t my sel f ( Ge
n n, n

n n .

n
er a4l I ves tiga ti ve D i v i s i o Superv i or
n p n s , .

"
FBI A g e t I t es ti m o y n p 8 ; FBI A g e t I I t es ti mo y
n , . n n ,

p 10
. .

T h e Bure a u s respo se to th e C o mmi tt ee s Ma rch 18 1976 reques t f or docu me t s

n

,
n

re ect s th a t t h ere a re m em or a d a i Bure a u les rel a ti g t o s a i d b r i e g

no n n n n .

5
FB I A ge t I t es ti mo y n p 24; F BI A g e t II t s ti m o y
n , . n e n ,

p 18
. .

T h e l awy er t es ti ed h e h a d recollec ti o o f h a v i g b ee i t erv i ewed b y a y

no n n n n n

FBI a g e t a b ou t th e i f orma ti o h e g a ve t o Drew P e a rso ( W a s hi gt o L awy er

n n n n . n n

t es ti mo y n p , .

FBI A g e t I t es ti m o y n p 2 5 ; F B I A g e t I I te s ti m o y
n ,
p 16 . n n ,
. .
 8 4
Nei th e r the a ge n ts nor FBI He a dqu a rters personn e l could expl a in
,

why they were disp a t c hed t o co n du c t a n interview without the benet

of a ll relev a nt b a ckground m a teri a l i n FB I les .

On M a r c h 2 1 196 7 the Wa shi n gton Field Offi ce sent FB I He a d

, ,

qu a rters ten copies of a blind memo ra ndum reporting on the i nterview

'

This memor a ndum c a n be summa rized a s follows :

1 The l a wyer h a d inform a tion pert a ini n g to the a ss a s s i
.

n a ti on but t h a t it w a s necess a ry fo r him in his c a p a city a s a n

,

a ttorney to invoke the a ttor ney c lient p rivilege since the i n -

form a tion i n his possession w a s derived a s a result o f th a t

rel a tionship .

2 His cli e nts who were o n the fri n ge o f the underw o rld
.
,

w ere neither directly nor indi rectly involved in the de a t h o f

President Kennedy but they f a ced poss ible prose c ution i n a
,

c rime n ot rel a ted to the a ss a ssin a tion a n d through p a rticip a

tion in su c h c rime they le a rned o f info rm a tion pe rt a ining t o
the Presi de n t s a ss a ssina tion
.

3 His clients were c a lled upon by a gover n ment a l a gency to

.

a s sist i n a proj e c t whi c h w a s s a id t o h a ve the highest govern

ment a l a pprov a l The proj ect ha d a s i t s purpose the a s s a ssin a
.

tio n of Fidel Ca stro El a bora te pl a ns were m a de ; including .

the inltr a tion o f the Cub a n government a n d the pl a cing of

inform a nts within key po sts in Cub a
4 T he proj ect a lmost re a ched f r uition when C a stro bec a me
.

a w a re of it ; by pressuring ca ptured sub j e cts he w a s a ble t o

le a r n the full det a ils o f the plot a ga inst him a n d de c id e d if

th a t w a s the w a y President Kennedy w a nted it he t oo cou l d ,

enga ge in the s a me ta ctics .

5 C a stro there a fter employed te a ms of individu a ls w ho

.

were dispa tched to the United S t a tes for the purp ose of
a ss a ssina ting President Kennedy The l a wyer s t a ted th a t .

his clients obt a ined this inform a tion from feedb a ck fur

n i s he d by s ources cl ose t o C a stro who ha d been initi a l l y

,

p l a ced there to c a rry out the ori gi n a l proj ect .

6 His clients were a w a re of the identity o f some o f the

.

individu a l s who c a me to the Un ited St a tes for this purpose

a n d he understood th a t two such individu a ls w ere now in the

St a te o f New Jersey .

7 One client upon he a ring the st a tement th a t Lee H a rvey

.
,

Osw a ld w a s the sole a ss a ssin o f President Ken n edy l a ughs

with te a rs i n his eyes a n d sh a kes hi s he ad in a ppa re nt

dis a g ree ment .

8 The l a wyer st a ted i f he were free of the a ttorney client

.

privilege the inform a tion th a t h e would be a ble to supply

,

wou l d not d i r e c t l v identify the a lle g ed conspir a tors to kill

Preside n t Kennedy However be c a use of the project to kil l
.
,

Fidel C a stro those p a rticip a tin g i n the p ro j e c t whom he

, ,

repres e nts d ev l o p ed t hrou g h feedb a ck informa tion th a t

,
e

would iden ti fy Fide l C a stro s c ou n t e r a s s a s s i n s i n this country

w ho co ul d very well be consi d ere d suspec ts in such a

con spira cy 4 .
7

7
M emor a d u m from W a shi gto F i eld O fce t o F B I Hea dqu a r t ers
n n n ,
 85

t ra ns m itt a l sl i p a ccomp a nying thi s m e m or a n dum n o t e d No

T he ,

f urth e r in v e stig a ti o n i s b e ing co n duct e d by t h e W a s hingt o n F i e l d

Ofce u n l e ss it i s a dv i s e d t o t he co nt ra ry b y t he Bu re a u 4
H a d t he .
8

int e rv i e wing a ge n t s k n o w n o f t he C I A u n d e r w orld plot s a g a in s t -

C a s t ro th e y w ould h a ve b e e n a w a r e th a t t he l a wy e r h a d cl i e nt s wh o
,

h a d be e n a c ti v e in t he a ss a ssi n a ti o n plot s .

T he W a s hi n g t o n F i e ld Of c e m e mor a n dum o f t he int e r v i e w w a s

r e w r itt e n a t FB I H e a d qu a rt e rs b e f o r e it w a s s e nt t o t he W hit e Hou se ,
t he A tt or n e y G e n e r a l a n d t he S e cr e t S e rv i c e
, T he cov e r l e tt e r s e nt .
50

with thi s m e mor a n dum d i d n ot re comm e n d a n y F BI in v e s tig a ti o n o f

t he l a wy e r s a ll e g a ti o n s As r e w r itt e n thi s m e mor a n dum v a r i e s f rom

.
,

t he or igin a l e ld v e rs i o n in tw o s i g ni c a nt re sp e ct s T h r e e n e w p a r a .

g ra p h s w e re a dd e d summ a r i z ing F B I le m a t e r i a ls a b ou t C I A u n d e r -

w orld plot s t o a ss a ss in a t e C a st ro I n a dd iti o n t he re w r itt e n v e rs i o n

.
51

o f t he m e mor a n dum twi c e d e l e t e s t he w ords in pl a c e f rom t he

p h r as e s ource s in pl a ce close t o C a s t ro

T he sup e r v i so r wh o r e .
52

w rot e t he m e mora n dum could prov i d e n o e xpl a n a ti o n o f t he om i s s i o n .

53

N e ith e r t h e F i e l d a ge nt s wh o int e rv i e w e d t he la wy e r n or t he H e a d
q u a rt e rs sup e rv i sory a ge nt s a s s ign e d t o t he a s s a ss in a ti o n c a se coul d ,

prov i d e a n y e xpl a n a ti o n f or t he B ure a u s f a i lure t o co n duc t a n y f ol

4
l ow u p in v e s tig a ti o n W h e n th e y w e r e inf orm e d o f t he d e t a i ls o f C I A
.
5

a ss a ss in a ti o n e ff o rt s a g a in s t C a s t ro e a c h o f th e s e a ge nt s s t a t e d th a t ,
t he a ll e g a ti o n s a n d sp e c i c l e a ds prov i d e d s h ould h a v e b e e n in v e s ti
ga t e d t o th e i r lo gi c a l co n clus i o n s .
55

Al th ou gh t he S e l e ct C omm itte e ha s n o t b e e n a ble t o e s t a b l i s h

th rou gh d i re c t e v i d e n c e th a t P re s i d e nt J ohn son a sk e d CI A ofc i a ls
a bou t t h e l a w y e r s a ll e ga ti o n s C I A D i re c t or H e lms m e t with t he P re s i

,

d e nt a t t he W hite Hou se o n t he e v e ning o f M a rc h 22 196 7 E a rl i e r ,

.

th a t d a y t he P re s i de nt ha d b e e n f u rni sh e d t he FB I m e mor a n dum

,

whi c h summ a ri z e d C I A u s e o f u n d e rw orld gure s in plot s a ga in st

C a s t ro a n d t he l a wy e r s int e rv i e w On M a rc h 2 3 D i re c t or He lms

.
,

4
S
'
M e m o r a nd u m f r o m W a shi n gto n Fi e ld O f ce to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s ,
5
T h e r e w a s n o d iss e m i n a tio n to t h e CI A .

A cc o r d i n g to t h e FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s a g e n t w ho w r ot e t h e m e m o r a nd u m this
1
,

i n fo r m a tio n w a s g iv e n d i r e c t l y to hi m b y t h e D o m e sti c In t e ll i ge nc e D ivisio n .

52
G e n e r a l In v e sti ga tiv e D ivisio n Sup e r vi o r p 20 s
, . .

63
Supe r vis o r t e stim on y ,
p 20 I t is u ncle a r w h e th e r t h e i de n tity of
. .

t h e sou r c e s i n p l a c e c os e to C a st r o

w a s k n o wn to t h e FB I or w h e th e r t h e

Bu r e a u a tt e m pt e d to d e v e l op i n fo r m a tio n c o nc e r n i n g th e m i n e ith e r 196 3 or 196 7 .

4
I t shou ld b e n ot e d th a t n e ith e r t h e P r e si d e n t n or t h e A tto r n e y G e n e r a l
6 -

o r d e r e d a f o ll o w u p i n v e sti ga tio n a f t e r r e c e ivi n g this m e m o r a nd u m

-
.

I t w a s d u r i n g this ti m e p e r io d th a t N e w O r l e a n s D ist r i c t A tto r n e y J a m e s

G a r r iso n w a s c o nd u c ti n g his o wn pr o b e o f t h e Ke nn e d y a ss a ssi n a tio n A l thou g h .

th e r e is n o e vi d e nc e th a t t h e Bu r e a u s a voi d a nc e o f a n y a c tivity i n suppo r t of

,

or i n t e r fe r e nc e w ith G a r r iso n s i n v e sti g a tio n w a s t h e r e a so n for its r e fus a l to

fo ll o w up o n t h e l a w y e r s a lle ga tio n s c e r t a i n d oc u m e n ts su gge st th a t this m i ght

,

h a v e b e e n a t l e a st on e of t h e fa c to r s th a t i n u e nc e d t h e d e t e r m i n a tio n F or .

e x a m p l e De L oa c h c a utio n e d :
,

T h e a ge n ts i n t e r vi e w i n g [ t h e l a w y e r ] shou ld m a k e it q uit e cl e a r th a t t h e
FB I is n ot i n t e r fe r i n g w ith a n y c u r r e n t i n v e sti ga tio n b e i n g c o nd u c t e d
b y l o ca l a utho r iti e s i n N e w O r l e a n s ( M e m o r a nd u m fr o m De L oa c h to
.

T o l so n ,

T h e S e l e c t C o mm itt e e q u e stio n e d t h e l a w y e r a n d t h e cl i e n ts w h o w e r e t h e
55

s ou r c e s of t h e a ll e g a ti o n s T he . cl i e n ts told t h e C o mm itt e e th e y h a d n o r e c ol

l e c tion o f e ith e r r e c e ivi n g i n fo r m a tion th a t C a st r o r e t a l i a t e d or d is c us s i n g 1t

wi t h t h e l a wy e r ( Cl i e n t N o 1
. .
, pp 12 13 ; cl i e n t N o 2 p .
,
.
,
.
 86

ord e re d t he C I A I n sp e c t or G e n e r a l t o pre p a re a re port o n t he C I A

a ss a ss in a ti o n plo t s .

On Ap ri l 24196 7 t he L G b e ga n subm itting p orti o n s o f hi s re p ort

, , .

t o D i r e ct or H e lms T he M a y 23 dr a ft r e por t whi ch w a s t he o n l y dra ft

.

r e t a in e d b y t he C I A re f e rs t o t he Dre w P e a rso n colum n s a n d t he

,

l a wy e r s co nt a ct s with C hi e f J us ti c e W a rre n R o w l e y a n d t he F BI

, ,

b u t do e s n o t a n a l y z e t he r e t a l i a ti o n a ll e g a ti o n s .

S om e ti m e be tw e e n Apr i l 24a n d M a v 22 t he D i r e ct o r m e t a n d or a ll y .

b r i e fe d P re s i d e nt J o hn so n o n t he I G s n d i n gs W h e n q u e s ti o n e d
. .

.
56

during t he cours e o f t he Comm itte e s in v e s tiga ti o n in t o C I A a ss a ss in a

ti o n plot s H e lms w as n ot a sk e d sp e c i c a ll y wh e th e r he bri e f e d t he

,

P re s i d e nt a bou t t he f a ll 196 3 AM L ASH op e ra ti o n s H e l m s d i d t e s ti fy .

th a t he d i d n o t b r i e f P r e s i d e nt J o hn so n a bou t t he 1964a n d 196 5 p h as e s

b e c a us e h e d i d n ot re g a rd AM L ASH a s a n a ss a s s in a ti o n a ge nt 7
.
5

Al th ou gh a n ot e in D i re c t or H e lms h a n d w riting whi c h a pp a re nt l y

,

w a s pr e p a re d f or u se in br i e ng t he P re s i d e nt 58
o n l y re f e rs t o cov e r t
a c ti o n s a g a ins t C u b a th rou gh m i d 1 963 t h e L G R e po r t t re a t e d t he
-

, .

AM L ASH pro j e ct f rom 1963 th rou gh 196 5 as a n a ss a ss i n a t i o n

op e r a ti o n .

E v e n b e f or e w ork b e ga n o n t he 196 7 I G R e por t t he C I A a n a l v s t . . ,

'

o n t he cou nte r int e ll ige n c e s t a ff wh o h a d b e e n t he po int o f re cord f or

t he C I A w ork f or t h e W a rre n C omm is s i o n w a s a sk e d t o a n a lyz e

publ i c a ll e ga ti o n s o f co n sp i r a cy T hi s a n a l y s t w a s n o t fur ni s h e d a
.

cop y o f t he 196 7 L G R e port a n d w a s n o t a sk e d t o d e t e rm in e w h e th e r

.

th e re w e re a n y co nn e c ti o n s b e tw e e n C I A a ss a ss in a ti o n op e r a ti o n s a n d
t he a ss a ss in a ti o n o f P r e s i d e nt K e nn e d y C I A r e co r ds d i sclos e th a t .

he did r e q u e s t a n a m e c h e ck o n A t he in d i v i du a l wh o h a d b e e n t a n

,

ge n t i a lly co nn e ct e d with a n a nt i C a s t r o t r a ining c a mp in N e w

-

O rl e a n s Al th ou gh A s l e a t t he C I A n ot e s t h a t he w a s a w a re o f t he
.

AML ASH op e r a ti o n in 196 5 t he r e spo n se t o t he n a m e c h e ck d i d n o t

,

d i sclose th a t f a c t I n d e e d it w a s n o t u nti l 1975 dur in g t he R ock e fe ll e r

.
, ,

Commi s s i on s s t ud y , th a t thi s a n a l y s t l e a r n e d o f t he C I A a ss a ss in a ti o n

p l ot s 59
.

5"
A ss a ssi n a tio n Re po r t p 179 , . .

5"
R i c h a r d H e l m s t e sti m o n y p 135 , . .

A ss a ssi n a tio n R e p o r t p 1
68
79 , . .

S t a su mm a r y of i n t e r vi e w of CI A A n a l yst
5"
, 6 .
 A PP E N D I X A
THE FB I AN D THE O S W A LD S ECU R I T Y C A S E
De fe e t zon
'

A . O s w a ld s

On
'
O ct obe r 31 1959 a ft e r l e a rning th a t Le e H a rv e y O s w a ld ha d
, ,

d e f e c te d t o t he S ov i e t Uni o n a n d inf orm e d ofc i a ls a t t he Am e ri c a n

Em b a ss y in Mosco w th a t he in t e n d e d t o p rov i d e r a d a r se cre t s t o t he

S ov i e t Uni o n t he FB I op e n e d a s e cur ity c a s e with O s w a ld a s t he

,

sub j e c t As p a rt o f t he in v e stig a ti o n t he Bu re a u m a d e in q u i r i e s o f t he
.
1
,

N a v y a n d d i scov e re d th a t O s w a ld d i d n o t h a v e k n o w l e d g e o f s t r a t e gic
inf orm a ti o n th a t w ould b e n e t t he Sov i e t s T he F BI co n clud e d tha t a .

st op sh oul d b e pl a ce d a ga in s t Os w a l d s nge r p r int s t o pre v e nt hi m

f rom o bt a ining a p a ssport a n d e nt e r ing t he Unit e d S t a t e s u n d e r a n y

n a me .
2

Abou t s i x mo nth s l a t e r t he Bu r e a u inte rv i e w e d O s w a l d s m oth e r

,

wh o b e l i e v e d tha t he ha d t a k e n hi s b i r t h ce rti c a t e with hi m t o t he

S ov i e t Uni o n I n a m e mor a n dum subs e qu e nt l y s e nt t o t he S t a t e De
.
3

p a r t m e n t t he F B I r a i s e d t he poss i b i l ity th a t a n i mp ost e r m ight

,
4
a tt e m p t t o r e t ur n t o t he Unit e d S t a t e s us ing O s w a ld s i d e ntity

.

B . O s w a ld
s R e t u r n t o t he Un i t e d S t a t e s
D e s p i te thi s co n c e r n th a t a n impos t e r mi ght a tt e mp t t o e nte r t he
Unit e d S t a te s us ing Os w a l d s i d e ntity t he F BI d i d n o t int e r v i e w
,

O s w a l d u nti l a lmos t th r e e w e e ks a ft e r hi s re t ur n o n J u n e 13 ,

T h e re i s n o in d i c a ti o n th a t a n y o f t he FB I a g e nt s a s s ign e d t o t h e
O s w a ld c a s e w e re e v e r w a r n e d th a t a n i m post e r m ight a tte m p t t o
a ssum e O s w a l d s i d e ntit y I n p a rti cul a r S p e c i a l A g e nt J a m e s Hos t y

.
, ,

t h e F B I a g e nt r e s po n s i bl e f or t h e O s w a l d c a s e a t t he D a ll a s F i e ld
Ofce t e sti e d th a t he h a d n e i th e r s e e n a cop y o f t he J u n e 3 196 0
, ,

m e mor a n dum n or a tt e mp t e d t o d e t e rmi n e wh e th e r som e o n e ha d a s

,

sum e d O s w a l d s i d e ntity
6
.

On J u n e 26 1962 S p e c i a l A g e nt s J o hn W F a in a n d B T o m C a rt e r
, , . .

int e rv i e w e d O s w a l d in For t W orth T e x a s Accord ing t o SA F a in s

,
.

r e port O s w a ld w a s cold a rro g a nt a n d d i fcul t t o int e rvi e w O s w a ld

, , , .

d e ni e d th a t he t ol d S t a t e D e p a r t m e nt offi c i a ls a t t he Am e ric a n Em
b a ss y i n Mosco w th a t he w a s g o ing :
1) w a s g o ing t o r e no u n c e h is Am e r i c a n c iti z e n s hi p ;
2 ) a p pl y f or S ovi e t c iti z e n shi p ; a n d
( 3) r e v e a l ra d a r se cr e t s t o t he S ov i e t s
7

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m B e lmo n t to Sovi e t S e c tio n Sup e r viso r

: I bi d .
,

3
Re po r t f r o m D a ll a s Fi e ld O f c e to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s ,

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s to D e pa r t m e n t of St a t e ,
5
M e m o r a nd u m f r o m N e w Y o r k Fi e ld O f c e to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s ,

Os wa ld w a s i n t e r vi e w e d a t t h e d o c k b y a n I mm i g r a tio n a n d Na tu r a l i z a tio n
S e r vi c e In spe c to r o n his r e tu r n to t h e Un it e d St a t e s .

Hosty , p 119 . .

T h e C o mm itt e e h a s fou nd n o e vi d e nc e th a t a n i m post e r e n t e r e d t h e U n it e d

St a t e s i n Os w a ld s st e a d

J oh n W F a i n t e sti m o n y W a r r e n R e po r t V ol I V p 4
.

7
.
,
18 , .
, . .

( 87 )
 88

W h e n F a in a sk e d O sw a ld t o t a k e a pol yg ra p h te s t O sw a ld re f use d to ,

e ve n be p ol yg ra p h e d o n wh e th e r he h a d d e a l ing s with Sov i e t i n

t e lli g e n c e
'
8
.

O s w a l d a lso d e ni e d he ha d t r a ve l e d t o t he So vi e t Uni o n be c a use o f

a l a ck o f symp a thy f or t he in s tit u ti o n s o f t h e Unit e d S t a t e s

9
A .

s e co n d int e rv i e w o n Au g us t 16 196 2 y i e ld e d s i m i l a r d e ni a ls D e sp it e
, ,
.

O s w a ld s a ttit ud e a n d d e mo n st r a bl e l i e s t he Bure a u close d t he O s

,

w a ld s e cur it y c a se o n Au gus t 20 196 2 I t w a s n o t t o b e re op e n e d u nt il ,

.

M a rc h 26 ,

T he o n ly a dd iti o n a l a c ti o n t a k e n by t he Bure a u b e for e M a rc h 2 6 ,

1963 co n s i st e d o f : r e v i e w s o f t he O s w a l d le a t t he D e p a rt m e nt o f
,

S t a t e in qu i r i e s o f tw o lo w l e v e l D a ll a s C ommu ni s t P a r ty inf orm a nt s

,
-

a s t o wh e th e r th e y k n e w o f O s w a l d ( with n e g a ti v e r e spo n se s ) and ,

int e rv i e w s with th r e e o f O s w a ld s re l a ti v e s Al th ou gh wi d e r a nging

1
.
1 -

int e r v i e w s w e re a b a s i c i n v e s ti g a ti v e te c hn i q u e co m m on l y u se d by t he
Bure a u t o d e v e lop b a ck g rou n d inf orm a ti o n o n sub j e ct s o f s e cur ity
in v e stiga ti o n s n o n e igh b orh ood or e mplo y m e nt source s w e re ch e ck e d
,

in O s w a l d s c a s e n or w a s hi s wif e inte rv i e w e d

,
.
12

T he FB I d i d n o t int e r v i e w M a r ina O s w a l d p r i or t o t he a s s a ss in a
ti o n Al th ou gh M a r in a Osw a ld w a s co n s i d e r e d in J u n e 1962 f or a
.

Bur e a u pro g r a m wh ic h mo nit or e d t he a c ti v iti e s o f Sov i e t i mm i g r a nt s

a n d r e p a t r i a t e s t o d e t e c t poss i b l e f or e ign int e ll ige n c e ti e s t he D a ll a s ,

F i e l d Ofc e su p e rv i sor pos t po n e d co n s i d e r a t i o n o f he r f or t h e pro

g r a m o n J uly 2 5 196 2 n o tin g th a t he r a c ti v iti e s could b e sufc i e nt l y

, ,

mo nit or e d in co nn e c ti o n with t he s e cur it y c a se o n L e e H a rv e y O s

w a ld Hoov e r a s n ot e d a b ov e t he FB I se cu rity c a s e o n Le e Ha r ve y
.
13
,

O s w a ld w a s clos e d l e s s th a n a mo nth l a t e r .

W ith r e sp e c t t o O s w a ld s m a rri a ge t o M a r ina a n d he r re t u rn t o

,

t he Unit e d S t a te s t he W a rre n C omm i s s i o n s t a t e d

,

O s w a l d s m a rr i a ge t o M a rin a P r u s a k ov a o n Ap r i l 30 196 1

, ,

i s its e l f a f a c t m e riting co n s i de ra ti o n A fore ign e r l i v ing in .

R uss i a c a nn o t ma rry with ou t t he p e rm i ss io n o f t he S ov i e t

G ov e rn m e nt I t s e e ms u n l i k e l y th a t t he S ov i e t a u th oriti e s
.

w ould h a v e p e rm itt e d 0 8 d t o m a rry a n d t o t a ke hi s wi fe

with hi m t o t he Uni t e d S ta t e s if th e y w e r e co nt e mpl a ting
us ing hi m a lo n e a s a n a ge nt T he f a c t th a t he ha d a R uss ia n .
' .

8
M e m o r a nd u m f r o m Da lla s Fi e ld O f c e t o FB I H e a dq ua r te r s T he ,

Wa r r e n Co mm i s sio n a ppa r e n tl y w a s n o t p r o v i d e d w i t h t h e a d m i n ist ra tiv e c ov e r "

pa ge s of S A Fa i n s r e po r t w hi c h d i s c us se d O s wa ld s r e fusa l t o b e pol y g r a ph e d

.

N or d i d F a i n r e po rt O s wa ld s r e fus a l t o b e po l y g r a ph e d wh e n h e t e s ti e d b e fo r e

t he Wa r r e n C o mm iss i on o n M a y 6 196 4d e s pit e d e ta i l e d q u e s tio n i ng b y C o mm is

, ,

sion m e m b e r s F o r d a n d D u ll e s a s to t h e d is c e pa nci e s i n Os wa ld s st a t e m e n t s a n d r

F a i n s r e a c tion to th e m ( F a i n t e sti m o n y W a r r e n Re po r t V ol I V p

.
, , .
, .

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m D a ll a s Fi e ld Of ce to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s

,

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m G a l e to T o l so n
1
,
1
M e m o r a nd u m f r o m G a l e to To l so n ,

A ssist a n t D i r e c to r G a l e c o mm e n t e d upo n this fa i l u r e i n his m e m o r a nd u m of

9

D e c e m b e r 10 196 3 w h e r e h e w r ot e : N o n e i gh b o r hoo d or e m pl oy m e n t sou r ce s

, ,

d e ve l ope d w ife n ot i n te r vi e w e d n o m a i l c ove r s or oth e r t e ch n i q u e s we r e us e d

, ,

to d e t e r m i n e w ho m Os w a ld i n c o n ta c t w ith or w h e th e r h e h a d a n i n t e ll i g e nc e
a ssi gn m e n t In spe c to r fe e l s this l i m it e d i n v e sti ga tio n i n a d e q u a t e D a ll a s a ge n t
. .

r e spo n si b l e for d e l i nq u e nc i e s n o w r e ti r e d a n d n o e xp l a n a tio n s o b t a i n e d f r o m

hi m .

3
M e m o r a nd u m fr o m D a lla s F i e ld O f ce to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s 7 ,
 90

I n O ct ob e r 196 2 SA Hos t y w as a s s ign e d t he M a rin a O s w a ld se cu rity

,

c a se whi ch w a s t h e n in a pe n d ing in a c ti ve st a t us T he le w a s r e
,

.

v i e w e d by Hos ty in M a rc h 196 3 wh e n he a l s o loc a te d M a rin a O s w a ld , ,

bu t he d i d n ot inte rv i e w he r b e c a u s e o f he r a ll e ge d m a ri t a l d i f c u lt i e s .
20

Host y re v i e w e d t he D a ll a s se c u rity le o n O s w a l d a n d o n t he b a s i s ,

o f O s wa ld s sub scr i p ti o n t o T he W or k e r r e qu e s te d a pp rov a l t o

,

re op e n t he c a se O n M a rc h 2 6 196 3 H os ty re ce i v e d a pprov a l Hosty

1 ?
, , .

st a te d th a t he d i d n o t in t e r v i e w M a r in a O s w a ld b e c a u se he h a d d e
v e lop e d inf o r m a ti o n th a t O s w a ld h a d be e n d r i nk ing t o e x c e ss a n d

b e a ting hi s wife a n d t he re l e v a nt F BI m a n u a l p r ov i s i o n r e qui re d th a t

,

he a llo w a
cool ing o ff p e r i od FB I D i re c t or Hoo v e r l a t e r com
22
.

m e n t e d o n t he D e c e m b e r 10 196 3 G a l e m e mora n dum th a t thi s w a s , ,

c e rt a in l y a n a s inin e e xcuse a n d I j us t do n t u n d e rs t a n d suc h sol i c i

t ud e I n sp e c t or G a l e ha d w ritt e n th a t :
.

thi s e nti re f a c e t o f t he in v e s tiga ti o n w a s m i sh a n dl e d Mrs . .

O s w a l d d e nite l y s h ould h a ve be e n i n te rv i e w e d a n d t he be st
ti m e t o ge t inf o r m a ti o n f rom he r w ould be a ft e r she w a s
b e a t e n up by he r h usb a n d .

T he D i re c t or a dd e d t h e f ollo wing n o t a ti o n n e x t t o G a l e s c o n clu s i o n :

T hi s ce rt a in l y m a k e s se n se
.
23

On Ap ri l 2 1 1963 t he N e w Y ork F i e ld Ofc e l e a rn e d th a t O sw a ld

, ,

h a d w ritte n a l e tte r t o t he F a i r P l a y for Cu b a n C omm itte e T hi s w a s .

t he r s t i n d i c a ti o n in Bur e a u l e s th a t O s w a ld h a d a re l a ti o n shi p
wi t h thi s pr o C a s t ro o r g a n i z a t i on
-

O s w a ld s l e tte r st a t e d tha t he .
2 3a

h a d p a sse d ou t E P C C l ite r a t u re in D a ll a s with a pl a c a rd a rou n d

hi s ne c k re a d ing H a n ds O ff Cub a V i v a F i d e l T hi s inf orm a ti o n w as

.

n o t re port e d t o D a ll a s u nti l J u n e 27 a n d n o t re po r te d t o H e a d

u a r t e rs u nti l S e p te mb e r 1 On g in O w a ld s a c ti v iti e s

q 0 c e a a s , ,

co nt r a d i c te d hi s i n t e r v i e w s t a te m e nt s .

On M a y 2 7 1963 Hos ty re t ur n e d t o t he O s w a l ds Ne e l y S t re e t
, ,

r e s i d e n ce t o inte rv i e w Ma r in a a n d w a s inf orm e d th a t t he O s w a lds

ha d mov e d f rom t he D a ll a s a re a wi th ou t l e a v ing a f o r w a rd ing a d
dre ss I n r e s po n s e t o a n S A C m e mora n dum i ssu e d b y t he D a ll a s
.

o f c e se e k ing inf orm a ti o n o n t he O s w a lds wh e re a bou t s t he N e w

,

O rl e a n s ofce i n f o r m e d D a ll a s o n J ul y 17 196 3 th a t t he O s w a lds w e re , ,

l i v ing in th a t c ity T he Bur e a u a pp a r e nt l y l e a r n e d o f O s w a ld s

? 6

pre s e n ce in N e w O rl e a n s f rom a l e tt e r he h a d w r itt e n t o T he W or k e r '

o n J u n e 2 6 1963 O s w a ld cl a i m e d in t he l e tt e r t o be a lo ng ti m e
,
.
-

sub scr i be r a n d st a t e d th a t he w as f orm ing a n F P CC c h a p t e r in

N e w O rl e a n s H e e n close d h o n ora r y m e mbe r s hi p c a rds f or th os e
.

2"
Hosty , p 119 . .

21
Hosty ,
p 111 . .

2
Hosty ,
p 119 .

T h e C o mm itt e e h a s v e r i e d th a t si nc e su c h a m a n u a l p r ovisio n w a s i n e e c t
.

it a ppe a s th a t H os t y s d e c isio n to a ll o w a c oo l i n g 0 1 15 p e io d p io r to i n t e

r r r r

vi e w i n g M a r i n a w a s e n ti e l y i n a cc o r d a nc e wi th FB I r e g u l a tio n s N e ith e t h e
r . r

d o c u m e n ts n or t h e t e sti m o n y of k n o wl e d ge a b l e FB I O f ce r s p ovi d e s a n y e x r

pl a n a tio n for e ith e r Hoov e r or G a l e s c iti ca l c o mm e n ts

r .

3
M e m o a nd u m f r o m G a le to T o l son
r ,
2
M e m o r a nd u m f o m D a ll a s Fi e ld Of ce to F B I H e a dq u a r t e r s

r ,
2
M e m o a nd u m f r o m G a l e to T o l so n
r ,
25
M e m o r a nd u m f r o m D a ll a s Fi e ld Of c e to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s ,
2"
M e m o r a nd u m f r o m D a ll a s Fi e ld O f ce to FB I He a dq u a r t e s a n d N e w O l e a n s r r

Fi e ld O f c e ,
 91

figh te rs f or p e a ce Mr G us H a ll ( S e cre t a ry Ge ne ra l o f t he C om
,

.

mu n l s t P a r ty U SA ) a n d B e n j a m in D a v i s ( N a ti o n a l S e cr e t a r y o f
,

t he C ommu ni s t P a r ty U SA ) O u S e p t e m be r 10 196 3 Ne w O rl e a n s
, .
2 7 '

,
be ca m e t he ofce for t he O s w a ld c a s e ? 8

D T he C on t i n u e d I n v e s t i ga t i on
. : N e w O r le a ns
O s w a ld w a s a rre s t e d o n Au g u st 9 1963 in N e w O r l e a n s in co nn e c
'

, ,

ti on with hi s F P CC a cti v iti e s a n d c h a rge d with d i s t urb ing t he p e a c e

by cre a ting a sc e n e On t he morning o f Au g us t 10 O s w a ld a sk e d t o

.
29
,

s e e a Bur e a u a g e nt a n d he w a s int e r v i e w e d a t l e ngth b SA J o hn L

, y .

Q u igl e y O s w a ld a lso r e p e a t e dl y l i e d t o thi s F B I a ge nt For e x a mpl e

.
.
,
l e t old Q u ig l e y th a t he ha d m e t a n d m a rr i e d hi s wif e in For t W orth

i

e xa s .
"o
,

T he N e w O rl e a n s ofce l e a rn e d o n Au gus t 2 2, 1963 th a t O s w a ld ,

p a rti c i p a t e d in a r a d i o p ro g ra m wh e re he st a te d th a t he w a s a Ma rx i s t
a n d th a t Cub a i s t he o n l y r e a l r e volu ti o n a r y cou nt ry in t he w orld

t od a y 1
. On Au gus t 2 3 1963 t he Ne w O rl e a n s ofc e w a s in s t r ucte d
3
, ,
by H e a d qu a rt e rs t o su b m i t r e sul t s o f th e i r O s w a ld in v e s tiga ti o n t o

t he Bu re a u 32
On S e p t e mb e r 241963 t he N e w O rl e a n s ofc e a dv i s e d
.
, ,
t he Bure a u th a t t he in v e s tig a ti o n w a s co ntin u ing a n d th a t a re p o r t
d t i l ing
e a t h e i v tig ti v e n d ing s w ould be f ur ni s h e d A n in v e s ti
n e s a 33
.

g a t i v e r e port w a s su b se q u e nt l y s e nt t o t he Bu re a u o n O c t ob e r 31 1 96 3 , ,
b u t it d i d n o t c o nt a in a n y s igni c a nt inf orm a ti o n th a t w a s n o t a lre a d y
in O s w a ld s H e a d qu a rt e rs le T he re port re v e a ls th a t o n l y tw o i n

.

f orm a nt s in t he N e w O rl e a n s a re a w e re a ske d a b ou t O s w a ld a n d th a t
34
n e ith e r ha d h e a rd o f hi m .

On O ct ob e r 2 196 3 a ge nt s o f t he Ne w O rl e a n s ofc e a tte mp t e d t o

, ,
a sc e rt a i n O s w a l d s re s i d e n c e a n d pl a c e o f e mplo y m e nt T h e y l e a r n e d

.

th a t t he O s w a l d s ha d l e ft Ne w O rl e a n s L e a ds t o loc a te O s w a ld w e re .

s nt t o D a ll a s For t W o rth , a n d M a lv e rn Ark a n s a s

e ,
35
, .

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m N e w O r l e a n s Fi e ld O i c e to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s
2
,

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m D a ll a s Fi e ld O i c e to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s

,

T h e r e is n o i nd i c a tio n i n FB I d o c u m e n ts or t h e W a r r e n C o mm issio n s r e c o r d
2"

th a t Os wa ld w a s i n N e w O r le a n s o n a n y o cc a sio n b e t w e e n O c to b e r 1959 a n d
A p r i l 2 4 1963 Ho w e v e r a n I mm i g r a tio n a n d N a tu r a l i z a tio n S e r vi c e In sp e c to r
, .
,

t e sti e d b e fo r e t h e C o mm itte e t h a t h e is a b so l ut e l y c e r t a i n th a t h e i n t e r vi e w e d
L e e H a r v e y Os w a ld i n a N e w O r l e a n s j a i l c e ll so m e ti m e sho r t l y b e fo r e his A p r i l
1 196 3 t ra ns f e r out of N e w O r l e a ns A lt hou g h t h e In sp e ct or is n ot no w c e r ta i n
, , .

wh e th e r O s wa ld w a s usi n g t h a t pa r ti c u l a r na m e a t t h a t ti m e h e is ce r ta i n ,

th a t Os w a ld w a s cl a i m i n g to b e a C u ba n a li e n a n d th a t h e i n t e r vi e w e d Os

w a ld to v e r ify or d isp r ove this st a tus T h e In sp e c tor n e ith e r r e c a ll s w h a t Os .

w a ld s a i d n or w h a t l a n gu a ge or l a n g u a ge s h e c o n v e r s e d i n H e d o e s n ot r e ca ll .

a n ythi n g u n usu a l a b out Os w a ld s d r e ss or d e m e a n o r a n d b e l i e v e s th a t h e q ui c k l y

,

a s c e r t a i n e d th a t Os w a ld w a s n ot a C u b a n a l i e n a t w hi c h t i m e h e w ou ld h a v e ,

l e f t O s wa ld i n his j a i l c e ll ( I " N S In s p e ct o r t e s ti m o n y .
'
,

O n J a n u a r y 6 1976 t h e C o mm itt e e st a ff t e l e pho n i c a ll y c o n t a c t e d t h e N e w

, ,

O r l e a n s P o l i c e De p a r t m e n t a n d r e q u e st e d th a t th e y r e vi e w th e i r Os w a ld a r r e st
r e c o r d s to s e e if h e h a d b e e n a r r e st e d oth e r th a n o n A u g ust 9 1 963 O n J a n u a r y 7 , .
,

t h e st a ff w a s i n fo r m e d th a t th e r e w a s n o r e c o r d of a n oth e r Os w a ld a r r e st a n d ,

th a t t h e N e w O r l e a n s P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t i n fa c t h a d n o i n fo r m a tio n o n Os w a ld , ,

p r io r to A ug ust 9 1963 , .

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m N e w O r l e a n s Fi e ld Of c e to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s
3"
,

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m N e w O r l e a n s Fi e ld O f c e to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s
3
,

p 11. .

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s t o N e w O r l e a n s Fi e ld Of c e
32
,

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m N e w O r l e a n s Fi e ld O f c e to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s
3
,

M e m o r a nd u m fr o m N e w O r l e a n s Fi e ld O f c e to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s
: I bi d .
,
 92

T he v i d e n c e in d i c a t e s th a t L e e H a rv e y O s w a ld w a s in M e x ic o
e

C ity f rom S e p t e m be r 2 7 196 3 th rou gh O ct obe r 2 1968 On O ctob e r 10 , , .

,

196 3 Bur e a u H e a dqu a rt e r s w a s p r ov i d e d with a cop y o f a C I A c a bl e

,

whi c h st a t e d th a t Le e H e n ry O s w a l d ( s i c ) ha d b e e n in co nta ct
'

with t he S ov i e t Em b a ss y in M e x i co C ity o n S e p te mb e r 2 8 ,

I t w a s n o t u nti l O ct obe r 1963 th a t inf orm a ti o n p e rt a ining t o ,

O s w a l d s M e x i co C ity t ri p w a s prov i de d t o t he N e w O rl e a n s of c e

.
37

S A Hosty in D a lla s ha d b y c h a n c e a sc e rt a in e d s i m i l a r inf o r m a ti o n

f rom t he loc a l I " N S o f c e a n d co in c i d e nt a ll y hi s re por t d e t a i l ing ,

thi s inf orm a ti o n w a s re c e i v e d in N e w O rl e a n s o n O c t ob e r 22 ,

T h us d e sp it e t he f a ct th a t bo th t he D a l l a s a n d N e w O rl e a n s e ld
,

ofc e s w e r e a w a r e th a t O s w a ld h a d b e e n in co nt a c t with t he S ov i e t
Em b as s y in Me x i co C ity th e r e i s n o e v i d e n c e tha t e ith e r o f th e s e
,

e l d of c e s int e n s i e d th e i r e ffort s t o loc a t e a n d int e rv i e w O s w a ld

.

Most surpr i s ing h o w e v e r i s th a t t he S ov i e t e xp e r t s a t F B I H e a d

, ,

q u a rt e rs d i d n o t int e n s ify th e i r e ffort s in t he O s wa l d c a s e a ft e r be ing

inf orm e d th a t O sw a ld ha d me t with V i ce C o n sul K osti kov a t t he
S ov i e t Em b a ss y in M e x i co C ity N ot o n l y w e re th e s e e xp e r t s f a m i l i a r
9
.
3

with Sov i e t a cti v iti e s in ge n e ra l bu t th e y k n e w th a t K osti kov w a s a ,

m e m b e r o f t he K G B Furth e r t he Bu re a u s S ov i e t e xp e rt s ha d re a s o n
.
,

t o b e l i e v e he w a s a n a ge nt withi n t he KG B s D e pa rt m e nt whi c h c a r

4
r i e s ou t a ss a ss in a ti o n a n d s a b o t a ge T h e y w e re a lso a w a r e tha t .
0

Am e r i c a n c iti z e n con t a c t s with t he Sov i e t Emb a s s y in M e x i co C ity

w e re e x t re m e l y r a re I ro ni c a ll y t he t e l e ty p e whi c h inf orm e d t he
11
.

Bur e a u o f O s w a ld s M e x i co C ity a cti v iti e s w a s s itting o n a p i l e o f

docum e nts o n a H e a d q u a r te rs sup e rv i sor s d e s k a w a iting initi a l a c

ti o n o n N ov e mbe r 22 196 3 T h a t porti o n o f t he G a l e m e mora n dum

, .

whi c h d i scusse s O s w a ld s M e x i co C ity t r i p r e a ds a s f ollo w s :

T he S O G [ S e a t o f G ov e r n m e nt ] sup e rv i s o r f a i l e d t o t a ke a n y
a c ti o n o n t he t e l e ty p e s s t a ting it d i d n o t a pp e a r t o hi m a n y
,

a c ti o n w a s w a rr a nt e d I n sp e ct or G a l e ) f e e ls
. t he
e ld s h ould h a v e b e e n ins t r u ct e d t o int e n s ify in v e stig a
ti o n a n d O s w a ld pl a c e d o n S e cur ity I n d e x
f 2

E . Con t i n u e d I n v e s t i ga t i on : Da l las
OnO ct ob e r 2 6 , 196 3, t he N e w O rl e a n s F i e ld Of c e a dv i s e d t he
D a ll a s ofc e th a t t he O s w a lds ha d l e ft a f o r w a rd ing a ddre ss in I rv ing,
3"
CI A C a b l e f r o m M e xi c o St a ti on t o FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s m e m o r a nd u m
f r o m LE G A T M e xi c o C ity to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s
, ,

A ll t h e i n f orm a ti on th a t t h e FB I h a d p r io r t o N ove m b e r 2 2 196 3 on Os w a ld s

I
. ,

a c tiviti e s i n M e xi c o C ity c a m e f r o m t h e CI A O n O c t ob e r 3 1 96 3 t h e CI A M e xi c o .
, ,

St a tio n r e po r t e d to H e a dq u a r te r s th a t Os w a ld h a d b e e n i n c o n t a ct w ith t h e
Sovi e t E m b a ssy O n O c to b e r 10 196 3 CI A H e a dq u a r t e r s pa ss e d this i n fo r m a ti on
. , ,

w ith s o m e b a c k g r ou nd m a t e r i a l to t he Na vy t h e St a t e D e pa r t m e n t a n d t h e , ,

FB I T h e M e xi c o St a tio n m a d e a si m i l a r d ist r i b utio n to FB I a n d St a t e D e pa r t

m e n t oi c i a l s i n M e xi co Si n c e Os w a ld w a s a n A me r i c a n c iti ze n a n d s i nc e FB I
.

. ,

w a s t h e r e spon si b l e a g e nc y d iss e m i n a ti n g this i n f o r m a tio n e nd e d C I A s r e

,

spon si b i l ity i n this m a tt e r .

3"
M e m o r a nd u m f r o m FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s to LE GA T M e xi c o C i ty , ,

c opy to N e w O r l e a n s Fi e ld O i c e .

"
M e m o r a nd u m fr o m D a ll a s Fi e ld Of c e to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s c opy ,

to N e w O r l e a n s Fi e ld O f ce .

3"
M e m o r a nd u m f r o m LE G A T M e xi c o C ity to FB I H e a dq u a r t e r s
, ,

4 In fo m tio n C on su l K ostikov w a s m a d e a v a i l a b l e to t h e
r e ga r d i n g V i c e

r a
W a r r e n C o mm issio n ( L e tt e r fr o m CI A to t h e W a r r e n C o mm ission
. ,

Fo r m e r FB I M e xi c o C ity Le g a l A tt a c h e t e sti m o n y
1
p 17 ,
. .

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m G a l e to To l so n
2
,
 A PP E ND I X B

TH E FB I AN D TH E D E S T RU C T I O N or TH E O S W A LD N OT E

In rl y J ul y 1975 a D a ll a s n e w sm a n me t with f orm e r FB I S p e ci a l

ea ,

A ge nt i n C h a r ge for D a ll a s J G ordo n S h a n kl in T he n e w sm a n i n
- -

,
. .

f orm e d S h a n kl in th a t a n u nid e nti e d source ha d t old hi m th a t Le e

H a rv e y O s w a l d ha d v i s it e d t he FB I ofc e in D a ll a s som e ti m e pr i or to
t he a ss a ss in a t io n a n d h a d l e ft a th r e a t e ning n o t e f or S p e c ia l A ge nt
J a m e s Hos ty wh o h a d b e e n c o nd uc ting t he FB I in v e s tiga ti o n of
,

O s w a ld T he n e w sm a n s t a te d th a t n e ith e r O s w a ld s v i s it , n or t he n ot e
.
'
,

we r e re port e d t o FB I H e a d qu a r te rs ofc i a ls S h a n kl in su gge st e d .

t he n e w sm a n co nt a ct D e pu ty Assoc i a t e D i re c t or J a m e s Ad a ms a t FB I
H e a d q u a rt e rs 1
.

On J ul y 7 1975 t he n e w sm a n me t i n W a s hingt o n D C with Ad a ms

, , , . .
,

a n d D i re c t or K e ll e y a n d inf orm e d th e m o f th e s e a ll e g a ti o n s T he A t .

t or n e y G e n e r a l w a s a dvis e d o n J ul y 8 1975 th a t t he Bure a u int e n de d

, ,

t o co n duct a n in qu i ry re ga rd ing th e se a ll e ga ti on s L a te r th a t d a y , ?

D i r e ct or K e ll e y h e l d a co nfe re n ce with Ad a ms S h a n kl in t he H e a d , ,

q u a rt e rs a ge nt a ss i gn e d t o t he a ss a ss in a ti o n c a se t he Ass i s t a nt D i rc e ,

t or i n c h a r ge o f t he I n sp e cti o n D i v i s i o n a n d t he D a ll a s S A C T he ,
.

Ass i s t a nt D i re c to r in c h a r ge o f t h e I n sp e cti o n D i v i s i o n w a s as s ign e d

p e rso n a l r e spo n s i b i l it y f or d i re cting t he F B I in q u i ry o f t he c i r
cum s t a n ce s surrou n d ing t he d e l i ve ry a n d dupl i c a ti o n o f t he n o te 3
.

T he Bure a u s init i a l le re v i e w f a il e d t o d e v e lop a n y inf orm a ti o n

in d i c a ting th a t O s w a l d h a d e v e r v i s it e d t he FB I e l d ofce in D a ll as
4
or th a t he ha d l e ft a n ot e FB I inte rvi e w s with p e rso nn e l a ss ign e d t o
.

t he D a ll a s e l d o fc e in 1 963 e s t a b l i s h e d th a t

( 1) Le e H a rv e y O s w a l d d i d v i s it t he ofc e som e tw o or
th re e w e e ks p r i or t o t he as s a s s in a ti o n ;
2 ) O s w a ld a sk e d t o se e S A J a m e s Hos t y a n d up o n b e ing ,

inf orm e d th a t he w a s n o t in l e ft a n ot e f or Hos t y ; a n d

,

( 3) t he n ot e w as d e s t roy e d a ft e r t h e a ss a ss in a ti o n
5
.

T he e v i d e n ce d e v e lop e d b y t he Bur e a u c o nt a in e d s h a rp co n i ct s .

T he i n v e s tig a ti o n f a i l e d t o e s t a b l i s h
1
( ) wh e th e r t h e n o t e w a s th r e a t e ning in n a t ur e a n d
( 2 ) a t wh o se in s t r uc t io n t h e n o t e w as d e s t ro y e d .

R a th e r tha n a tt e m p ting t o dra w co n clus i o n s f rom a n e v i d e nti a ry

r e cord re pl e t e with f a ct u a l d i scr e p a n c i e s t he C omm itt e e ha s d e c i de d
,

t o s e t f orth in summ a ry f a s hi o n t he e v i d e n ce d e v e lop e d hy th e Bure a u

t he comm itt e e high l ighting th os e a re a s wh e re d l s c r e pa n c i e s
o

a nd ,

e xis t .

1
J G o r d o n Sh a n k l i n t e sti m o n y
. p 10 ,
. .

M e m o r a nd u m f r o m t h e D i r e c to r FB I to t h e , , A tto r n e y Ge n e r a l 7
a
I bi d .

M e m or a n d u m fr o m D i r e c to r FB I to tto rn e y G e n e r a l
: I bi d
l
.
t he , t he A ,

( 95 )
 96

T he W or d i n g o f t he N o t e
Approx i m a t e l y on e w e e k or t e n d a y s p r i o r t o N ov e m be r 2 2 196 3 , ,

L e e H a rv e y O s w a ld a pp e a re d a t t he re c e p ti o n d e sk in t he D a l l a s
e l d ofce a n d a sk e d t o se e S p e c i a l A ge nt J a m e s Hosty A ft e r be ing .

inf orm e d th a t he w a s n o t a v a i l a bl e O s w a ld l e ft a n e n ve lop e with ,

a n o t e in s i d e fo r Hos ty T he e n v e lop e w a s u n se a l e d a n d t he n o t e w a s
.

p a r t l y v i s i bl e Acc
. o rd ing t o t h e r e c e p ti o ni s t s t he n ot e r e a d a s f ollo w s ,

L e t thi s b e a w a r ning I wi ll blo w up t he FB I a n d t he Da ll as .

P ol i c e D e p a r t m e nt if y ou do n t st op b oth e r ing m y wife

-

.

lS i
g n e d L e e H a rv e y O s w a ld .

Som e ti m e l a t e r in t he d a y t he r e c e p ti o ni st s p e rs o n a ll y g a v e t he n ote
t o Hosty 6
.

H o s ty r e c a ll e d t he n ot e s w ord ing a s :
-

I f y ou h a v e a nything y ou w a nt t o l e a r n a b ou t m e com e ,

t a lk t o m e d i re ct l y I f y ou do n t ce a s e b oth e r ing m y wife

.
,

I wi ll t a k e a ppropr i a t e a cti o n a n d re port t hi s t o p rop e r

a u th or iti e s
?

Hos t y su p e rv i sor s a i d he re c a ll e d tha t t he n o t e co nt a in e d som e

s

k in d o f th r e a t b u t c oul d n o t re m e m be r s pe c i c s
,
.
8

As i d e f rom t he r e c e p ti o nis t A ge nt Hos ty a n d t he sup e rv i s or n o , , ,

on e e ls e int e r v i e w e d b y t he FB I r e c a ll e d ha v ing s e e n t h e n o t e S om e .

oth e r in d i v i du a l s in d i c a t e d th a t f rom co n v e rs a ti o n s th e y h a d ha d
with t he r e ce p ti oni st a ft e r t he a ss a ss in a ti o n th e y u n de rst oo d th a t t he ,

n ot e co nt a in e d a th re a t .

Ci r c u ms t a n c e s S u r r ou nd i n g t he De s t r u c t i on of t he N o t e
A fte r r e a d ing t he n ote Hos ty pl a c e d it in hi s w or kbo x wh e re it,
-

r e m a in e d u nti l t he d a y o f t he a ss a ss i n a ti o n On t he d a y o f t he a s s a s s i .

n a ti o n H o sty p a rti c i p a te d in a n int e rv i e w o f O s w a ld a t t he D a ll a s

,

P ol i c e D e p a rt m e n t W h e n he re tu rn e d t o t he e l d ofc e a b ou t a n h our
.

l a te r Hos ty w a s c a ll e d int o S ha n kl i n s ofc e wh e r e he m e t w ith hi s

,

sup e rv i sor a n d S h a nk l in O n e o f th e m d i spl a y e d t he n o t e a n d a sk e d

.

Hos ty t o e xpl a in it s co nte nts Host y t old th e m he h a d i nt e rv i e w e d

9
.

M a r in a O s w a l d a t t he r e s i d e n c e o f R u th P a in e o n N ov e m b e r 1 196 3 ,
.

Accord ing t o Hos ty du ring t he p os t a ss a ss in a ti o n i nte rv i e w a t t he

,
-

D a ll a s P ol i ce D e p a r t m e nt O s w a ld comm e nte d th a t Hos ty w a s t he ,

FB I a ge nt w h o h a d both e r e d hi s wi fe a n d th a t i f t he a ge nt w a nte d ,

t o k n o w som e thing a b ou t O s w a ld he s h ould h a v e com e a n d t a lke d t o ,

O s w a ld hi ms e l f 10
.

Accord ing t o Hos ty S h a n kl in ord e re d hi m t o pre p a re a m e mor a n

,

dum d e t a i l ing f a ct s p e rt a ining t o t he n o te a n d hi s int e r v i e w with

M a r in a O s w a ld a n d R u th P a in e Hos ty t e s ti e d th a t he d i d p r e p a re .

suc h a m e mor a n dum a n d d e l i v e re d it t o S h a n kl i n o n t he e v e ning o f

N ov e m b e r 22 ,

f d vit of c ptio n ist 7

A a re e ,

f d vit of J m s Hosty J r 7/ 17/ 75

A a a e P .
, .
, .

8
of sup viso r
A i d a v i t er 5 , .

T hesup viso st t d th a t t h e n ot e w a s on pl a i n p a pe r
e r r a e , was e ith e r h a nd
w itt n
r e a n d w a s th r e a t e n i n g i n n a tu r e
or h a n d p r i n t e d
5 p 14
.
.

Hosty a f d a vit 7/ 17/ 75 Hosty

9
7 .

p 14
, , , .

Hosty a f d a vit
1"
Hosty, 8 , . .

Hosty
1
p 153
, . .
 A PP E ND I X C '

C H R O N OLOGY

1959

J a nu a r y I F i d e l C a s t ro t a k e s ov e r t he C u b a n g ov e r n m e nt B a ti s t a
.

a n d hi s p e r s o n a l a i d e s l e a v e C u b a .

De c e m be r I I
Dull e s a pprov e s
th orou gh co n s i d e r a ti o n be give n t o
t he e limi n a t i on o f Fid e l C a s t ro
.

196 0

La t e S e p t e m be r B i ss e ll a n d E d w a rds b ri e f Dull e s and C a be ll

a b ou t op e r a ti o n s a a i n s t C a s t ro .

I niti a l m e e ting tw e e n R o ss e ll i M a h e u a n d C I A Support C hi e f

,
.

A subs e q u e nt m e e t i ng ta ke s pl a ce i n Flori d a .

196 1

J a n u a r y 22 P re s i d e nt K e nn e d y succ e e ds P re s i de nt E i s e nh o w e r .

M a r c h P re s i d e nt K e nn e d y r a i s e s sub j e ct o f a ss a ssi n a ti o n with

S e na t or Sm a th e rs in d i c a ting h is d i s a pp ro v a l
,
.

A p r i b R oss e ll i p a sse s po i so n p i lls t o a C u b a n in M i a m i .

A pr i l J 5 y of P i g s i n v a s mn f a i ls
Ba .

M a y QZ Hoove r m e mor a n dum t o A tt or n e y G e n e r a l R o be r t

Ke nn e d y n o ting C I A ha d use d G i a nc a n a in cl a n d e s tin e e ffort s
'

N ov e m be r I 6 P re s i d e nt gi ve s sp e e c h m e n ti o ni ng oppos it io n t o
s s in a t ion
a s as .

N ov e m be r J o hn M c Con e succ e e ds All e n Dull e s as D i re c t or ,

C IA .

N ov e m be r O p e ra ti on M O N G OO SE i s cre a te d .

De c e m be r F B I m e e t s with L a n sd a l e r e : M O N G OO S E .

196 2

F e br u a r y I Q H e lms succ e e ds B i sse ll as D e pu ty D i re ct or P l a n s ,

C IA .

A p r i l H a rv e y e s t a b l i s h e s co nt a c t with R oss e ll i .

L a t e A p r i l H a rv e y p a ss e s po i so n p i lls t o R oss e ll i in M i a m i .

M a y 7 Houst o n a n d E d w a rds b r i e f A tt orn e y G e n e r a l o n p r e B a y -

o f Pi gs u n d e r w orld a ss a ss in a ti o n plo t .

M a y I O A tt or n e y G e n e r a l K e nn e d y t e lls Hoov e r th a t t he C I A h a s
use d u n d e r w orl d gu re s in a n e ffo r t t o a ss a ss ina te C a s t ro .

( 99)
 100

S e pte R oss e ll i t e l ls H a rv e y t he p i lls

m be r 7

a re s ti ll in C ub a .

O c t obe r 22 28 Cub a n m i ss i l e c r i s i s .

N ov e m be r O pe rr a t i on M O NG O O S E e n ds .

196 3

E a r ly 1963 W i ll i a m H a r v e y t e lls u n d e r w orld gur e s t he CI A i s

n o lo nge r int e re st e d in a ss a ss in a ting C a st ro .

M a r c h I 8 A tt a ck o n a Sov i e t v e ss e l o ff t he n orth e r n co a s t o f Cu b a
by m e mb e rs o f Alp h a 6 6 a ss i s te d b y m e mb e rs o f t he S e c o n d N a ti on a l
,

F ro nt o f E s c a mb r a y re port e dl y occurs .

M a r c h 26 A tt a ck o n a Sov i e t v e ss e l by m e mbe rs o f Comm a n dos

L6 6 a n o th e r a nti C a s t ro g r oup r e port e dl y occu r s
,
-

,
.

A p r i l Sp e c i a l G roup d i scuss e s t he co ntinge n c y o f C a s t r o s d e a th

.

M a yS e p t e m be r Le e H a rv e y O s w a ld mov e s t o N e w O r l e a n s ; b e
com e s in volv e d with F P CC H e c o nt ac t s a nti C a st ro Cub a n s a s w e ll
.
-
.

M i d 1963 S e r i e s o f m e e tings a mo ng m a j o r l e a d e rs o f t he a n t i
C a s t ro m ov e m e nt .

J u n e S p e c i a l G roup d e c i d e s t o st e p up cov e r t op e r a ti o n s a g a in s t
Cub a
J u ly 24
.

T e n C u b a n e x i l e s a rr i v e in N e w O rl e a n s f rom M i a m i a n d "

j oi n t he t r a ining c a mp n orth o f N e w O rl e a n s T hi s t ra ining c a m p

.

i s d i re cte d b y t he s a m e i n d i v i du a l s wh o w e re p r e v i ously in volv e d i n

procu ri ng d yna m it e A a l ife l o ng f r i e n d o f AM LASH ha d h e lp e d

.

,
-

procure t he d yn a m it e ,

L a t e J u ly C a rlos B r i n gu i e r i s re q u e s t e d t o a s s i s t ex i l e s a t t he

t r a i ning c a mp in re t ur ning t o Mi a mi

.

J u ly 3I T he F B I se i z e s more th a n a t o n o f d yn a m ite 2O bomb c as ,

ings n a p a lm m a t e r i a l a n d oth e r d e v i c e s a t a h o me in t he Ne w O rl e a n s
,

a r e a A rti cl e s a pp e a r in t he N e w O rl e a n s T i m e P i c a u n e o n Au gus t 1
.
y ,

2, a nd 41968
,
.

A u gu s t I 6 C hi c a g o S u n Ti m e s c a rr i e s a n a r ti cl e th a t r e port s C I A
h a d d e a l ing s with t he u n d e r w orld g ure S a m Gi a n c a n a .

H e lms inf orms M c Con e o f t he C I A op e r a ti o n in volv ing Gi a n c a n a ,

a n d te lls hi m it in vol v e d a ssa ss in a ti o n .

A u gust Acco rd ing t o FB I re port a L a tin Am e r i c a n m i l ita r y of ,

c e r a tte n ds a Cu b a n e x i l e g roup m e e ting a n d t a lks o f a ss a ss ina ti o n .

E a r ly S e p t e m be r T a lks b e tw e e n t he C u b a n d e l e g a t e t o t he Uni t e d
N a ti o n s L a C h u ga a n d a U S d e l e ga t e , W i ll i a m A tw ood a r e pro
,
.

,
. .
,

pos e d by t he C ub a n s .

S e p t e m be r 7 C I A c a s e ofc e rs a ft e r th e i r rs t m e e ting with

,

AM L ASH s in c e pr i o r t o t he O ct ob e r 196 2 m i ss i l e cr i s i s c a bl e h e a d

q ua rt e rs th a t AM LASH i s int e re s t e d in a tt e m p ting a n in s i d e j ob

a g a in s t C a s t ro a n d i s a w a iting a U S pl a n o f a c ti o n . . .

C a st ro gi v e s a n i mpromp t u th r e e h our int e r v i e w with A P re po r t e r

,
-

D a ni e l H a rk e r H e w a rn s th a t U S l e a d e rs a i d ing t e r rori s t pl a n s t o
. . .

e l i m in a t e Cub a n l e a d e r s wi ll th e m s e lv e s n o t b e s a fe .

S e p t e m be r I Q Cub a n Coord in a ting C omm itt e e m e e t s t o co n duc t a

b ro a d re v i e w o f t he U S G ov e r nm e nt s Cub a n co n tin g e n cy pl a n s T h e y
. .

.

a g re e th e r e i s a s t ro ng l i k e l ih ood t h a t C a s t ro w oul d r e t a l i a t e in som e

 102

FB I He a d q u a rte rs d i sp a t c h e s a t e l e t y pe a t p m t o a l l e ld . .

o fce s re q u e s ting co nt a c t o f a ll inf orma n t s f or inf orm a ti o n b e a ring o n

t he a ss a s s i n a ti o n .

FB I H e a dqu a rte rs d i s pa tc h e s a te l e t y p e a t p m t o a ll e ld . .

oi c e s re q u e s ting th e y re s olve a l l a ll e ga tio n s p e r t a ining t o t he

a s s as s ina t i o n .

N ov e m be r 23 Dir e c t or M oCon e m e e t s with P re s i d e nt J o hn so n a n d

Mc Ge o r ge Bu n dy a n d b r i e f s th e m o n in f o r m a ti o n C I A H e a dqu a rt e rs
h a d re c e i ve d f rom M e x i co S t a ti o n .

C I A H e a d q u a r te rs c a b l e s t he AM L ASH C a s e O i c e r a n d o r d e rs
hi m t o b re a k co nt a c t with AM LASH be c a us e o f t he P r e s i d e nt s a s

s a ss i n a t i on a n d t o r e t u rn t o H e a d q u a rt e r s .

C I A p e rso nn e l o n t he C I S t a ff p re p a re a m e m o r a n dum su gge s ti n g

th a t O s w a ld s co nt a c ts in M e x i co Ci ty with S ov i e t p e rso nn e l m i g ht

h a v e si ni st e r i m p l i c a ti o n s T hi s inform a ti o n i s t r a n sm itt e d t o CI A s
.

l i a i so n with FB I by te l e p h o n e a t 10 : 80 a m .

D e sk o fc e r i s p u t in c h a r ge o f C I A i n v e s tiga ti o n of t he
a ss a ss ina ti on .

C I A H e a dq u a rt e rs t e l e p h o n e s t he M e x i co S t a ti o n t o ge t t he p l a nn e d
a r r e st o f Dur a n c a l l e d o ff b u t l e a r n s t h e a r re s t could n o t b e c a l l e d o ff
,
.

K a r a me s si n e s s e n ds a c a b l e t o M e x i co S t a ti o n s a v ing t h e a rre s t c oul d

,

j e op a rd i z e U S f re e dom o f a cti o n o n t he wh ol e qu e s ti o n o f C ub a n
. .

r e s p o n s i bi l it y

.

L e ga t inf orms FB I He a d q u a rt e rs th a t t he U S A mb a s s a d or t o . .

M e x i co i s co n c e rn e d th a t Cu b a n s w e re b e hin d O s w a l d s a ss as s i n a t i o n

o f P re s i d e nt K e nn e d y T he Amb a ss a dor r e q u e s t s bo th t he C I A a n d
.

F BI do e v e rything poss i bl e t o e s t a bl i s h or r e f u t e thi s C u b a n co n

n e c t i on .

FB I H e a dqu a rt e r s d i sp a t c h e s a t e l e ty p e t o a ll e l d of c e s r e sci n d ing

t he e a rl y t e l e t yp e o f N ov e mb e r 22 , 1 963 .

N ov e m be r Il l M e x i co S t a ti o n d i s pa t c h e s a c a bl e t o H e a d qu a rt e rs
with t he n a m e s o f a l l k n o wn conta ct s o f c e rt a in S ov i e t p e rso nn e l in
M e x i co C it y Am o n g t he n a m e s in t he c a bl e i s th a t o f AML AS H
. .

At a m D i r e ct or M oCon e m e e t s with t he P re s i d e nt a n d b r i e f s
. .
,

hi m a bou t CI A s op e ra ti o n a l p la n s a ga in s t Cub a

.

C a bl e gr a m i s se nt f rom M e x i co t o C I A H e a d q u a rt e rs s t a tin g th a t
t he U S Am b a ss a dor t o M e x ic o f e e l s t h a t t he S o v i e t s a r e t oo sop hi s
. .

t i c a t e d t o p a rti c i p a t e in a d i re c t a ss a ss in a ti o n o f P re i d e nt K e nn e dy s
,

b u t t he C ub a n s w ould be s t up i d e n ou gh t o ha v e p a rt i c i p a t e d wi t h
O s w a ld .

O s w a ld i s murd e r e d a t 12 : 2 1p m E S T . . .

N ov e mbe r 25 T he C a s e O f c e r p r e p a r e s a c o nt a c t r e p ort on t he

N ov e mb e r 22 m e e ting with AML ASH On F it z ge r a ld s ord e rs n o

.
,
m e nti o n i s m a d e o f t he po i so n p e n be i n g o ffe r e d t o AM LA SH .

A t n oo n D s h o w s u p a t t he U S Emb a ssy in M e x i co C it y H e

, . . .

t e ll s Emb a ssy p e rso nn e l th a t h e w a s i n t he Cub a n C o n su l a t e o n S e p

t e mbe r 18 a n d s a w C uba n s p a y O s w a ld a sum o f m o ne y a n d t a lk a bou t
O s w a ld s a ss a ss in a ti n g som e o n e

.

At.
p m M e xi co d i s p a t ches a c a ble t o C I A H e a d q ua r t e rs r e
. .
,

m i n d i n g H e a d q u a r t e rs of C a s t ro s S e p t e mb e r 7 196 3 s t a te m e nt th r e a t

,

e n i n g U S l e a d e rs
. . .

A s e ni or U S Emb a ss y ofc i a l in M e x i co C it y t e lls a s e n i or Me x i c a n

. .

G ov e r n m e nt offi c i a l k n o wn f a ct s a b ou t O s wa ld s v i s it t o M e xi co C i ty

an d ra i se s q u e s t i o n s of C u b a n i n volv e m e nt .
 103

N ov e m be r 26 M oCon e ga in meets wit h President J ohnson T h e

a .

President tells him the FB I ha s responsibi l ity fo r the investig a tion of

t h e President s d e a th a n d directs him to m a ke C IA resources a v a il

a ble to a ssist the F BI s investig a tion

.

The Americ a n Amb a ss a dor in M exico sends a c a ble to t he St a te

Dep a rtment th rough CIA ch a nnels He gives his opinion th a t the .

Cuba ns were involved in t h e a ss a ssina tion .

C IA He a dqu a rters c a bles C IA st a tions in Europe a n d C a n a d a fo r

a ll inform a t ion on the a ss a ssin a tion issue noting they shou l d c a re ,

fully ex a mine m a teri a l obt a ined from a specied resource .

Deputy Attorney Gener a l K a tzenb a ch writes P r esidenti a l Assist a nt

Bill M oyers st a ting t h a t t h e f a cts shoul d be m a de public in such
,

a w a y a s t o s a tisfy t h e peop l e of the U S a n d a bro a d th a t the f a cts . .

,

h a ve b e en told a n d a sta tement to this effect be m a d e now The .

public should be s a tised th a t Osw a ld w a s the a ss a ssin a n d specul a

tion a bout his motive ought t o be cut off .

N ov e m be r 2 7 Leg a t ca b les FB I He a dqu a rters a n d notes a press

rele a se referencing to C a stro s speech o f September 7 196 3
,
.

One CIA St a tion c a bles in form a tion received from the speci ed
resources t h a t A M LASH ha d b een indiscreet in h is convers a tions .

FB I sends a supervisor t o M exico City to c oordin a te the investi

ga t i on a n d to pursue it v igorously until t h e desired results a r e
obt a ined .

N ov e m be r 28 CIA He a dqu a rters c a bles a reminder to the M exico

Sta tion t o follow a ll le a ds a n d t o continue to investig a te t he poss i

bi l i t y of Cub a n or Soviet involvement .

CIA He a dqu a r ters w a r ns the S t a tion C h ief in M exi c o th a t the Am

b as s a d or w as pus h ing t h e c as e t oo h a rd a n d h i s propos a ls coul d le a d
to a a p with the Cub a ns

.

N ov e m be r 29 Pres ident J ohnson a nnounces form a tion o f the

Wa rren Comm issi o n a fter discussing other possibilities with Di r e c
t o r Hoo ver .

N ove m be r 30 Director M c Con e meets with President J o h nson a t

110 0 a m a n d they discuss the Cub a question D is mentioned
. .

.

De c e m be r I M oC on e mee ts wit h both Bundy a n d President J ohn

son M c Con e s memor a ndum indic a tes they discussed D s story
.

.

CI A He a dqu a rters c a bles M exico St a tion indic a ting it ha s received

i nform a tion from a sensitive source t h a t a Cub a n a Air l ines ight t o

H a v a n a h a d been del a yed in M exico C ity from 6 : 00 p m until . .

p m on the d a y of the a ss a ssin a tion It w a s a w a iting a n unidenti ed

. .
.

p a ssenger who a rrived in the twin en g ine a ircra ft a n d f a iled to go

h rough customs T h e p a ssenger rode in the cockpit on the ig h t t o
t a va na
.

De c e m be r Z A t a m M c Con e mee t s wi t h t h e President a n d

. .
,
Bundy .

At 3300 a m M c Con e s ca l e d a r reve a ls h e a ttend ed a m eeting a t th e

. .
,

n

CI A w i t h the sub j e ct bein g Cu ba .

De c e m be r 3 CI A He a d q u a rters r e c eives inform a tion from M exico

t t the Cub n America n left the U S on Novembe r 23 a n d ew from

h a a
. .

M e xi co C i ty t o H a v a na on November 27 .
 104

De c e m be r 4CIA receives a report from on e of its Cu b a n a gents

th a t h e thought he h a d met Os wa ld in Cub a M exi c o City or the Unite d ,

St a tes This a gent believes th a t the Cub a n governm ent employed

.

a ss a ssins a n d h a d c a rried out a t le a st one a ss a ssin a tion in M exico .

FB I memora ndum from Sulliv a n t o Belmont indic a tes there is no

evidence th a t Osw a l d s a ss a ssin a tion of the President w a s inspire d

or direct e d by [ pro C a stro ] orga niz a ti ons or by a n y foreign country

-
.

De c e m be r 5 M exico St a tion c a b l es th a t someone w h o s a w the

Cub a nAmeric a n bo a rd t h e a ircra ft to H a v a n a on November 27 r e

ported th a t he loo ked suspicious
.

De c e m be r 6 W a rren Commission holds its rst meeting a s t h e

,

FB I a n d CI A a r e c omp l eting their own investig a tions .

De c e m be r 8 CI A He a dqu a rters c a bles its M i a mi St a tion ordering

a h a l t to a n oper a tion to supply we a pons t o A M LASH pending a high ,

level policy review .

De c e m be r 9 A memor a ndum to Director M oCon e discusses U S . .

oper a tions a ga inst Cub a but d o es not mention the A M LASH oper a
,

tion or a n y other speci c oper a tion

. .

FBI s 5 V olume repo rt on the a ss a ssin a ti on is completed

-
.

Deputy Attorney Genera l K a tzenb a ch wri t e s the Wa rren Commis

sion a n d rec ommends th a t the Commi ssion immedi a tely st a te th a t the
FB I report cle a rly shows Osw a ld w a s a loner .

De c e m be r I O Hoover receives report on the investig a tive d e c i e n

ci e s in the h a nd l ing of the Dr e a ss a s sin a tion Osw a ld c a se R e sults in
-
.

disciplin a ry a ction a ga inst 17 Bure a u of ci a ls .

Director M oCon e me e ts with CI A st a ff a n d the sub j ect of the meet

ing is Cuba .

De c e m be r I Q CIA M exi c o St a tion repo r ts t he FBI is pu s h ing t o

wind u p the M exica n a s pects of the c a s e .

L a t e De c e m be r CIA desk offi cer completes a brief report on hi s

investi ga tion w h ich is submitted to the President

. .

T h e CIA decides to h a ve the Counterintelligence Division continue

t h e inves tiga tion .

J a n u a r y 23 A subordin a te to the Chief of Counterintelligence is

design a ted the p oint of record for a ll m a tters rel a ting to the a ss a s

s i n a t i on a n d the W a rr en Commission .

J a n u a r y Q F B I li a ison is told by CIA o f ci a l th a t ther e a r e no

a ctive plots a g a inst C a stro .

J a n u a r y 28 R a nkin meets with Hoover a n d they dis cuss the a lle

ga t i on th a t Osw a ld w a s a n FB I inform a nt .

J a n u a r y 3I Hoover indic a tes in his memor a ndum of the J a n u

a r y 28 1 96 4meeting th a t he did not a p preci a te the st a tement by
, ,

Chief J ustice W a rren th a t the B ure a u s report w a s a skeleton report

.

M a r c h 26 The President s Commission reques ts t he FBI to r e

s p on d to 52 questions In a subsequent memor a ndum . by

a Bu r e a u Supervi s o r t o Willi a m Su l liv a n he st a t e s the Commission is
,

c ross ex a mining the B ure a u in reg a rd to its investig a ti on of the Presi

-

dent s a ss a s s m a t i on

.
 106

F e br u a r y Q Wa rren c a l l s R o w ley a n d informs R owley th a t he

spoke with Pe a rson w ho s a id the l a wye r w a nter to see W a rren .

F e br u a r y 8 Tent a tive d a te set by Pe a rson w ith W a rren for the

l a wyer to mee t w i t h S e cret Service Neither Pe a rson nor the l a wyer.

cont a cted Secret S ervi c e .

F e br u a r y I O R ow l ey a dvises W a rren t h a t neither Pe a rson nor

W a rren h a ve cont a cted S e cret Service Ro wley tells Wa rren t he i n .

form a tion would be p a ssed to th e FB I .

F e br u a r y 13 FB I is info r med by J a mes J R o w ley th a t Chief .

J ustice W a rren h a d rece ntly be en in fo rmed of U S a ttempts to a s . .

s a s s i n a te C a stro in 1 96 2 a n d 196 3 th a t C a stro ha d decided to utilize '

the sa me proc e dure a n d th a t Wa rren w a nts these a lleg a tions l ooked

into .

F e br u a r y I 5 Hoover informs R owley th a t t h e Bure a u is not c on

d u cting a n y investiga tion but would a ccept volunte ered inform a tion

.

Ma r c h 4 R obert Ken n edy s secret a ry c a l ls Hoover a n d re uests a

q
copy of Edw a rd s memo of M a y 7 196 2 a t which time R obert Kennedy

,

w a s briefed on a ss a ssin a tion plots .

M a r c h 7 Drew Pe a r son s column is published

.

M a r c h I V Presidenti a l Assist a nt M a rvin W a tson a dvises De Loa c h

t h a t President J ohnson ha s inst r ucted the FBI to inter view the l a wyer
concerning a n y knowledge he ha d in the a ss a ssin a tion of Kennedy .

Wa tson s a ys re quest stemmed from a communica tion the F BI ha d

sent the Wh i t e House some weeks a go .

M a r c h Z O The l a wyer interviewed by t h e Wa shington Field O f ce

would not identi fy h is source of the inform a tion th a t C a stro plotted

to kill Kennedy Agen t s in t erviewing the l a wyer were instructed to
.

m a ke it cle a r the FB I w a s not interfering with a n y current inves tiga

tion i n New Orle a ns .

M a r c h QZ The F BI for w a rds results of the interview w ith t h e

l a wyer to the Wh ite House The inform a tion indic a tes th a t the l a wyer s
.

sources a llegedly were used by the C I A in a ttemp t s a g a inst C a stro .

The Wh i t e Hou s e a l s o receiv e s inform a tion origin a lly from CI A r e

l a ting t o C I A s use of M a heu a n d Gi a n c a n a in a plot a ga inst C a stro

.

M a teri a l a lso includes inform a tion th a t R obe rt Kennedy a dvised on

M a y 9 196 2 th a t CI A should never t a ke such steps without rst check
,

ing with t h e Dep a rtment of J ustice Helms meets the President a t the .

White House in e a rly evening .

M a r c h 25 Helms a ssigns the Inspect or Gener a l t h e t a sk of report

-

ing on C I A a ss a ssin a tion a ttempts a ga inst C a stro .

A pr i l 4 Wa ts on c a lls De Lo a c h a n d a dvises t h a t the President is

convinced there w a s a plot in connection with Kennedy s a ss a ssin a tion

.

A p r i l 24 I G R eport is delivered t o Helms in inst a llments

. . .

M a y QZ Helms returns copy o f report to I G . .

M a y 23 A 1 1no t e s a n d oth er derived source m a t eri a l of t h e I G . .

R eport a r e d e stroyed .