Oswald and the CIA: The Documented Truth About the Unknown Relationship Between the U.S. Government and the Alleged Killer of JFK (74 page)

26. See E. B. Reddy memo to A. H. Belmont, FBI HQ file 105-82555-2. The handwriting appears at the end of the typed text.

27. ONI Op-92l1DUri, November 2, 1959, memorandum for the file by J. M. Barron, see NARA JFK RIF 124-10010-10005.

28. USNLO Moscow 2090, 1704Z, November 3, 1959, to chief of Naval Operations, routed by Hamner and checked by RE/Hediger.

29. See E. B. Reddy memo to A. H. Belmont, FBI HQ file 105-82555-2 (see back of memo for date-time stamps).

30. DST 1304 from American Embassy in Moscow to State Department, October 31, 1959; for the FBI copy see FBI headquarters file 105-82555; also see NARA JFK RIF 124-10010-10004. Snyder explained his stalling tactic by referring to the recent Petrulli defection case. In this case, the embassy had successfully stalled, as the Soviets had let Petrulli languish in his hotel room without a visa and then asked him to leave. Petrulli returned to the U.S. still an American citizen.

31. Moscow embassy cable 1304 to State Department, October 31, 1959.

32. The only other words underlined were "4936 Collinwood [sic] St., Fort Worth Texas," his mother's former address and the very same one which was in Barron's ONI memo of the previous day and which someone also wrote by hand on the Reddy FBI memo.

33. We will revisit the problem of when the CIA received these early Oswald documents, as well as their internal handling, in Chapter 4.

34. Rankin's request to Helms was written on September 11, 1964, and Helms's reply was on September 18, 1964. See CE 2752, Vol. XXVI, pp. 131-132.

35. Lists of CIA documents for release, NARA JFK Document ID No. 1993.08.04.08:00:780053; in another location in the National Archives one can find one of these lists appended to the proper memo, entitled "Re sponse to HSCA Request of 9 March 1978, Item l"; see document ID No. 1993.07.02.13:25:25:180530. This second location also conveniently has a Helms memorandum to the Warren Commission of March 6, 1964, "Information in CIA's Possession Regarding Lee Harvey Oswald Prior to November 22, 1963."

36. USNLO Moscow 2090, 1704Z, November 3, 1959, to chief of Naval Operations, routed by Hamner and checked by RE/Hediger. Besides the FBI and CIA, this cable was also rerouted to "CMC" (Commandant Marine Corps), to "09M," and to "INS" (the Immigration and Naturalization Service). This rerouting instruction was followed by the notation "11/ 04/59/EW/."

37. CIA document 592-252B. "Mr. Papich was advised that we had no info on subject. 4 Nov. 59.-

38. ONI Op-921D1/rl, November 2, 1959, memorandum for the file by J. M. Barron; see NARA JFK RIF 124-10010-10005.

39. W. A. Brannigan memo to A. H. Belmont, FBI, November 4, 1959. See FBI HQ file 105-82555, see also NARA JFK RIF 124, 10010-10006.

40. FBI HQ file, 105-82555-6B.

41. CNO cable to ALUSNA Moscow, 04/1550Z, November 1959.

42. John E. Donovan testimony to the Warren Commission, May 5, 1964, Vol. VIII, p. 298.

43. List of CIA documents for release, NARA JFK Document ID No. 1993,08.04.08:00:780053. See entry number 8.

44. "Response to HSCA Request of 9 March 1978, Item I," NARA JFK files, document ID No. 1993.07.02.13:25:25:180530; see entries for October 31 and November I, 9, 16, and 26, 1959.

45. CNO cable to ALUSNA Moscow, 04/1550Z, November 1959.

Chapter Three

1. Samuel D. Berry, interview with John Newman, July 10, 1994.

2. Donald L. Athey, interview with John Newman, July 10, 1994.

3. Samuel D. Berry, interview with John Newman, July 10, 1994.

4. Donald L. Athey, interview with John Newman, July 10, 1994.

5. The author is indebted to Richard C. Thornton, who made available his forthcoming manuscript, "Exploring the Utility of Missile Superiority, 1958."

6. NARA JFK records, January 1994 ("five brown boxes") release.

7. CIA, DDS&T interim reply to HSCA request, May 8, 1978, OLC 78-1573.

8. S/A Berlin interview of Eugene J. Hobbs, March 10, 1964, NARA JFK records, NIS, Box 1.

9. "Memorandum for the Assistant General Counsel (Manpower), Department of Defense, Subject: Information for President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy; Your Request For," May 22, 1964, p. 4. See NARA JFK files, HSCA, RG 233. Oswald's unit traveled back aboard the Wexford County, LST 1168, arriving at Atsugi on March 18, 1958.

10. Epstein, Legend, pp. 72-78.

11. John Donovan, interview with John Newman, July 19, 1994.

12. John Donovan, interview with John Newman, July 19, 1994. See also CD 6, p. 138.

13. John Donovan, interview with John Newman, July 19, 1994.

14. John Donovan, interview with John Newman, July 19, 1994.

15. Possibly to demonstrate that Khrushchev would not aid China in a confrontation with the U.S.

16. Epstein, Legend, p. 101.

17. Epstein, Legend, p. 101.

18. For a different interpretation, see Mark Lane "The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: How the CIA set up Oswald" in Hustler, October 1978, p. 94.

19. John Donovan, interview with John Newman, July 19, 1994.

20. Mark Lane in "The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: How the CIA Set up Oswald" Hustler, October 1978, p. 94.

21. O'Neal refused to answer any questions at all. To their credit, most all former CIA employees have at least been kind enough to grant interviews.

22. FSD 234, November 2, 1959; received November 6 at the State Department. We know it was in the FBI by at least November 12 because of an FBI date stamp on the ONI copy (see also FBI HQ file 105 82555-4).

23. Lists of CIA documents for release, NARA JFK Document ID No. 1993.08.04.08:00:780053. See entry number 8.

24. Lists of CIA documents for release, NARA JFK Document ID No. 1993.08.04.08:00:780053. See entry number 8.

25. John Donovan, quoted in "Oswald in Russia: Did He Tell Our Military Secrets?" New York Journal American, December 2. 1963. See also NARA FBI New York Field Office file 105-38431, and NARA JFK RIF 124-10160-10438.

26. S/A Berlin interview of Eugene J. Hobbs, March 10, 1964, NARA JFK records, NIS, Box 1.

27. CIA, DDS&T interim reply to HSCA request, May 8, 1978, OLC 781573. See NARA JFK records, January 1994 release.

28. Allen Dulles, The Craft of Intelligence (New York: Harper & Row, 1963), p. 58.

29. Richard C. Thornton, Chapter IV, "Exploring the Utility of Missile Superiority, 1958," forthcoming manuscript.

30. Charles J. Murphy, "The Embattled Mr. McElroy," Fortune, April 1959, p. 242.

31. McGeorge Bundy, Danger and Survival: Choices About the Bomb in the First Fifty Years (New York: Random House, 1988), pp. 343, 350.

32. Eisenhower speech to the U.N. emergency session of the General Assembly, August 13, 1958; see Eisenhower, Public Papers, 1958, p. 607.

33. Richard C. Thornton, Chapter IV, "Exploring the Utility of Missile Superiority, 1958," forthcoming manuscript.

34. Charles J. Murphy, "Khrushchev's Paper Bear," Fortune, December 1964, p. 227.

35. Francis G. Powers, Operation Overflight (New York: Tower, 1970, p. 364.

36. John Donovan, quoted in "Oswald Was a Troublemaker," Washington Evening Star, December 2, 1963. See also NARA JFK records, NIS, box I.

37. John Donovan, quoted in "Oswald in Russia: Did He Tell Our Military Secrets'?" New York Journal American, December 2, 1963. See also NARA FBI New York Field Office file 105-38431, and NARA JFK RIF 124-10160-10438.

38. John Donovan, quoted in "Oswald Was a Troublemaker," Washington Evening Star December 2, 1963. See also NARA JFK records, NIS, box 1.

39. Testimony of John E. Donovan to the Warren Commission, May 5, 1964, Vol. VIII, p. 297.

40. Testimony of John E. Donovan to the Warren Commission, May 5, 1964; Vol. VIII. p. 297.

41. CIA memo, name of drafter still classified, December 1, 1963, re telephone call of John E. Donovan. See NARA JFK files, 1993 release.

42. CIA memo, name of drafter still classified, December 1, 1963, re telephone call of John E. Donovan. See NARA JFK files, 1993 release.

43. John Donovan, interview with John Newman, July 19, 1994.

44. N. V. Schultz, ONI-921 D4F, "Memorandum for the File," December 3, 1963: NARA JFK files, NIS/ONI, box I.

45. John Donovan, interview with John Newman, July 19, 1994.

46. Norman Mailer, Oswald's Tale, extract printed in New Yorker, April 10, 1995, p. 60.

Chapter Four

1. See HSCA Final Report, p. 200.

2. See CIA Clandestine Services Handbook, 43-1-1, February 15, 1960, Chapter III, Annex B, "PERSONALITIES-201 and IDN NUMBERS," p. 43; NARA JFK Files, January 1994 release, box 13, folder 29.

3. In a later chapter which deals with the end of 1960, we will revisit the 201 issue and attempt to solve the riddle of the late opening.

4. Dan Hardaway notes on conversation with Ann Egerter, March 21, 1978. See NARA JFK Files, RIF 180-I(X)89-10462.

5. See HSCA Final Report, note 27, p. 628, and note 29, p. 629. These notes reference "JFK Classified Document 014863," pp. 5 and 48.

6. See HSCA Final Report, p. 201 (a propitious page number for this subject!).

7. See HSCA Final Report, p. 202.

8. Helms deposition to the HSCA, September 25, 1978. See, NARA JFK Files, 1993 release.

9. See HSCA Final Report, p. 200.

10. See HSCA Final Report, notes 29 and 35, p. 629. The HSCA refers in note 29 to a "classified staff summary re opening of Oswald's 201 file, December 15, 1978, House Select Committee on Assassinations (Classified JFK Document 014839)." In note 35 the HSCA also refers to "HSCA requests for explanations," March 20, 1979, p. 4226 (JFK Document 015018).

11. See HSCA Final Report, p. 201.

12. The superstitious will be amused at how fitting it seems, in retrospect, that the story of Oswald's threat to give the Soviets "something of special interest" arrived at the CIA on Friday the 13th.

13. See HT/LINGUAL notecards on Oswald in NARA JFK Files, Oswald 201 file, preassassination folder. It is the first card, dated November 9, 1959.

14. CIA "Response to HSCA Request of 15 August 1978, Item 3," in NARA JFK files, January 1994 release. This document has moved about in the five big brown boxes which comprise the January 1994 release, but its approximate original location in the larger collection might have been in or near box 11, folder 10. Researchers who have trouble locating it can also obtain a copy from the Assassination Archives Research Center (AARC), 915 F. Street, N.W., Suite 510, Washington D.C., 20014.

15. CIA "Response to HSCA Request of 15 August 1978, Item 3," in NARA JFK Files, January 1994 release.

16. There is a conflict, however, with the 12-451 on Marina's November 26, 1963, HT/LINGUAL card, although the number "4" is somewhat indistinct.

17. Our view of that file is the result of the CIA document lists on Lee Harvey Oswald, prepared by the Agency for the 1978 House Select Committee on Assassination investigation.

18. October 31, 1959. It was also Saturday, and Halloween.

19. CIA response to HSCA, March 9, 1978; Oswald documents lists; NARA, JFK files, RIF 1993.07.02.13:25:25:180530.

20. Robert L. Bannerman, interview with John Newman, August 8, 1994.

21. CIA response to HSCA, March 9, 1978; Oswald documents lists; NARA, JFK files, RIF 1993.07.02.13:25:25:180530.

22. Paul Garbler, interview with John Newman January 30, 1994.

Chapter Five

1. Richard Snyder, interview with John Newman, July 15, 1994.

2. Priscilla Johnson McMillan's (hereafter referred to as Priscilla McMillan) CIA files were released in January 1994 in what I refer to as the "five brown boxes" release. They are both at the National Archives and the AARC. For this item see CIA cable, Director Cite 16955, dated April 10, 1958, to a station whose name is blacked out but is probably its station in Paris. This we may surmise from the information line which has WE [Western Europe]/4 in it-so we know it is probably to a station in Western Europe-and also because Priscilla was in Paris at the time. The headquarters cable also references a cable, probably from Paris, number 37145.

3. The processing of Priscilla McMillan's application was long and convoluted, but, given the controversy surrounding her history and the JFK case, it is appropriate to set down the details chronologically here. All documents are located in the CIA January 1994 "5 brown boxes" release. On October 3, 1952, a request was submitted for a security clearance as an "Intelligence Officer, GS-7," to work in OSO, SR division. On January 21, 1953, this was changed to a request for a security clearance to work as an "Intelligence Officer, GS-7," in Operations, FDD Division, USSR Branch. A March 10, 1964, CIA document says that "Johnson was security disapproved for staff employment in 1953 based upon her questionable associates, her activities in the United World Federalists and the League for Industrial Democracy." But that is not quite the way it happened. Actually, on February 10, 1963, a "Cancellation of Applicant Processing" was put in her file because of "declination by applicant" on January 21, 1953. But the CIA continued to process her security investigation. This is evident from a February 17, 1953, memo from W. A. Osborne to Chief, Security Division, saying Johnson "is now being considered for employment in ORR, where she will need SI clearances." Osborne, who was the chief of the Security Branch, noted that "she's active politically (i.e. interested in domestic and international politics) but is not and has not been tied in with subversive groups." Osborne continued. "While a member of UWF, she does not appear to be objectionably internationalistic." Osborne concluded: "Recommend approval." One week later, on February 24, 1953, the Project and Liaison Section sent a memo on Johnson (identifying her CIA number as 71589) to Deputy Chief, Security Division, requesting that her "case be reviewed from a CE [counterespionage] aspect." On the same day, Bruce L. Solie responded that Johnson had "declined employment on 21 January 1953" and was "no longer an applicant." A formal cancellation had been put in her file on February 10, he said, and therefore "it is not believed there is any CE interest in subject case." Then, on March 23, 1953, our same W. A. Osborne evidently had a eureka experience, because he suddenly changed his mind about Johnson. In a memo to the security officer Sheffield Edwards, Osborne said: