The Kremlin Letter (7 page)

SPORTS:
FOOTBALL--STANFORD 1946–1950 (NOMINATED FOR ALL AMERICAN, NAMED ALL COAST) RIFLE TEAM—STANFORD 1946–1950 (PLACED THIRD IN HAT. COMB.) ALPINE CLUB—STANFORD 1947–1948

LIST OF REFERENCES:

Rone turned the page.

CIC

AGENCY REPORT

T. STEIN

FIELD AGENT

CIC

CIC

CIC

AGENCY REPORT

ARIZONA--KINGMAN, 16 JUNE 1949--SUBJECT ARRESTED FOR SPEEDING ALONG ROUTE 66. ACCUSED OF DOING 90 MPH IN 60-MPH ZONE.

NO DRIVER'S LICENSE. (WYOMING REQUIRES NO LICENSE.) FINED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($25.00) AND RELEASED.

CALIFORNIA--LOS ALTOS, 21 SEPTEMBER 1946--

ARRESTED SPEEDING, 50 MPH IN 20-MPH ZONE.

FINED FIFTEEN DOLLARS ($15.00).

LOS ALTOS, 4 MAY 1950--ARRESTED

SPEEDING, 50 MPH IN 20-MPH ZONE.

FINED FIFTEEN DOLLARS ($15.00).

MENLO PARK, 23 AUGUST 1946--ARRESTED

NOT STOPPING AT STOP SIGN. FINED

FIVE DOLLARS ($5.00).

PALO ALTO, 17 OCTOBER 1946--ARRESTED

FOR THE FOLLOWING:

DRIVING ON WRONG SIDE Off STREET.

DRIVING ON SIDEWALK.

DRIVING AT NIGHT WITHOUT LIGHTS.

DRIVING ACROSS CITY PARK.

CHASING FOOT PATROLMAN

ACROSS CITY PARK IN AUTO.

DRUNKEN DRIVING.
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NOTE:  SUBJECT WAS CLEARED OF DRUNKEN DRIVING. HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF ALL OTHER CHARGES WITH SUSPENDED FINES. APPARENTLY STANFORD UNIVERSITY HAD WON FIRST FOOTBALL. GAME IN TWO SEASONS. RONE SCORED WINNING TOUCHDOWN. JUDGE'S SON ON TEAM ALSO.

ATTEMPTING TO BACK CAR INTO S. PACIFIC R.R. ST. TYING FEMALE UNDERGARMENT … TO CAR AERIAL.

OVERLOADING CAR (9 PERSONS).

SQUEEZING TOOTHPASTE IN ARRESTING OFFICER'S POCKET.

PALO ALTO, 5 AUGUST 1947--ARRESTED SPEEDING, 60 MPH IN 25-MPH ZONE. FOUND GUILTY--SUSPENDED FINE.
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NOTE: SAME JUDGE AS ABOVE. PALO ALTO, 25 JANUARY 1949--ACCIDENT REPORT:

AT ONE-FIFTEEN A.M. RONE'S CAR WAS TRAVELING SOUTH AT ESTIMATED 60 MPH (LEGAL SPEED) ON HIGHWAY 101 (A THREE-LANE HIGHWAY WITH A CENTER LANE FOR PASSING). SUBJECT MADE CORRECT SIGNAL TO PASS TRUCK IN FRONT OF HIM. HE MOVED HIS CAR INTO CENTER LANE AND ACCELERATED FOR PURPOSE OF PASSING. APPARENTLY AT SAME TIME CAR APPROACHING FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTION ALSO DECIDED TO PASS TRUCK HEADING NORTH. CARS MET HEAD-ON AT ESTIMATED 70 MPH. ALL PASSENGERS IS. APPROACHING CAR (FATHER, MOTHER, THREE CHILDREN) WERE KILLED INSTANTLY. GIRL SITTING BESIDE SUBJECT WAS THROWN THROUGH WINDSHIELD AND KILLED—SUBJECT APPARENTLY HAD TRIED TO SAVE HER AT LAST MINUTE BY THROWING SELF IN FRONT OF HER, BUT HIS HEAD SMASHED AGAINST WINDSHIELD, BREAKING JAW AND NOSE BUT SAVING HIS LIFE (SEE MEDICAL REPORT). TRUCKS WERE UNHARMED. INVESTIGATION ESTABLISHED THAT ONCOMING CAR HAD BOB SIGNALED CORRECTLY. (ATTESTED TO BY BOTH TRUCK DRIVERS) AND THAT CAR ALSO HAD WEAK LIGHTS. SUBJECT WAS CLEARED OF ALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCIDENT. SUBJECT HAD RECENTLY BEEN ENGAGED TO GIRL KILLED WITH HIM (SEE INTERVIEWS RW 3, 8, 14, 24, 25, 37).

PALO ALTO, 30 JANUARY 1949--ARRESTED SPEEDING, 65 MPH IN 30-MPH ZONE.

FINED TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($25.00).

NOTE:  SINCE SUBJECT'S FIANCEE HAD BEEN KILLED ONLY FIVE DAYS EARLIER THIS INVESTIGATOR TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THE CHANCE OF EMOTIONAL STRAIN OR EXCESSIVE DRINKING. APPARENTLY NEITHER WAS THE CASE. SUBJECT BORROWED CAR AND HAD DATE. ARRESTING OFFICER BELIEVES HE STOPPED SUBJECT AT 3:30 A.M. (AND AS HE REMEMBERS FEMALE COMPANION'S CLOTHING WAS NOT ALL ON).
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See special investigation on page 72.

Rone turned to page 72.

SECRET

AFTER EXAMINING AND ANALYZING THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN THE SECURITY INVESTIGATION OF LT. J.G. CHARLES EVANS RONE (CASE # ONI 1687–224-3588) THE BOARD OF REVIEW FINDS ITSELF UNABLE TO RECOMMEND OR NOT RECOMMEND THE ISSUANCE OF A SECURITY CLEARANCE TO SUBJECT.

IN ALL, SUBJECT'S RECORD IS EXCELLENT BUT CERTAIN SPECIFIC INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN UNCOVERED THAT RAISE THE POSSIBILITY OF OVERT COWARDICE OR POSSIBLY SOME TYPE OF MENTAL DISTURBANCE. EVEN THOUGH THESE EVENTS OCCUREED WHEH SUBJECT WAS BETWEEN THE AGES OF SEVENTEEN (17) AND EIGHTEEN (18) AND EVEN THOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO SUBSEQUENT SIMILAR EVENT, IT IS STILL FELT THAT A SERIOUS DOUBT AS TO SUBJECT'S ACCEPTABILITY HAS BEEN RAISED.

WE THEREFORE REQUEST PERMISSION TO ESTABLISH A SPECIAL BOARD OF INVESTIGATION, COMPOSED OF THREE PSYCHIATRISTS AND THREE SENIOR INVESTIGATING OFFICERS, TO SECURE AND REVIEW ADDITIONAL AND MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION. WE ALSO REQUEST THAT SUBJECT BE ASKED TO SUBMIT TO CERTAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC EXAMINATIONS.

THE REASONS FOR THIS BEQUEST ARE HEREIN SUMMARIZED FROM MATERIAL PROVIDED IS HIS INVESTIGATION. REFERENCE TO ORIGINAL REPORTS ARE INCLUDED:

1.    In summer of 1945 subject was employed as hunting guide Grand Teton Lodge, Jackson Hole, Wyo. On June 19 of that year he led a party of four hunters up into the Teton Mountain Range in search of Kodiak bear. At approximately eight thousand feet they spotted a wounded tear on the ledge above them. Subject led party above prey and then dropped down on ledge to trap him. However one of party slipped giving hear advance warning and when they dropped onto ledge hear had moved and was now blocking their escape route. Also bear was on thin ledge which meant only one man could get to him. Although subject was not only guide and responsible he was an excellent hunter-and-climber--yet he let another man go in his place. Man was severely mauled by animal and even though knocked to lower ledge was not killed. He eventually lost arm. Only after man was mauled did subject finally act and kill bear. Man and party sued hotel but suit finally dropped. Inhabitants of Jackson Hole accused subject of cowardice. (SEE: INSTITUTIONAL CHECKS # 12, PERSONAL INTERVIEWS # 5, 6, 7, 8.)

2.    In August of 1947 subject was fishing at Jenny Lake, Moran, Wyoming (four miles from Jackson Hole), when a flash storm occurred, trapping a boat with several persons far out in the lake. Subject who is strong swimmer started out to their rescue. When subject saw another boat also go to assistance of floundering people he turned around and swam to shore. The townspeople of Jackson Hole accused subject of cowardice. (SEE PERSONAL INTERVIEWS # 11, 12, 17, 18, 22.)

WE FEEL THAT THESE TWO INCIDENTS ALONE WARRANT FURTHER INVESTIGATION ON THE ISSUE OF COWARDICE AND POSSIBLE MENTAL TROUBLE. THERE IS ANOTHER INCIDENT WHICH THE PSYCHIATRIC REPORT POINTS TO AS RATHER UNUSUAL.

3.    In late January 1949 subject was involved in head-on auto collision in which he was driver of one car. Occupants of other car were tilled and so was subject's fiancee, who was sitting beside him. Yet five days later he was found in a compromising position with another woman. (SEE AGENCY REPORT—STATE POLICE; Page 15)

THE PSYCHIATRISTS FEEL THIS REACTION TO TRAGEDY PLUS A RECURRENT DREAM SUBJECT VOLUNTEERED HE HAD AS CHILD MIGHT INDICATE SOME PERSONALITY WEAKNESS.

TOP SECRET

REQUEST FOR EXTENDED INVESTIGATION IN CASE OF LT. J.G. CHARLES EVANS RONE (# ONI 1687-224-3588) IS GRANTED.

SECRET

REPORT ON SPECIAL INVESTIGATION

as requested by:

BOARD OF REVIEW
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CIC

SPECIAL INVESTIGATION BOARD

INTRODUCTION:
On 17 February 1954 the Chief, Board of Review, directed that a special body of the above-named men be formed to further examine and investigate Lt. J.G. Charles Evans Rone (subject) in light of possible derogatory information found during the course of his security clearance.…

FINDINGS:
The three doctors concur that the “hunting incident” and the “boat incident” (IC# 12, PI# 5, 6, 7, 8, and PI# 11, 12, 17, 18, 22) are related directly to a traumatic experience subject suffered on June 6, 1939. On this date subject was out in small boat in Yellowstone National Park with his mother, father and elder brother. The boat was approximately a thousand yards from shore when a flash storm, common to that area, suddenly hit. Somehow the boat was capsized. The subject and his mother did not know how to swim. The subject's elder brother swam subject to shore, then returned to rough water in attempt to assist subject's father, who was having difficulty bringing subject's mother to shore. As the storm increased in intensity subject stood on shore and watched mother, father and elder brother drown.

In the opinion of the examining doctors this event created serious and spectacular personality change in subject. Prior to this tragedy subject had been a rather restrained “indoor boy.” He preferred studying to athletics or other outdoor activities. After the tragedy the subject was adopted by his uncle (mother's brother), who was a successful rancher. Subject made immediate transition to athletics. He became an excellent swimmer, hunter, mountain climber, etc. He diligently overcame any phobias he might have, as in the case of mountain climbing. Uncle reports as a boy he would place lit matches and cigarettes to hand until he became impervious to their burning.

Although this is only a summary of our findings (a complete report is attached), we are also in agreement on the probable motivation for this transition. The subject undoubtedly blamed self for death of his parents and his brother.…

His almost maniacal attempt to remedy these two weaknesses (i.e., lack of responsibilities and lack of ability) led not only to compensation, but to overcompensation. As he overcompensated physically so did he overcompensate in responsibility. He feels that anyone or anything in danger is his own private responsibility. After the tragedy he proved time and time again his ability to function well in dangerous situations. The hunting and second boating incidents were caused by one factor--
he had so overcompensated in this sense of responsibility, that he absolutely refused to let anyone else help.
Should someone try to assist him, he would withdraw and quit--not from fear but from rage.

Further investigation of the hunting incident seems to support this opinion of the doctors. On reinterviewing it was found subject did immediately move in to kill bear, but that man who had chartered the hunting trip wanted to do it himself.

The incident of the floundering boat in Jenny Lake is another example of his attitude in danger. When he saw the rescue boat approaching and had no way to tell them to go back he washed his hands of the matter (once again in rage) and swam back to shore. Later that night he had a fight with the rescuers, saying they had actually endangered the stranded boaters. A fight resulted, in which the subject badly beat up all three rescuers. This may have colored feelings of local residents toward him.

The third event, his seeming indifference to his fiancee's death, is a further indication of his overcompensation. As he overcame actual pain, so he may have overcome the fear of death. As pain has become meaningless to him, so has death. Thus, in the auto accident, he did everything within his power to prevent it, and then simply accepted the fact of death, and forgot it.

The fourth and final phase of the investigation dealt with a recurrent nightmare subject supposedly had as a child. When he was eight he went to a motion picture called “The Invisible Man.” In the movie the invisible man walks into the room with his head in bandages, wearing a hat, dark glasses, scarf and raincoat, but underneath audience knew there was nothing--that he was invisible. Subject's apparent fright began when the man took off his glasses and there was nothing there. Subject remembers that he could not sleep for almost two weeks after seeing this film. He required the light in his room to be on and the door left ajar. He said he could not stop thinking about the eyeless eyes. He was fascinated with the concept of being invisible.

As of this writing, the subject is still a physical and emotional stoic. He has created such a high threshold of pain and grief reaction that few things can affect him. The subject realizes better than anyone that his attempted monopoly on responsibility is detrimental to himself and others. Although he still has the same deep-seated feelings, he has learned not only to accept the aid of others but to do so graciously--but his preference remains to do it alone.