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Volume 6
Mr. Alan Weberman
ISBN: 9781520240756
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COUP D’ETAT IN AMERICA VOLUME SIX
NODULE TWENTY-ONE
STURGIS' ALIBIS
In 1974 Michael Canfield questioned Frank Sturgis about his
alibi for November 22, 1963. Sturgis: "I was home watching
television...in Miami." The television listings for November 22, 1963,
in the Miami Herald, indicated that at 1:30 p.m. (12:30 Dallas time)
Search For Tomorrow, Truth or Consequences and Father Knows
Best were on television at the time. Why would an active, macho
guy like Sturgis be at home watching television? Sturgis worked as
a used car salesman at the time. Why wasn't he at work? The
reason was he had to be placed in a non-public environment
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A. I don't recall.
Weberman: You said you didn't know where you were, but you were
watching television.
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COUNTY OF HAMILTON
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A. Yes sir.
A. Not really; it was so many years ago. I was at home, I did not go
out. I have other people with the Federal Government that do have
on record, that could testify or have already testified that I was in
Miami on November 22, 1963...I have nothing to hide. The Federal
Government knows of my activities, knows where I was at on that
particular day of the assassination, and I am quite sure that the
government - as far as I'm concerned - is well aware of who is
behind -- if there was a conspiracy, I believe there was a conspiracy
-- and they are well aware of who was behind the conspiracy.
A. Most likely.
Q. Did you have any reason for not being at work that day?
A. Friday? No reason.
Q. What were you doing that day? You say you don't remember. Do
you remember --
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A. I don't recall.
A. On that day?
A. Yes.
A. Yes.
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Q. Where is he?
A. I'm sorry, you're right. I glad you brought that up because just
recently, because of all the publicity, people did contact me and tell
me, "Hey, you remember this, this, this? If you need any help, fine."
Well, I told Fonzi and Fonzi supposedly , I'm not sure whether he
had already been in touch with these people or not, but he is aware
of these people I came across. So I turned it over - -
A. I don't recall.
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Q. "Yes"or "No"?
A. No. If I don't recall why should I say "Yes" or "No"? I don't recall
it.
A. Hey I can show you a clipping where they say I was involved in
the assassination of President Kennedy.
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A. On what?
A. I don't have the slightest idea. But I think it’s one big cover-up.
A. Yeah.
A. I asked them that. They told me I was one person they felt had
the capabilities to do it. Heh, heh, heh. They said: "Frank, if there is
anybody capable of killing the President of the United States, you're
the guy that can do it." Heh, heh, heh that's funny I told them, "I'm
not mad at you or nothing, I had nothing to do with it, but that
amuses me..."
Sturgis also told Canfield: "You have to look at my past. I've done a
lot of things. I've been on assassination attempts. I was involved in
so many things. Skullduggery, intrigue, espionage.
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In 1978 Sturgis stated: "Now the FBI did make contact with
me after President Kennedy's assassination, yes...I was questioned
by the FBI shortly after the assassination. They did come and visit
me and question me about my activities during President Kennedy's
assassination." Sturgis was asked:
A. No. The agent told me that I was one person in this country that
could possibly do this, if I wanted to.
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With Respect,
Wesley Brooks Wright
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Sturgis told the US Counsel that the plan of the group was to
land south side of Cuba and enter mountains. “Charles Connelle
was identified as Jerry Buchanan. Governor, British Honduras
appears inclined turn all over to Mexican Government. Fiorini
admitted coercion of Mexican Captain who was handcuffed at one
point during trip. Fiorini desires return to US and requested lawyer
Ray Sandstrom and Senator Smathers be advised.” The FBI had
checked on Sturgis with its representative in Mexico City. The
representative cabled "brief, descriptive data on the International
Anti-Communist Brigade" to the U.S. Consul in Belize. [FBI 105-
172694-37] The FBI noted the departure of Sturgis from Belize
aboard TACA Airlines on October 31, 1968. [FBI 105-172694-30, 31
FBI 105-172694-29 – 35 NARA Record Number: 124-10302-10152]
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CIA Agent David McLean saw this article and sent it to CIA
Agent Harry T. Mahoney: November 15, 1968. "Dear Harry:
Presumably anyone who has been 'making frequent raids inside
Cuba' will be of interest to Dave Phillips & Co. Hence I enclosed
another clipping from my favorite newspaper, The Norfolk Ledger-
Star...Dave." [CIA D002224] The activities of Frank Sturgis from
1969 to 1971 remained a mystery. In February 1969 the CIA had
the FBI run a check on him.
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Sturgis was asked about this: "He's a liar! I'm not aware of these
allegations; plus I'm saying he's a liar. If he made those statements,
he's a liar."
CORROBORATION - VINCENT J. HANNARD
Hemming’s story was verifiable. During the trial of the
Gainesville Eight, eight anti-war veterans charged with having
planned violence at the Republican Convention, Vincent J. Hannard
testified that Sturgis and Barker tried to recruit him for an operation
against the Vietnam Veterans Against the War. A Miami Herald
article on June 8, 1973, by Dennis Holder was titled "Witness Says
Barker and Sturgis Asked Him to Discredit VVAW." It stated that
Vincent J. Hannard, gave sworn statement, June 7, 1973, that in
weeks prior to May 29, 1972, he:
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CORROBORATION - COLSON
When Charles Colson was questioned by Senator Lowell
Weicker of Connecticut, he said he had seen a CIA file that
"mentioned radical activities prior to the convention." [USDC SD
FLA. 75-640-cr-PF Def. Ex. 4] In 1973 Senator Lowell Weicker was
the target of a break-in. [Summers Secret Life JEH p414]
CORROBORATION - ANGIE BASULTO
Angela Basulto was a former anti-Castro fighter who claimed
expert knowledge of firearms and explosives. Her first husband was
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Kantor reported:
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City, 5'6" 135 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes was one
of 13 International Anti-Communist Brigade members
arrested by United States Customs authorities on
December 4, 1962, at No Name Key, Florida.
Watergate Subject Frank Sturgis was one of the
leaders of this group which was alleged to be a
military operation against Cuba. Details are set out in
Miami report of S.A. (Deleted) dated November 9,
1968, Bufile (Deleted).
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1. In his book, Give Us This Day ("The Inside Story of the CIA and
the Bay of Pigs Invasion...) on pages 98 to 103, Hunt gives an
account of some of the activities of Pedro Diaz Lanz, who defected
from Castro Cuba in mid-1959 as the first chief of Castro's air force.
Hunt points out that in October 1959 Diaz Lanz piloted a small plane
dumping hundreds of anti- Castro leaflets over Havana. Diaz Lanz's
copilot on the flight is identified as Frank Fiorini. Hunt goes on to
describe what would be personal contacts with Pedro Diaz Lanz in
the Miami area, utilizing the services of Bernard Barker in his
contacts with Diaz Lanz and other Cubans. Hunt further describes
his attempts to involve Diaz Lanz with the Agency in the invasion,
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CAR THIEF
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Lawrence Howe.
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IS - CUBA
This will confirm information orally furnished to SA
Joseph Ball, Miami Office by SA V. B. Miner on April
22, 1975. On 4/22/75, Robert Olson, Commission on
CIA activities in the U.S. (Rockefeller Commission)
contacted the Bureau. He indicated he had been
called earlier by Frank Sturgis in connection with
Sturgis' testimony before the Commission. At that
time, Sturgis indicated to Olson that there was a
group known as the Latin American Anti-Communist
League in Miami which is making plans to
assassinate Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and
the President of Venezuela. Olson indicated that
Sturgis was at his home in Miami, telephone Number
305-6S1-6263, and address 2515 N.W. 122 Street,
Miami, Florida, 22167. Olson advised that he had on
objection to our contacting Sturgis however, since he
had committed himself to recontact Sturgis he would
call him and advise him that he would be contacted
by representatives of our Miami Office. The Miami
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[SSCIA 157-10005-101-46]
Given a receptive environment Sturgis might have talked:
"Prior to his coming to Washington for the interview he had told me
by telephone that he had concrete evidence to show that President
Kennedy had been assassinated as a result of a conspiracy
involving members of the Cuban crime syndicate and the CIA."
When Sturgis said he was asked by Barker (who worked for Hunt),
to assassinate an unknown individual, Olsen assumed it was
Castro. Sturgis had detailed numerous plots against Castro in which
he was involved. Sturgis told Canfield this was a domestic
assassination. What Sturgis referred to was the Kennedy
assassination.
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Olsen also should have realized that Hunt and Sturgis were
lying when they said they did not meet until 1971. Barker was too
close to both men for this to be true. Portions of transcript of
Rockefeller Commission interview with Frank Sturgis on April 3,
1975, and April 4, 1975, were withheld for National Security reasons
by withdrawing archivist KBH as of 2010. [Withdrawal Sheet ID
04444 - 018000065 and 04443 - 018000065 Box # 4 and #5]
DISINFORMATION 1976
In 1976 Sturgis told United Press International that he was
requested to conduct an investigation of the assassination of
President John F. Kennedy by an un-named government agency.
The CIA obtained this article and commented:
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
FROM: Raymond A. Warren
Acting Chief, Latin American Division
Via: Deputy Director of Operations
Subject: Washington Star Article on Jack Ruby / Fidel Castro July 9,
1976:
The Washington Star on July 9, 1976, carries an
article entitled "RUBY Met with Castro, Sturgis Says."
In the article, Sturgis claims he knew that JACK
RUBY met in Havana with Fidel Castro ten weeks
before the assassination of President Kennedy and
discussed 'the removal of the President.' Sturgis
claims, according to the article, that he had been
assigned to investigate possible involvement of
Cuban exiles in the Miami area in the Kennedy
assassination. The article also states that Sturgis
refused to say for what Agency he was working, or
gave him the assignment, but the article indicated
that Sturgis was working for the CIA at the time. For
the record, Sturgis continues to allege a CIA
relationship, but no such relationship has ever
existed.
DDO/SA/LA [deleted]ds July 9, 1976
Distribution:
Orig & 1 – Addressee w/att.
1 - DDCI w/att.
1 - DDO w/att.
1 – A/DCI (Mr. Falkiewicz) w/att.
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2 – DDO w/att.
2 – C/LAD w/att.
1 – SA/ LA w/att.
The DD/P signed under "Concur." [Allen v. DOD 7.9.76 CIA 19251-
0807]
The Agency reported to the FBI in CSCI3/779814 on
January 30, 1964 that an unevaluated and
unconfirmed report of a visit by Ruby to Cuba. In late
1962 or early 1963 had been received from Havana.
This report was actually based on a two page
mimeograph newsletter entitled, “Accion” which was
mailed from Cuba in an envelope postmarked
December 28, 1963, purportedly by an underground
anti-Castro group. This newsletter received in Miami
on January 13, 1964 by the anti-Castro group known
as the DRE, was widely circulated in the Cuban exile
community and was the subject of a newspaper
article in the January 29 edition of the Miami News
under the headline, “Ruby Visited Cuba --- Exiles
Say” (WAVE 1283 January 1964)
9 July 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: White House Inquiry Re Frank Sturgis, aka Florini.
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Dennis Berend
Deputy Assistant to the
Director of Central Intelligence
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THOMAS HOLT
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base. The goal: Stay long enough so that sympathetic nations will
recognize a Cuban government-in-exile. Wilferdo Navarro and
Raphael Torres, a Bay of Pigs vet, were involved in this action.
Sturgis and his crew ran aground in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Sturgis had to slip out the these islands in a small powerboat.
[Miami Herald 9.10.81] In February 1982 Sturgis was in Angola,
where he led a Brigade of anti-Castro Cubans, according to Wilferdo
Navarro. [Miami Herald 2.10.82] In June 1986 Sturgis was arrested
after he promised Metro Miami detective, Kennedy Rosario, who
was posing as a drug dealer, that he could get the drug ring's
chemist out of jail in return for a large amount of money. The
Organized Crime Bureau first found out about Sturgis' scam in May
1986 when an informant told OCB detective Carlos Ortiz that he
knew of "individuals engaged in reducing inmate’s sentences" using
"high-level" connections. Sturgis told them he wanted $150,000 in
cash. Since it was no crime to con drug dealers, and since Sturgis
never followed through on his promise to contact high level people,
OCB went another route. They offered Sturgis a down payment of
four stolen Rolex watches and $75,000. The police delivered four
watches to Frank, then arrested him and his partner, Spanish
national Emilio Cotonat, for possession of stolen property. When the
case came to court, Sturgis claimed he was working for Customs
Officer John McCutcheon, and had informed McCutcheon before his
arrest about the approach. John McCutcheon, who spent 20 years
with the Drug Enforcement Administration, testified that Sturgis had
told him about this episode, but he could not remember if it was
before or after his arrest. The jurors could not convict Sturgis
because his guilt was not longer beyond reasonable doubt. Ellis
Rubin represented Sturgis and he was acquitted. [Miami Herald
11.7.86]
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Q. Dead?
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and five other officers of the Special Forces on charges that they
had murdered a Vietnamese double agent. That trial ended in
dismissal of charges, when the CIA refused to allow its agents to
testify about its operations in Vietnam in conjunction with the Green
Berets. In 1988 Henry Rothblatt represented Barker during an Miami
investigation into the granting of zoning variances.
STURGIS DOES TIME FOR THE KENNEDY ASSASSINATION
On Wednesday, November 3, 1977, Sturgis' bail was
reduced to $10,000 and he was released from Rikers Island. Sturgis
had been incarcerated for two days as a result of his participation in
the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. It was ironic that it
took someone like Marita Lorenz to do this. On Friday, November 5,
1977, the New York City District Attorney's Office announced that
tape recordings and documents submitted by Marita Lorenz had
been examined and contained no threat. The New York City District
Attorney's Office moved for dismissal, since: "The lack of
substantiation of her claims impairs her credibility."
Q. Were you married to someone other than the person you are
married to now.
A. Yes sir.
A. Divorce. I was reported killed in Cuba, and after I came back from
Cuba, naturally we were separated. [He abandoned his second
wife.]
A. I was married, let's see, I came out of the Marine Corps. I believe
it was 1946. I was on the Norfolk Police Department, and --- Her
name was Odell Thompson. She was killed in an accident.
Q. What year?
A. No, sir.
A. Not in her whole life, never. For anything ever. In the discussion,
one of the discussions I had with her, I asked her about the
pressure behind her in making those statements, and I did ask her if
the company was behind it. Or if the FBI was behind it, or any other
group of people was behind it.
Q. Other than the fact that people stop you and take notice of you, it
there any other effect the arrest has had on your life?
A. Yes, because I've worried about the people who are stopping me
are going to shoot me, and that has affected on my family, that has
tremendous effect on my family.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What expenses?
A. No.
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accusations she made, whether she was telling the truth or not. I
passed it 100%." Henry Rothblatt stated that Sturgis passed, but he
refused to send this researcher a copy of the raw test results. On
November 9, 1977, the FBI issued a public denial that their agents
had encouraged Lorenz to poison Fidel Castro. [FBI 105-83564-14]
N.Y.P.D.
Sturgis sued the New York City Police Department. This
researcher worked with the New York City Police Department as a
consultant on this case, and supplied it with information on Sturgis'
past connection with prostitutes, and fact that he had been arrested
for beating his wife. As a result, Sturgis did not pursue the matter
fully. He arranged an out of court settlement with the New York City
Police Department in which he received $2,500. The lawsuit was
originally for $15 million. While working on the Sturgis case, I left my
original Sturgis file in my desk at Police Headquarters. The Police
assured me, "It's safe here, we're the police, right?" My Sturgis file,
however, was stolen by an agency of the Federal Government. All
the documents in the file had been catalogued, and, with some
effort, were replaced.
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Maurice A. Sovern.
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In April 1978 Hunt was asked for any and all evidence that I
planned to murder Frank Sturgis.
A. Yes, I do.
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Q. But other than Mr. Sturgis'S statements, there was nothing you
know of that would indicate Mr Weberman was involved in this plot
to do away with Mr. Sturgis?
A. Mr. Gaeton Fonzi, the investigator for the HSCA, contacted me.
He told me, "Frank, I got a call from Washington to go ahead and
check into these allegations of Marita Lorenz and naturally I have to
sit down and talk to you." Fine. So we set up a meeting, talked with
Fonzi and he says, "What do you think is behind this?" I said I didn't
know. So, naturally, I defended Marita. I said "I don't think Marita
Lorenz would do this by herself. There had to be some reason or
some force pushing her behind this." He says, "Well it seems that
way. I just can't believe it," you know, "everything that's going on."
The only thing I can say is that Marita Lorenz told me on the
telephone that Weberman was behind the pressures in doing what
she had done, you, know, that's the only thing I know.
A. No. Well, I'm telling you the story about Marita, what she told me
that some of the people that was behind her, the pressures that she
had behind her in making the story which led up to her daughter
actually being arrested for being outside her apartment with a .22
caliber pistol, can you tell me? Can (sic) not a lawyer. I'd like to
know these things...Now I don't know whether Weberman gave her
money to go ahead and -- all I know is that Marita Lorenz sent me a
prepaid ticket. Now, where she got that money, I don't know...I say
there's elements in this country who are trying to use me to divide
the people's thinking in this country and the true facts...
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NODULE TWENTY-TWO
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Q. When was the last time you spoke with Mr. Hunt if you can
recall?
Q. All right. Do you recall what you did and where you were on
November 22, 1963?
Q. When you got home that day, did you have an occasion to see
Mr. Hunt after your arrival home?
Q. Do you ever recall having any discussions with him about his
whereabouts on that day?
A. No.
Q. Mr. Thomas, is it that you don't remember seeing Mr. Hunt the
day of the assassination, or the next day, or is it your testimony that
you remember that you did not see him?
A. No. No.
Q. Do you think it is likely that if you had seen him, or he had come
over to your house on that day after you got home, that you might
have recalled that?
A. I don't know at this time. It's been so long. I really couldn't say
yes, I would have remembered or not.
Q. All right. You don't know, in other words, one way or the other
whether he was there or not there in essence?
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A. That is correct.
CAROL THOMAS
Q. Do you recall where you were on the day of the assassination?
Q. Do you recall what time your husband came home on the night of
the Kennedy assassination?
Q. All right. Do you recall whether anyone came over to your house
to visit or to talk or for any reason after his arrival?
Q. If anyone had, would you have recalled it or could you recall it?
Q. You would not know at this time one way or the other whether
anyone came over to visit or did not come over to visit.
Q. Do you recall whether Mrs. Hunt was at home on the day of the
assassination.
A. No.
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A. That's right.
MR. MILLER
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Q. Do you know what Hunt was doing for the Agency in 1963?
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A. Yes.
A. No.
BY MR. OLSEN
Q. No. I have just asked you if your acquaintance with Hunt was
such that you would have known his whereabouts on any particular
day.
A. No.
A. Oh, I would see him in the halls, this type of thing but -- bump into
him perhaps downtown the street.
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Q. But you would have no occasion for knowing from one day to the
next.
A. No
A. Yes. I have done it twice that I recall, and the most recent one
was I guess -- I am trying to think. Well it wasn't too long ago
because we did have an inquiry and we obtained the time and
attendance records from the Office of Finance which showed that
Howard Hunt was on sick leave that day.
A. Yes.
Q. I understand from the files I have seen, Mr. Sturbitts, that the
only records that were available from the Office of Finance showed
that he had nine hours of sick leave during the two week pay period
ending November 23, 1963, but that the records were not available
as to how much sick leave or annual leave had been taken on any
particular day.
A. Well--
Q. Am I mistaken?
A. Sure.
A. Yes.
A. I don't know. I would have to look that up too. I don't recall exactly
who asked for it. I don't know whether -- I will just have to check
that. I don't know who it was.
Q. And the date? Do you have any idea when you made the
inquiry?
A. No. But I can find out from the B and F guy, hopefully.
A. Yes, and actually I think this -- Archie's inquiry came from some
magazine or newspaper man in Europe. Archie was Chief of Station
in Berlin for a long time and he apparently made a lot of
acquaintances over there among the media.
A. That is right.
Q. And I did understand you to say that in checking with the Office
of Finance that it was positively ascertained that Hunt was on sick
leave on November 22nd?
A. Well, I will have to check that. That is the way I understood it, but
I did get this through our Budget people who have contact with the
Office of Finance.
A. No, he was on a duty status the day before, on sick leave, and
then on duty status the following day.
A. (Nods in negative)
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Q. November 22, 1963, was a Friday. When you say the record
reveals he was on duty status the next day --
Q. Will you check that thing for us and give us a memo together with
whatever supporting -- copies of supporting documents you can
find?
A. Okay.
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recall it, "Wah Ling." I do not know how long after the
first radio reports were made that my wife and I first
heard the news. Brinkley was the commentator I
remember because of his having theorized a "right
wing plot" i.e. Dallas citizens had abused Adlai
Stevenson and the climate of Dallas extremism had
caused Kennedy's shooting.
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RBO/vmr
CC: D.Belin
Senior Counsels
No effort was made by Olsen to contact Virginia Moppett. Research
indicated Mary Trayner died on September 17, 1980, of generalized
carcinomatosis, cachexia and carcinoma of the pancreas. [D.C.
Cert. of Death 80-006220] During the second Hunt v. Spotlight trial
Hunt was asked why he did not depose witnesses to his
whereabouts on November 22, 1963, during Hunt v. Weberman. He
stated:
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- I was only nine years old at the time and to the best
of my recollection I was in school, in class, and I
believe the announcement was made over the school
P.A. system.
A. All I can give you is that when I first heard the news, which came
over the car radio, I was on 'H' Street about 9th N.W., Washington. I
was driving home from a Chinese grocery store.
A. Wah Ling.
Q. So in fact on that day you were away from the house for how
long a period?
A. I don't recall.
Q. Could it have been six to eight hours, or more, or less? Can you
pinpoint it?
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A. No.
Q. Do you recall any friends who may have called you by telephone
that day?
A. No.
A. No.
A. No.
A. Totally certain.
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Q. It does not give a specific day that you took the sick leave. That
is why I am asking you if you recall.
Q. Perhaps you visited the CIA during the day, as you would during
an ordinary business day?
Q. What are the names of the children that saw you on November
22, 1963?
A. Yes.
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A. No.
Q. Did the other two children in fact verify with certainty your
whereabouts on that day?
A. Yes, but as I say I don't know what her contact with the
Rockefeller Commission was.
A. No.
Q. Other than your children and your wife, would anybody else be
able to verify your whereabouts on that day?
Q. Anybody else you can recall that might be able to verify your
whereabouts on that day?
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A. My wife's aunt was staying with us at the time, the late Mrs.
Leona Drexler. She had spoken with her daughter that day about
the events. So the daughter in Chicago would be able to give you a
third party. [The daughter of Leona Drexler was not deposed since
her testimony would have been hearsay.]
A. No.
A. I don't think that the grocery store existed or ever existed. In fact,
in the testimony that I gave to the Church Committee, if you recall I
said, to the best of my recollection, the name of the grocery store
was Wah Ling (phonetic). Having revisited the site, in fact, by
chance having dinner in Chinatown fairly recently, I determined the
name of the grocery store was Tuck Cheong, T-u-c-k C-h-e-o-n-g.
Q. So you are now saying that your alibi for the day of the
assassination, Wah Ling's grocery, is now changed to a different
grocery store?
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Q. Now that you have refreshed your memory, where is this Tuck
Cheong?
A. I don't know. My wife made the purchases. She went into the
grocery store. I stayed in the car with the children.
A. I would say simply that it was one, of the probably several, that
my wife visited that day.
Friedman: "On October 17, 1974, E. Howard Hunt advised [the FBI]
that he recalls hearing about the assassination over his car radio
immediately after leaving a Chinese grocery store in the area of 9th
and H Street N.W. Washington, D.C., on November 22, 1963. He
was with his wife Dorothy, who is now deceased. Before returning
home, they picked-up their daughter, Kevan, at Sidwell Friends
School, Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. He could recall
no contact on that date with anyone other than possibly a former
neighbor. He advised that his personal records pertaining to
November 22, 1963, were destroyed several years ago."
Mr. Rubin: All right. Now how has Mr. Hunt testified any differently
than from what you have just said?
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A. Then I would say that I stayed in the car with the dog, rather than
with the children.
Q. My question is: Did you in an affidavit state under oath that you
had been purchasing groceries? "We had been purchasing
groceries in a Chinese grocery store." That you recall at that time to
be called Wah Ling?
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A. Yes, I so stated.
Q. Was that a mistake, or now you are saying you were in more
than one grocery store?
Q. Then in 1978, when you appeared before the HSCA did you not,
in fact, say the Wah Ling reference was wrong?
A. I did.
Q. Now, are you saying that [your HSCA testimony] was wrong, in
fact, it was both of them, is that correct?
Q. Mr. Lane asked you about the name of the Chinese grocery store
and said you had testified on a prior occasion that the name was
Wah Ling, then you testified it was Tuck Cheong. Now you think it is
both. Were you in any way misleading anyone when you gave those
prior statements?
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Hunt waited in the car with the baby while she bought the
groceries. This explained why she did not buy the groceries before
picking up her husband, and supported Hunt’s previous testimony.
Why drive around with a three-month-old baby? Why didn't Dorothy
Hunt leave the baby with Mary Trayner? Hunt’s claim that he was at
his office that morning conformed to the testimony of Walter
Kuzmuk.
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Walter Kuzmuk
POB 756
Long Key, Florida. 33001
February 6, 1979
Walter Kuzmuk had served in the OSS with Hunt in 1945,
and was a 27-year veteran of the CIA who, in 1963, was Hunt’s
friend and neighbor. He had visited Hunt’s home on more than
several occasions. These men saw each other on a daily basis, and
worked in the same office, on the same floor. Walter Kuzmuk: "We
lived within four or five houses of one another's homes. My wife was
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friendly with his wife, and my children were friendly with his
children...his children and our children went to school together, and
there was always like - they bring them home and things of that
nature." [Kuzmuk testimony, 2nd Hunt v. Spotlight trial, Kuzmuk
deposition in same matter 6.28.84] Walter Kuzmuk did not reveal
this information until February 1979, when he decided to mail it to
Ellis Rubin. Walter Kuzmuk wrote: "Having become aware through
the press of questions raised concerning E. Howard Hunt’s
whereabouts on November 22, 1963, I wish to make the following
voluntary statement."
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In June 1977, Hunt stated: "I would put [the time I was away
from the house on November 22, 1963] at about two hours." Only in
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later depositions had Hunt left open the possibility of his being at the
CIA that morning. The Rockefeller Commission: "Hunt could not
recall whether he was on duty with the CIA on the morning of that
day." When Hunt was deposed in June 1977, Hunt was again
uncertain whether he had gone to the office that morning. He was
asked: "But could you have stopped by your office?" He answered:
"It is possible I was there in the morning, yes." Mark Lane also
pointed out that Walter Kuzmuk could not place Hunt at the Agency
that day. Walter Kuzmuk: "I am not sure whether he was in the
office that day. I mean it's easy to be that you are on sick leave, or
whatever." Walter Kuzmuk could not cite other witnesses' testimony
to corroborate his testimony. No impartial agency employee could
be questioned. Mark Lane asked Walter Kuzmuk if he saw Hunt
later that day. He answered: "Well, I would say sure, why not?
Probably on his front lawn or maybe on my front lawn. So in all
probability I did." Hunt testified: "I have no reason to believe I saw
Mr. Kuzmuk for the balance of that day..."
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A. Let me say this here. I have worked in the intelligence field off
and on for years and there is compartmentation with people that you
work with directly. I don't recall ever meeting Howard Hunt
personally. I don't recall meeting Howard Hunt. In 1963.
A. Andrew may get his things a little bit mixed up. Now, understand
one thing, before the Bay of Pigs invasion I was working in a
different sector because E. Howard Hunt was a political officer and I
was not associated with the political end of the Bay of Pigs invasion.
MR. RUBIN: They are lying just like Weberman did in his book. The
whole book is a lie and we will prove it in court.
Sturgis also told Olsen: "Hunt left Miami one week before
Bay of Pigs." Sturgis was questioned by Robert B. Olsen of the
Rockefeller Commission:
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been one of the tramps in Dealey Plaza along with Hunt, because
he did not know Hunt in 1963, having first been introduced to Hunt
by Barker in 1971. Sturgis claimed to have little respect for Barker.
As this researcher has documented, Sturgis was Barker’s number
one source of information for many years. Sturgis said Barker, on
behalf of Hunt, approached him to do a domestic assassination.
This indicated how close the relationship was between the two men
and that by denouncing Barker, Sturgis was trying to hide this
relationship.
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Sturgis: The reason for that was that I felt there were
too many FioriniS, Frank Fiorini'S especially. I don't
know. My mother wanted me to change the name
really because she had a bad situation with my father
and she hated the Fiorini family.
HUNT EXPLAINS
A. During the war I met a Captain Sturgis, whom I became very fond
of. He contracted tuberculosis in the jungles. He came back home in
a ship and went up to Saranac Lake Sanitarium. I heard
subsequently he died of the T.B. he incurred in the Far East during
the war. I was a great admirer of this individual. His name came to
mind when I wrote the book.
A. I said he died.
A. Yes.
A. Let me say this here. I had contact with Artime, since Artime
came from Cuba. I was part of the original officers that organized
the MIR. Manuel Artime was an individual who left Cuba, and came
to the United States. I did not know Artime in Cuba, but I was one of
the original officers who helped organize the MIR movement in the
United States.
A. Yes.
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Q. Did you know that Pedro Diaz Lanz was in fact a close friend of
Sturgis?
A. I'm not sure he was a friend. I know he and Fiorini joined him in
Havana.
Q. But you never met Frank Sturgis through Pedro Diaz Lanz?
A. No.
Hunt changed his story from the one he had repeated under
oath on numerous occasions. If he was lying about knowing Sturgis
in the early 1960’s than he could have been lying about knowing
him in the late 1940’s. In any event this put Hunt and Sturgis
together at the time of the Kennedy assassination and was further
evidence that Hunt and Sturgis were in Dealey Plaza disguised as
tramps.
A. When? 1957.
A. Santiago De Cuba.
Q. When did you first see Mr. Sturgis with Mr. Hunt, what date?
A. Never.
A. No.
Q. Did you ever see Mr. Hunt or Mr. Sturgis in November 1963?
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A. No, sir.
A. No, sir.
Q. Did you ever see Mr. Hunt, or Mr. Sturgis in November 1963?
A. No, sir.
A. No.
A. (No response).
Q. I again ask the question that was objected to: Did you, Mr. Lanz,
become acquainted with Manuel Artime?
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A. No.
A. Yes.
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A. No, never.
Tony Varona told the HSCA: "I know the name Fiorini,
because I know there was a pilot by that name. I never saw him
present. Maybe, I am not sure, he was working with Bender.
Possibly with Barker."
HOWARD K. DAVIS, HEMMING & HUNT
In April 1993 Howard K. Davis was asked: "Did you ever see
Howard Hunt back in the early 1960's?" Howard K. Davis replied:
"Well he was around every place, yeah. But I had no great contact
with him." He was asked: "Did you ever see Hunt and Sturgis
together?" Howard K. Davis stated: "I can't say that I did, no. But
then I'd see Sturgis with a whole bunch of different people. I
wouldn't know who they were." Hemming told the HSCA: “He was
aware of Hunt, but never worked with him.” In 1994 Hemming
stated,
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June 19, 1972: "Hunt’s security file reflects that Subject has, in the
past, been of operational interest to Mr. James Angleton, Chief, CI
Staff/ DDP in connection with an operational matter. One June 19,
1972, Mr. Fred Hubbard, CI Staff, advised that he will provide
information as to the nature of Mr. Angleton'S utilization of Subject."
In January 1974 Angleton was questioned about his relationship
with Hunt:
SDO: Please hang on. Mr. Angleton could you hang on to this - he
doesn't remember it?
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Lawrence J. Howe.
WALTER PFORZHEIMER
FROM: Lawrence Howe
TO: Mr. Steven L. Kuhn
SUBJECT: The David St. John Novels
1. On February 4, 1974 Mr. Walter Pforzheimer,
Curator, Historical Intelligence Collection, was
interviewed by the undersigned concerning his
knowledge of a series of novels written by Hunt.
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Bruce L. Solie.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT MEETING WITH FRANCIS U HENRIGUEZ
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Hunt was in Madrid for ten months and incurred $63, 500 in
transportation expenses. Thomas Karamessines was the Approving
Officer.
MR. DELETED OF THE AUDIT STAFF
February 21, 1974
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Hunt: I knew that there was such a person [Cubela], but I never had
any contact with him and I know nothing about him.
Hunt: None at all. I'm sure the reference in paragraph five is not to
me.
Baron: The sentence that says "Quite likely, "EDUARDO" will never
appear to contact Subject."
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ROLANDO CUBELA
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bombed Cuban sugar mills. [NYT 5.15.64] That month Tad Szulc
reported Cuba feared another military invasion was imminent. In
September 1964 Victor Paneque and Manuel Artime's men took
part in an anti-Castro action that caused the death of three Spanish
seamen, and alienated anti-Castro Cubans from the Johnson
Administration. Manuel Artime planned to intercept and sink the
Cuban cargo vessel El Sierra Maestre. In 1978 Hemming stated:
"There was a thick fog that night and we couldn't see shit. We hit the
goddamned Sierra Aranzazu, a Spanish ship, by mistake." In 1994
Hemming denied that he told me this. On September 15, 1964, the
Spanish merchant vessel Sierra Aranzazu was attacked by two
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On December 6, 1963, the FBI reported that MRR and the 30th of
November Movement were jointly involved in anti-Castro activities.
[FBI 97-4133-81] In 1966 Manuel Artime worked for the Somoza
brothers in the import/export business. Manuel Artime and
Anastasio Somoza associate Edgardo Buttari jointly owned a firm
that imported meat, fish and lumber from Nicaragua to Florida, and
exported slaughterhouse equipment to Nicaragua. Edgardo Buttari
was born August 14, 1909, (also given 1914) at West Tampa,
Florida. His father had fought in the war for Cuban Independence.
Edgardo Buttari became President Fulgencio Batista's Minister of
Commerce. He arrived in the United States in March 1960. The CIA
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stated: "While information in his file does not indicate any past or
present CIA contact, there is unsourced information in the Western
Hemisphere/Caribbean Operations Group card file which shows that
Buttari was in touch with Frank Bender (Gerald Droller) in Miami in
the Spring of 1960, apparently in relation to Buttari's involvement
with the Cuban Revolutionary Front." Edgardo Buttari was a partner
of Nixon associate B.B. Rebozo.
Morales: Another thing, two months ago, a fellow named Hunt, who
is a member of the Republican Party, was here and he gave
$15,000 to some representatives of Cuban Power to place bombs.
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Bosch: You know that makes two people who tell me this...
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on Radio City allegation; (5) investigate Hunt testimony that CIA did
not return Tessina film negatives." [IG File #27 Tab #23]
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A. To some extent.
A. No.
A. No.
A. Yes, I did.
A. The few gleanings that came from DeMott, I think I turned the
originals over to Chuck Colson and I kept a skeleton file in my own
office in the White House safe, in my then White House office.
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A. To my knowledge, no.
Brown. In 1965, just after the Watts riot, Tackwood said the police
department came to the conclusion that the Black Muslims were
getting "too big, too powerful." He was instructed to make a phone
call on August 18, 1965, to the police precinct saying there were
guns going in and out of the Muslim mosque. Tackwood said he did
so, and immediately "all kinds of police came in and shot the place
up." Around 1966 he recalled, he began working with Ron Karenga,
at the time when the Black Panthers were beginning to gain strength
in Los Angeles. On orders of SIS, Tackwood said, he frequently
brought money to Karenga and told him to "off" (kill) Panthers. A
main target, he said, was Ellmore (Geronimo) Pratt, the Panther's
Southern Chairman. Pratt, however, was never killed. Two Black
Panthers, Alprentice Bunchy Carter and John Huggins were slain at
UCLA in late 1968, and two members of US, the organization
headed by Ron Karenga, were convicted. Louis Tackwood: "My first
C.C.S. assignment was when I was liaison between C.S.S. and Ron
Karenga's organization US." In 1966 a probation officer wrote: "Los
Angeles Police Department officers report that Tackwood in the past
worked for them as a reliable informant." Louis Tackwood claimed
that in 1969 he was recruited for Criminal Conspiracy Section, Los
Angeles Police Department, which was an outgrowth of a special
unit to investigate the Robert F. Kennedy assassination, by Ronald
G. Farwell, a black member of CCS in charge of monitoring black
militant activity. The L.A. Panthers continued to thrive until their
headquarters was raided on December 8, 1969. Thirteen of their
members were arrested for assault. Tackwood charged that police
had planned the raid long in advance with Panther Melvin "Cotton"
Smith. Tackwood said he learned from Sgt. Ronald G. Farwell that
Smith had been a police informant since 1967. In early 1970
Tackwood said he killed a man who was getting wise to his
informing activities. He fled to New Orleans, assured by his police
friends, no action would be taken. Louis Tackwood moved to New
Orleans in the early 1970's, then returned to Los Angeles in July
1970, after his New Orleans cover had been blown. In 1970 he
testified at a murder trial. The prosecutor conceded that his
testimony "put the defendant on death row."
MARTIN AND WHITE
By 1971 Louis Tackwood believed he could get rich if he told
all he knew about government misconduct to the media. According
to Bob Duggan, "Tackwood was a psychopathic liar and a
mercenary. The LA Free Press thought it was too hot to handle, so
they turned him over to me. And the first thing he did was, in my
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Q. Did Mr. Hunt ever indicate to you that any of the men with whom
he was working, some of the individuals who were Cubans, had any
previous experience in assassination or killings or the like or had-
Q. All right.
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And in any event, we had perhaps a dozen men who were willing to
come on board in this connection. And Mr. Hunt, to impress upon
me the high caliber of these individuals, stated that they had
accounted among them for a substantial number of deaths [22],
including two who had hanged someone from a beam in a garage.
Q. Did Hunt indicate at any time that any of these individuals were
connected in some way with organized crime or whatever?
A. He indicated that these, not he, but these Cuban individuals were
connected in some way with organized crime.
A. No.
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Hunt: No.
Hunt: No. The only reference I've ever seen to it has been in the
Washington Post stories.
Hunt: "I have no idea. It is possible that Dr. Gunn may have
received that impression or achieved that perception. I thought also
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that Gordon Liddy may have done some talking when he was a
prisoner in the D.C. Jail, but I have no personal recollection of ever
discussing the matter outside Colson, Liddy, and myself.
Hunt told the SSCIA:
That there came a time, to the best of my
recollection, in late December, or sometime in
January, or possibly even February 1972, when
Charles Colson, then Special Counsel to the
President, called me into his office. Mr. Colson at that
juncture was -- appeared rather nervous. He, as you
know, had a common wall with President Nixon'S
suite in the Old Executive Office Building, and
although he did not glance in that direction, my
impression was he had been with the President not
too long before. He said that in effect, now I'm not
making direct quotes, but what he indicated to me
was that Mr. Anderson had become a great thorn in
the side of the President...He was agitated when he
called me in, sort of talking to me and rifling through
papers on his desk, which was very much unlike him,
and the inference that I drew from that was that he
had just had a conversation with the President. So
when I accepted this assignment, I assumed, as I
usually do with Colson, that he was either reflecting
the desires of the Chief Executive, or else that as a
prescient staff officer, was attempting to find a
solution to a problem that was troubling his chief...I
want to say that I don't know what specific incident
triggered the White House reaction, whether it was
the Pakistan story, or what it was. I can't relate it to
any particular thing. So in due course, in the next four
days, I got in touch with retired CIA physician whose
name is Dr. Edward Gunn. I knew he'd retired, but I
also knew that he had been involved in certain
unorthodox aspects of medicine, physiological
research and, although I can't pinpoint it now, I
believe I must have been aware that he had some
knowledge of the unorthodox administration of
behavior changing of altering substances. But in any
event I got in touch with Doctor Gunn, who at that
point had just left the White House and moved over
to the Committee to Reelect the President. Dr. Gunn
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COLSON'S VERSION
Baron: Flashback.
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Baron: But you are quite clear in your own mind that you did discuss
with Colson Jack Anderson specifically as a target?
Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy met with Dr. Edward Gunn in the
Old Hay- Grill. As stated, Hunt told Dr. Edward Gunn that G. Gordon
Liddy was okay. G. Gordon Liddy explained:
The conclusion was that the Cuban assets were to stage a mugging
in Washington which would be fatal to Anderson.
Q. All right. Now if Mr. Hunt had said he had merely discussed with
you and Dr. Gunn nothing more than a discreditation of Mr.
Anderson, would that be correct or incorrect?
A. I was in prison at the time. The article was made available to me.
I read it at the time. And I was surprised to see that it was incorrect
in that it did not narrate the incident as I have just narrated it to you,
which is what actually happened. [Hunt v. Weberman Liddy Depo.
9.30.80.]
WAS HUNT PLANNING TO USE POISON OR LSD?
During the second Hunt v. Spotlight trial G. Gordon Liddy
stated:
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A. I did.
A. I did.
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A. I know that he did forge at least one document. That was a cable.
And he did so employing the use of a Xerox machine. And that was
the summer of 1971.
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shot. Colson said this case will show the other half of Conein's
operation." Hemming told this researcher:
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Helms: Never.
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from time to time. And it is indeed true that as soon as it was found
out he was involved in the Watergate thing we simply turned him off
and have not talked to him since.' Mr. Helms repeated the
substance of this testimony of page 58 to 59 of the transcript. I
would appreciate you clearing up these discrepancies. Specifically --
was Sturgis active in the Bay of Pigs operation? Did he continue
clandestinely working for the liberation of Cuba thereafter, either on
behalf of the CIA or with its knowledge, approval or acquiescence?
If so, what were his activities?
Answer: Any activities in which Mr. Sturgis may have been engaged
subsequent to the Bay of Pigs Operation were without the prior
knowledge or the approval or acquiescence of this Agency. Our files
reflect information from the FBI which indicates that Mr. Sturgis is a
soldier of fortune who had participated in Cuban Revolutionary
activities for a number of years. However, the Agency did engage in
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Question: What does Sturgis mean when he says 'I was doing
similar work though Mr. Martinez was working for a different sector
than I was?'
While it is true that Mr. Martinez had an 'agent' relationship with this
Agency prior to the time he was put on a part-time retainer, he was
never an 'employee' of this Agency, and was never under the type
of supervision and control normally associated with a 'staff
employee' relationship. Further, prior to Mr. Helms' testimony before
your committee on February 7, 1973, there was speculation in the
press that Mr. Martinez was an active employee of this Agency at
the time of the break in. This, of course, was not true, and in
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explaining the status of Mr. Martinez at the time of the break in, it is
understandable that uppermost in Mr. Helms' mind would be the
part-time retainer status which Mr. Martinez held at the time of the
break in. Please let me know if there is anything further you desire
in the above connection. W.E. Colby, Director. [To Amb. Helms from
George L. Cary CIA FOIA 17262 and 17260]
On November 16, 1973, Andrew St. George testified before the
Senate Armed Service Committee. The CIA reported: "He made
certain allegations against the Agency, the gist being (most of it
coming from Frank Sturgis) that the Agency had prior knowledge of
the Watergate break-in, accomplishing this through the penetration
of the break-in group utilizing Eugenio Rolando Martinez, one of the
arrested Watergate burglars. At that time St. George alleged he had
other Agency sources who he would not identify." [BROWN MFR
7.25.75]
A CIA Index Card read "Howard Hunt, Robert Vesco, May 9, 1974,
Memo for OPS/RMO from Robert E. Owen, Chief, OPS/OSG
(regarding Hunt’s reported activities in Spain, 1972 and Robert
Vesco's reported activities in Spain, 1972)." A CIA memo stated that
the files of the Chief, OPS/OSG yielded nothing on Hunt and Vesco:
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Q. Did you ever make a statement to the press in the recent past
that the White House plumbers had in fact plotted to assassinate
General Omar Torrijos of Panama?
A. No.
Mr. Rubin: Wait a minute. I'll do it. Any more remarks by this man,
any more sighs of exasperation, anymore snickering and laughing
and I am going to walk out of here with Mr. Hunt and I am going to
bring this to the attention of the Court. Now Alan, please behave
yourself This is a serious business.
PSYCHIATRIST,
WIFE MISSING ON
BOAT TRIP
A psychiatrist and his wife have been reported
missing of the island of St. Lucia, in the Caribbean.
Dr. and Mrs. Gary O. Morris set out Friday in a 15
foot motorboat from the Halcyon Beach Club hotel for
a picnic on Pigeon Island, about three miles away.
With them was a local captain Mervin Augustin.
When the three failed to return by Friday night, the
hotel manager flew out to look for them, according to
the Associated Press. U.S Coast Guard, British and
private aircraft searched the seas off the British
protectorate over the weekend. The group had two
quarts of water, a picnic lunch and a box of ice on
board. The Halcyon Management said the Morrises
had checked in on Wednesday for four days. Morris
practices psychiatry at 4501 Connecticut Ave in
Washington. He and his wife have three children.
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Ellis Rubin in March 1972, when a Federal Grand Jury indicted him
for fraud. William Bremer was charged with swindling $36,000 from
the public in a bogus "Figure Form Reducing Outlets" operation.
William Bremer was convicted. Ellis Rubin said that he took the
case of William Bremer for its publicity value. When Ellis Rubin was
asked if he had ever been questioned by the authorities about
himself or any of his clients, he stated: "Well you would be surprised
to know that I have been questioned in all these cases." Ellis Rubin
was asked if he was questioned specifically about the assassination
of President John F. Kennedy: "All of these things that have been
mentioned, because I have represented the principals involved..."
The link through Ellis Rubin was too thin a thread to associate
Arthur Bremer with the White House/Special Operations Group.
DONALD SEGRETTI
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A. Yes.
A. Well, what happened was that Hunt came to me, and actually, I
think he was kind of upset. And he said that Mr. Charles Colson
wanted him to enter Mr. Bremer's apartment. This is following Mr.
Bremer's, by the way, having shot former Governor George
Wallace. And it was very, very close after the fact of that shooting,
to place this in time. And Mr. Charles Colson wanted him to go in
there and to deposit therein and leave to be found by law
enforcement authorities’ spurious literature that connected Mr.
Bremer with some other persons. At the moment it escapes me
who.
And Mr. Hunt said he didn't think that was a good idea. And he was,
in effect, looking for additional argument from me with which to
persuade Mr. Charles Colson that this was not a good idea. And I
told him, I said, "You know that place is probably under seal right
now. And it's impractical because the FBI or the Secret Service or
whatever, they know where it is. They have been in there and they
know it's there. And you go put something else in there, and they
are going to know somebody else put something in there. And it's
just not a good idea."
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Why did Nixon order the United States Secret Service and
the FBI withdrawn in the midst of the investigation? Was it to give
Howard Hunt time to go there and plant McGovern literature? Why
did Nixon then order the FBI and United States Secret Service
back? Was it because the plan had been canceled? Would the plan
have failed anyway because the media ransacked Arthur Bremer's
apartment during the period Hunt was supposed to have been
there?
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stall, was heard on the tapes recovered from the cockpit voice
recorder. Captain Whitehouse, the pilot of United Air Lines 533, age
44, had been employed by United Airlines for almost 20 years. He
had accumulated a total of 18,000 hours flying time, of which 2,435
were in a Boeing 737. Every pilot was taught that when a stall
occurs, he should point the aircraft's nose slightly downward by
extending his flaps, then immediately accelerate the engines to
increase thrust. Hemming told this researcher:
When you get a stall you drop the nose. The last
thing you do is add power because that will tend to
raise your nose. Put you nose down first then add
power, which lessens your rate of descent. Change
the angle of attack of your wings which get more
airflow going across the wings creating more lift.
Then add power to kill the rate of descent. Your rate
of descent has slackened off, but your nose is still
pointing down.
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Officer activated the circuit breaker that fused the power going to
the flight recorder and reported: "It tests...I think its okay. I think its
working...it says 'Off' but the signal, the encode light comes on and
it shows, indicating taping. Christ, I can't even find the circuit
breaker for this fucking flight recorder...I don't know, I get a reaction
when I pull the AC, no reaction when you pull the DC though, you
want me to call maintenance?" Captain Whitehead ordered the
Second Officer to immediately call it in.
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A. James W. Angus.
Q. Will you tell us how long you have been employed by Kollsman
Instruments?
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Q. Mr. Angus, I would like for you to start by describing the altimetry
system that is install in Boeing 737, and you may use Exhibit 9E for
referral. I would like you to point out those components furnished by
Kollsman.
A. Our involvement with the 757 air data computer and the servo-
automatic computers for this particular aircraft. The central air data
computer is a device which accepts inputs of static pressure, total
pressure, temperature and electrical power. We sense the pressure
functions and by means of servo systems, compute associated
outputs that are used in various positions around the airplane. The
sensors, sender portion of the air data computer consist essentially
of mechanisms somewhat similar to what is contained in altimeters
and airspeed indicators. That is, capsules which are responsive to
the particular air pressures being supplied. And this particular
information is converted into angular motion which ultimately
becomes part of a synchotel system and combined with a servo, it
positions all of the necessary output devices in accordance with
program established by the specification for the air data computer,
the output devices are in the forms of syncros, potentiometers,
decoders, and reliability signals.
Included with the air data computer is a monitor system for each
loop. This monitor determines that the servo system is properly
following up each of the sensed values. If, as in the case of the
altimeter, the servo system were to get out of track by as much as
100 feet, it would automatically disconnect the system. The way it
does this, it cuts off the reliability signals that are sent to each of the
using devices. So that any device in the airplane receives not only
data from the air data computer, but it receives a validity signal
which indicates whether or not the information should be used. The
functions that are sent out are sent to indicators on the panel, auto-
pilot, the flight recorder, the cabin pressurization system, and the
transponder for reporting altitude. The altimeters are what are
sometimes referred to as servo pneumatic altimeters. These
altimeters have two modes of operation which are selectable by the
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A. I believe the way the airline uses the term, the corrected mode is
the normal side of operation.
Q. And I am sorry if I missed it, but there are two such systems in
the aircraft?
A. The altimeter also contains its servo-monitor. There are two basic
modes of servo detection in the altimeter. First would be if the servo
system in the altimeter does not track that output of the air data
computer. If there is a 50 foot disagreement between the altimeter
and the air data computer, the altimeter will automatically revert to
standby operation. That will be operating as a straight TSO
altimeter. At the time this occurs, there is a flag on the dial which
indicates it goes from the corrected mode to the standby mode.
A. The error is a variable error with altitude, so that you can take
care of increased tolerances at high altitude. At sea level this error
would amount to approximately 350 feet.
A. That is correct.
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Q. Yes, sir.
Q. The indicated dial is set 30.035 thereabout. Have you any reason
to believe this setting had been changed since impact?
Q. Could you briefly describe for me the functional test unit was
subjected to?
A. This altimeter was placed in a ball jar. The reason for that was
that we could not pipe pressure into the altimeter and maintain a
reading due to the leakage from the various seals.
Q. In which?
A. In the minus direction. We then took the same altimeter and just
rotated the barrel knob to the 29-92 position, which is the standard
position for performing tests on an instrument of this type, and then
programmed corrected pressures into the instrument. And putting
corrected pressures into the instrument, we then read the
instrument error. Now, the instrument error in this case averages out
to approximately minus 120 foot value. The reason for the
disagreement in this particular case between the first test and the
second test -- excuse me. Am I getting ahead? Do you want the
reason now?
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A. Same direction, but much more repeatable all the way up. Used
the same 2000 foot altitude test span and 200 foot increment.
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After verifying our initial data, we took the instrument out of the
case, we found that all of the electrical components had been
exposed to very high temperatures, capacitors had exploded, solder
had melted. But the basic pressure mechanism was intact. So we
could not operate the instrument in servo mode. We tried in
California but we just blew fuses. At that point we just stopped; we
didn't want to damage it.
Q. Can you describe the condition of the first officer's altimeter one
as described by you?
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A. No.
Q. Would you briefly describe the significance of the photos that you
have labeled 2-6, 2-7, and 2-8 in establishing the uncoordinated
positions of the pointers?
Q. The primary central air data computer, can you describe the
coefficient of that component when you received it?
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Q. Could you describe for us, please, the tests to which these units
were subjected?
And individually we tried --- we worked the servo unit up to air data
computer and ran them through the same range, 2,000 feet. The
altimeter connected to the captain's air data computer generally
responded to less than 10 feet. First officer's was between minus 30
feet and 50 feet. Following this, we ran what we call a coast test of
the servo. This test was to determine if the computer was being
driven as it would be in the case of a descent and power was cut off,
would the computer continue to move, thereby destroying the
validity of the original set of data we took off the output devices. This
test was run at top rates of descent, 1,000 feet per minute and
2,500 feet per minute. In the case of the captain's altimeter, so-
called coast effect was less than 7/10. The first officers altimeter
approximately two feet. We considered this gave the original output
devices reasonable values that we could accept.
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At one point in time the subject came up, were the sensors capable
of performing when submitted to assorted acceleration factors, as
you might have when the aircraft might pull some G's if you made a
sharp pull up.
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gears can't disengage by moving axis. All stops were in place. That
particular sensor, we checked all the records, dates back to 1967.
The air data computers were made ready again and at the request
of United, we ran what we called some computer step function tests.
These tests consisted of programming pressure changes into the
sensor and measuring the time that it would take the output of the
air data computer to become stable at the secondary pressure. This
was done for values of a thousand foot step function, 500 foot stop
function, 200 feet and 100 feet. In the case of the captain's 1,000
foot function, the response of the overall system, -- this is, the air
data computer, it was 5 seconds. When you get down to 100 feet,
you are talking 3 or 2 ½ seconds. Subsequently we took the
computers back up and in order to determine the operation of the
monitors, we ran the air data computers at high velocity, and
velocity chosen was that value at which point the servo would just
indicate at the edge of the monitor trip. We're talking roughly 100
feet. The captain's air data computer would run at 21,400 feet per
minute and the first officer's approximately 18,000 feet per minute.
Now, that essentially completed the testing that was done on the air
data computers.
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A. Those values don't appear on page 18. The values you are
referring to come about on page 21, which is the programming
correct pressure into the unit and measuring the output finding sink
roll. The data on page 18 is the reading in the "as received" stats of
each output module.
A. The sink rows that is used to drive the altimeter on the flight
panel were read out, using an angle position indicator. Captain's
read out, converted to feet, read out 652 feet; first officer's read out
558 feet. Now this difference here corresponds to 54 feet, but there
would be some small difference depending upon the time sequence
of power off, small differences in calibration, things of this nature.
A. These just refer to the "as received" state. They don't refer to any
barometric pressure. They are measured against what we all call
standard altitude. Standard altitude sometimes referred to by pilots
at times as QNH altitude. This would be in the case of the altimeter,
altimeter set for 29.92 power setting. If you wanted to convert these
QNH values, it would be necessary to add the appropriate offset
that would correspond to the local baro setting.
Q. How does the pilot produce the QNH baro set into the system?
A. That is correct.
feet, each of these values, that would be the indicated value being
presented to the crew at the time of power cut off.
Q. And knowing the elevation of the impact site is about 620 feet
above mean sea level that represents an error of about 150 feet,
100 feet. Is that correct?
A. That is correct.
Q. Thank you. The encoders verified were correlated with the sink
positions?
Q. And Mr. Angus, I can't find it right now, but in the report there is a
reference to white flaking material in the static report of one of the
central air data computers. Could you amplify that a little for me?
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A. We, that white flaky material was placed in a sealed box and it is
available to the Board if they want to spectrograph it. Now the
general assumption on the flaky material is this is contained on a
stainless steel pressure port which fits into an anodized aluminum. It
was just felt his loose -- all the people called in with reasonable
chemical background indicated it was more likely an aluminum
oxide.
BY MR. LAYNOR
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A. It would appear that way due to the fact they have this more than
tolerance difference in the particular outputs of the computers.
Q. Are the static systems, again to your knowledge, you could refer
to exhibit 9-E, were the static systems which feed the central air
data computer common in any way to the captain to the captain or
first officers air speed indicators?
Q. Yes, sir. First of all, as I understand it, the central air data
computer themselves transmit no information to the air speed
indicators in the cockpit. It this true?
A. This is correct.
A. The pitot input -- the panel requirements for pilot pressure come
off separate pitot tubes according to this diagram. In other words,
there is a pilot tube that supplies the captain's panel, a pilot supply
for the first officer's panel, pilot for each air data computer
independently.
A. It would appear to be the same way for the static except in the
case of static there, they cross over -- in other words, there is a right
and a left pitot static tube tied together to provide what is called a
balanced pitot static. I think in this case there were dual statics for
each side, thus providing a line for the indicator separate.
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SHERMAN SKOLNICK
Researcher Sherman Skolnick was the first to point out that Flight
533 was sabotaged. Skolnick, however, added charges that Captain
Whitehouse had been poisoned, and that Midway Control Tower,
the Serrelli Mob and El Paso Natural Gas were in some way
involved. Skolnick, who is Jewish, is an advisor to the crypto-Nazi
organization, Liberty Lobby, which published Spotlight. Andrew St.
George and Mark Lane were also connected with Liberty Lobby.
Hemming told this researcher: "A.J. just because they don't like
Jews you're prejudiced against them. Just because they gassed a
few million, you're getting all upset."
ANALYSIS: INSTRUMENT SABOTAGE
The technology involved in loosening the set screw on the
flight recorder, just enough so that the instrument would stop
functioning 15 minutes or so before landing, indicated that this was
a professional job. Someone had also manually disengaged the
gears on Captain Whitehouse's airspeed indicator, and had rewired
the plane's electrical system so that it would stop functioning prior to
landing. In 1993 the final report of the National Transportation
Safety Board on United Air Lines Flight 533's crash was still
available to researchers, but the National Transportation Safety
Board had routinely destroyed documents it was based on, since
they were over 15 years old. The report mentioned the Central Air
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Data Computer readings, and the disabled flight recorder was noted
in the cockpit voice recordings transcription; no mention, however,
was made of the contaminant or the premature power cutoff.
NIXON
Minutes after the crash, 50 FBI agents rushed to the scene,
conducting interviews and seizing evidence. John Reed, the
Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, protested the
actions of the FBI after the House Government Activities
Subcommittee had pressured him to do so. In a letter to Acting FBI
Director William D. Ruckelshaus, John Reed wrote that "for the first
time in the memory of our staff" the FBI had interviewed witnesses
and listened to control tower tapes before investigators for the
National Transportation Safety Board did. William Ruckelshaus
responded that the agents were investigating a Crime Aboard
Aircraft, and were within the law, although he did admit that more
than 50 agents were on the scene. [FBI 149-10024-12]
One day after the crash of United Air Lines Flight 533, Nixon
appointed Egil Krogh Under Secretary of Transportation. Egil Krogh
controlled the parent agency of the National Transportation Safety
Board, the Federal Aeronautics Administration. Ten days later,
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Dean: Mrs. Hunt was the savviest woman in the world. She had the
whole picture together before her death.
Haldeman: The airline crash where Mrs. Hunt died. They apparently
have me as a factor in crashing the airplane of something. (exhales)
Nixon: God
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CLYDE SNOW
The same man that did the analysis of the tramp shots for
the House Select Committee on Assassinations also did some
investigative work on the Dorothy Hunt plane crash. First he was
asked to identify the body of Dorothy Hunt, than he was asked to
determine if Howard Hunt was a tramp in Dealey Plaza on
November 22, 1963. Snow is an expert on the Hunt family!!!
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Haldeman: The airline crash where Mrs. Hunt died. They apparently
have me as a factor in crashing the airplane of something. (exhales)
Nixon: God
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In October 1977 Hunt sold the rights to his next spy book
and received $250,000 for the movie rights to Undercover. In 1992
Mark Lane wrote Plausible Denial. It became a best seller. Time
Magazine stated that the book "claims Watergate burglar E. Howard
Hunt played a key role in killing JFK." Hunt claimed: "Lee Harvey
Oswald was a man of the Left...he emigrated to the Soviet Union, he
came back and worked for Castro in the Fair Play for Cuba
Committee. He killed JFK, and the Left has been unable to confront
the lamentable fact that it was a man of the Left who killed their
hero." When asked to comment on Coup D'Etat In America and
Plausible Denial, Hunt stated: "These things were of some import to
me 10 years ago..." On June 24, 1995, Hunt declared bankruptcy. In
August 2004 Hunt was interviewed by Ann Bardach:
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Ann Bardach: I know you hired him early on, to work with you in
Mexico, to help with Guatemala propaganda.
Ann Bardach: And there were even conspiracy theories about you
being in Dallas the day JFK was killed.
Hunt: No comment.
Hunt: No, none. [Long pause] Well, it would have been nice to do
Bay of Pigs differently. [http://www.slate.com/id/2107718/]
A few years after Hunt wrote this he would tell his son St.
John Hunt that he was approached by Frank Sturgis to be part of a
Kennedy assassination plot but ended up as a “benchwarmer.”
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Before he died his son, St. John Hunt, came to visit him. In
August 2003 his son found him writing down the names of men who
had indeed participated in a plot to kill the president. He had lied
during those two federal investigations. He told St. John about his
own involvement, too. Then he got better and went on to live for four
more years.
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Well, I can tell you that's just the biggest load of crap
in the fucking world. He was always looking at things
like he was writing a novel; everything had to be just
so glamorous and so exciting. He couldn't even be
bothered with his children. That's not glamorous.
James Bond doesn't have children. So my dad in the
kitchen? Chopping vegetables with his wife? I'm so
sorry, but that would never happen. Ever! That fucker
never did jack-squat like that. Ever! After seeing that
poster of the three tramps I read two dozen books on
the JFK assassination, and the more I read, the more
I was unsure about what happened. I had all these
questions and uncertainties. I mean, I was trying to
sort out things that had touched me in a big way.
Later that week, Hunt gave Saint John two sheets of paper
that could be termed a “limited hangout.” Hunt was not about to
implicate the Republican Party in the assassination by naming
Nixon so he blamed it on Lyndon Baines Johnson. He connects
Lyndon Johnson to Cord Meyer in order to dirty-up those socially
connected to JFK. He also hated Meyer for censoring the books that
Hunt wrote while both men worked at the CIA.
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day; the fourth) and youngest Hunt child was not born then.” This is
about as close to a confession as one is going to get.
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A. Um-hum.
A. 1968, 1969.
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A. In the 1950's?
Q. 1954?
A. Not in the 1950's. I certainly have seen him since and heard a
great deal about him.
Q. All right. Did you have any occasion to meet him prior to 1968.
A. I don't think I ever met Mitch Werbell, III, in the sense of shaking
hands and being introduced. I was Chief of Station in the Dominican
Republic in 1965, during the crisis. Werbell was presently living at
the Hotel Embajador along with all the newspapermen. And he was
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Q. During the Cuban activities with the Agency, did you ever know a
public relations firm run by Werbell in Cuba prior to Castro?
Q. Jay Mallin?
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Schwarz: It was the main problem, wasn't it? You needed a coup,
and you knew the political solution wouldn't work. You knew the
greatest problem. You needed the Army. You knew the problem in
having the coup was that there was a constitutional mentality, crazy
constitutional mentality in the Chilean military, right?
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Phillips: I recall that they were going to be used by the group, and
that kidnapping was part of their plans. I can't recall that they said
they needed them specifically for the kidnapping. I do recall that the
reason was -- the automatic reaction from Latin America is, why do
people need arms when they have got arms everywhere all over
Latin America.
And they said something about, their own arms could be identified,
and they needed some that couldn't be identified. I don't recall if it
was specifically mentioned that it was just for that. It was certainly
understood that they might very well be used.
Schwarz: But draw the line again. You thought assassination was a
bad thing?
Phillips: I did.
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Schwarz: And the submachine guns were made by the Agency with
the knowledge that they might be used in the in the kidnapping.
Phillips: Yes.
Schwarz: Now put together, if you can, and explain how you fit, how
you make them consistent, the attitude against assassination and
the supply of very deadly weapons. You will agree that machine
guns are very deadly weapons?
Phillips: I do sir.
Phillips: Yes, I do. May I ask you to rephrase that question. I am not
quite sure of it.
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The CIA:
IMMEDIATE HEADQUARTERS
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The CIA was puzzled about the request for sterile weapons
because the co-optee planned to lead the coup:
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Santiago CIA Station instructing it not to work with the military men
who were plotting the demise of the Allende regime. Salvador
Allende was finally overthrown on September 11, 1973. Antonio
Veciana told Gaeton Fonzi: "Bishop was involved with the plan to
dispose of Allende in Chile. That was one of his jobs." Allegations
were made concerning the involvement of Phillips in the car
bombing of former Allende Cabinet Minister Orlando Letelier.
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PRODUCTION:
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FINANCES
FUTURE PLANS
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383
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384
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CHRIST'S ALIBI
Wilma Christ stated:
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MFR
HSCA – A Projection April 26, 1978 Roger S.
Gabrialson
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387
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388
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389
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390
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391
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392
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CHRIST 1964
393
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CHRIST 1967
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395
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Q. I asked you earlier about a Mr. CARSWELL, who you did not
recall. I'm going to show you a photograph.
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[http://www.nro.odci.gov/corpr.htm]
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Security Officer
ORD/DD/ S & T
In July 1972 he either worked for or started Household Data
Services of Reston, Virginia. Among other devices the company
produced Carrier Current Audio Systems, Wireless
microphone/Body Wires and Low Power Audio/Video Transmitter.
He was cleared for this job by DISCO. In November 1972 CHRIST
began working as a consultant for Applied Technology of Arlington,
Virginia. On April 23, 1973 the CIA issued a Request for Industrial
Security Approval SECRET for Applied Technology A Division of
Itek Corporation, 645 Almanor Avenue, Sunnyvale, California.
Applied Technology conducts research into electronic warfare
devices and other high tech defense projects.
JUNE 1974
On June 20, 1974 Christ’s CIA File was flagged and
reviewed by Frederick N. Evans in relation to matters pertaining to
Watergate and forwared to the Inspector General by CIA Office of
Security. It was reviewed in relation to McCord CIARDS matter. In a
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399
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402
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[NARA 1993.08.11.17:55:17:870028]
Edwin P. Wilson was born May 3, 1923, at Napa, Idaho. He was six
feet four inches tall. He came from a poor family and was 14 when
his father died and he became the provider. He joined the Marines
in 1952 and served nearly three years before his discharge as first
lieutenant. On November 1, 1955, the day of his discharge from the
Marines, he joined the CIA in Korea. He was a Staff employee of the
Office of Security of the CIA from 1955 to 1960, after which he
became a staff agent. During this time Edwin P. Wilson said he
worked on security for the U-2. He was used by the International
Organizations Division in international labor union affairs and later
was used by Special Operations Division to run a Washington, D.C.,
maritime proprietary. Ex-CIA contract employee Ernest R. Keiser
said he saw Edwin P. Wilson in Miami in April 1961. Jack Anderson
reported that Wilson was involved in the Bay of Pigs invasion and in
a scheme to have dolphins attach explosive charges to Cuban
ships. Edwin P. Wilson told private detective Richard Bast that in
1964 he served as an advance man for Senator Hubert Humphrey,
while still working for the CIA. Edwin P. Wilson resigned from the
403
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404
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406
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407
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408
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409
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411
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General Carlo Pratt and his wife in Buenos Aires. In 1996 Townley's
associate in DINA, Eugenio Berrios, who was involved in sarin
attacks on Chilean dissidents and who helped Townley construct
the bomb that killed Letelier was found shot to death on beach in
Uruguay. His hands were cut off and his fact was stripped off in an
effort to prevent identification. Edwin P. Wilson was indicted in
absentia on April 23, 1980. From 1979 to 1980 Edwin P. Wilson
lived in Tripoli. During this period Wilson met with United States
Attorney E. Lawrence Barcella, Jr. in Rome. Wilson offered to
kidnap two suspects in the assassination of Orlando Letelier -- Jose
Dionisio Suarez and Virgilio Pablo Paz -- if the charges against him
were dropped. [Wash. Post 7.26.81] Jack Anderson alleged that
Wilson was connected with Samuel Cummings of INTERARMCO.
[Wash. Post 10.9.81]
RAPHAEL QUINTERO AND RAOUL VILLAVERDE
The Washington Post reported:
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WILSON'S TRIAL
On February 13, 1982, Schlacter pleaded guilty to one count
of transportation of explosives in return for his testimony about
Wilson. Edwin P. Wilson was lured back to the United States on
June 16, 1982, through the efforts of Ernest R. Keiser and Seymour
Hersh. They convinced him he could meet with U.S. Government
representatives in the Dominican Republic without fear of arrest, by
showing him a letter on National Security Council stationary which
authorized a meeting, but when he arrived in the Dominican
Republic with a false passport, he was flown to the United States.
Edwin Wilson's defense was that he worked for the CIA at the time
of his dealings with Libya and he had done so at the request of the
CIA. His mission was to set up a proprietary in Libya to mask
espionage operations on Soviet tanks, MIG fighters and mines.
Richard V. Secord, deputy assistant secretary of Defense in charge
of Mideast arms sales and Bobby Inman of the CIA, testified that
Wilson was not working for the CIA at the time he made the arms
sales. [Wash. Post 11.10. 82] On December 21, 1982, Edwin P.
Wilson was sentenced to 15-years for smuggling arms to Libya in
1979. In January 1983 Edwin P. Wilson and his son conspired to
have five witnesses and two prosecutors murdered. Wilson
associate Alexander Raffio accused Wilson of attempting to ship
explosives to the PLO while he was in prison, via telephone calls to
Wilson's office in London, England.
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418
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S. D. Breckinridge
Attachments: As Stated
SD Breckinridge:js (16 February 78)
Distribution:
1 - each SA/ODO Shepanek) w/atts
1 - each 0/Security (Hr. Reardon) w/atts '
1- OLC w/o atts
1- IG Subject (Leader Task Force folder) watts 1 -
SOB Chrono w/o atts
[NARA ID 1993:08:11.17:48:17:650028 -
Breckinridge 2.16.78]
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424
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NODULE TWENTY-THREE
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Nixon was the White House action officer of the Bay of Pigs
invasion, so it was logical that he would be interested in them. H.R.
Haldeman recalled that June 1969, John Ehrlichman stopped by his
office and told him:
The Bay of Pigs invasion took place five months after Nixon
left office. How deeply involved could he have been? A
memorandum dated October 7, 1971, to Nixon, generated after
John Ehrlichman met with Richard Helms for 20 minutes, stated:
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How could Nixon have been held responsible for the Bay of
Pigs? What charges did he have to duck? Was Nixon talking about
the Bay of Pigs invasion or was he talking about the assassination
of President John F. Kennedy? John Ehrlichman was contacted in
November 1993:
Richard Helms was not involved in the Bay of Pigs. This was
why President John F. Kennedy appointed him DD/P. When Nixon
won the 1968 Republican Presidential nomination, Jack Caufield
headed his Security staff. Edgardo Buttari and Bernard Barker ran
"Cubans for Nixon/Agnew" in Miami. On June 17, 1972, Nixon was
informed that Dealey Plaza team member Sturgis had been
arrested. When news reached him that Barker had Hunt’s White
House telephone number on his person, Nixon became alarmed.
Nixon knew Hunt was the key to the assassination of President
John F. Kennedy. On June 23, 1972, Nixon breakfasted with two
former members of the Warren Commission, Gerald Ford and Hale
Boggs. Hemming:
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Met with him, I never met with him. I have met him on
several occasions but I never had a private seance
with him. I met him first at Harvey's restaurant in
about 1953, and I next saw him in Montevideo where
I interpreted for him for a while. I was CIA Station
Chief down there and we were waiting for General
Walters to arrive, and I served as an interpreter. I
next saw President Nixon at a formal White House
reception. He recalled, or said he recalled our
previous meetings and I told him I was now working
for Chuck Colson and he said, yes, I know all about
that.
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When you get in, when you get in [to see the CIA
people] say; 'Look the problem is that this will open
the whole, the whole Bay of Pigs thing, and the
President just feels that' ah, without going into the
details, don't, don't lie to them to the extent to say
there is no involvement, but just say this is a comedy
of errors, without getting into it, the President
believes that it is going to open up the whole Bay of
Pigs thing again.
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H.R. Haldeman:
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Q. Perhaps. Perhaps.
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435
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436
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437
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Colson: He's got one of the most interesting careers of anybody I've
known. The tragedy is that the guy is a dedicated patriot...God.
Nixon: Well, you know, you don't want him in here, Bob.
Nixon: Oh well.
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Nixon: You know the thing about that is that Colson never told me
about Hunt, that he knew Hunt, until after the Watergate thing.
Nixon: I never heard of E. Howard Hunt, no, sir, no. No sir...I had
understood he said he doesn't know Hunt well, or something like
that. I think that's apparently been his line...But afterwards he said
he was an intimate friend.
Hunt may have met Nixon when Hunt was a CIA Chief of
Station in Latin America, however, this would have been a brief and
forgettable encounter. In Give Us This Day Hunt described Nixon as
the White House Action Officer for Bay of Pigs. It was during this
period that Hunt had his first significant contact with Vice President
Nixon. Nixon worked with Hunt on the assassination of Nixon'S rival,
John Kennedy, in 1963. In 1971 Nixon reassembled many of the
members of this hit squad and used them against other political
rivals. At this point Nixon expressed a familiarity with the talents of
Hunt as evidenced by the June 30, 1971 reference to Hunt. Nixon
knew that one of Hunt’s talents was surreptious entry. On June 21,
1972 Nixon pretended he was not well acquainted with Hunt: "Hunt
must be a pretty good guy though." It is interesting to note the
reference here to Hunt having lived in exile. There is no such
reference to a period of exile in Undercover, Hunt’s autobiography.
Haldeman had Hunt disappearing to a Spanish speaking country:
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440
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Sturgis said that Watergate was a plan to set up Nixon by the CIA
because Nixon had asked for information on the Kennedy
assassination that would indicate Castro was behind it. Sturgis also
named Robert Bennet as "deep throat." In 1995 Oliver Stone
suggested that Nixon was involved in the assassination of John
Kennedy. John Erlichman reacted:
Dean: Uh-huh.
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442
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1973, the secretary of Stephen Bull, Beverly Kaye, 42, told her co-
workers she was feeling ill. A White House physician was
summoned, and was accompanying her downstairs in an elevator,
when she reportedly collapsed. She died, according to doctors at
George Washington Hospital, of a massive stroke. [Wash. Post
12.22.73] On August 5, 1974, Nixon released the White House
tapes. Four days later, on August 9, 1974, Nixon resigned, and
Gerald Ford became President.
THE WARREN COMMISSION AND WATERGATE
Nixon wanted former Warren Commission Counsel Arlen Spector
for his Watergate defense. He settled on Herbert J. Miller. In 1954
Herbert J. Miller was the former deputy of Richard Bissell. In this
capacity he was involved with the U-2. [Powers, Man Who Kept the
Secrets, p120] In the late 1950's Herbert J. Miller was part of a law
firm retained by the Board of Monitors of the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters. In 1961 Herbert J. Miller , the third-
ranking U.S. Assistant Attorney General, was appointed head of the
Criminal Division of the Justice Department by United States
Attorney General Robert Kennedy. In 1964 Herbert J. Miller became
the liaison between the Justice Department and the Warren
Commission. [WCR p479] Warren Commission consultant, Leon
Jaworski, became a Watergate Special Prosecutor. Warren
Commission Counsel Joe Ball became an attorney for John
Ehrlichman, and Warren Commission Assistant Counsel Charles N.
Schaffer became co-counsel to Watergate defendant John Dean.
John Dean was represented by Bernard Fensterwald's associate,
Robert McCandless, as well as Charles N. Schaffer. [Schorr, Daniel
Clearing The Air pub. 1978]
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447
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448
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450
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452
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455
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Colson: He's got one of the most interesting careers of anybody I've
known. The tragedy is that the guy is a dedicated patriot...God.
Nixon: Well, you know, you don't want him in here, Bob.
Nixon: Oh well.
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Nixon: You know the thing about that is that Colson never told me
about Hunt, that he knew Hunt, until after the Watergate thing.
Nixon: I never heard of E. Howard Hunt, no, sir, no. No sir...I had
understood he said he doesn't know Hunt well, or something like
that. I think that's apparently been his line...But afterwards he said
he was an intimate friend.
Hunt may have met Nixon when Hunt was a CIA Chief of
Station in Latin America, however, this would have been a brief and
forgettable encounter. In Give Us This Day Hunt described Nixon as
the White House Action Officer for Bay of Pigs. It was during this
period that Hunt had his first significant contact with Vice President
Nixon. As documented in Coup D'Etat in America Data Base Nixon
worked with Hunt on the assassination of Nixon'S rival, John
Kennedy, in 1963. In 1971 Nixon reassembled many of the
members of this hit squad and used them against other political
rivals. At this point Nixon expressed a familiarity with the talents of
Hunt as evidenced by the June 30, 1971 reference to Hunt. Nixon
knew that one of Hunt’s talents was surreptious entry. On June 21,
1972 Nixon pretended he was not well acquainted with Hunt:
Hunt must be a pretty good guy though." It is
interesting to note the reference here to Hunt having
lived in exile. There is no such reference to a period
of exile in Undercover, Hunt’s autobiography.
Haldeman had Hunt disappearing to a Spanish
speaking country:
of blackmail, that the worst isn't yet out and that its
going to hurt the administration if they tell all they
know, and this, that and the other thing.(March 16,
1973)
ANGLETON AFTER THE COUP
ANGLETON IS FORCED TO RESIGN
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Q. Did you ever discern any direct involvement by Oswald with the
Agency?
A. None, whatsoever.
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Dr. Corson, who then elaborated upon the [document] and told me it
was written by James Angleton and written to former Director
Richard Helms, that it had been initialed by Sammy Halpern....One
point here I met with Dr. Corson. He claimed that he had discussed
the matter with James Angleton. And that it was from him, he had
gotten the story from Angleton, he said that Angleton said he wrote
the memorandum, gave the date, January 7, 1966, and it was from
him...And besides wondering about Hunt’s presence in Dallas, on
that faithful day...Angleton wrote in the memo Hunt was not involved
463
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464
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465
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466
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467
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claim Joe Trento waited until after the piece was published to
contact him? Logically, Joe Trento should have contacted Angleton
before the article went to press, since Angleton'S initials were
allegedly on the document. According to Angleton, the first question
Joe Trento asked Angleton was: "Have you heard from Hunt?"
rather than "Can you confirm the facts of the article?" This sounded
as if they had had previous contact. In 1993 Joe Trento told Dick
Russell that Angleton was his source for the document:
Joe Trento was asked why a footnote in the HSCA Report stated:
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Joe Trento: "I can't deal with what they said in the Report.
But if you believe everything in that HSCA Report..." Joe Trento told
Dick Russell that Senator Howard Baker gave the memorandum to
the HSCA. Dick Russell wrote this in his book. Senator Howard
Baker's aide, Fred Marcum, stated in June 1993:
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Trento does not have this document. When Joe Trento was
informed that Senator Howard Baker had disclaimed any knowledge
of the document he stated: "I'm glad that you're so trusting that a
guy, who had to leave the Senate because he faced a 12 count
indictment, is your source. Did you talk to Howard Liebengood? He
was the Baker aide who dealt with Angleton." Howard Liebengood,
formerly with the Senate Select Committee on Presidential
Campaign Activities, was contacted. He said he had had contact
with Angleton, but was never given the document. Howard
Liebengood:
Q. Now in that article you just read, there's a CIA source quoted in
there to the effect that Mr. Hunt thought he'd been assigned to
arrange for Oswald'S murder. Do you recall that in the article?
A. I don't know. I can't. I mean this thing jumps all over the place.
Q. Having now read the Marchetti and Trento articles, do you recall
ever having seen any memoranda, or ever having any information
or inquiries regarding thoughts by the CIA on Mr. Hunt’s
involvement with the events that occurred in Dallas?
A. I'm not certain. I know that when I read it, that it was very near
my appearance, and I think it may have stimulated my inquiries to
the Agency about parameters and my oath and all that type of thing.
In fact, I think they hand-delivered to me, because of a little
slowness on their part, what the agreement was.
Q. Did you make any inquiry of the HSCA whether or not they had
such a memo?
A. I volunteered the Trento article with that, which I don't think they
had even seen it.
Q. Did you ask the staff how did Trento get this information?
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Q. Did you ever talk about this article with Mr. Helms?
Rubin: May I ask where that photograph comes from, what is that
piece of paper?
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Miss Brady. Did you have contact with Bernard Barker, Howard
Hunt or Eugenio Martinez during your CIA career?
Mr. Angleton. No. I want to explain the Hunt business. One of the
things that this Joe Trento, the reporter, gave out that he learned
from this Committee, he put it that he learned from the Committee
that they had a memorandum between myself and Dick Helms to
the effect that I wrote a memo to Dick saying that Howard Hunt was
in Dallas at the time of the assassination and I was suggesting or
proposing a cover-up.
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Mr. Angleton. No. Later when he was picked up, yes, I called for his
file and read his file. I might also add that I feel quite honestly that
the man has suffered a great deal, I mean a very great deal, the
death of his wife and all the things he went through and tragedies
and trying to put his life back to gather again with all these character
assassins still running after him. He paid his price. But I am a little
sympathetic with the fellow without ever knowing him.
Miss Brady, Was there ever really any Agency document about
Hunt's whereabouts’ on November 22, 1963?
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Mr. Angleton. I don't remember any such thing. As I said, Hunt didn't
mean a thing to me until after the Watergate.
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479
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480
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Paine: I have testified to the fact that Michael called. I don't know
whether it was from the cafeteria where he had been eating, or
more likely from his office, to my home, on November 22, 1963.
Paine: Yes.
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not feel Oswald was responsible, and further stated: 'We both know
who is responsible.' They both thought that the CIA was
responsible, because people connected with the CIA had told them
to befriend Oswald.
WHEN DID RUTH PAINE KNOW OSWALD WAS A SUSPECT
Ruth Paine testified that after she heard that President
Kennedy had been shot in the vicinity of the Texas School Book
Depository, she thought that
She said she told Marina what had happened. During one
part of Ruth Paine's testimony before the Warren Commission she
was asked:
McCloy: You said you were sitting on the sofa. While you were
listening or looking at the television, was there any announcement
over the television of a suspicion being cast on LEE?
Paine: No, not until the officers came to the door. [Paine Test. To
WC p70]
Ruth Paine testified that Michael Paine arrived at her home in the
mid-afternoon. She was asked:
Jenner: Now would you please tell me exactly to the best of your
recollection the words of your husband as he walked in the door.
Jenner: Now his words if any with respect to why he had come.
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Ruth Paine was lying about the events of the day. First she
testified that she did not know that Oswald was a suspect until
Dallas Police Officers came to her door. Later she said she heard it
from Michael Paine.
HOSTY, ODUM, HOWE AND DeBRUEYS
The FBI reported that on November 26, 1963, material of
various types which had been recovered by the Dallas Police
Department from Oswald'S and Ruth Paine's residence were turned
over to Howe, Hosty and DeBrueys. [WCE 2077 p139] The post-
assassination investigation of the Paine family was conducted and
directed by FBI Agents Bardwell Odum, Kenneth Howe, WARREN
C. DeBrueys and James P. Hosty. S.A. Hosty questioned the
Paines 15 times. Ruth Paine believed Oswald was guilty because of
"massive circumstantial evidence that surrounds his relationship, or
where he was, what he had, at the time of the assassination."
Michael Paine did not believe that Oswald could have been a
provocation:
for a Minox. I kind of forgotten that I had a light meter. And it looked
like a half-size version of a Minox camera. It had the same leather
case and flexible metal chain. They didn't get it at the same time.
They got the camera later." If a Minox light meter was found among
Oswald's possessions, was there a camera that accompanied it?
Michael Paine, who stored his possessions in the same garage as
Oswald, was questioned about this. He said:
Detective Gus Rose said he found one roll in Oswald'S sea bag.
This researcher applied for these photographs under the Freedom
of Information Act. The FBI stated: "In as much as the material you
requested is of great historical interest, these pages are being
released to you without excisions." [ltr. Allen H. McCreight FBI
6.12.78] The FBI Laboratory Report on the exposed film stated that
two of the rolls had been exposed in Michael Paine's camera but the
other was not:
FBI LABORATORY
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
WASHINGTON D.C.
Bureau request November 25, 1963
Result of examination:
All the ones that I've seen copies of prints of, have
been taken by me, yes. I took a camera with me. I
bought the camera originally because I wanted
something I could carry in my pocket all the time. I
was hoping you could make good pictures with that
camera, but it was very tricky, everything had to be
right. So it didn't have any use, I thought." It was
pointed out to Michael Paine that the Minox is most
often used for photographing documents. He agreed,
"It was noted for that purpose, yeah. It was, of
course, good for, it could take pictures up close.
When I got to Korea I took along a little developing
tumbler about the size of a glass. But the water we
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488
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489
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J. Edgar Hoover:
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The CIA:
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On January 11, 1977, the Miami Herald reported that the judge in
Otero's state trial "instructed the state prosecutors to have a
perspective witness, Max Gonzalez, brought from Fort Pierce
Correctional Center to Fort Walton Beach so that defense lawyer
could quiz him about any testimony he might give at Otero's trial." In
February 1971 Maxiam Emilio Gonzales was arrested for Grand
Larceny, accused of having stolen $150 from Angel Rosa during a
used car deal. In August 1973 Gonzalez was arrested for passing a
worthless check. In April 1974 Gonzalez was arrested for passing a
worthless check. In July 1974 Gonzalez was arrested for passing a
worthless check. In June 1975 Gonzalez was arrested for passing a
worthless check. Max Gonzalez worked with Sturgis on
OPERATION SWORD. Max Gonzalez was an informant for
Detective Danny Benitez. Sturgis was an informant for Detective
Benitez. Max Gonzalez, who had not come forward during the first
trial of Rolando Otero, was in jail as usual, facing eight felony
charges for passing worthless checks, when he remembered he had
overheard Rolando Otero discussing bombings in a Little Havana
restaurant. The man with whom Rolando Otero was discussing the
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bombing with was Ricardo Morales. What did Sturgis have against
Otero? Why did he instruct Gonzalez to make up this story about
Otero? In March 1977, after his conviction, Otero hinted he had
inside knowledge of the Kennedy assassination he wished to offer
in return for a lighter sentence. Was Sturgis aware that Otero was
contemplating doing this in January 1977? Hemming stated that this
was a different Max Gonzalez.
Otero was informed that the FBI could not enter into
such an agreement. During the later part of the
interview with Otero he related that if this condition
for his information was not met by the end of this
week, he would then release information to the media
on limited basis concerning the Kennedy
assassination, and in turn provide similar, but more
detailed, information to HSCA. He also claimed at the
same time he would furnish other information relating
to Cuban activities in South Florida and South
America, which he alleged would be of
embarrassment to the FBI.
a was his stated 'desire' and that the FBI would have
no part in his withholding such information.
[FBI 62-117290-454X19]
Rolando Otero told Gaeton Fonzi that Cuban exile Juan Adames
(Hemming claimed the name was Juan Aldama Abreu) told him that
BERNARDO DE TORRES had some connection with the
assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Gaeton Fonzi: "From
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Otero I got the very detailed contention that, when both were in the
Broward County jail, Adames said that BERNARDO DE TORRES
personally knew Oswald."
MEMO June 15, 1977
TO: Tannenbaum
FROM: Fonzi
Re: Adames & Otero interviews.
Enclosed are rough notes of my latest interviews with
Juan Adames and Rolando Otero. This was my
second interview with both men and the first with
Adames where I identified myself and my affiliation
with the Committee. The additional information
developed in both interviews strengthens my opinion
that we have a possibly significant new area of
investigation which should be given attention.
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Otero said his source had told him that Oswald was
sent to Russia as a CIA agent. The decision to kill
Kennedy was made before Oswald'S return to the
United States. Most of the final planning and
coordination took place at meetings held at the
Dallas YMCA building. Bernardo De Torres posed as
a photographer in Dealey Plaza on November 22.
Hemming 1994:
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they just fill in blanks, what with the nasty FBI running
around talking to everyone's dog, putting shit
together, who would feel threatened? Not the real
shooters. They could give a fuck. But who's out there
that feels threatened that may have been running
dope, or doing all kinds of crazy shit, who is
somebody now. Who is somebody now? Who is
somebody in the fucking community now? I know one
of them made money in the dope trade and turned
that money around and used it against Fidel again.
The Contras. And these people live comfortably.
Their associates are politically prominent. They could
erroneously say, 'This guy could cause us a
problem.' There are cold-blooded motherfuckers out
there that do this shit for practice. It don't mean
nothing to them. I mean these people love their work.
Good thing the American people don't know about it.
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DAVID MORALES
David Morales, Porter Goss, Felix Rodriguez, Barry Seal, and other
members of Operation 40
In March 1965 Joseph B. Ragan asked CIA for a Request for
a Security Clearance for Morales so he could work in the CIA’s
Counter Proliferation Division. According to CIA agent Tom Clines,
Morales helped Felix Rodriguez capture Che Guevara in 1965.
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many drinks, when Morales went into a tirade about Kennedy and
particularly his failure to support the men of the Bay of Pigs. He
claimed "Kennedy had been responsible for him having to watch all
the men he recruited and trained get wiped out". Morales finished
this conversation by saying "Well, we took care of that son of a
bitch, didn't we?" Carbajal, who had been present at the confession,
corroborated it.
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alive. What is more, Morales was far from being an important figure,
he had in fact been Chief of Operations at JM/WAVE in 1963 and at
the centre of the operation to kill Fidel Castro. Fonzi also discovered
that Morales had worked very closely with John Rosselli, who also
played a key role in the plots against Castro. Rosselli was to be one
of the first people to be interviewed by the HSCA but went missing
in July 1976. His body was later discovered in the Intracoastal
Waterway in North Miami. He had been cut up and stuffed into a 55-
gallon steel drum. Morales began to worry about his own health
during the HSCA investigations. Rip Robertson had died in 1970
and could not be interviewed. William Pawley committed suicide in
1977 when he was asked to appear before the HSCA.
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[http://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?docI
d=60484&relPageId=1]
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SOLOMON PRATKINS
On December 21, 1963, the Miami FBI Field Office received
information that one Hose Antonio Juan had received a letter from
his son living in Cuba wherein it was alleged that RUBY had visited
a Mr. Pranski in Havana in late 1962 or early 1963. On December
24, 1963, the DRE released a letter from a woman in Havana which
stated RUBY had a meeting in 1963 with Solomon Pratkins, a G-2
agent who used a gift shop for a front. The FBI reported: "The
statement that RUBY visited Communist Cuba last year, as
attributed to a New Orleans Cuban exile, refers to one CARLOS
Bringuier, a New Orleans delegate to the DRE." [FBI Memo Rosen
to Belmont 2.11.64 44-24016-1110, NR 3.9.64, NR 3.12.64] On
December 24, 1963, the DRE affiliate in Cuba published the
Solomon Pratkins story in its underground mimeographed paper,
Accion Cubana, founded in May 1960. [FBI-109-609-6] This
periodical was allegedly funded by Fulgencio Batista. [CIA March 1,
1962 To: C/WHD from Chief of Station WAVE] The FBI requested
by memo dated January 7, 1964, that the CIA attempt to verify this
rumor through sources in Cuba.
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2. No index.
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