109 CIA memo to Chief, SRS, from M.D. Stevens, 9 October 1967, Subject: CAIN. Richard S., p. 2 ("agency"); Chicago Tribune, December 31, 1973, p. 10 ("Buccieri"); Chicago Crime Commission, Annual Report, 1966, p. 104 ("Patrick"); Scott, Deep Politics 152, AR 151 ("1963 contact").
110 Ovid Demaris, Captive City, 292.
111 4 AH 567, 9 AH 948; Scheim. Contract on America, 132-37; Scott, Deep Politics, 158-63, 172, 192, and passim.
112 10 AH 172-73. The same memo argues that Cain may have been the "J.W. Harrison" whose bugging es-capade in Las Vegas, on behalf of Maheu and Giancana, led to an effective CIA immunity for Giancana (10 AH 173-74). General Fabián Escalante Font of the Cuban Interior Ministry charged in a 1993 Cuban television documentary that Richard Cain was one of the marksmen, along with Leonard Patrick, who shot President Kennedy in Dallas (Reuters, 11/27/93; cf. Claudia Furiati. ZR Rifle: The Plot to Kill Kennedy and Castro, 140, 165). For reasons too lengthy to explore here, I doubt that Cain and Patrick were shooters on November 22.
113 I.G. Report, 37.
114 David Martin, Wilderness of Mirrors, 121; quoted in Newman, Oswald and the CIA, 374.
115 I.G. Report, 92-93; Martin, Wilderness of Mirrors, 121; Newman, Oswald and the CIA, 375.
116 Newman. Oswald and the CIA, 374. Newman falls into a common mistake in calling the Oswald transcripts "Cuban Consulate transcripts." In fact the CIA has supplied us with transcripts from the Soviet Embassy alone; intercepts of Oswald from the Cuban Embassy phones have for some unexplained reason never been released. Cf. Lopez Report, 81 (almost entirely deleted). In 1976 all but ones of the CIA officers queried by CIA Legal Counsel Scott Breckinridge apparently told him that "the Cuban tap" was not active "at the time Oswald visited Mexico" (Memo for the Record of 3 Dec 1976 from Scott D. Breckinridge, OLC; NARA # 104-10095-10001). We know however that on September 27 (at the time of Oswald’s visit) there was an active tap on at least one Cuban Embassy telephone. 25-09-14. (The transcripts are in the National Archive. JFK Collection, Box 7, Folder 30). The intercepts include a call from Silvia Durán at 10:54 am, asking another official, Guillermo Ruiz, for the Consulate number. The number supplied by Ruiz (11-28-47) is that given by Silvia to Oswald (presumably in her office at that time), and that afternoon, in connection with Oswald, to the Soviet Consulate. Cf. 16 WH 54 ("11-28-47" in Oswald’s notebook); MEXI 7033 of 23 Nov 1963 (phone call to Soviet Embassy); Lopez Report, fn. 319 (transcript). This phone call is hard to reconcile with Durán’s testimony to the HSCA that she gave out the telephone number "so many times" (3 AH 21) "to all the people" (3 AH 51).
117 Lopez Report, 136-39.
118 Regrettably the Board has already acceded to CIA withholding with respect to "the 1 October intercept on Lee Oswald," the next review being projected in the year 2017. See NARA #104-10004-10199, PDS 62-13,22 #104-10018-10040, pp. 3, 10, PDS 62-144,151.
119 Scott, Deep Politics, 142.
120 Scott, Deep Politics, 131, 138-41. In 1947 Ruby was involved, probably as an FBN informant, in a major Mexican opium-smuggling case. A man whom Ruby met in Chicago, Taylor Crossland, was subsequently arrested by the FBN (on a tip from "underworld sources") after arriving in the U.S. from Durángo, Mexico (Chicago Tribune, August 30, 1947). Paul Roland Jones, the key figure arrested in this case, contacted Ruby, for the first time in ten years, shortly before the Kennedy assassination (Scott, Deep Politics, 143).
121 Elaine Shannon, Desperados, 58-59, 180.
122 Demaris, Captive City, 337; cf. Chicago Crime Commission, Annual Report, 1966, 53-54. Gerald Covelli, arrested in 1963 for his role in the stolen car ring, was a former business associate of Paul Labriola and James Weinberg, who had come down from Chicago to Dallas along with Paul Roland Jones and Jack Ruby (Demaris, Captive City, 336; Scheim, Contract on America, 110, 9 AH 155). Covelli’s ring exported stolen cars to Guatemala and to Mexico, where top police officials were later indicted for receiving stolen U.S. cars (see below). A continent-wide stolen car ring had functioned in Chicago since the 1940s; see Chicago Tribune, August 30, 1947.
123 Brashler, The Don, 290-93; Chicago Tribune, December 21, 1973, p. 8.
124 James Mills, The Underground Empire, 548-51, 839-40; Henrik Krueger, The Great Heroin Coup, 178.
125 Elaine Shannon, Desperados, 180; Rogelio Hernández, Zorrilla: el Imperio del Crimen, 24-25.
126 When Associate Attorney General Lowell Jensen, alerted to the CIA interest in Nazar Haro, refused to permit Nazar’s indictment, the U.S. Attorney in San Diego, William Kennedy, publicly exposed the CIA’s role in obstructing justice. For this Kennedy was fired. See Elaine Shannon, Desperados, 181-83; Peter Dale Scott and Jonathan Marshall, Cocaine Politics, 36.
127 Philip L. Russell, Mexico Under Salinas, 6.
128 Rogelio Hernández, Zorrilla: el Imperio del Crimen, 13.
129 Elaine Shannon, Desperados, 184-86, 263-64.
130 Elaine Shannon, Desperados, 202; Rogelio Hernández, Zorrilla: el Imperio del Crimen, 37-39.
131 Elaine Shannon. Desperados, 263; New York Times, June 15, 1989; San Francisco Chronicle, June 30, 1989. Two of (he arrested officers, Juventino Prado and Raul Pérez Carmona, had earlier been indicted in the stolen car ring case (Washington Post, June 26, 1989, A15).
132 Christian Science Monitor, July 10, 1989.
133 Washington Post, June 26, 1989, A15.
134 New York Times, August 3, 1995, A5. De la Soto was dropped from both the Mexican and the CIA payroll in 1992, after he was suspected of being paid off by the leading drug trafficker in Ciudad Juárez (Rafael Aguilar Guajardo, the former DFS commander in Durángo). Cf. Elaine Shannon, Desperados, 185, 263.
135 Andrew Reding, "Narco-Politics in Mexico," Nation, July 10, 1995, 53-54.
137 ln 1963-64. and again in 1993, a key figure in presenting Ruby as a loner appears to have been former Chicago FBI Agent William Roemer. In 1963 Roemer was the FBI expert on Sam Giancana, in pan because Roemer’s chief mob informant (and close friend) was Richard Cain (cf. Roemer, War of the Godfathers, 141, 220). Soon after Ruby killed Oswald. Roemer’s young partner John Bassen helped elicit from Giancana-Patrick associates like Dave Yaras the assurances that Ruby "was not outfit connected (22 WH 372, cf. 317, 357) that later found their way into the Warren Report (R 790). After this false picture was demolished by the HSCA, Roemer himself revived it for Posner in 1993. Roemer told Posner that Ruby’s Junk Handlers Union local "was a legitimate union when Jack was involved" (Posner, p. 352). This demonstrable falsehood (cf. 22 WH 438) was based on earlier FBI misinformation (22 WH 320) from a witness, Ted Shulman, who had once been closely interrogated by McClellan Committee Counsel Robert Kennedy about his "collusive deals" with mob figure Paul Dorfman (Scon, Crime and Cover-Up, 39; McClellan Committee, 16084-16103). Roemer also told Posner that "Ruby was absolutely nothing in terms of the Chicago mob. . . .We talked to every hoodlum in Chicago after the assassination, and some of the top guys in the mob. my informants, I had close relationships with them—they didn’t even know who Ruby was" (Posner, p. 354). This evasion was clearly deceptive: some of the "top guys" talked to, and specifically Yaras (22 WH 372) and Patrick (22 WH 318. cf. 9 AH 948-52), freely admitted knowing Ruby for years.
136 New York Times Magazine, August 21, 1994, 38; Rogelio Hernández, Zorrilla: el Imperio del Crimen, 52.
APPENDIX I: REVISING THE OSWALD LEGEND: A "MARXIST," NOT A COMMUNIST
A: WITNESSES CLOSE TO OSWALD
WITNESS NO. 1: Ruth Paine:
Phase One: Ruth Paine to James Hosty, 11/5/63: "Mrs. PAINE then expressed the opinion that she considered LEE OSWALD to be an illogical person and recalled that he admitted to her being a ‘Trotskyite Communist’." (23 WH 508, 17 WH 777, 23 WH 459, etc.)
Ruth Paine’s brother to FBI, 12/2/63: "He could not recall his sister mentioning the name Oswald at that time, but said that the woman’s [Marina’s] husband was a Communist" (SAC Cincinnati to DIR, 12/3/63, FBI HQ 105-82555-146)
Phase Two: Ruth Paine to Warren
Commission, 3/19/64: "Representative Boggs. Did he ever express any political opinions to you? Mrs. Paine. Yes, he called himself a Marxist." Cf. 3/20/64: "I thought he considered himself a Communist by ideology, certainly a Marxist. He always corrected anyone who called him a Communist and said he was a Marxist" (3 WH 108).
WITNESS NO. 2: Michael Paine:
The revision of her husband’s views reportedly underwent a similarly striking metamorphosis in just four days:
Phase One: Michael Paine to FBI (Harrison), 11/22/63: "Oswald has indicated to him to have read extensively of Communism and appeared to him to have Communistic ideas" (WCD 5.201)
Deputy Sheriff Walthers: "I said, ‘How does the guy [Oswald] think, what is he, what does he do?’ He [Michael Paine] said, ‘He’s a Communist. He is very communistic minded. He believes in it’" (7 WH 549; describing meeting on November 22).
">Phase Two: Michael Paine to FBI (Odum and Hosty), 11/26/63: "Oswald stated that he became a Marxist in this country and that he learned Marxism from reading books" (WCD 5.207)
Michael Paine to Warren Commission, 3/18/64: "I thought to myself if that is the way he has to meet his Communists, he has not yet found the Communist group in Dallas (2 WH 408).
Warren Report, citing Michael Paine and his friend Frank Krystinik: Oswald ‘‘expressed Marxist views and declared he was a Marxist, although denying that he was a Communist" (WR 739).
WITNESS NO. 3: Frank Krystinik:
Phase One: Krystinik to FBI, 11/25/63: "Krystinik asked Oswald about his political belief and Oswald stated that he was a ‘Marxist.’ Krystinik then asked ‘Does that mean you are a Communist?’ Oswald then said ‘All right, if you want to call me that, that is what I am, I’m a Communist" (SAC Dallas to DIR, 12/3/63, FBI HQ 105-82555-158). Cf. WCD 6.188.
Phase Two: Krystinik to Warren Commission, 3/17/64: "Mr. Liebeler: In the course of the conversation with Oswald at the ACLU meeting, did he tell you he was a Marxist? Mr. Krystinik: Yes. It seems to me that I commented to him that, ‘You are a Communist and I am a Capitalist,’ and I can’t remember exactly what it was, but he corrected me and he said, ‘I am a Marxist.’ When I addressed him as a Communist, he said, ‘I am a Marxist.’ Mr. Liebeler: He corrected you then when you said he was a Communist and indicated he was not a Communist? Mr. Krystinik: Yes." (9 WH 466)
Warren Report: "Oswald expressed Marxist views and declared that he was a Marxist, although denying that he was a Communist" (WR 739)
WITNESS NO. 4: John A. McVickar:
A key witness to Oswald’s 1959 defection in the U.S. Moscow Embassy, John A. McVickar, underwent the same phase-one/phase-two Communist/Marxist conversion over in the State Department:
Phase One: McVickar to FBI, 11/23/63: "Oswald was arrogant, ‘mad’ and threw his passport on the desk. . . .McVickar said Oswald spoke as a trained communist as he repeated ‘the party line.’ He said he felt Oswald and Webster were both used by Soviet intelligence for interrogation only" (FBI WFO Airtel to DIR, 11/23/63; FBI HQ 105-82555-9th no. 49)
Phase Two: McVickar to State Dept., official memo of 11/27/63: "Oswald was extremely arrogant, truculant [sic] and unfriendly to America. . . .He gave the impression of being very angry about something or things which had happened to him during his childhood or during his duty in the Marine Corps. He said however that he was a ‘Marxist’. . . .He gave evidence of some education in the rudiments of Communist dogma. . . .It seemed to me that he could have acquired all these ideas himself. . . .On the other hand, there also seemed to me to be the possibility that he was following a pattern of behaviour in which he had been tutored by person or persons unknown. For example, in discussing Marxism and the legalities of renunciation he seemed to be using words which he had learned but did not fully understand" (Memo of 11/27/63, 18 WH 154-55)
McVickar to State Dept., Confidential memo of 4/7/64: "I am afraid that I remember only very little of the actual statements in Communist terms which Oswald made to justify his desire to renounce his citizenship. I recall he said that he wanted to renounce ‘because he was a Marxist’. . . .It seemed to me then that he was using words that he did not fully understand, but this does not necessarily mean that he was taught to say them. . . he might have read some books himself" (Memo of 4/7/64, 18 WH 334)
McVickar to Warren Commission, 6/9/64: Does not mention either "communist" or "Marxist;" "It occurred to some of us that it may be that he had some coaching from somebody; but also, I must say, he was an unusual person and apparently sort of an ingrown person, and so it may be that he had conceived and carried out all these things by himself’ (5 WH 302-03)
WITNESS NO. 5: Kerry Thornley:
Phase One: Kerry Thornley to Secret Service, 11/25/63: Thornley "had made this comment to Oswald, that he [Oswald] was a Communist" (11 WH 95)
Phase Two: Kerry Thornley to Warren Commission: "I certainly didn’t think he was a Communist and I certainly didn’t tell him so. . . . At the time I just thought—well, the man is a nut" (11 WH 95-96)
CASE NO. 6: The Glover Party, 2/22/63:
Phase One: "Florence McDonald" to FBI, 11/29/63: "Oswald informed all in attendance that he was a Communist and had attempted to join the Communist Party while he was in Russia" (WCD 5.192)
Richard Pierce to FBI, 11/29/63: "recalled that Oswald did not hesitate in stating he was a Communist and sympathetic to the views of Communism" (WCD 5.194)
Phase Two: Alexandra Taylor to FBI, 12/1/63: Oswald "considered himself a socialist" (FBI HQ 105-82555-140)
Hike and Norman Fredricksen to FBI, 12/4/63: "Fredricksens did not recall that he said he was a Communist or member of. . . . [second page of teletype missing] (FBI HQ 105-82555-160)
Neither McDonald nor Pierce testified to the Warren Commission. McDonald was called "Betty McDonald" by Glover (10 WH 25) and "Elizabeth McDonald" by Michael Paine (9 WH 452). The Warren Report Index to Volumes 1-15 fails to distinguish her from the Betty Mooney MacDonald who hanged herself in a cell after serving as alibi for the accused shooter of a witness in the Tippit killing (WR 663; Meagher, 293-97).
Phase Two: Everett Glover to Warren Commission, 3/24/64: "This may be partly as a result of questioning some of the people present, but among the things that came out was that. . . he was apparently a Marxist. . . .I do remember that he [Volkmar Schmidt or Richard Pierce] said he was a Marxist. Mr. Jenner. What impression did you have of the distinction, if any, between Marxism and Communism? Mr. Glover. Well, with reference specifically to the so-called Communist regime, the impression I got was that he was a Marxist theoretically, but he did not like what he saw in Russia" (9 WH 25-26)
Ruth Paine was interviewed at length about this party, where she first met the Oswalds, and which lasted five hours (2 WH 435-43). Her closest testimony on Oswald’s politics at the party was to Mr. McCloy, as follows: "Mr. McCloy. [He] had an affinity for what might be called the Marxist system, is that right? Mrs. Paine. Right. Mr. McCloy. That is all the questions that I have" (2 WH 441)
George and Jeanne de Mohrenschildt were interviewed about this party (9 WH 256-59, 318-19), but not about Oswald’s politics. Their daughter Alex (Taylor) Gibson was not asked about the party at all (11 WH 123-53).
B. WITNESSES AND SOURCES HOSTILE TO OSWALD
Two examples only will be cited here, because their sources, military intelligence and the Cuban anti-Castro Revolutionary Student Directorate (DRE), were perhaps the most prolific source of pernicious phase-one stories hostile to Oswald in the first days after the assassination.
Original Source: Air Force Intelligence (OSI): Major Crawford Hicks, Sixth District OSI, Robbins AFB, Macon Ga.
Witness: Palmer McBride, Patrick Air Force Base, Florida.
Phase One Story: Oswald "according to McBride, was preaching the Communist doctrine and stated he would like to kill President Eisenhower" (FBI airtel November 22, FBI HQ 105-82555-6th no. 50)
FBI Intervention: interview by Tampa FBI Agent John Palmer, November 23.
Phase Two Story:
"I, Palmer E. McBride hereby furnish the following free and voluntary statement to John R. Palmer. . . .Oswald was very serious about the virtues of Communism. . . .In another conversation Oswald stated to me he was not a member of the Communist Party but he suggested both of us should join to take advantage of their social functions. I did not join the Communist Party, but I do not know whether he did or not" (WCE 1386 of 11/26/63, WCD 75.251-53,22 WH 710-11).
Warren Report: "Oswald praised Khrushchev and suggested that he and McBride join the Communist Party ‘to take advantage of their social functions’" (WR 384).
Original Source: DRE, CIA-backed anti-Castro group
Phase One Story: "Oswald acted as Chairman of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee, a well-known communist organization, in New Orleans. . . .In the debate [with Carlos Bringuier of DRE, Oswald] proclaimed himself as a marxist-leninist and profound follower of Fidel Castro" (DRE Publication La Trinchera, 11/22/63)
Jose Antonio Lanusa, Intelligence Officer for DRE, reportedly told Daniel James, Executive Secretary of Citizens Committee for a Free Cuba "Oswald definitely a Communist and supporter of Castro" 9SAC WFO Airtel to Dir FBI, 11/23/63, 8:59 PM; FBI HQ 105-82555-8th no. 50)
FBI Intervention: Lanusa interviewed by Miami FBI Nov. 23; report is silent about Oswald’s politics (SAC Miami to DIR FBI, 11/24/63; Miami FBI 105-8342-1) . Evelio Ley interviewed by Miami FBI Nov. 23, describes Oswald as "a pro Fidel Castro" (SAC Miami to DIR FBI, 11/23/63; FBI HQ 105-82555-10th nr 50; 62-109060-820).
Phase Two Story: "In the debate. . . Oswald denied his membership in [ju filiación al] the Communist Party but affirmed himself to be a Marxist (DRE Newsletter of 11/26/63, obtained from Lanusa by Miami FBI Agent James J. O’Connor; Miami FBI 105-8342-53).
APPENDIX II: THE DOCUMENTARY LIFE OF HARVEY LEE OSWALD
A. In Mexico
Mexico City FBI file 105-3702 on Lee Harvey Oswald (opened 10/18/63): Serial-254, information from "Wesley." At bottom: "File 105-2137 (Harvey Lee Oswald)" [file # corrected to 3702]. Bill Turner (ex-FBI) is sure that these files would be numbered in consecutive order, so that 2137 would be earlier than 3702.
Oswald, Mexico, and Deep Politics Page 31
