Authors: John Newman
The most serious question raised by investigation and research is that of her associates. It is felt that these associations being considered in the light of her activities in the United World Federalists, her attendance at questionable schools and her activities in the League for Industrial Democracy raise a question regarding her eligibility which should be resolved in favor of the Agency. It is, therefore, recommended that she be disapproved.
On April 13, Sheffield Edwards followed this recommendation and wrote "security disapproved" below Osborne's signature. A handwritten note by Mr. O'Rourke at the bottom of the memo said, "Advised Mr. [name redacted], PPD, X+[telephone] 3439, that subject has been disapproved. No written notice is required, as no official action is pending." O'Rourke added something that gives a clue to Osborne's reversal: "Above decision was rendered on a verbal request for it."
4. Priscilla McMillan, interview with John Newman, July 15, 1994.
5. See NARA JFK files, January 1994 "five brown boxes" set for "approval request," from Chief, CI/Operational Approval and Support Division, to the deputy director for security, Attn: Mr. Rice, August 8, 1956. Johnson's CIA number was given as 52373. In the remarks section is written: "Please withhold [two to three words redacted] pending favorable assessment. When appropriate, CSN 10-27 memo will be submitted."
6. See NARA JFK files, January 1994 "five brown boxes" release, memo dated August 23, 1956, for the signature of Robert A. Cunningham (someone whose initials might be VAS possibly signed for him) from the deputy director of security, Investigation and Support, to CI/Operational Approvals, referencing the August 8 request for Security Office and FBI record checks on C-52373, #P-276, Priscilla Johnson.
7. See NARA JFK files, January 1994 "five brown boxes" release, CIA Form 937, January 25, 1957, from SR/10, telephone extension 8352 to Chief, CI/OA on C-52373 (Priscilla Johnson).
8. Strangely, neither Priscilla has the middle initial R.
9. Priscilla McMillan, interview with John Newman, July 15, 1994.
10. Priscilla McMillan, interview with John Newman, July 15, 1994.
11. NARA JFK files, CIA January 1994 "five brown boxes" release. They are both at the National Archives and the AARC. For this item see CIA cable, Director Cite 16955, dated April 10, 1958, to a station whose name is blacked out but, as stated above (see footnote 2), this cable was probably sent to the CIA's station in Paris.
12. Priscilla McMillan, interview with John Newman, July 15, 1994.
13. See NARA JFK files, 1994 "five brown boxes" release, "Request for Cancellation of Approval," from Chief, CI/OA to deputy director for security, attn: Mr. Grignon, on C-70300. We know this was Johnson because of a later March 10, 1964, document (same location in NARA JFK files), which stated:
4. Priscilla Johnson, #71589, was proposed for clearance as [one half line redacted] on 6 May 1958. A summary of derogatory information was furnished [one to two words redacted] and the request for clearance was canceled according to [one to two words redacted] memorandum date 27 June 1958. Johnson's biographic data reflects that from December 1955 to April 1956 she worked in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow as an employee of the Joint Press Reading Service (although other sources show employment variously as "freelance" translator, U.S. Embassy; North American Newspaper Alliance; New York Times) and during 1958 to 1960 she was employed in the U.S.S.R. by the North American Newspaper Alliance (NANA). Years later, rumors would surface that NANA was associated with the CIA. NANA was run by Ernie Cuneo and Priscilla's editor was Sydney Goldberg. Priscilla had no inkling of any NANA-CIA relationship at the time. Today she too has heard such rumors.
14. See NARA JFK files, 1994 "five brown boxes" release, June 6, 1958, internal CIA handwritten memo on SO #71589 by unidentified author.
15. See NARA JFK files, 1994 "five brown boxes" release, memo dated March 10, 1964, from deputy chief, Security Research Staff, Office of Security, to deputy director of security.
16. See NARA JFK files, 1994 "five brown boxes" release, CIA form 937, dated August 28, 1958, on C-52373 #P-276 (Priscilla Johnson) from SR/ 10 to chief, CI/OA. In the space "Reason for Cancellation," it has: "SR/ 10 has no further interest in subject. Please cancel."
17. "Notes of an Interview of Lee Harvey Oswald Conducted by Aline Mosby in Moscow in November in 1959"; see CE 1385, Vol. XXII, pp. 701-710. Again, researchers must cope with Mosby's account running together the first, shorter October 31 visit, and the longer November 13 visit. My own method was to cull out that material which appears to be what would happen when two people see each other for the very first time and treat it as the October 31 visit, and to treat all the rest as pertaining to the November 13 visit.
18. Robert Korengold statement for the Warren Commission, taken in Moscow by Richard A. Frank, September 14, 1964; see CE 3098, Vol. XXVI, pp. 707-708.
19. "Notes of an Interview of Lee Harvey Oswald Conducted by Aline Mosby in Moscow in November in 1959"; see CE 1385, Vol. XXII, pp. 701-710. For a number of reasons, not the least of which is that Mosby's notes fail to distinguish between her first and second visits to Oswald's room at the Metropole, Korengold's version seems more likely to approximate what really happened.
20. Albert Newman, The Assassination of John F. Kennedy: the Reasons Why (New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1970), p. 183. See also Slawson and Priscilla Johnson's comments during the latter's testimony to the Warren Commission, Vol. XI, p. 457.
21. FSD-234, p. 2
22. "Notes of an Interview of Lee Harvey Oswald Conducted by Aline Mosby in Moscow in November in 1959"; see CE 1385, Vol. XXII, pp. 701-710.
23. FSD-234, p. 2.
24. "Notes of an Interview of Lee Harvey Oswald Conducted by Aline Mosby in Moscow in November in 1959"; see CE 1385, Vol. XXII, pp. 701-710.
25. Priscilla McMillan, interview with John Newman, July 14, 1994.
26. See Priscilla McMillan testimony to the Warren Commission, July 25, 1974, Vol. XI, p. 448.
27. See Priscilla McMillan testimony to the Warren Commission, July 25, 1974, Vol. XI, p. 450.
28. Testimony of Priscilla McMillan to the HSCA. The transcript is still classified. For this comment, see the final report, p. 213.
29. Snyder interview with John Newman, July 15, 1994.
30. Priscilla McMillan interview with John Newman, July 14, 1994.
31. "Priscilla Johnson's Recollections of Interview with Lee Harvey Oswald in Moscow, November 1959," December 5, 1963, Warren Commission, Johnson (Priscilla) Exhibit No. 5, Vol. XX, p. 294.
32. "Priscilla Johnson Exhibit No. I," Warren Commission Vol. XX, p. 277.
33. "Priscilla Johnson Exhibit No. I," Warren Commission Vol. XX, p. 278; in Priscilla's 1963 recollection "released" had been changed to "told people."
34. "Priscilla Johnson's Recollections of Interview with Lee Harvey Oswald in Moscow, November 1959," December 5, 1963, Warren Commission, Johnson (Priscilla) Exhibit No. 5, Vol. XX, p. 294-295.
35. He incorrectly cites November 15, but, as explained earlier in this chapter, we know that this interview was on Friday, November 13.
36. Testimony of Priscilla Johnson, July 25, 1964, Warren Commission, Vol. XI, p. 453.
37. Priscilla McMillan, interviews with John Newman, July 14, 21, and 24, 1994.
38. Testimony of Priscilla Johnson, July 25, 1964, Warren Commission Vol. XI, pp. 453-454.
39. Priscilla McMillan, interview with John Newman, July 14, 1994.
40. It turns out there were no further interviews in any case.
Chapter Six
1. "Note for Oswald File," John McVickar, November 9, 1959, WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 942, p. 156.
2. Marguerite and Ed Pic were divorced on June 28, 1933; see WC, Vol. XXIII, CE 1958, p. 780.
3. See Cable 1448, American Embassy Tokyo to American Embassy Moscow, November 9, 1959; see NARA JFK files, CIA 201 file on Oswald, boxes I and 2.
4. Richard Snyder, interview with John Newman, July 19, 1994.
5. Priscilla McMillan, interview with John Newman, July 14, 1994.
6. Richard Snyder, interview with John Newman, July 19, 1994.
7. Richard Snyder, interview with John Newman, July 19, 1994.
8. John McVickar, "Memo for the Files," dated November 17, 1959. See WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 911, pp. 106-107.
9. John McVickar, "Memo for the Files," dated November 17, 1959. See WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 911, pp. 106-107.
10. John McVickar, "Memo for the Files," dated November 17, 1959. See WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 911, pp. 106-107.
11. John McVickar, "Memo for the Files," dated November 17, 1959. See WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 911, pp. 106-107.
12. John McVickar, "Memo for the Files," dated November 17, 1959. See WC, Vol. XVIII, CE 911, pp. 106-107.
13. WC, Johnson (Priscilla) Exhibit No. 5, Vol. XX, p. 298.
14. Priscilla McMillan, interview with John Newman, July 14, 1994.
15. HSCA Final Report, p. 213.
16. Priscilla McMillan, interview with John Newman, July 15, 1994.
17. Priscilla McMillan, interview with John Newman, July 14, 1994.
18. Richard Snyder, interview with John Newman, July 19, 1994.
19. American Embassy cable to State Department, C-241, December 1, 1959; see NARA JFK files, CIA DDO 201 file on Oswald, box I. See also WC, CE 921, Vol. XVIII, p. 120.
20. Priscilla McMillan, interview with John Newman, July 15, 1994.
21. Tom Mangold, Cold Warrior; James Jesus Angleton: the CIA's Master Spy Hunter (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992), p. 250.
22. Mark Reibling, Wedge: The Secret War Between the FBI and CIA (New York: Knopf, 1994), p. 155.
23. Tom Mangold, Cold Warrior; James Angleton; the CIA's Master Spy Hunter (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992), p. 250.
24. Tom Mangold, Cold Warrior; James Jesus Angleton: the CIA's Master Spy Hunter (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1992), pp. 249-250.
25. Anthony Cave Brown, Treason in the Blood: H. St. John Philby, Kim Philby, and the Spy Case of the Century (New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1994), p. 553.
26. Mark Reibling, Wedge: The Secret War Between the FBI and CIA (New York: Knopf, 1994), p. 181.
27. Clare Petty interview with Dick Russell, in The Man Who Knew Too Much, (New York: Carroll & Graf, Richard Gallen, 1992),-p.-470.
28. David Martin, Wilderness of Mirrors (New York: Harper & Row, 1980), p. 105.
Chapter Seven
1. John E. Donovan testimony to the Warren Commission, May 5, 1964, Vol. VIII, p. 293.
2. See Fain report, May 12, 1960, p. 4; a copy may be found in WC Vol. XVII, p. 703.
3. See also FBI report: DL 100-10461, Fain 7/10/62, CE 823, Vol. XVII, p. 727.
4. Fort Worth Press, June 8, 1962. See also NARA JFK files, FBI Dallas FBI file, 100-10461-23.
5. "Historic Diary," CE 24, WC Vol. XVI, p. 100. The material in this section on "Alfred" in Minsk was brought to the author's attention by Professor Peter Dale Scott.
6. CE 32, WC Vol. XVI, p. 152.
7. CE 3140, WC Vol. XXVI, p 822; FBI (Boguslav and Heitman) interview of Marina, December 20, 1963.
8. CE 1824; WC Vol. XXIV, p. 484; FBI (Heitman) interview of Marina, January 31, 1964.
9. PLW#DLB.37.3.
10. WC Vol. V, pp. 406-07 (Marina's testimony, June 11, 1964.)
11. Warren Report, p. 271 (photos): "Oswald and Alfred (last name unknown), a Hungarian [sic] friend of Anita Ziger [sic]" CE 2612 (same photo); WC Vol. XXV, p 884 "Lee Harvey Oswald and Alfred (last name unknown)." CE 2616 (photo with same background); WC Vol XXV, p 886: "Anita Zieger and Lee Harvey Oswald in Minsk."
12. CE 2955, WC Vol. XXVI, p. 434; see also May 21, 1964, FBI report, Washington Field Office file 105-37111 at NARA, JFK files, RIF 15710002-10112.
13. WC Vol. XXI, pp. 631-632 [Stuckey Exhibit No. 2].
14. WR p. 689. For Oswald's passport application see also WC Vol. XXII, pp. 77-78.
15. See CIA Oswald documents lists prepared in 1978 for the HSCA, NARA, JFK Records, January (five brown boxes) release. We cannot be sure of when this Post article was placed in Oswald's security file, but it is reasonable to assume it was on November 2 or 3, 1959.
16. See CE 2863 in WC Vol. XXVI, pp. 304-305, and CE 825 in WC vol. XVII, p. 765. The FPCC was officially closed on December 31, 1963; see Vincent T. Lee testimony in WC Vol. X, p. 87.
17. WC Vol. XXVI, CE 2863, p. 304, and Vol. XXVI, CE 3081 p. 689.
18. WC CD 1085a3, p. 1; New York Times, November 20, 1960.
19. Nelson Delgado testimony to the Warren Commission, April 16, 1964, Vol. VIII, p. 240.
20. Ray Rocca, CIA memo reviewing Castro, Cuba, Oswald, and the Kennedy assassination, presumably May 30, 1975. See Anthony Summers, Conspiracy (1989 ed.) p. 562; also see NARA, JFK records, RIF 1993,08.12.17:47:45:370039.
21. Warren Commission Report, p. 687.
22. Nelson Delgado testimony to the Warren Commission, April 16, 1964, Vol. VIII, pp. 240-241.
23. For a discussion of this point, see Morris H. Morley. Imperial State and Revolution: The United States and Cuba, 1952-1986 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1987), p. 115.
24. Nelson Delgado testimony to the Warren Commission, April 16, 1964, Vol. VIII, p. 241.
25. Nelson Delgado testimony to the Warren Commission, April 16, 1964, Vol. VIII, p. 241.
26. Ray Rocca, CIA memo reviewing Castro, Cuba, Oswald, and the Kennedy assassination, presumably May 30, 1975; NARA, JFK records, RIF 1993.08.12.17:47:45:370039.
27. Nelson Delgado testimony to the Warren Commission, April 16, 1964, Vol. VIII, p. 241.
28. Nelson Delgado testimony to the Warren Commission, April 16, 1964, Vol. VIII, p. 242.
29. Ray Rocca, CIA memo reviewing Castro, Cuba, Oswald, and the Kennedy assassination, presumably May 30, 1975; NARA, JFK Records, RIF 1993.08.12.17:47:45:370039.
30. Hemming letter to Major General C. V. Clifton, military aide to the president, February 12, 1963; NARA JFK files, CIA January 1994 (5 brown boxes) release.
31. Hemming's 1960 debriefings can be found in NARA JFK files, CIA January 1994 (5 brown boxes) release, and in NIS boxes 1-3.