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[3]104-10174-10038),
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[11]| 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F.
[13]ore
[15]MEMGRANBUM FOR THE RECORD:
[17]SUBJECT: Pobriefing ef Edward G.
[19]KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
[21]Se Uy,
[22]. NK, UN, [o)
[23]of wT Ug, Cla
[24]~ (2) Ere)
[25]Pro, Wy
[27]DRAST fe~
[29]2 February 196%
[30]Tichbern(P)
[32]1. Edward G.Tichborn(P) arrived in Washington from his. trip to Cuba during
[34]the night of 31 January 1
[35]1000 to 15.
[37]03 (Phil Toomey) and Charles Penney frem WH Division,
[39]hours on 1 February. Those present at
[41]960/. Ye was debraefed at the Rotel Statler from about
[43]o debriefing were Messrs.
[44]Mr’@lexandor Wunter)PP/EAD, and
[46]ie Undersigned., This debriefing was very interesting and resulted inn a good
[47]deal of pertinent information. The three and a half reels of tape derived fren
[48]therefrom are now being transcribed by this crffice. Some of the more salient
[50]points are noted below.
[53]2. Some of the operational
[54]are the following:
[56]information and suggestions offered by Tichborn
[58]a. There appears to be little chance of a coalition ef the opposition
[59]groups at this time or in the near future since they are not well organized
[60]and each group sauckt would want to be the leader of such an effort. Also,
[61]according to the mmabers of the opposition to whom Tichborn talked, it is
[62]the general consensus cf opinion that Fidel Castro is in no danger of loosing
[63]his grip or the devotion of his followersx for some time to come,
[65]b. Fidel Castro seems to becone most at upset and almost vaniced by
[66]defections. Possessing a "Massiah-type complex” he cannot bear the thought
[67]of someone leaving the fold. Rather than to let such defections pass on
[68]unnoticed, he feels compélled to give reasons and wake excuses. This then
[69]“blows bhe matter up perhaps out of proportion and quickly becomes a matter
[70]of public knowledge. Tichborn feels that the inducement of defections could
[71]perhaps have more effect on Castro than any other single, rational action ve
[73]might undertake.
[75]c. There appears to be a relatively long-standing schism between the
[76]brothers Fidel and Raoul Castro. Raoul is the mone cold individual. As an
[77]example, Fidel once ordered some '400 prisoners to be returned safely to their
[78]hoges, but Racul had a number of. them killed. The general feeling in Cuba is
[79]ghat Fidel is not a Commnist, but that Raoul is undoubtedly at least a
[80]fellow-traveller. Developing or exploiting this schism could therefore, be
[81]operationally advantageous. (The fact that they are brothers would probably
[82]have little effect on Fidel who kas already reduced Mtxxmmt the land holdings
[83]of his mother and another brother in conformity with the agrarian refor2
[85]program and who jailed his
[86]on an insurance dsal.)
[88]sister, and fired a Minister, over 2 shake—down
[90]3. Of special operatioral interest vers several individuals Tichborn
[91]mentioned who might have some influence on Fidel Castro and hence might be of
[93]. a
[94]ett C Saeed
[96]Oo
[98]y
[100]14-0000
[102]Seo
[104]“7
[106]operational interest. They are:
[108]- a. Pather(Padre) Alberto de Castros he is a Jesuit priest presently
[109]located in Caracas, Vettezuela, who had been a teacher of Fide] Castro during
[110]his youth. Castro was in Venezuela and saw Father de Castro there during
[111]which time the latter criticized Fidel for some of his actions. In spite of
[112]the fart that this -remonstration occured in front of some of Fidel's men,
[114]- «and they laterthe latter treated him with great respect. It was felt by Tichbern's source
[115]. Chatted alone of this information, and by Tizhborn, that Father de Castro undoubted
[116]for an hour. _has some-influence over Castro. Tichborn suggested that it would be of value to
[118]determine whether or not Fidel has cny regular contact with Father de Castro
[119]and.if so,what operational potential he might have.
[121]b.. Yerb Mathews! he is a journalist with the R.¥.7Times and was the only
[122]American newspaperman covering the Castro story prior to his final success.
[123]While Tichborn was in Cuba, a front page article pa appeared in Revolucion
[124](the regime's press-spokesman) on Mathews. It was a sort of editorial and
[125]praised Mathews as a “real man" and one who understood the revolution and
[126]its eims., Tichborn feels that it might be to our advantage to get into
[127]contact with Mathews since he appears to have the confidence of the
[128]administration. .
[132]Cc. ProfessorsHoscot Subject is on the faculty of the Universidad de
[133]Villanueva and is a contemporary of Fidel Castro. They were classmates and
[134]both were debators although according to Rosco, Castro did not make the
[135]Debating. Society of which he(Rosco) wes the presidentOnce efter the:
[136]revolution, Rosco attended a_sppech Castro made and after the oration, the
[137]latter asked Rosco whkt he thought cf it. Upon hearing some criticiam, he wanted
[138]to know how it could have been improved. Since Castro was leaving for __
[140]¥ Venezuela ‘and the United States he asked Rosco to accompany him in order that
[141]they could discuss the malter further. Tichborn feels that Rosco (a member of
[143]the opposition) im probably has more influence on Castro thun Rosco realizes
[145]and that this possibility would be worth looking into.
[147]d. Edward R.Murrow: he produced a-TV program on Castro and Tichborn feels
[148]that he might have established a rapport with Castro during this period. .
[150]4. One of the contacts Tichborn made in Cuba (the Director of Tourism) asked
[151]him if he knew of anyone who would be interested in coming to Cuba on an all-dxpenses-
[152]paid visit in order to write articles (or other similar propaganda) on present day
[153]Cuba. Tichborn mentioned Clete Roberts, a popular radio and TV commentator in ios
[154]Angéles as a possible candidate. (Tichborn also discussed this matter with Forace
[155]W. Davis.) Tichborn will mention this possibility to Roberts upon hia return to
[157]Californic. ,
[159]5. While in Cuba, Tichborn accidently met a young lady who later revealed to
[160]him that she war "an agent for the #State Dapartnent®, He felt that this was a
[162]ity gatter and that it should be brought to our attenticn for that purpose.
[163]MrS(Toomey) did not recognize the name; it is being further checked out with WH
[164]Division. The incident and the detaila will be made the subject of a separate
[165]memorandum for CI Staff,
[167]ee RR AN SAAS Oe tlle Re Hie Mk he OAD a A Nicene inet Ee te
[169]14-0000
[173]“a0 Ts ete ee aes seem = ee negate ew wk te me te mS Fh, ont ee ve Te oad OT Neve a = bam oie be ae aah 2 ee WE ne ele nt bee La
[175]6. Cn the adninistrative side, #- Tichhoer will forvard by raf) his
[176]financial accounting, one copy te the cover company and the other to Henry
[177]_W. Darkin(F), The cover letter which was provided him thy the event that
[178]he came to the attention of the Cyban authcrities vas returned to us and is
[179]now in his fila. (Thore was no necessity for its use.) Tichborn inquired as to
[180]the possibility of receiving reimbursement for medical expanses which will .
[181]undoubtedly be incurred upon his return to California due to a possible hernia - .
[182]which developed in New York on hits. return trip 6n route to Washington. This is ~ . ;
[184]“being checked out by this office. Tichborn departed fgr, Los Angeles (having -boen
[185]taken to Freindship International Airport by “enrpil—Sarkin) at about 1800.
[187]hours on 1 February 1960.
[189]Evalena $. Vidal