[1]| 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
[2]([] . CONFIDENTIAL [[] SECRET
[5]INTERNAL
[6]USE ONLY
[8]“Tel OncnassiFiep
[9]. ha, .. JUTING AND RECORD SHEET
[11])
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[17]COMMENTS (Number ecch comment to show from whom
[18]to whom. Drew a line across column cfter, each comment.)
[20]TO: (Officer dasignation, room
[21]building) —_
[23]INTERNAL
[24]USE GHLY
[26]["] UNCLASSIFIED
[28]roms 610 “Essie
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[33]CONFIDENTIAL,
[35]14 JUN 1976
[37]MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, External Activities Branch, SSD
[38]SUBJECT : Manuscript by David. Phillips
[40]1. The following passages are a compilation of
[41]observations made. by the SSU regarding Mr. Phillips'
[42]manuscript. The comments are by no means a total list
[43]of reservations concerning the submitted chapters but
[44]those noted from the perspective of the SSU.
[46]2. %In.general the undersigned felt somewhat enlight-
[47]ened but rather uncomfortable in reading the submitted
[48]manuscript. This uneasy feeling appears to be based upon
[49]two impressions. Throughout the text, there is an obvious
[50]effort on the part of Mr. Phillips to "set the record straight"
[51]with-regard to events, techniques and activities involving the
[52]CIA. Regrettably, as is often the case when one attempts
[53]to clarify and present the real facts, there is a possibility
[55]-of further compounding a confused and ambiguous circumstance.
[56]Because of the various ramifications of the activities of the
[57]Agency, the SSU gained the feeling that more was lost rather
[58]than won in Mr. Phillips' efforts. The second disarming im-
[59]pression is that because an individual has proved to be an
[60]effective and successful CIA operations officer, there is no
[61]clear-cut assurance that he can achieve the same success as an
[62]author. The SSU was continually pained by Mr. Phillips' efforts
[63]to employ certain techniques often seen in spy fictions. The
[64]problem with author Phillips is that he is not writing fiction
[65]and has been identified as a former CIA employee with over
[67]25 years in intelligence service. Although Mr. Phillips
[68]labored to introduce some humor into his manuscript, some of
[69]his anecdotes appear to be in bad taste.
[71]3. The following comments are codified to complement
[72]those parts of the manuscript reviewed in this reading.
[74]Epilogue
[76]Page 6: Although Mr. Phillips makes a considerable effort
[77]to conceal the true identity of "Abe", there is a question
[78]as to whether, t HS fact that two cables were sent from Head-
[79]quarters to (Chi e) in May 1973, and if this manuscript is the
[80]proper vehicle to surface such information. eee
[83]feuchunwner ret ar Cel we
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[91]; Page 13: Mr. Colby is quoted by the author indicating
[92]certain information revealing complications between
[93]Mr. Colby and Dr. Kissinger. In addition to breaching
[94]personal confidences, the author contradicts what he had
[95]indicated earlier to be an intent to permit Mr. Colby to
[96]Speak for himself.
[98]Page 14-18: Mr. Phillips again refers to "Abe" and
[99]his evaluations of the various congressional select committees
[100]investigating the CIA. In effect these comments are suggestive -
[101]of Agency judgments and evaluation regarding the conduct and
[102]success of the investigative efforts as well as other person-
[103]-alities critical of the Agency.
[105]Chapter 3
[107]Page! 5: “Have the circumstances regarding Mr. Wisner's
[108]death ever been surfaced with such particulars as provided
[109]in this text?
[111]Page 14: The information regarding the "laundering of
[112]money" as set forth in the first paragraphs of this page
[113]serves as a confirmation of official involvement in such
[114]activities. This should be deleted. ,
[116].Page 21: There is a Serious question raised regarding
[117]‘the author connecting Ernest Hemmingway and the Havana Chief
[118]of Station implying the prospect of a professional as well as
[119]personal affiliation. oo
[121]Page 48: If it is in fact correct, has it ever been
[122]officially acknowledged that a U.S. citizen, a businessman
[123]in Havana, implied by the author as being a CIA agent was
[124]executed?- Note: This chapter is replete with a profusion
[125]of illustrations of tradecraft and operational activities
[126]‘too numerous to set forth.
[128]Chapter 5
[130]Page 1: Mr. Phillips in his writing provides a
[131]historical chronology of senior assignments within the Agency
[132]‘with particular reference to the LA or WH Division. This is
[133]illustrated on this page in his reference to Colonel King
[134]"regaining leadership of the WH Division". Anyone interested
[135]in noting the organizational hierarchy and key personalities
[136]in the WH or LA Division during the period of Mr. Phillips'
[137]tenure with the Agency, would be aided considerably on page 2
[138]and further as the author proceeds to identify Mr. Winston
[139]Scott as the Chief of Station Mexico.
[141]Qo
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[150]Page 3: Although it has been publicly surfaced that
[151]Mr. William F. Buckley had worked for CIA in the past,
[152]the author on this page now ties him in with Howard Hunt
[153]and Mexico City and further as an American contract agent.
[154]The best interests of the Agency are not served nor for that
[155]matter the interests of Mr. Buckley and Mr. Hunt are not
[156]served by such revelations.
[158]Page 4-6: The SSU believes it is totally unwise to .
[159]have the mission and organization of the Mexico City Station
[160]outlined as explicitly as contained in these pages. _
[162]Page 5-6: The above observation is further complicated —
[163]by the author's remarks regarding operations levied against ~
[164]the Cuban Embassy in Mexico.
[166]Page 8: The SSU further challenges the information set
[167]forth on this page regarding the biographic details of
[168]Mr. Winston Scott's assignments in Cuba, (London), Eur Division
[169]and Mexico City. . 15]
[171]Page 15: The undersigned does not believe the content
[172]of the information set forth regarding the Agency's procedures
[173]associated with the purchasing of scotch liquor. He is implying. -
[174]things which may perhaps have been unique to that station but .
[175]certainly has not been a worldwide practice. Mr. Phillips’
[177]-anecdote about the prospects of the Agency printing counterfeit
[179]tax stamps and the details involved in such planning, even
[180]though perhaps presented in jest would not be viewed as such
[181]in the eyes of many individuals in the United States today.
[183]Page 16: Because Philip Agee has revealed the secret of
[184]the camera operation in his book,is it necessary for Mr. Phillips
[185]to repeat and in effect collaborate what a diseffected employee
[187]‘of the Agency is purporting? From a friendly alumnus of the
[189]Agency, this serves as a verification of Agee's statements and
[190]provides a violation of sources and methods of this organization.
[192]Page 18-19: Pursuing the aspect of sources and methods,
[193]the SSU questions the author's anecdote regarding the identif-
[194]ication and employment techniques of the material "why. me".
[196]It would seem that in so far as any chémical or technical
[197]devices of this nature used by the Organization should not be
[198]surfaced in a book such as this. ;
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[208]Page 25-27: The specifics associated with the Cuban
[209]Missle Crisis of 1962 involving former Director John McCone
[210]and others are subject to strong question as to whether they
[211]should be included in this text. Again, what is provided
[212]by Mr. Phillips in this manuscript is drawn from such personal
[213]experiences realized in his Agency duties.
[215]Page 33-35: The SSU takes exception to the information
[216]presented regarding "walk-ins" based upon the same rationale
[217]as contained above. It also flirts with the concerns of
[218]sources and methods of this Agency. °
[220]Page 46-48: All remarks concerning technical operations
[221]such as hidden microphones, quick plants, etc, are out of
[222]order particularly with reference to the development of a
[223]microphohe in the armchair. This again violates the Agency's
[224]concern regarding sources and methods.
[226]Page 55-61: Considerable inside information is provided
[227]regarding Lee Harvey Oswald and his activities in Mexico.
[228]‘The SSU defers to LA Division, SE Division and OS regarding
[229]the advisability of inclusions of this material in this
[230]manuscript.
[232]Chapter 7
[234]Page 26: Although there is a legal basis for the serving
[235]of alcohdlic beverages in the DCI dining room, is -it appropriate
[236]to include such "tidbits" providing the news media with grist
[237]to conjure up stories of senior CIA executives making critical
[238]decisions following an alcoholic luncheon. This implication
[239]is synonymous with the problem of beer being available to the
[240]Secret Service when they are on assignment with the President.
[242]Page 31: Throughout the manuscript the author in his
[243]narration confirms the fact that CIA has stations located around
[244]the world and in his writing procedes to verify the location of
[245]these stations. The comments relating to where he was assigned
[246]and where others in the Agency have been or are assigned, not
[247]only relates to the South America area but on this page the
[248]author confirms the fact that there was a CIA station in
[250][2-F2(Brazzaville.) Other than in the change in name there is no
[252]Up
[254]effort made “to dispel the prospect that the Station continues.
[256]Page 42-44: Although it is a most timely subject,
[257]information regarding any U.S. Government effort to assassinate
[258]Castro is highly explosive. Mr. Phillips is reporting information
[259]which he has privy to as a direct result of his Agency exper-
[260]iences. These should not be contained in this book.
[262]7 .
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[269]Page 44: Although Camp tary)has unfortunately been
[270]identified as a CIA facility, is it necessary for the author |
[271]‘to reinforce media articles regarding this establishment by
[272]spelling out the cover background and other "chapter and
[273]verse" items regarding this facility. I believe comments
[274]regarding firearms training, counterterrorism training should
[275]be avoided.
[277]Chapter 8 ; . , .
[279]Page 7: The author's remarks concerning CIA support
[280]to the Elbrick kidnapping again is a violation of sources
[281]and methods, and should be deleted.
[283]Pages 13-21: It is understandable but regrettable that
[284]the author continues to Single out sensitive issues; i.e,.,
[285]assassination and in this instance CIA involvement in Chile.
[286]‘The information contained in these pages are volatile and
[287]should not be included in such a commercial venture. Any
[288]such information is liable for quotations out of context |
[289]warping or reinforcing the involvement that the Agency did
[290]have in the political activities of Chile.
[292]Page 25: For the first time the SSU was made aware of
[293]the daughter of a CIA officer who was stripped naked and held
[294]with a knife at her throat by political assassins. If this
[295]‘is in fact a true statement, I question the value of such an
[296]inclusion in this text particularly in light of the terrorism
[297]problems that this Agency and other elements of the U.S.
[298]Government are experiencing around the world.
[300]Page 27: The statement the author makes with regard to
[301]promotion to GS-17 is not correct. ;
[303]Page 31: I believe that Office of Communications should
[304]be consulted on the entire section relating to communications,
[305]communications personnel and the Office of Communications,
[306]however, the SSU raises the question concerning the inclusion
[307]of teletype decoding speeds on this particular page.
[309]Chapter 10
[311]Note: Chapter 10 continues in the same vein as all of the
[312]other chapters. It further reinforces the earlier remarks that
[313]the more one tries to explain and clarify a point the more
[314]confusing it becomes. The remarks contained in pages 23 and
[315]24 regarding Chile are illustrative of this.
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[324]4. In summary, the SSU joins those who feel that this
[325]book would better have been left unwritten. It is a text
[326]replete with names, details, operational information and
[327]close personal privileged information based upon the author's
[328]assignments which has been rendered into a commercial version
[329]of Mr. Phillips' affiliation with this agency for over 25
[330]years. This manuscript reinforces the difficulty of a retired
[331]operations officer to. develop a non-fiction text which is
[332]attractive to the public but does not contain information .
[333]regarding intelligence personalities, organization and sources
[335]‘and methods. ;
[337]Robert R. Kierce
[338]: Chief
[339]Special Security Unit, DDO
[341]CONFIDENTIAL