Francesco/who-killed-jfk huggingface dataset:
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# UNITED STATES GOVERNMENTMemorandumTO : Mr. W. R. WannallFROM : W. O. CregarSUBJECT SENSTUDY 751 - Mr. J. B. Adams3 - Mr. J. A. Mintz(1 - Mr. J. B. Hotis)(1 - Mr. P. V. Daly)DATE: 6/26/751 - Mr. W. R. Wannall1 - Mr. W. O. Cregar1 - Mr. S. F. PhillipsLegal Counsel to Mr. J. B. Adams memorandum 6/6/75 related contact with Legal Counsel Division by former SA Richard H. Davis who had been contacted by Michael Epstein, Staff Member, Senate Select Committee (SSC), who desired to interview Davis in Atlanta, Georgia, concerning the former FBI investigations of Martin Luther King, Jr., Stanley David Levison and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Davis requested a Bureau representative be made available for consultation purposes during the interview and that Davis would contact FBIHQ as soon as a date and place of interview had been determined. Approval has already been granted by the Bureau for the release of Davis from his employment agreement for purpose of the interview and you (Mr. Wannall) designated S. F. Phillips of the Senstudy 75 Project to be the Bureau representative at the interview.Phillips took a telephone call this morning from former SA Alan G. Sentinella (has already been interviewed and testified before the SSC) who advised that he had been contacted earlier this morning by Richard Davis. Davis told Sentinella that Epstein had called him 6/25/75 and made an appointment to interview Davis in Atlanta (exact site unknown) 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, 7/8/75. Davis had first tried to reach Charles Haynes, a supervisor in the Atlanta Office, on 6/25/75 and, being unable to do so, decided to pass the information to Sentinella as he knew that Sentinella had had several contacts with FBIHQ in relation to Sentinella's own testimony and Davis requested Sentinella to pass the information to FBIHQ. Davis gave his62-116395REC-102 3 JUL 8 19751 - 67- (Personnel File Former SA Richard H. Davis)SFP:1hbhb(9)84 JUL 9 1975NW 88326. Docld:32989611 Page 100
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Memorandum to Mr. W. R. WannallRe: Senstudy 7562-116395telephone numbers at Atlanta (Code 404) as 294-2786 (office) and 633-1079 (residence). Davis is scheduled to be on vacation the week preceding the interview.ACTION:On the basis of the prior FBI release of Davis from his employment agreement for purposes of the interview, Intelligence Division will contact Davis in advance through the Atlanta Office and arrange for Phillips to consult with Davis immediately prior to the interview and be available for consultation purposes at the time of the interview. This is in accordance with the procedure we have been following in connection with interviews of former Bureau personnel.NW 88326 Docld:32989611 Page 101- 2 -
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The Attorney GeneralDirector, FBIJune 12, 1975UNITED STATES SENATESELECT COMMITTEE ON1-Mr. J. B. Adams1-Mr. H. N. Bassett2-Mr. J. A. Mintz(1-Mr. J. B. Hotis)1-Mr. W. R. Wannall1-Mr. W. O. CregarINTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES (SSC) 1-Mr. P. V. DalyEnclosed for your information is the original of amemorandum concerning an interview by Staff Members of captionedCommittee of Miss Helen W. Gandy, former Executive Assistant tothe Director of the FBI. A copy of this memorandum is also enclosedfor forwarding to Mr. James A. Wilderotter, Associate Counsel tothe President.Enclosures - 262-1163951 - 67- (Personnel File of Helen W. Gandy)1 - 67- (Personnel File of John P. Mohr)HM:jvl.(12)3- [ENCLOSUREREC-104ALL INFORMATION COMIHEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIEDDATE 10-11-2000 EY62-116395-3183 JUL 7 1975Assoc. Dir.Dep. AD Adm.Dep. AD Inv.Asst. Dir.:Admin.Comp. Syst.Ext. AfalsFiles & Con.Gen..Ident.InspectionIntell.LaboratoryPlan. & Eval.Spec. Inv.TrainingLegal Coun.Telephone Rm.Diretor Scy TELETYPE UNITNW 88326 Docld:32989611 Page 102
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1-Mr. Adams1-Mr. Bassett62-116395June 12, 1975U. S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE TOSTUDY GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS WITHRESPECT TO INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES (SSC)RE: INTERVIEW OF HELEN W. GANDY,FORMER EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TOTHE DIRECTOR OF THE FBI, BY SSCSTAFF MEMBERS2-Mr. Mintz(1-Mr. Hotis)1-Mr. Wannall1-Mr. Cregar1-Mr. DalyThe following information concerning the interviewof Miss Helen W. Gandy by members of the Staff of the SSC inWashington, D. C., on May 15, 1975, was voluntarily furnished tothe FBI by Miss Gandy and by Mr. John P. Mohr, former Assistantto the Director of the FBI, who was present during the interview atthe request of Miss Gandy.Miss Gandy was interviewed by Staff Members MarkGitenstein and Michael Epstein from approximately 10:30 a. m. to1:00 p. m., and from 2:00 p. m. to 3:00 p.m. Staff Member MarthaTalley was also present during the morning session of the interview.Miss Gandy was not placed under oath, and she was not advised ofher rights or that she could be represented by personal counsel.The questioning of Miss Gandy was directed primarilytoward obtaining information on procedures and personnel in the officeof former Director Hoover, on the floor plan of Mr. Hoover's officesuite, on the "Official and Confidential" (OC) files maintained inMr. Hoover's office, and on the destruction of Mr. Hoover's personalcorrespondence by Miss Gandy after Mr. Hoover's death.Miss Gandy said she was asked about the setup ofMr. Hoover's office suite and that the questions showed a specialinterest in the rear exit of the suite. She explained that this exit was1 - 67- (Personnel File of Helen W. Gandy)1 - 67- (Personnel File of John P. Mohr)HM:jvl(12)
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# U. S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIESRE: INTERVIEW OF HELEN W. GANDYused by Mr. Hoover since it was most convenient to his privateoffice. Mr. Mohr stated that Mr. Gitenstein had attempted to drawa chart of Mr. Hoover's office. Since that chart was a poor one,Mr. Gitenstein asked Mr. Mohr to draw a rough chart of the office,which Mr. Mohr did. Mr. Mohr recalls that he inadvertently omittedthe supply room from the chart; which room, he said, would have beenof little or no significance to the questioners since it contained onlysupplies and no files. Mr. Mohr said concerning the back door toMr. Hoover's office, that interviewers were informed that personsvisiting Mr. Hoover were not brought through this back door, whichwas for Mr. Hoover's use.Miss Gandy was asked by Staff Members about the useof the conference room, who attended the conferences, and the purposeof the conferences. She said that Mr. Mohr explained that the Directorat these conferences discussed with FBI officials matters regardingFBI administration and policy. She was also asked about the contentsof bookcases in the conference room which contained criminal codevolumes, ring binders of interesting cases, and miscellaneous books.Miss Gandy was asked how many file cabinets were inher office. She answered that she could not be positive but she believedthere were approximately ten or twelve cabinets of five drawers each.These cabinets were secured with special locks and the key was keptin a special locked key cabinet.Miss Gandy was asked for the names of other employeesin Mr. Hoover's office and she provided the names of Miss Edna Holmes,Mrs. Erma Metcalf, Miss Ruth McCord, Miss Nancy Ana Mooney andMr. Ronald E. Thompson.Miss Gandy was asked if the Office Manager, Miss Holmes,had files in her office and she answered, "no." She was asked if the OfficeManager's secretary, Miss McCord, had files in her office and sheanswered that Miss McCord did have those files necessary to her super-vision of office personnel and maintenance. She also explained thefunction of the office receptionist.- 2 -NW 88326 Docld:32989611 Page 104
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# U. S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIESRE: INTERVIEW OF HELEN W. GANDYMiss Gandy was asked whether files were kept in the Telephone Room and answered that the only files kept there were background material necessary to the functioning of that office. She was asked if a record was kept of telephone calls and visitors to the Director. She replied that a daily log was maintained, and that these logs were permanently filed in the main Bureau files.Miss Gandy was asked if files were kept in the office of the mail clerk, Miss Mooney. She answered "yes," and described these files as mainly photograph files and scrapbooks.Concerning the mail in Mr. Hoover's office, Mr. Mohr said Mr. Gitenstein raised a question about "Expedite Processing" of mail, to which Miss Gandy replied that the personal and confidential mail for Mr. Hoover was handled by Miss Mooney and that she, Miss Gandy, was not aware of just how this mail was handled. Mr. Mohr said he explained to the questioners that this mail was received in the Routing Unit of the Records and Communications Division and was taken unopened to Miss Mooney, who opened it. The clerical employee who brought the mail then logged it and stamped "Expedite Processing" on the left-hand edge. Then, the clerical employee would take the log back to the Routing Unit and when the mail was subsequently returned to the Routing Unit for regular filing purposes, the item would be crossed off the log. Mr. Mohr said Mr. Gitenstein wanted to know if the "Expedite Processing" logs were maintained permanently and Mr. Mohr answered that to his knowledge the logs were not kept after the items on a particular log had been accounted for.Mr. Mohr said that Miss Gandy was asked about procedures regarding Mr. Hoover's commitments and she explained that each morning the employees in the Telephone Room prepared a "commitment card" of Mr. Hoover's commitments for the day and this card was placed on Mr. Hoover's desk the first thing in the morning- 3
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# U. S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIESRE: INTERVIEW OF HELEN W. GANDYfor his information. Miss Gandy told the questioners that she received a copy of the commitment card and that these cards were not retained permanently. Mr. Mohr said that it was explained to the interviewers that the Bureau had an instruction that items of a temporary nature were to be destroyed after they were 90 days old and Miss Gandy indicated to the interviewers that commitment cards were in this category. Mr. Mohr said Miss Gandy was queried at length as to just how Telephone Room employees got their information to make up the commitment card and she explained that all employees in Mr. Hoover's office made certain the Telephone Room employees were promptly advised of all Mr. Hoover's commitments as they were made.Further, concerning the Telephone Room, Mr. Mohr said the interviewers were informed that calls for Mr. Hoover were received in the Burean switchboard and were then referred to the Telephone Room in Mr. Hoover's office. The employees in the Telephone Room connected Mr. Hoover with the calls. Mr. Mohr said the interviewers asked whether the Telephone Room "screened" Mr. Hoover's calls and that they were informed that the Telephone Room did not "screen" them except for "nut" calls.Miss Gandy said she informed interviewers, in response to questions, that she did receive calls from persons wishing to speak with Mr. Hoover and if he was in his office, the calls would be transferred to his Telephone Room. She said Mr. Gitenstein made a remark about a special telephone connection between Mr. Hoover and former Attorney General Robert Kennedy and also remarked that Mr. Hoover and former Attorney General John Mitchell also had a special telephone connection. Miss Gandy said she corrected Mr. Gitenstein immediately by informing him that no special telephone connection existed with any Attorney General except Attorney General Kennedy.Concerning the OC files maintained in Mr. Hoover's office suite, Miss Gandy said she informed the interviewers that these files were kept in a locked file cabinet and occupied about one and- 4 -
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# U. S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIESRE: INTERVIEW OF HELEN W. GANDYone half or two file drawers. In answer to questions from the interviewers, Miss Gandy said she informed them that on the day of Mr. Hoover's death she spoke with Mr. Clyde Tolson, who was then Acting Director of the FBI, and with Mr. Mohr and asked to whom she should deliver the OC files and other Burean material contained in Mr. Hoover's office.Mr. Tolson instructed that the OC files and all other Bureau material such as interesting cases, monographs and manuals be delivered to Mr. Mark Felt who then was Assistant Director-Deputy Associate Director of the FBL Miss Gandy said she was exhaustively questioned by Mr. Epstein as to whether she called Mr. Tolson or he called her and concerning Mr. Tolson's location at the time.Miss Gandy said she told Mr. Epstein that at this late date she had no idea who called whom but Mr. Epstein was assured that she and Mr. Tolson communicated. She was also asked when Mr. Tolson arrived at Mr. Hoover's house on the morning of Mr. Hoover's death. She answered that Mr. Tolson arrived there soon after Mr. Hoover's body was discovered. Miss Gandy said she asked the interviewers if they desired more details of that morning and was told that they did not.Miss Gandy said she told the interviewers that Mr. Tolson's instructions were carried out. The OC files and the index cards pertaining to them and the other Bureau material mentioned above were placed in cartons and delivered to Mr. Felt. She was asked who delivered the cartons to Mr. Felt's office and answered that she believed that the delivery was handled by messengers or maintenance personnel, but indicated she was not certain about this.Miss Gandy said she told the interviewers that as soon as Mr. L. Patrick Gray III was named to head the FBI, Mr. Felt brought him to the Director's office to afford him an idea of the office setup. After Mr. Gray indicated a very special interest in the files in her office, the contents of these files were explained to him and he- 5 -
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# U. S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIESRE: INTERVIEW OF HELEN W. GANDYwas invited to view the contents. Mr. Gray did glance through a drawer and obviously was satisfied that they contained personal correspondence only and was also satisfied that the Bureau material had been delivered to Mr. Felt.Miss Gandy said one of the interviewers remarked that there appeared to be more OC files than had been indicated and that a larger number had been given to Attorney General Levi. She responded that she would not know whether other files had been added to the group after they had been delivered to Mr. Felt. Mr. Gitenstein, she said, attempted to show her a pamphlet apparently containing testimony of the Attorney General which described certain of the files in question. Mr. Gitenstein asked her about specific cases in the OC files and she told him that after three years she would not presume to try to remember specifics. Mr. Gitenstein asked if there was a file containing reports from the Washington Field Office. She told him that she certainly would not remember such a file, if one existed.Miss Gandy said there was much questioning about the index cards which pertained to the OC files. She told the interviewers that they were filed in one index file, that cards of a different color were used and that this index file was locked.Miss Gandy said she told the interviewers that strictly personal correspondence of Mr. Hoover had been contained in the file cabinets in her office and that from time to time during the past fifty years, files which were no longer current were eliminated. Concerning the destruction of Mr. Hoover's personal correspondence, she told interviewers that on the day of Mr. Hoover's death, she advised Mr. Tolson of Mr. Hoover's expressed instruction that his personal correspondence be destroyed, that Mr. Hoover had begun a review of these personal files sometime prior to his death and that some of them had been already destroyed.- 6 -NW 88326 Docld:32989611 Page 108
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# U. S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTER ON INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIESRE: INTERVIEW OF HELEN W. GANDYMiss Gandy said she told the interviewers that up until the time she left the Bureau, she continued to tear up the contents of Mr. Hoover's personal correspondence files and deposited the contents of the files in the "confidential trash" waste baskets. Mr. Mohr said Mr. Epstein wanted to know if a log was maintained of items placed in the confidential trash baskets for destruction. Mr. Mohr informed Mr. Epstein that it would be ridiculous to think that such a log could be maintained and Mr. Mohr advised him exactly how confidential trash is destroyed in the Bureau. Mr. Mohr said he informed Mr. Epstein of the Bureau files that were scattered over the streets of Southwest Washington as a result of the Department of Justice engaging in destruction of some of its files. Mr. Mohr said this reference permitted an immediate termination of any questions regarding the destruction of confidential trash.Miss Gandy said she told interviewers she asked Mr. Gray if, in order to vacate the office as soon as possible for his convenience, she could have his approval to send to Mr. Hoover's house the personal correspondence files which could not be disposed of before the date of her retirement, so that she could finish the task there. Mr. Gray did not hesitate to give her this permission. Mr. Felt, who was present when she spoke with Mr. Gray in her office, suggested that a locked room, on the fifth floor, with a key only she would have, could be made available so the files could be disposed of without moving. Miss Gandy said that would not be necessary and Mr. Gray agreed. At this point Mr. Gitenstein asked Miss Gandy if she thought she might not be the only one with a key. Miss Gandy asked Mr. Gitenstein what he would have thought and she said Mr. Gitenstein smiled and said he would have thought that.Miss Gandy said that at a point in the interview when the questioning appeared to be getting pretty far afield, she said to the interviewers that if they were trying to learn whether the OC files contained anything that would be used for political purposes, the answer was no and that she had never found the need to lie about anything.
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# U. S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIESRE: INTERVIEW OF HELEN W. GANDYMr. Mohr said that Miss Gandy, when she was describing to the interviewers exactly how Mr. Hoover's personal correspondence files were destroyed, said she reviewed each item that she handled to make sure that it was not related to Bureau official business. Mr. Mohr said Miss Gandy had previously indicated that Mrs. Erma Metcalf had assisted her in destroying these files, but Miss Gandy did not mention that Mrs. Metcalf made the same type of review and Miss Gandy was not questioned regarding whether Mrs. Metcalf made such a review as she went through the files and helped destroy them.Mr. Mohr said that during the interview a rather heated conversation occurred over some of the questions which seemed to be repetitious and irrelevant. Mr. Mohr said he told Mr. Gitenstein he felt it was high time the questioners quit "beating around the bush" and come to the point by asking Miss Gandy if she ever destroyed any official and confidential files. Mr. Gitenstein replied that they had a discrepancy concerning the OC files in that a reliable source had reported that Mr. Mark Felt had five two-drawer cabinets marked "O and C Files" in his office. Miss Gandy on the other hand told Mr. Gitenstein in response to a question that she had turned over to Mr. Felt after Mr. Hoover's death, as she recollected, one and one half drawers and possibly two drawers of OC files. Mr. Mohr said he explained to Mr. Gitenstein that Miss Gandy would have no way of knowing what files Mr. Felt had in his office and if there was a discrepancy, the person to resolve it was Mr. Felt, who Mr. Gitenstein had said had been interviewed by him and had been cooperative.Mr. Mohr said he had previously explained to Mr. Gitenstein, in response to questions at the time Mr. Mohr was interviewed by Staff Members, that at the time Mr. William C. Sullivan had furnished the data of 17 White House telephone tapes to Mr. Mardian in the Internal Security Division of the Department of Justice, Mr. Hoover had instructed that any Assistant Director or Bureau
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# U. S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIESRE: INTERVIEW OF HELEN W. GANDYofficial who had files in his office that he considered confidentialand relating to the Bureau's work would immediately transfer suchfiles to Mr. Felt and prepare a memorandum stating exactly whatwas transferred to Mr. Felt. Mr. Mohr said he told Mr. Gitensteinhe, Mr. Mohr, had no idea how many files Mr. Felt collected as aresult of Mr. Hoover's instruction. Mr. Mohr said it was interestingto note that he was not asked at any time whether he had turned overany files to Mr. Felt in connection with Mr. Hoover's instructions.Mr. Mohr stated that Miss Gandy was asked duringher interview whether there were any files of Mr. Hoover's personalcorrespondence in Mr. Hoover's former home at the present time andMiss Gandy replied, "no."Mr. Mohr said Mr. Epstein questioned Miss Gandy atlength concerning her title as "Executive Assistant." Mr. Epsteinwanted to know when she acquired this title and she said she could notrecall. Mr. Epstein asked whether anyone else at the FBI had occupiedthis position and Miss Gandy explained that she was the only employeewith the title of Executive Assistant who had served under Mr. Hooverduring his tenure in office. Mr. Epstein seemed to pay a great dealof attention to the title Executive Assistant and Mr. Mohr attempted toexplain to him that the title was a Civil Service Commission (CSC) titleand that Miss Gandy's position was set up under the Classification Actadministered by the CSC. Mr. Mohr said he was not sure what wasbehind Mr. Epstein's lengthy questioning about this title, but Mr. Mohrgot the impression that Mr. Epstein may have been trying to find outif Miss Gandy acted for Mr. Hoover on her own initiative. Mr. Mohrsaid this was just a guess on his part.Miss Gandy said that at one point during the interview,the questions concerned Mr. Hoover's being advised of Bureau matters.She said the interviewers were told by her and by Mr. Mohr thatMr. Hoover was never out of touch with the Burean, day or night,whether he was in town or out of town.- 9 -NW 88326 Docld:32989611 Page 111
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U. S. SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIESRE: INTERVIEW OF HELEN W. GANDYNOTE:The original and one copy of this LHM is being furnished to the Attorney General. The copy is to be forwarded by the Attorney General to Mr. James A. Wilderotter, Associate Counsel to the President. Information in this LHM was taken from notes supplied by Mr. John P. Mohr and Miss Helen Gandy. These notes are attached to the file copy of this LHM.-10-NW 88326 Docld:32989611 Page 112
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# J. B. ADAMSDEPUTY ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR![Department Seal]1a = drew a chart of Mr. His office - identified people and other things in room.1. Expedite processing = how handled?2. Executive Assistant = ?3. D.C. Files were didn't mention.   maintained in big conf supply   Rm in "black" folders. Rm. =   oversight.4. Destruction of Per Con files = Miss L. said she reviewed each item to make sure none related to Buf. Bus.5. Miss Sandy explained a log was kept of all visitors seen by Mr. H. = also log was kept of all telephone calls taken by Mr. H.> ALL INFORMATION CONTAINED> HEREIN IS UNCLASSIFIED> DATE 10-11-2000 BY SRAHM/PP6. Asked re. Mr. His Commitments = who Tel. Trm prepared & were they retained = us.7. All calls to Mr. H. came thru the Director's phone Rm.8. Re. Q.C. File = reliable source told them Felt had 5-2 drawer cabinets marked a c files - discrepancy? why not ask Felt. Also re, files we had toNW 88326 DocId:62989611 Page 113