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2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
SUBJECT: Robert A. Maheu
Mr. Robert A. Maheu was born on 30 October 1917 in
Waterville
, Maine
. He graduated from Holy Cross College in 1940
and is married with four children.
Special Agent with the FBI from 1940 to 1947, and upon re-
He was employed as a
signing from the Bureau, 
formed a private enterprise doing
business as "Dairy Dream Products
." This venture culminated
in bankruptcy in 1952. 
He then re-entered Government service
with the Small Business 
Administration in Washington, D. C.,
and was appointed Special Assistant 
to the Administrator with
the specific duty of 
Director of Security.
1954, he 
was forced to resign from SBA because of political
In February of
reasons, determined to be 
the result of backing the wrong
political party in the election
.
investigative organization known as Robert A. Mahou Associates.
He then set up his own
Mr. Maheu was recruited by the Office of Security in
March 
of 1954. He was 
previously known to Mr. Robert H.
Cunningham (deceased
) who was, at that time, Chief, Special
Security Division, through their 
mutual employment by the
FBI. Cunningham saw in Maheu 
a covert asset who could be
utilized by the Office in 
extremely sensitive cases. With
the approval of the 
Director of Security, Subject was offered
a proposition wherein he was to 
receive $500.00 per month,
with the stipulation that 
he move into his own office and
that he be on call for 
any assignments by the Office of
Security. He agreed to 
this and immediately took steps to
move out of his area, where 
he rented desk space in a suite.
occupied by Carmine S. 
Bellino, a former PBI agent and CPA.
In July of 1954, Maheu was engaged by "British shipping
interests
" to check on Aristotle 
Onassis' activities while
in the United States. 
This included technical coverage of
Onassis' New York office. It 
was later learned that the
principal “
British interest" was Stavros Niarchus and that
the ultimate goal of this 
task was to scrap the Onassis/
Saudi oil doal. Maheu 
took the job but conditioned his
acceptance with 
the fact that he would do nothing inimical
to the U. S. Government
. Any information developed of interest
to the United States was to 
be passed by Maheu to the appro-
priate Government agency
.
clítor at hoë p
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During this operation Maheu had his staff prepare a
paper citing dangers to U. S. economy and trade resulting
from the Onassis deal. Through contacts in FOA, Maheu
had Harold Stassen read this paper in the National Security
Council on 22 June 1954. During this same period Maheu
briefed Scott McLeod, Assistant Secretary of State for
Security and Consular Affairs on the project. McLood
agreed to furnish State commo and pouch facilities subject
to John Foster Dulles' approval. Additionally, Maheu
briefed J. Edgar Hoover and Vice President Nixon.
In August of 1954, Maheu advised this Office of his rela-
tionship with Niarchus. NEA Division was contacted and
expressed interest in this matter. They were put in touch
with Maheu and furnished him a commo channel, a pouch system
and operational guidance. International litigation erupted
as a result of the Onassis/Niarchus matter, and as a result
of Niarchus claiming Government privilege in the case, the
Agency was subsequently identified as being the Government
agency involved. Files of this Office reflect extensive
correspondence furnished us by the Office of General Counsel
in 1956 regarding the Onassis matter.
On 16 August 1954 Subject was granted a covert security.
clearance for utilization as an agent under Project TWIXT)
in the Near East. On 30 August 1954 he was granted a similar
clearance to permit his use in the United States as a covert
associate under Project LPHIDDEN. In November of 1957, a
cable from Ciudad Trujillo indicated that Mr. Maheu had
allegedly been involved in a violation of the Mann Act in
procuring and transporting prostitutes for President Sukarno
during Sukarno's state visit to the United States in 1956.
Mr. Maheu contacted this Office to advise that the allegations
were without foundation and stated that he would take steps
immediately to have his attorney see that appropriate
(Dominican officials would retract the charges. This was
subsequently done. Edward Bennett Williams acted as Maheu's
lawyer in this matter.
In 1957 information was received indicating that during
President Sukarno's visit to Moscow in the fall of 1956, he was
introduced to a Soviet woman within the Kremlin. He had
an affair with her against the admonitions of his advisers.
It was reported that the Soviets took detailed films of the
affair and that a copy was sent to the PKI. In June of 1957
Al Ulmer and Samuel Halpern, FE Division, contacted the
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་
Director of Security and outlined a project wherein they
It
envisioned a film being made simulating this affair.
was planned that clips from this film would be inserted in
a leaflet for distribution throughout Southeast Asia sug-
In
gesting that Sukarno was compromised by the Soviets.
He
July of 1957, Robert Maheu was given this assignment.
utilized a trusted male employee of this organization (since
deceased) and his fiance. Maheu after an intensive make-up
course, administered the make-up to the participants himself,
utilizing available pictures and descriptions of the subjects
as a guide. He hired a studio where he was given detailed
instruction on the use of the lights and camera. When the
film was taken, only Maheu and the two participants were în
the studio. The project known as "Happy Days, was never
completed and the film was not distributed.
”
Files of this Office reflect that during the 1958-1959
period, FE Division was put in touch with Maheu by this
Office for assistance in another operation relating to
President Sukarno. This project was originated in May 1958
when FE Division initially contacted the Director of Security
and briefed him on the project known as (HARPSTAR. Basically,
the project capitalized on President Sukarno's known weakness
for Caucasion women. Robert Maheu was given the assignment
to locate a female-candidate. He advised that a prominent
Ever attorney and "man about town,
Come up with a qualified woman.
was investigated with
favorable results and given a CSA on 2 July 1958 but was not
made witting of CIA interest. The female candidate was
a well-to-do widow, approximately
considered to be
In August of
could
35 years of age, resident of
highly intelligent and extremely attractive;
1953, the Project (HARPSTAR plan was concurred in by the COPS
and the DCI.
was
In September of 1958, Maheu and James O'Connell, of this
Office, met with
☛ in New York City.
Later in September
briefed on Agency interest in the matter.
Maheu met with
in New York City under his true
kney
name and told her of governmental interest.
Maheu's true identity having been introduced to him sọcially
by
On the same day (23 September 1958),
was introduced to Joseph Smith, FE Division (known to both
and Haheu as Joseph Sims). was briefed on the
assignment, indicated that she understood exactly what was
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expected of her and stated that she could leave the country
in 45 
days. On 24 September 1956 "Sins" again met with
at which time she was told she would be accompanied by
a female traveling companion, Elizabeth Hogarth (actually
Elizabeth 
Harter, FE Division).
was told that "Hogarth"
would ostensibly be her secretary but would be, in fact,
the person she would look to for direction.
Records of this Office do not reflect any of the
activities of * during the course of her mission.
is known 
that she did meet Sukarņo, but due to unfortunate
It
timing that had him leaving his country on official business,
she had little 
time to cultivate him. Consequently, the
purpose of the mission was not fulfilled, The last known
contacten had with the Agency was in the form of a tele-
phone 
call on 12 April 1961 when she called on a sterile line
and talked 
to Mr. Hugh Tovar, who she knew as George lienry.
She advised that one 
had asked her to give a
party for President Sukarno who would be in Los Angeles on
21 April 1961.
wanted to know whether the Agency was
interested in sponsoring this party. À negative response
was given.
The
In June of 1959, a covert security approval was issued
for the 
use of Mahen by 
10 Division in order for him to be
approached and advised of Agency interest in Interuational
Labor. Files 
of this Office do not reflect whether or not
this 
was done. On 7 October 1959 a covert security approval
was 
granted for Mr. Maheu's use in the United States.
request for approval indicated that Subject might be employed.
by the King of Jordan to handle Jordanian public relations in
the United States
. Mr. Maheu's later involvement in the pro-
curement of feminine companionship for (King Hussein during
the 
latter's state visit to the United States is set forth
in Attachment A.
In August of 1960, Richard M. Bissell, the then DD/P
contacfed the Director of Security regarding the Roselli
matter. 
Details concerning this are set forth in Attachment B.
In 1966 information was received by the Agency indicating
that 
the 
Senate Administrative Practices Subcommittee, under
the chairmanship of Senator Edward V. Long, had advised Maheu
that his testimony was desired concerning his relationship
with Onassis, Savros Niarchos, Sam Giancana and
The Subcommittee interest was invasion of privacy and
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SECRET
particularly the use of audio devices by private investigators.
In July of 1966, Senator Long was alerted to the fact that
the Agency had had sensitive operational contacts with Maheu.
Senator Long was told that the Agency had used Maheu over
the years on a number of occasions but that he had never
been asked to engage in any wiretapping and had never
engaged in any such activities on our behalf. Office of
Security files do not indicate whether or not Nahen did
appear before this Subcommittee, although it appears that
he did not.
In January of 1971, in light of the involvement of
Maheu in a suit between executives of the Hughes Company
and Maheu, the Director of Security recommended to the DCI
that all existing clearances with Maheu and Associates be
terminated. The DCI concurred in this recommendation.
Files of this Office reflect that Subject's company,
Maheu and Associates, cooperated with the Agency in supporting
the activities of an LPGLOBE agent, Michael G. Merhige,
in Ecuador.
A memorandum from the Chief, Central Cover Staff to
the Inspector General dated 10 October 1973, delineates the
relationship between CCS and Robert Maheu and Associates,
Information regarding the possibility that Subject was
involved in a leak of information concerning a sensitive
DD/S&T Special Projects Staff project is set forth in
Attachment C.
Subject's son Peter Robert Maheu was a staff employes
of the Agency and of this Office from 1963 to 1964. llo was
a clerical employes. In February of 1969, Peter Mahou
was granted a covert security approval as an employee of
Maheu and Associates for use on Project QKENCHANT.
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SUBJECT:
Robert Maheu - King Hussein Incident
1. In connection with the official State visit of
King Hussein from 16 March through 18 April 1959, the
Office of Security was requested to render special support.
during the Los Angeles and New York phases of the tour.
According to NEA personnel Messrs. Norman Paul, Fred Larash
and William Arms, King Hussein was especially desirous of
female companionship during his Los Angeles visit and it
was requested that appropriate arrangements be made through
a controlled source of the Office in order to assure a
satisfied visit.
Mr.
2. On 3 April 1959 Mr. Robert Maheu, a cleared Office
of Security contact, was asked to arrange a party for King
Hussein at Los Angeles, California. This was done by
Mr. Mahou through Mr.
is a
prominent katas
☛ figure pre-
viously granted a covert security approval for use by FE
Division. By pre-arrangement, during the course of this.
party King Hussein was introduced to
-
attorney and
2 part-
time screen and stage actress. For the duration of King
Hussein's stay in Los Angeles, 3 through 7 April 1959, he
and Miss
became intimate friends. It was indicated
by Mr. Laïrash, who was integrated into the State party,
that King Hussein desired to continue his friendship with
Hiss
and that he wished to meet with her ‍during his
stay in New York City from 14 through 18 April 1959.
3. On 13 April 1959, arrangements were made to rent the
home of
, an Office of Sacurity source,
at Long Beach, Long Island, for the period 14 through 18
April 1959. The home was to be used as a confidential meeting
place for Hiss
and King Hussein. At the same time
Miss
was registered at the Hotel Barclay, 11l East
48th Street, New York City, under the name of Mrs.
5mm of El Paso, Texas. The publicity touching on the
relationship had become more pointed since some publicity
mention had been made of the
background of Miss
Ca 14 April 1959 Mr. LaTrash and Miss
to the
were transported
home on Long Island which was taken over as
:
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the meeting place for King Hussein and Miss
Later
the same day, by pre-arrangement, two Department of State
Security Agents, a New York City police lieutenant and a
hired chauffeur arrived with King Hussein. Miss
remained at the site through 18 April 1959, and King Hussein
and his party visited each evening and remained for about
four 
to five hours.
4. During the stay at the Long Beach site, Miss
discussed the publicity in the case at some length with the
Security representatives. She speculated about the possible
sources of certain personal information that she felt had
been leaked to the press. Additionally she spoke of her
deep feeling for King Hussein and commented on how
initially sought her out to serve as a party con-
panion for the King. At the time she said she was unclear
as 
to just what part, MT.
wanted her to play. In
attempting to clarify his case Mr.
said, "I am
employed by the CIA! We want you to go te bed with him.”
Miss
said she rejected the proposal but finally went
to the party. She became quite taken with King Hussein and
found him to be most 
charming.
5. All personal contacts by Security representatives
in this case were under arias and implied State Department)
affiliation. There is no record or Indication in any of the
files in this case that involves Robert, Maheu by name of
reference. It is believed that Mr. Maheu was never intro-
.duced to Miss
and as far as can bë determineì
"fronted" for all arrangements. Office of Security
investigation conducted variously from 25 May through
17 September 1959 of a
reflected no substantive
derogatory information regarding her.
combirje
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SUBJECT: The Johnny Roselli Matter
1. In August of 1960 Mr. Richard Bissell approached .
the 
then Director of 
Security, Colonel Sheffield Edwards,
to determine 
if the Office of Security had any assets that
might assist in 
a sensitive mission requiring gangster-type
action. The mission 
target was Fidel Castro.
its extreme sensitivity, only a small group was knowledgeable
Because of
of the project. The DCI 
was briefed and gave his approval.
Colonel J. C. King, Chief, WH 
Division, was briefed, but all
details were 
concealed from any of the WAVE officials.
Certain 
TSD and Communications personnel participated in
the initial 
planning stages but were not witting of the.
purpose of the mission.
2. Robert Maheu was contacted, briefed generally on
the project, and requested to ascertain if he could develop
an entree 
into gangster elements. Mr. Maheu advised that he
had met one 
Johnny Roselli on several occasions while visiting
Las Vegas. Maheu 
knew Roselli only casually through clients :
but had been given 
to understand that Roselli was a high
ranking 
member of the "Syndicate" and controlled all of the
ice making 
machines on the Strip. Maheu was asked to
approach Roselli, who knew Maher as a personal relations
executive handling domestic and foreign accounts. Naheu
was to 
tell Roselli that he had recently been obtained by a cli-
ent who represented 
several international business firms which
were 
suffering heavy financial losses in Cuba as a result of
Castro's 
action. These firms were convinced that Castro's
removal was the answer to the problem and were willing to
pay a 
price of $150,000 for its successful accomplishment.
It was to be 
made clear to Roselli that the United States
Government was not and should not become aware of this
operation.
3. The pitch was made to Roselli on 14 September 1960
at the Hilton Plaza Hotel, New York City. Mr. James O'Connell,
Office of 
Security, was present during this meeting and was
identified to Roselli as an employee of Maheu. O'Connell
actively 
served as Roselli's contact until May 1962 at which
time he phased out due to an overseas assignment. Roselli's
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initial reaction was to avoid getting involved, but through
Maheu's persuasion he agreed to introduce him to a friend,
Sam Gold Roselli made it clear that he would not want
any money for his part, and he believed that Gold would
feel the same way. Neither of these individuals were ever paid
out of Agency funds.
4. During the week of 25 September 1960, Maheu was
introduced to Gold at the Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach.
During this meeting Maheu also met an individual identified.
as "Joe" who was supposedly a courier operating between
Havana and Miami. Several weeks later Maheu saw photographs
of both of these individuals in the Sunday Supplemental
Parade. They were identified as Momo Salvatore Giancana
and Santos Trafficant. Both were on the list of the
Attorney General's ten most wanted men. Giancana was
described as the Chicago Chieftan of the Cosa Nostra and
successor to Al Capone. Trafficant was identified as the
Cosa Nostra boss of Cuban operations. Maheu called this
Office immediately upon ascertaining this information.
5. In discussing the possible methods of accomplishing
the mission, Sam suggested that they not resort to firearms
but that he be. furnished some type of potent pill that could
be placed in Castro's food or drink. Gold indicated that
he had a prospective nominee in the person of Juan Orta, a
Cuban official who had been receiving kickback payments for
a gambling interest and who still had access to Castro and
was still in a financial bind.
6. TSD was requested to produce six pills of high
lethal content which were then delivered to Orta by "Joo."
After several weeks of reported attempts,. Orta apparently
got cold feet and asked out of the assignment. He suggested
another candidate who made several attempts without success.
"Joe" then indicated that Dr. Anthony Verona, one of the
principal officers in the Cuban exile junta, had become
disaffected with the apparent ineffectual progress of the
junta and was willing to handle the mission through his ·
own resources. Verona asked that he be given $10,000 for
organization expenses and requested. $1,000 worth of communi-
cations equipment. Dr. Verona's potential was never fully
exploited as the mission was cancelled shortly after the
Bay of Pigs épisode. Verona was advised the offer was
withdrawn, and the pills were retrieved.
At the height of
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the project negotiations, Gold expressed concern about
who be learned was
Gold asked Maheu to put a bug in
room to determine the extent of
with
The technician involved in the assignment
was discovered in the process, arrested, and taken to the
sheriff's office for questioning. He called Maheu in the
presence of sheriff's personnel and informed him that he
had been detained. Subsequently, the Department of Justice
announced its intention to prosecute Maheu along with the
technician. On 7 February 1962 the Director of Security
briefed the then Attorney General Robert Kennedy on the circum-
stances leading up to Makeu's involvement in the wiretap. At
our request, prosecution was dropped.
7. In May 1962 Mr. William Harvey took over as Roselli's
case officer and it is not known if he was used officially
from that point on. It was subsequently learned from the
FBI that Roselli had been convicted on six counts involving
'illegal entry into the United States some time during
November 1967. On 2 December 1968 Roselli along with four
other individuals was convicted of conspiracy to cheat
members of the Friar's Club of $400,000 in a rigged gin
-rummy game. Mr. Harvey reported his contacts with Roselli
to this office during November and December of 1967 and
January of 1963. Roselli was facing deportation at that
time but felt that he would win an appeal.
8. On 17 November 1970 Mr. Mahen called James O'Connell,
Roselli's first case officer, to advise that Maheu's attorney,
Ed Morgan had received a call from Thomas Waddin, Roselli's'
attorney, who stated that all avenues of appeal had been ex-
hausted and Roselli faced deportation: Waddin indicated that
if someone did not intercede on Roselli's behalf, he would
make a complete expose of his activity with the Agency. On
13 November 1970 Mr. Helms was briefed on this latest develop-
ment and it was decided that the Agency would not in any way
assist Roselli. Maheu was advised of the Agency's position
and was in complete agreement. He stated that he was not
concerned about any publicity as it affected him personally
should Roselli decide to tell all. Subsequently Roselli or
somsone on his behalf furnished Jack Anderson details of the
operation. Anderson wrote two columns regarding this operation
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on 13 January 1971 and 23 February 1971. Roselli was last
known to be in the Federal Penitentiary in Seattle,
Washington.
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SUBJECT: Special Projects Staff Matter
1. On 25 June 1974 Mr. Paul Evans, Security Officer,
Special Projects Staff, DD/S&T, requested that Office of
Security records be checked regarding a Mr. James R. Phelan
and Mr. Wallace Turner who were both of interest in connection.
with a sensitive SPS activity.
2. A check of FBI and Office of Security records
indicated that Mr. Phelan had written an unfavorable
article about the FBI in 1965 which appeared in the Saturday
Evening Post. Additionally Mr. Phelan testified as a defense
witness in the Clay Shaw conspiracy trial on 26 February 1969.
A review of Agency library sources reflected that Mr. Phelan
had published a number of articles. Mr. Carl Duckett, DD/S&T,
has speculated that Mr. Robert Maheu might have been the
source of Mr. Phelan's information. Several DD/S&T officers
recalled that in approximately December of 1970. Mr. James
O'Connell received a telephone call from Mr. Maheu in which .
Mr. Maneu complained that the Agency had embarked on a. nẹw
project with the Howard Hughes organization and had not
gone through him. A review of various articles by Mr. Phelan
indicated that he had written several stories concerning.
Maheu's defamation suit against Howard Hughes. In these
articles Phelan reported variously that: Howard Hughes
might have paid Robert Maher $520,000 a year because of
Maheu's Central Intelligence Agency expertise; Maheu
reportedly claimed that one of his assignments for Hughes
was to get the CIA to serve as a cover for the billionaire's
activities, a request which Maheu says he refused to carry
out; and Maheu claimed that Howard Hughes suggested that
Maheu work out an arrangement whereby he or his organization
could become a front for the CIA, another suggestion which
Mare claims he did not undertake.
.