200000
104-10331-10194
2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
TO:
FROM:
OFFICE:
DATE:
J. Barry Harrelson
Teresa Wilcox@ DST
ODDS&T/IRO
10/23/97 04:33:33 PM
SUBJECT: Re: JFK Board 14 October Meeting -- Results
SECRET
CL BY:2085904
CL REASON: Section 1.5 C
DECL ON: X1
DRV FRM: COV 2-87
Original Text of J. Barry Harrelson
Barry:
(S) This follows our telephone conversation of 22 October 1997. I have discussed the decision of the JFK Board to release the
true name of Jose Marie Mankel with Linda Cipriani of OGC/Litigation Division. Linda is of the opinion that we have a very weak case
were we to pursue an appeal to the President, because we are unable to articulate specific current harm that would ensue when the
Board releases Mankel's name. This is because the program with which he was linked, as well as the crypt, already have been officially
released to the public via the SSCI hearings in 1975. In addition, I have been advised that the activity with which Mr. Mankel was
associated has no link with any current DS&T program. Moreover, Mr. Mankel's name is in the public domain (in Oliver Stone's
manuscript for the film "Nixon"), although it has not--up to now--been officially acknowledged. We do not know Mr. Mankel's
whereabouts, or even if he is still alive; the last contact the CIA had with him was in 1964, when he was living in Luxembourg.
(S) The chilling effect of publicly releasing the names of persons to whom we have promised confidentiality, thereby harming
our ability to recruit in the future, was unsuccessfully argued to the Board at its 14 October meeting. Because we are unable to
articulate specific current harm, beyond the general chilling effect, I believe an appeal would be unsuccessful. Therefore, unless we are
able to unearth additional information in the seven days allotted to us following formal notification of the Board's decision--which is
unlikely--the DS&T will not appeal the release of this name.
CC:
Thomas J. Benjamin @ DST, Patricia B. Cameresi @ DST, Joseph P. Hayes C- @ DST
Sent on 23 October 1997 at 04:33:33 PM
SECRET
13-00000
ECRET
(When filled in)
1
8 October 1997
NAME INFORMATION SHEET
Mankel, Jose Marie Andre aka Mankel, Andre
NAME:
DOB:
1 Oct 1917
EOD:
Contract agent at least by March 1961
PRESENT RESIDENCE:
Unknown
WISHES RE COVER/NO COVER:
Unknown
SENSITIVE ASSIGNMENTS/ACTIVITIES:
Mankel was recruited as a ZRRIFLE agent in late 1960.
The objective of the ZRRIFLE project was to procure foreign
code and cypher materials and information concerning such
matters. Except for a two-month (Nov-Dec 1960) TDY to
Africa, Mankel apparently operated in Europe establishing
his cover while trying to spot and assess individuals that
the CIA could use in safe cracking operations, in line with
one of the principal missions of FI/D.
Agency contract terminated in Feb 1964.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES:
Unknown
OTHER NOTES:
First Agency contact with Mankel in 1958 (COS through
Chief of Luxembourg Intelligence Service) in connection with
illegal narcotics operation into the US. For 18 months, he
was contacted sporadically on behalf of the Bureau of
Narcotics. (The Bureau's files reflect an excellent
performance by contact.)
Virtually all data on Mankel
--
except his true
name
--
have been released.
BACKGROUND USE ONLY
DO NOT REPRODUCE
RETURN TO CIA
SECRET
(When filled in)
CL BY: (0563956
CL REASON: 1.5 (c)
DECL ON: X1
DRV FROM: HUM 2-82