157-10014-10109
2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
JFK Assassination System
Date:
7/8/2015
Identification Form
Agency Information
AGENCY: SSCIA
RECORD NUMBER:
157-10014-10109
RECORD SERIES:
MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTTEE
AGENCY FILE NUMBER:
07-M-15
Document Information
ORIGINATOR:
SSCIA
FROM:
TO:
TITLE:
DATE:
06/25/1975
PAGES:
19
SUBJECTS:
DOCUMENT TYPE:
CLASSIFICATION:
RESTRICTIONS:
CURRENT STATUS:
DATE OF LAST REVIEW:
OPENING CRITERIA:
HARVEY, WILLIAM
ZRRIFLE
OPERATION MONGOOSE
REPORT
Declassified
1B; 1C
Redact
03/08/2000
COMMENTS:
CCBOX 418
v9.1
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 1
AGENCY : SSCIA
JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM
IDENTIFICATION FORM
AGENCY INFORMATION
Date: 08/06/95
Page: 1
RECORD NUMBER
RECORDS SERIES
:
AGENCY FILE NUMBER:
157-10014-10109
: MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTTEE
07-M-15
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATOR : SSCIA
FROM:
TO
TITLE :
DATE: 06/25/75
PAGES : 19
SUBJECTS: HARVEY, WILLIAM
OPERATION MONGOOSE
ZRRIFLE
DOCUMENT TYPE:
REPORT
CLASSIFICATION: TOP SECRET
RESTRICTIONS : REFERRED
CURRENT STATUS: POSTPONED IN FULL
DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 01/05/99
OPENING CRITERIA:
COMMENTS: CCBOX 418
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 2
[R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED
Box 418
MEETING 25 JUNE 75
TOP SECRET
AGENDA
TWENTY-FOURTH MEETING OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES
10:00 A.M. ON JUNE 25, 1975 IN 457 RUSSELL BUILDING
Testimony by Mr. William Harvey
NW. 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 4
INVENTORIED
☐N
DY
24 1977
"
Biographical
WILLIAM HARVEY
Short Chronology*
TOP SECRET
1940-47
1947
1948
1952
1959
Counterespionage work as FBI agent
Joined CIA as head of Soviet Intelligence Branch
Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Special
Operations (which became DDP.)
Chief of Station, Berlin (Berlin Tunnel operation)
Became Chief of Foreign Intelligence staff Division
D (FI/D) which handles communications intelligence
and sensitive methods of obtaining it (e.g.,
surreptitious entries)
1960
August 16
DR. EDWARD GUNN (Office of Medical Services)
receives box of Cuban cigars to be treated with
lethal poison. (21)
1961
Late January
(approx.)
February
(approx.)
EDWARDS and O'CONNELL ask for development of
POISON PILLS. (24)
BISSELL (DDP) asks HARVEY to establish an EXECUTIVE
ACTION capability under project ZRRIFLE. Harvey's.
notes are quoted as saying that Bissell said he
had been "twice urged by the White House" to
establish such a capability. (37) Harvey is
briefed, probably by both BISSELL and EDWARDS, on
the Phase I assassination plot run by Sheffield
EDWARDS and James O'CONNELL (Office of Security).
which involved criminal syndicate connections. (37)
HARVEY uses agent QJWIN (recruited earlier by
ARNOLD SILVER for use in an assassination operation
against LUMUMBA) as the principle asset for ZRRIFLE.
(38)
Edwards has the POISON PILLS tested. (25)
* Page references in parentheses are from the 1967 Report of the Inspector
General of the CIA.
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 5
TOP SECRET
CU
1961 (cont'd)
Early Feb.
Late Feb.
March-Early April
Mid-April
November 15
November 29
1962
February
February 7
February 19
April 8-9
April 14
April 18-19
According to Dr. GUNN, HARVEY asked about the
pills he tested. Gunn briefed Harvey, who told
him to brief SIDNEY GOTTLIEB about techniques
but not targets. (27)
Pills given to ROSELLI by O'CONNELL are passed
to TRAFFICANTE. (27) ROSELLI reports to O'CONNELL
that pills reached ORTA in Cuba. ORTA returns
pills in couple weeks. (27)
O'CONNELL gives pills and money to ROSELLI who
passes them to VARONA. (32)
Bay of Pigs invasion fails%; JFK appoints Taylor
Committee.
Beginning of PHASE II: BISSELL instructs HARVEY to
apply the ZRRIFLE assassination capability to
Castro. (39) Harvey takes over the criminal syndicate
contacts developed in Phase I. (39) HARVEY is told
by HELMS that he is to take over the CIA Cuba
task force. (39)
MC CONE replaces Allen Dulles as DCI
EDWARDS briefs HARVEY on Castro operation. (40)
EDWARDS meets with FBI to ask them not to prosecute
the Rowan wiretap case because of CIA concern. (60)
HELMS (DDP nominee) authorizes HARVEY to handle
ZRRIFLE project with unvouchered funds. (38)
HARVEY, ROSELLI, O'CONNELL, and perhaps MAHEU meet
in New York to plan Phase II. (43) (Harvey disputes
O'Connell's recollection that Maheu was there and
knowledgeable of Phase II.) Both Edwards and
Harvey check with HELMS before the meeting is
arranged and HARVEY obtains Helm's approval not to
brief MC CONE (41). Harvey thereafter begins
regular reporting to Helms on Phase II. (41)
HARVEY, ROSELLI, and O'CONNELL meet in Miami. (46)
Pills are delivered to Harvey in Washington. (46)
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 6
TOP SECRET
3
TOP SECRET
1962 (cont'd)
April 21
Late April
Throughout May
May 7
May 14
June 21
August 10
August 13
HARVEY passes the pills to ROSELLI in Florida. (47)
Roselli was to give the pills to Varona, who had an
asset in Cuba with access to Castro's restaurant.
At this point Roselli is using Tony VARONA and
"MACEO" as contacts with Cuba rather than Trafficante.
(47-8)
HARVEY, with help of Ted SHACKLEY (Chief of JMWAVE
station in Miami), loaded arms and equipment in a
U-Haul truck which was left in a parking lot for
Roselli, who delivered it to a Cuban contact. (49-50)
Roselli
Intense contact between HARVEY and ROSELLI.
reports that pills are in Cuba at the restaurant
frequented by Castro awaiting the opportunity to
use them. (50)
EDWARDS and HOUSTON brief ATTORNEY GENERAL ROBERT F.
KENNEDY on PHASE I of the assassination operation. (62a)*
Edwards tells HARVEY of the briefing of RFK. (65)
Harvey says that he briefed HELMS about this and
advised against briefing McCone (DCI) or Carter
(DDCI); Helms agreed. (65)
HARVEY is told by EDWARDS that the "tacit approval"
of the DCI should be obtained if Roselli was to be
used any further. (65) Harvey told Edwards that
Roselli would not be used any more. (According to
Edwards' memorandum of 5/14/62.) (42)
ROSELLI tells HARVEY that VARONA has sent three men
to Cuba to recruit others for the pill plot. (51)
Special Group (Augmented) meets on OPERATION MONGOOSE.
HARVEY and MC CONE said that MCNAMARA raised the
subject of assassinations at this meeting in regard
to new plans.
General LANSDALE'S memorandum assigns to HARVEY the
drafting of an outline of intelligence, political,
economic, and paramilitary activities for the
implementation of MONGOOSE. The task includes
planning for "splitting the regime, including liquida-
tion of leaders".
* RFK asks to be told before the CIA works with the Mafia again. (62a)
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 7
TOP
SECRET
1962 (cont'd)
August 14
September
October
1963
February
June
August 16
HARVEY writes a memorandum to DDP HELMS saying
that he advised Lansdale's aide FRANK HAND to
excise the words "including liquidation of leaders".
from the LANSDALE memo because of "the inadmissibility
and stupidity of putting this type of comment in
writing in such a document". Harvey also tells Helms
that he has "careful notes" on MC NAMARA'S discussion
of assassination at the Special Group meeting of
August 10.
Pills still in place%; HARVEY learns that VARONA is
ready to send another team to Cuba. (51)
CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS
HARVEY and ROSELLI agree in Los Angeles to call off
the operation, although not to break precipitously.
with VARONA. (52)
HARVEY and ROSELLI have last dinner in Washington
and are observed by SAM PAPICH of the FBI, who has
ROSELLI under intensive surveillance. Harvey asks
Papich to let him know if HOOVER is going to call
MC CONE. (53-4) Harvey briefs Helms and Helms
agrees not to brief McCone unless it appears that
McCone will receive a call from Hoover. (54)
Spurred by a Chicago newspaper story of the same
day, HELMS sends MC CONE the Edwards memo of 5/14/62
of the RFK briefing. (69)
NW 50955
DocId: 32423497 Page 8
TOP SECRET
saě sed 120% >>A) undna
SEGRET
EVES ONLY
14 May 1962
Edwards Exi
5/30/75
Test.
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD:
SUBJECT: John Rosselli
INVENTORIED:
ON MAR 21 1977
BY
نید
1. In early April Mr. William Harvey asked me to arrange
a contact 
with Subject. 
The meeting in New York City was arranged
for 9 April. I 
explained to Mr. Harvey that the undersigned would
take no part 
in future operations proposed for Subject.
2. In the interim I have kept Mr. Harvey fully informed
reference to my briefing of The Attorney General on the former
project 
and cautioned him that I felt that any future projects of
this nature 
should have the tacit approval of the Director of Central
Intelligence..
On this date Mr. Harvey called me and indicated that
he was dropping any plans for the use of Subject for the future.
woman
Sheffield Edwards
Director of Security
of true
-NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 9
CVS ONLY
SEGRET
G21
Ex
3
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.
13 August 1962
MEMORANDUM FOR WILLIAM HARVEY, CIA
ROBERT HURWITCH, STATE
GEN. BENJAMIN HARRIS, DEFENSE
DON WILSON, USIA
From: Brig. Gen. Lansdale Ed
Subject: Alternate Course B
INVENTORIED!
MAR 21 1977
43
In compliance with the desires and guidance expressed in the
10 August policy meeting on Operation Mongoose, we will produce
an outline of an alternate Course B for submission.
The CIA paper
"Operational Plan (Reduced Effort)" will be used as the starting
basis.
Since this is to be a bare outline, to permit further policy
guidance to be developed, I believe the paper need contain only
a statement of objectives and a list of implementing activities.
The list of activities will be undor the headings of: Intelligence,
Political, Economic, Psychological, Paramilitary, and Military.
We will hold an Operational Representatives work session in
my office, at 1400 hours, Tuesday, 14 August, to complete the
outline paper for submission. Fach of you is to bring 5 copies of
completed assigned work to this work session, to permit each of
us to work from a full ook of drafts.
Papers required from each of you for the Tuesday meeting:
Mr. Harvey: Intelli
deception), and Paramilit
in other sections of the
Political (splitting the regime,
1 Donomic (sabotage, limited
Also, any suggestions for inclusion
Mr. Hurwitch: Stateral of Objectives, Political, and
Economic. Also, any s
of the paper.
SEC DEF CONTR No. X--
tions for inclusion in other sections
1530EXCLUDED FROM GOS
NOW SECRET-NOFCINT
IN HANDLING
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497
OSD RCY No. /
Page 10
EXCLUDED FRA
REGRADING; DOD DIT
DOES NOT APPLY
This document contains
Copy No.
of
1200.10
Cop
D-43410

HELMS EX2..
6/13/75
EYES CILY
SECRET
SENSITIVE
14 August 1962”.
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director (Plans)
MY
SUBJECT
Operation MONGOOSE
MAR 21 1977
1977
1.
2.
Action. None. This memorandum is for your information.
.
Reference is made to our conversation on 13 August 1962,
concerning the memorandum of that date from General Lansdale.
Attached is a copy of this memorandum, excised from which are
four words in the second line of the penultimate paragraph on
page 1.
These four words were "including liquidation of leaders."
3. The question of assassination, particularly of Fidel Castro,
was brought up by Secretary McNamara at the meeting of the
Special Group (Augmented) in Secretary Rusk's office on 10 August.
It was the obvious consensus at that meeting, in answer to a
comment by Mr. Ed Murrow, that this is not a subject which
has been made a matter of official record. I took careful notes on
the comments at this meeting on this point, and the Special Group
(Augmented) is not expecting any written comments or study on
this point.
4. Upon receipt of the attached memorandum, I called
Lansdale's office and, in his absence, pointed out to Frank Hand
the inadmissibility and stupidity of putting this type of comment in
writing in such a document. I advised Frank Hand that, as far
as CIA was concerned, we would write no document pertaining to
this and would participate in no open meeting discussing it.
I strongly urged Hand to recommend to Lansdale that he excise
the phrase in question from all copies of this memorandum, in-
cluding those disseminated to State, Defense, and USIA. Shortly
thereafter, Lansdale called back and left the message that
he agreed and that he had done so.
NW 50955
DocId: 32423497 Page 11
SECRET EYES ONLY
SENSITIVE
Exch
---
SECK
SENSITIVE
EYES CAY
5. For your information also, in your absence and since
the attached memorandum already had been distributed and in
view of 
the possibility that this might come to the Director's
attention
, I informally briefed Walt Elder on the above.
lukl
WILLIAM K. HARVEY
Chief, Task Force W
Attachment
Memo fr Gen. Lansdale dtd 13 Aug 62
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 12
EYES ONLY
Excluded
1
SECRET
Project ZRRIFLE
R371
1
GN
MAR 2 = 1977
1. Identification: The purpose of Project ZRRIFLE is to spot,
develop, and use agent assets for Division D operations. Agents will be
spotted in several areas, including the United States, but for operational
security reasons will probably not be used in their countries of residence.
Present developmental activity is being conducted in the WE and EE areas,
but it is anticipated that this will be extended to other division areas. The
project will be operated against third-country installations and personnel.
2. Objectives: The objective of this project is the procurement of
code and cipher materials, and information concerning such materials,
in accordance with requirements levied on the Clandestine Services,
primarily by the National Security Agency. Since these requirements are
subject to frequent revision, no listing of targets would be valid for the
` duration of the project. Specific operations will be mounted on the basis of
need and opportunity. The project will be conducted by Division D with
assistance from area divisions and stations as needed.
3. Background: In response to the increasing requirements for the
operational procurement of foreign code and cipher materials, Division D
in 1960 began the spotting of agent assets as a developmental activity.
During the same period requirements from NSA became more refined and in
many respects more sensitive. Because most stations are not equipped to
'conduct this type of operation and because of the desirability of completely
NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION
Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to
Criminal Sanctions.
Classified by
RECEIVED FROM
SECRET JUN 24 1975
CIA
007789
Exempt from general
declassification schedule of E.O. 11252
exemption schedule 53 (1), (2), (3)
Automatically declassified on
Date Impossible to Determine
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 13
control over this entire effort, it was determined that Division D, which is
in closest touch with NSA on procurement requirements, could best conduct the
activity. The spotting activity has now advanced far enough to justify
removing from the OOA category.
4. Operational Assets:
(1) Personnel: QJWIN is under written contract as a principal
agent, with the primary task of spotting agent candidates. QJWIN was first
contacted in 1958 through the Chief of the Luxembourg I. S. by the Chief of
Station, Luxembourg, in connection with an illegal narcotics operation into
the United States. For a period of a year and a half he was contacted
sporadically by COS, Luxembourg, in behalf of the Bureau of Marcotics.
Files of this Bureau reflect an excellent performance by QJWIN. In
October 1960,
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 14
SECRET
RECEIVED FROM
JUN 24 1975
CIA
SECRET
QJWIN annual salary:
$ 7,200
Travel & ops expenses for QJWIN &
other agents & agent condidates:
2,000
Fees for services by and standby of agents
and agent candidates:
2,000
Travel of staff employees engaged in
ARRIFLE activity:
2,500
Hire of safehouses, automobiles and other
operational expenses:
1,000
$14,700
Pay for agents on completion of jobs? .
3
1) Legal, ethical-morale, operational problems; political: non-attributability.
2) Our own experience (Bangkok) (and effect on DDP) and experiences with
KGB (Crossup, Bandera groups, Khokhlov) - require most professional,
proven operationally competent, ruthless, stable, CE-experienced ops
officers (few available), able to conduct patient search and with guts to
pull back if instinct or knowledge tells him he should, and w/known high
regard for operational security. Assessments are all-important.
3) Maximum security:
a. Kubark only (e.g., what does Siragusa now know? ); no approach
to other Government agencies.
b. Within Kubark, one focal point for control, search, training
case officering, etc. DDP authority in this focal point mandato
SECRET
RECEIVED FROM
JUN 24 1975
CIA
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 15
SECRET
DCI officially advised?
C.
Max. security cable commo for innocuous cables only; no
restrictions on travel; possibility of one-man overseas (Europe) control
base with own (non-Station) commo. Word of mouth and no bashfulness
re trips.
d. No PA's (except for search) or intermediaries; rigid case-
officering, from start to finish.
e.
No approach to officials of foreign governments.
f. No use of any agent who ever worked for a U.S. Government agency.
Training by opposition would
g. Use of already tested assets (e. g., Manuel in the search.
h. Stand-by list of Rubarkers who can pass as foreigners.
i. Pretext: Kutube/D search; this established (e.g., Rome).
j. No discussions in Stations.
k.
No "team" until ready to go, if at all.
4) Blackmail:
a.
No American citizens or residents or people who ever obtained
U.S. visa.
b. No chain of connections: strictly person to person; singleton ops.
C.
No meeting any candidate in house territory.
d. Exclude organization criminals (e.g., Sicilians) those with record
of arrests, those with instability of purpose as criminals.
NW 50955
DocId: 32423497 Page 16
SECRET
7
RECEIVED FROM
AWN 24 1975
CIA
e.
Staffers
SEGRET
>
-selection.
༡
5) Cover: planning should include provision for blaming Sovs or Czechs
in case of blow.
6) Should have phoney 201 in RI to backstop this, all documents therein
forged and backdated. Should look like a CE file.
7) Testing of moninees essential: re following directions, security,
blackmail.
8) Former resistance personnel a possibility.
9) Used nobody who has ever dealt with criminals;
otherwise will not be aware of pitfalls or consider factors such as freedom
to travel, wanted lists, etc.
10) Possible use of staffers for the action.
11) Silverthorne.
Keeping of files.
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 17
SECRET
RECEIVED FROM
JUN 24 1975
CLA
SECRET
6
Freedom to travel
Khokhlov case.
Legal, operational & ethical-morale problems.
1) Maximum security & within Kubark only (e.g., how much does Siragusa
now know?). Limitation on number code clerks for enciphering &
deciphering. Guise of Louvide objection. Siglen not secure enough.
2) One focal point for search, control, training, case-officer & PA
sedection. Complete DDP authority in this focal point mandatory. Overseas
one-man control base with own (non-Station) commo.
3) Every operation to be rigidly case-officered; no silk-shirt PA's.
4) Non-attributability: No American citizens or American residents for
direct action; possibly for approach to foreign elements. No criminal who
tainted by use by another American agency. Use of case officers who can
pass as foreigners and limited official reference.
5) No chain of connections permitting blackmail.
6) Don't meet any selecter in house territory.
7) Avoid discussion w/foreign officials until all possibility of search
through private citizens (e.g., QJWIN) has been examined.
8) Planning should include provision for blaming Soviets (or Czechs)
in case of blow. 4 above essential.
9) Exclude organization criminals, those with record of arrests, those
who have engaged in several types of crime.
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 18
SECRET
RECEIVED FREE
N24 1975
CIA
SECRET
10) Corsicans recommended. Sicilians could lead to Mafia.
11) Former resistance personnel offer possibilities. (OSS archives.)
12) Period of testing, surveillance, etc. for each selectee.
13) All Kubark personnel involved should have some CE experience.
14) Silverthorne & stable in Paris.
15) What are limits on team or individuals selected? No "team" until
ready to go.
16) Danger of Standbys.
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497
Page 19
SECRET
RECEIVED FROM
JUN 24 1975
CIA
7
Scd G 25/1
Exec Actions
SECRET
Narcotics Bureau
"for a living"
caution Bankruptcy
-
Not a TSD problem
Apply brakes
"The Magic Button"
RIS 201 cover
No star eyes - Jim A. Contradestinct from U-2
Last resort beyond last resort & a confession of weakness.
--El Benefactor
assumptions
Examples of 3 "wrong"
Framework of Sid's job.
Ehut R&D - memo.
Ledford
"Translating machines" of E basic sounds project.
pherious (V with CB)
comment Gear
Anathesia
26/1
_ _
Fanforn DCI Matter
AS
No file
00
1.
Select proper oern to run
2. Place a cover
3. Security Rules
4. Guide leves
5. Last Resort
Brakes
6. No other agencies
7.
8.
Never mentions word assassination.
Max as
子
BWKH - AS-
Sid Reserv.
Substitute
No projects or papers except per cover.
Principal agent - (Mankel) ?
AF Project draft LCH tested 1500 - from NB.
Mask spat rqm. stall AF project - cler Dbieke
SECRET
• What next
RECEIVED FROM
JUN 24 1975
CIA
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497
Page 20

9. Disposal
SECRET
10. Targets who & where Must know before we can spot
11.
Case officering
.12.
non Sov
Cover file create to provide RIS or albetobel it.
13. Note dangers of RIS counter action and monitor if they are
blamed -
Fd J list - Remember
NW 50955 DocId: 32423497 Page 21
SECRET
RECEIVED FROM
SUN24 1975
CIA
9