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104-10095-10202
2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
SECRET
"I Wigate
W 
gate file
APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1993
CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Operations
SUBJECT
1.
6 MAY 1973)
Media Inquiry to Cuban Exile Journalist in
Miami re Cuban Involvement in Watergate
Case and 
Attitudes in Miami Area
This memorandum is for your information only.
2. On 7 May 1973 we were advised by Station WH/Miami that
two employees of a Station WH/Miami proprietary had told the
Station that one 
Rene VIERA Gonzalez, a Cuban exile journalist
who writes for Diario 
Las Americas and owns the Westchester
Mali Bookstore in Miami received a call in early May: from one
FNU GOTTLIEB who said 
he worked for the Times in Washington.
(GOTTLIEB is 
believed to be Sanford GOTTLIEB, 11102 Brandywine
St., Kensington
, Md. who was formerly an employee of the
National 
Committee on Sane Nuclear Policy". A pretext call to
the Washington 
bureau of the New York Times verified; that one
"Sandy
" Gottlieb was employed there.) COTTLIEB asked VIERA
what 
people in Miami were saying about the Watergate case and
what participation 
the Cubans had in it. He specifically
asked about 
the activities of Reinaldo PICO (former 2506
Brigade member), Orlando PIEDRA (former Chief of Cuban Bureau
of Investigation in Batista Government), and Rolando MASFERRER
(former 
Cuban Senator and self-admitted former Communist).
He 
also 
asked if ITT had an office in Miami, whether Joaquin
SANJENIS 
Perdome (former Chief of a WH/Miami proprietary who
was amicably 
terminated in 1972) and Juan A. PAULA (former
WH/Miami proprietary employee and former Controller of
Revolutionary Democratic Front-FRD-and currently employed by
an OGC proprietary
) were still in the Miami area. He was also
interested in Edgardo BUTTARI, a Cuban born in West Tampa,
Florida, 
a former Cuban Congressman and Minister of Commerce
who is reportedly associated with Mr. Charles "Bebe" REBOZO.
According to GOTTLIEB, BUTTARI was appointed as "political
chief 
in the Republican Party".
RETURN TO CIA
Background Use Only
Do Not 
Reproduce
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3. GOTTLIEB apparently has current information on the
activities of the persons he mentioned; for example, he
knew that Juan A. PAULA was involved in the jewelry business
(PAULA and Antonio Felix GENOVA Corzo, a WH/Miami proprietary
employee recently purchased a jewelry business) and he knew
that Reinaldo PICO had resided in Venezuela and had recently
returned to the United States. The phone conversation lasted
about 45 minutes and GOTTLIEB told VIERA that if he came to
Miami they would have lunch together.
4.
05
VIERA does not know GOTTLIEB but talked to him because
GOTTLIEB said he was recommended by Ernesto BETANCOURT who
has resided in the Washington area for more than ten years.
(BETANCOURT) was a former Agency asset and is currently Chief of
(Economic Planning and Budget, OAS.) The conversation was
initially in English but continued in Spanish. VIERA said he
provided no information to GOTTLIEB on the basis that he is a
Cuban exile and did not want to get involved in internal U.S.
affairs. We do not know why COTTLIEB was interested in Joaquin
SANJENIS or Juan A. PAULA. (Attached are summary biographies
of persons of interest to GOTTLIEB.)
06
5, On 7 May 1973 (Marvin L. EVANS) Chief, (MIMUTUAL) was
briefed on the substance of the report from WH/Miami pertaining
to Juan A. PAULA, who works for the MHMUTUAL proprietary,>4
MCKERCHER and AVANT) which utilizes NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT SERVICES, 24
INC.) as office space cover. Among other duties performed by
the proprietary are the monthly checks sent to the dependents
of imprisoned assets which are signed in true name by PAULA.
o (EVANS was unaware that PAULA had purchased a new jewelry
business in association with Antonio GENOVA; however, he feels
that (MHMUTUAL is protected and compartmented from the WH/Miami
proprietary and he has the utmost confidence in the proprietary:
being able to field any questions, ol(MHMUTUAL) communication with
the proprietary is by unlisted phone and a post office box.
EVANS said that (MCKERCHER) and (VAN could possibly be linked
to (NORTIINEST MANAGEMENT) but the trail would end there.
06
feels that either proprietary could only be linked to the Agency.
o\by innuendo. (He did say that Howard HUNT was aware of
MHMUTUAL when he served as C/CA/EUR.) EVANS feels secure as
far as NORTHWEST MANAGEMENT) and (MCKERCHER and AVANT) are
concerned.
24
24
18151
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6. (EVANS) mentioned that the bona fide law firm occupying
the 
other portion of the 
MHMUTUAL offices are the attorneys'
for (John DEAN 
OG (These lawyers are cleared and witting.)
One of the 
lawyers told (EVANS) that DEAN will be the "biggest"
canary 
singer of the year". The common receptionist area is
manned 
by HMUTUAL employees who also monitor all telephone
calls, incoming and outgoing for the other law firm. EVANS
mentioned that 
there have been numerous calls from the media
and outgoing overseas calls to such places as Japan and Europe.
7. EVANS will be traveling to Nassau and returning via
Miami 
on 10 
May 1973,
people at that time on
contact COS, WH/Miami.
a call from EVANS on 10
He intends, to talk with his proprietary
other (UMUTUAL business and will also
(The COS has been alerted to expect
May 1973.).
cc: Director of Security
James E. Flannery
James E. Flannery
Acting Chief
Western Hemisphere Division
Attachments: A-F Biographic Summaries
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TTACHMENT A
Rene VIERA Gonzalez
Reporter for Diario Las Americas; was speaker for
Journalism 
in Exile 
at meeting held Flagler Theater;
Miami June 1957.
:
Had also been head of Public Relations for Cuban.
National 
Bank
. Date not given.
SECRET
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ACHMENTB
-
Reinaldo PICO Ramon formerly AMICH-31 (201-284658)
POA granted 14 October 1960 as PM asset. Member
2506 Brigade, captured Bay of Pigs. Member of Prisoners
Commission sent by Castro to Miami to negotiate release
of prisoners in exchange for mechanical equipment and other
supplies needed by Cuba. Defected and refused to accompany
-
other members of Prisoners Commission on their return to
Cuba in July 1961. POA granted 15 June 1964 for use as
CA/Prop asset: SGSWIRLED 3-October 1964. OA 4 February
1966. Amicably terminated 30 June 1968. As of July 1959
in Caracas, Venezuela. In December 1969 he was described
by a source as "one does not know where the bluff begins and
ends, what is true and what is lie".
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SECRE
ATTACHMENT C
Orlando PIEDRA.
Orlando Eleņo PIEDRA-NEGUERLA (201-247879).
aka
aka
--
-
Orlando Eleno NEGUERLA-PIEDRA
Orlando PIEDRA
aka 0. ROCA
Born 18 December 1917, Havana, Cuba
Believed to be Cuban citizen currently
Was Chief of Cuban Bureau of Investigation in Batista Govern-
ment. Told FBI June 1959 he was forced to leave Cuba upon fall
of Batista, Reportedly head of anti-Castro group in Miami in
June 1959, In Sept 59 reported to be friendly with Rolando
MASFERRER Rojas, ex-Cuban senator and publisher. PIEDRA
reportedly furnished with money by Batista.
During Batista regime was included with others as
responsible officials considered directly involved in torture
and killing of Cuban citizens. Resided in Fort Lauderdale,
Fla. in February 1960. During Batista regime PIEDRA was in
charge of all matters pertaining to gambling, rackets and
contraband. In 1953 in Cuba PIEDRA was also involved in
business of Chinese contraband,
No indication he ever used by Agency.
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Rolando Arcadio MASFERRER Rojas (201-42669)
ITACHMENT D
Former Cuban senator and self-admitted former Communist.
Quite active during early 60's in various anti-Castro
activities in U.S. Recently served four and one-half year
prison sentence received U.S. District Court for violation of
U.S. neutrality laws.
No indication leadquarters has been in touch with subject
at any time.
Born 1918 in Cuba; typifies worst elements in former regime
of Batista. Name connotes ruthlessness, assassination, torture
and extortion.
Still considers himself to be a Marxian Socialist; has been
virulent critic of U.S. in past.
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☑
MAACHMENT E
Edgar Anthony BUTTARI Puig (D.V.M.)
aka.
-
Edgar A. BUTTARI (Doctor)
aka Edgardo BUTTARI y Puig (201-276771)
Photo available
While information in his file does not indicate any past or
present CIA contact, there is unsourced information in the
WH/COG card file which shows that BUTTARI was in touch with
Frank Bender (Gerard Droller) in Miani in the Spring of 1960,
apparently in relation to BUTTARI's involvement with the
Revolutionary Democratic Front (FRD). Currently BUTTARI is
involved in many business ventures in South Florida and is
reportedly associated with Charles "Bebe" Rebozo socially and
in business.
Edgardo BUTTARI was born 14 August 1909 (also given 1914)
at West Tampa, Florida, the son of a Cuban who fought in the
Cuban Independence War. Appointed Cuban Inspector General
Instructor of the Ministry of State in 1933. He later became
Under Secretary of Labor, In 1938 he returned to Cuba and
. served as Secretary of Commerce until 1940. fle later was appointed
Minister 
of the Cuban Foreign Service. Appointed Minister of
Commerce by Batista in 1942, he held that post until 1944
when he resigned to run for the House of Representatives,
Habana. He remained in the House of Representatives until 1952.
BUTTARI arrived in the U.S. in March 1960 to reside in
Miami, Florida. He became involved with the Revolutionary
Democratic Front.
During his first term as Minister of Commerce in 1933 he was
responsible for the arrest of several American representatives
of large lard exporters in the U.S. (Swift, Armour, etc.)
for increasing prices. At the same time he endeavored to put
forward legislation of nationalistic tendencies, warning to
"Yankee Imperialism", and seemed somewhat unfriendly to the
U.S. He later changed and in 1933 became more anxious to
cooperate with the U.S., apparently having gotten over his
openly anti-American feelings. However, he did not appear to.
be dependable according to Embassy reports. He has been
described as astute, clever, intelligent but slippery.
He
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