457-10011-10020 JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM | IDENTIF Ic TT ee ot a ATION FORM = AGENCY IN AGENCY ; SSCIA RECORD NUMBER ; : 157-10011-10929 RECORDS SERIES ; een ORIGINATOR : FROM - TO : TITLE SSCI TRANSCRIPT OF RICHARD BISSELL DATE : 06/09/75 PAGES : 109 SUBJECTS ; SSCI_ TRANSCRIPT gp RICHARD M. Brsse1) (VOLUME 1) = E : PAPER, TEXTua DOCUMENT. WASSIFICATION ; + RESTRICTIONS * REFERRED CURRENT STATUS ; TE OF LAST REVieW 09/29/93 OPENING CRITERIA ; . COMMENTS : I Box 231, Folder 3 . TAnscript/Bissel] re, : Page i O55 Bocld: 32703786 HW 450 Tm ee Date:08/15/99 Page:]j FORMATION . [Aor me eae,
TOP SECRET amt 33 48 1 in that respect, buttressed. at all -by this one page from a z document we have, antitled Nine Pages from the Inspector General } 21 May 1973, which I read very quickly. Phone (Area 202) 544-6000 4 It says: "Early in the Kennedy Administration, the ‘White 5 House’ urged Richard Bissell to create an Executive Action 6 capability, that is, a general standby capability to carry out 7 | assasSinations. The Executive Action program came to be known 8 as ZRRIFLE. It's principal asset was an agent QUWINN who had 9 | been recruited earlier by for use in a special operation 10 || in the Congo for the assassination of Patrice Lumumba and to 11 || bea run by | ° made a survey of the scene, decided 12 | that he wanted no part in the assassination attempt and asked 13 | to be released.” WARD & PAUL 14 Is the "blank" in that case (Mr: 15 Mr. Bissell. Yes, it is. 16 Senator Baker. Which Bissell granted. "Project. named - 19 || ZRRIFLE first appears in the files in May 1961 although the 18 first recorded approval is dated 19 May 1962." Skipping down to the last paragraph, "ZRRIFLE was not 19 20 exercised in the Congo. It did, however, find application 21 against Castro in a conspiracy to assassinate or incapacitate 202 him that was already underway under other auspices." 23 Now this memo alleges The 'White House’ laid a 24 requirement on you for an assassination capability and that 25 it was you in connection with the Castro situation. Is all TOP SECRET 410 First Street, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20003 HY 50955 DBoctld: 322703788 Page 2
ei) ie] amt Pnone (Area 202) 544-6000 WARD & PAUL 410 First Street, S-E., Washington, 0.C. 20003 HW 50955 10 li 12 13 14 15 16 1? 18 19 20 el 22 235 24 £9 BDocld: 32203783 Page 3 TOP SECRET 74 Mr. Bissell. I believe there was such conversation very shortly before I left the Agency but not when the ZRRIFLE project was first initiated. | Senator Schweiker. What was the nature of it? If you don't say it was that specific application, what application was it? Mr. Bissell. It. wasn't directed at dny specific spphneeesee agents probably in different kinds or parts of the world and . command the control channels and techniques and ithe like. It was to develop a capability, meaning to identify’ potential: | Senator Schweiker. Well, you're contradicting what Mr. Harvey's. not says on 11/16/61 when he discussed with: you, according to his notes, "Application of ZRRIFLE to Cuba:" Mr. Bissell. - Well, I said that 1 thought there was some conversation shortly before I left the Agency, and I think that is the one°to which I refer. | Senator Schweiker. You are acknolwedging -- Mr. Bissell. Oh, yes. I am acknowledging [that I did eventually talk to Harvey about directing this towards Cuba, but that was not the nature of my conversation with Harvey When I first asked him to take on the task of developing a new ZRRIFLE capability. Senator Schweiker. Was your asking §Mr JonnekW to kill Lumumba part of the Executive Action program? Mr. Bissell. I suppose it could be said to be fitted within OP SECRET
wy ES ct roy re) Phone (Area 202) 544-6000 WARD & PAUL 410 First Street, S.E., Washington, 0.C. 20003 HY 50955 10 11 12 (13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 al a2 £5 24 29 Bocla: 322703788 Page 4 TOP SECRET 78 Senator Schweiker. Are you aware that a virus did end up in the Congo? Mr. Bissell. Well, I repeat I have little|recollection. Senator Schweiker. Well, ;Mrse QO Donn eikly did testify that a virus did get there. How would virus like that get there, without your knowledge? Mr. Bissell. Well, if I'm correct, the virus was in BGHGISS before (OPornelal the hands of the Station there. went down Senator Schweiker. Well, wait. I haven't told you -- I thought you didn't know anything about whose hands it was in.- How did you know it was in the Station fechief"s har Mr. Bissell. Because I was told that is wh testified. Senator Schweiker. Who told you that? Mr. Wides. I did, Senator. Senator Schweiker. Okay, go ahead. Mr. Bissell. And that could have happend w ith my not in any way remembering it. In other words, I didn't remember until I reread them this morning, any of the details about what was in the Embassy in the Dominican Republi that is a little clear in my mind now. ec. I think I don't remember this. This could have happened without my Own approval, that is, the forwarding of the could have happened with my approval but under c TOP SECRET virus. It ircumstances
amt 64 Phone (Area 202} 544-6000 WARD & PAUL 410 First Street, S.E., Washington, 0.C. 20003 HW 50955 10 ll 12 13 14 15 16. 1? 18 19 20 al 22 23 24 25 Bocla: 322703788 Page 5 TOP SECRET which I wouldn't have reason to remember today. 79 Senator Schweiker. Does it surprise you that in view of fel's position of refusing to assassinate a leader that the virus did appear? Does that surprise you? Mr. Bissell. Yes, it does on the whole, unless it was some quite different.purpose. Senator Schweiker. What might that be? Mr. Bissell. Well, I can't guess, but my judgment is that en before (MEO been decided to be inappropriate and unnecessary dropped. Donneily ever got there the assassination plan had and had been Senator Goldwater. I will have to say, I get more:confuse as the afternoon goss on. If you were not instructed by the White House to set up a committee which among other things could accomplish assassina tion, could you have done this on your own? Mr. Bissell. Yes, I could, sir. Senator Goldwater. Could you have done-it on instructions : i of anyone other than at the White House? Mr. Bissell. The plan of the capability I could have done on my own or ordered on my own. Senator Goldwater. Well, did you originate self and start it yourself? the idea your- Mr. Bissell. I have already told you that I don't remember specific conversations with regard to the White House, but TOP SECRET
Phone (Area 202) 10 ll 12 13 14 & a & 4 3 15 16 17 18 19 20 el 22 23 at, S.E., Washington, D.C. 20063 24 4 ts a 29 v HW 50955 ‘Doclda:32203788 Page 6 TOP SECRET ~~ apparently we ‘had briefed him about it. if we should question our Own techniques here, prepared for the question because he had heard Mr. statement. statement before he made the statement. look into that. Mr. Schwarz. Mr. McNamara Mr. opportunity to know the matters with which they sho concerned. doing that because you will look into what they are guard against. On the other hand there are advanta it because you generally do refresh their recollect matters which are relatively old. Senator Schweiker. Wouldn't it be whether you hostile witness or a friendly witness? Mr. schwarz. they are. | Senator Schweiker. This fellow sounded pretty to me. The Chairman. Senator Hart? Senator Hart of Colorado. about how to deal with the Press, first of all, I'm 103 I just really wonder because he was Donnell I'm not sure he should have heard Mr .COLDORNSEES TY I think we ought’ to That's a very hard question because take ~- I would appreciate some instructions on this, McNamara and Mr. Bundy have both said that they want an | : uld bea | Now on the one hand there are disadvantages to to be on ges to doing ion about 've gota Well, I don't think in advance we know what hostile Frank, on your first question not nearly aS experienced as most of the Other; people and second, advice TOP SECRET wh eth