{B0-10142402¢) RAPT - 10/27/78 LIOK oS Y ' /PDtLDeEle of MANUEL RAY RIVERO fF /Z. Manuel Ray Rivero was born in Cuba in 1924. (HSUAFOUSDOS Meme—to—G.— Robert Blakey, 6/28/78,—Interview with Manolo Ray . . Hf . Rivero-from-Fonzi/Gonzales) Ray has been described as softspoken, XK . unassuming, almost humble -- a natural leader of the highest as . , , yA intellect, sincerity and conviction. (CIA/DDO Manuel Ray Rivero Volume II, Cable to Director from MASH, 11/17/60) ‘In 1947, be- cause of his outstanding performance as a civil engineer, he was granted a scholarship by the Cuban Ministry of Public Works to pursue graduate studies in engineering at the University of Utah. (HSCA 006468, p. 9, Item 8, FBI Manolo Ray References, Section 2) Ray was in the United States for two years but did not complete his work for a masters degree. (tia) During this period, it has been alleged that Ray was friendly with members ‘of the Puerto Ricay group which plotted to assassinate President Truman, (CIA/DDO /Loose Document, Dispatch ‘\ 4 \ to Deputy Chief, WH/SA from cos/amwayg, 4/14/64, Mexico D.F. Classified Secret. From an \yndercover source with cryptonym, . / (ausnor/1) Upon receipt of this iyiformation in 1964, Ray's Yase researcher endeavored to identify\source as was told that (avis Z / Officer questioned the reliabil¥ty of the information. HSCA was still a current asset ig 1978) nd a good friend of Puerto Rican conmunist(edro. abou campos) \(tbia) It was further alleged that he was in frequent f£ontact with Puerto Ricans who were working \ on the rennovation of #he White House. (Ibid) The assassination attempt of President Truman occurred at Blahr House, across the street from the White House. ‘The nrumans werd using this home as -an official residénce until.such time as the who‘e House rennovation was completed. /This rather bizarre story surfaced\in 1964 and the ‘ H t i z (WA~ foaay
Ray - page 2 10/27/78 information \et, / was disseminated to the Secret Service (HSCA 008290, Item 3) and ‘ 7 the FBI (HSCA 006468, Item 5)% in 1949, When Ray returned to Cubaf he held various positions in the engineering field, one of which was project manager for the construction of the Havana Hilton Hotel. “LHSCA 006468, p. 9, Item 8, Manolo Ray References, FBI, Section 2?) In May 1957, he organized the Civic Resistance Movment which supervised sabotage and acts of terrorism against the regime of Cuban President Batista. Gisca 009005 Memo to G. Robert Blakey, 6/28/78, Interview of Manolo Ray Rivero from Fonzi/Gonzales) Fidel Castro appointed Ray Minister of Public Works in February 1959. X2oiay He confided to two anti-Castro Cubans in April 1959 that he recognized the symptoms of Communism in the Castro regime but was not prepared 6 to conspire against "El Lider Maximo". (Give Us This Day, Popular Library Edition, E. Howard Hunt, p. 91) Ray was relieved of his official position in November 1959, (HSCA 005990, p. 2, FBL gel — Cua Correlation Study, Manolo Ray, File 97-4546, Section 1) con- falivrarNrasew, Rarg- , : fm @ewtlinued to permit his name to be associated with the Castro regime 10 . (Give Us This Day, E. Howard Hunt, Popular Library Edition, p.92) until he formed the Revolutionary Movement of the People (MRP) arfound May 1960 (HSCA #009005 - Interview) \ The MRP was an anti-Castro organization which believed that the ideas and aims of the democratic left best suited the needs and aspirations of the Cuban people. (CIA/DDO, Ray Vol VI, 9 June 1962 study of program for liberation of Cuba submitted by Ray) The MRP did not wish to reinstate the 1940 Cuban Constitution
10/27/78 | Manuel Ray INSERT #1 No definite reason for this severence has been documented but, according to one source, Ray did not leave Castro because of ideological or policy discrepancies but rather because of a personality clash with Castro's Minister of Labor, who almost af real shot Ray after a Cabinet meeting! (CIA/DDO Ray Vol VII, Memo from (sack Malone, former manager.,;”:Kings.: Ranch; Cuba dated July 16, 1962) Another theory which came to the attention of the CIA was : apertl Koe om aga) IOS 5 a that Ray resigned because o£—-htrs—o ition" @acthe plan to shoot ae cope, ti. Le cater ‘F ft ta. s4he Cuban revolutionary hero, Hubert Matos , asya traitor. ‘cha po, Ray Vol IV, Information Report, March 16, 1961, Subject: Background, Character and Economic Concepts of Manuel Ray Rivero)
see ae was Cousiuerea tne roremost underground group in tie. (° { Cuba, organized in each of the six provinces. (NYTimes, April 10, 1961, Castro Foes Map Multiple Forays by Tad Szulc) Working in tightly organized cells, the leadership in one province did nto know the identities of members in any of cee the others. (iD) The Cuban saboteurs were supplied with explosives sent by launches from the Florida Keys and delivered 13% \ on Cuban beaches. (ibid)
Ray ~ page 3 - 10/27/78 and favored continuatiog of the laws passed by Castro at the beginning of his regime. _They favored the regulation of private an en BGA“ rf ~ ” vetlities and nationalization of all utilitieS.~(CIA/DDo Ray Vol II, Cable to Director from MASH) Associated with Ray in this under-~ ground organization were Raul Chibas, Ramon Barquin, Rogelio Cisneros, i¢ra/ppo Ray Vol II, Organization of MRP) Rufo Lopez Fresquet and Felipe Pazos. (etve Us This Day, E. Howard Hunt, PLEd. p. 92) | | | | | Ray was criticized as a tardy adherent to the anti-Castro sak , -movement (Ibid p. 92) and charges of “Fidelism without Fidel" were made against him and the MRP bacause of their leftist ideologies. (CIA/DDO Ray Vol II, Contact Report from Wallace Parlett) 10/17/60, Subject: Meeting with (suai: Esteve 2)and(séege -Beruff ) 10/13/60) For these reasons, his background was questioned by some in the ate tt Ot State Department (CIA/DDO Ray Vol 1, Memo to WHyChief form Acting Chief, WH 9/27/60, Subject: State Approval to Include Manuel Ray Rivero into the FRD Complex) and the Miami CIA office (eta/DDo, Ray Vol I, Cable from MASH to WH/9, 9/29/60) when, in the summer of 1960,he was actively being recruited by the CIA in Cuba to become a member of the FRD, a newly formed anti-Castro organization ont 21 CLAIDDO Ray vot  ,Cahie fr nach. G tun/g , F/27/6 0 sponsored by the CIA. (cite) The Agency considered him an important political asset (CIA/DDO Ray Vol I, Summer 1960) and facilitated his clandestine entrance into the United States (Sia/DD0 ae ire II, 2FQ) ._ Cable to Director from MASH, 11/5/60) on November 10,1960 (ayo Ray Vol II, Cable to Director from JMASH, 11/11/60).
DRAFT - Ray - 10/27/78 Page @ 8 The Miami CIA station recommended Ray be given an wr. initial $50,000 for operational expenses (): and reaction at headquarters was immediate. Within 24 hours a Memo for the Record was circulated objecting to the Miami Station's recommendation, reflecting the feeling that Ray did not ever produce any substantial military actions against Castro. ty Ray was asked to submit a "prospectus" of his plans for the MRP and advised that no financial help would be forthcoming until such SI a plan was Reviewed’ Mu Sep “Abert TS Qusts Qed - oS uetey 04 ve) Lele? Ae owe Macancbhy af acd” repacpe Cs ke. FEE it fo cu | Se Mer prow AE Oe forsraen - SPa cig esan copc iy) The tales ee Lose - eg een Ye / es iy * / a . hee Vitattlaperee Yay Aiedee: i eke py. Yue Me Oh fe While in Puerto Rigo, a member of the MRP underground in Cuba mek-with-the-Natienal-Bxeeutive-ef-the-MRP-in-Miami and reported te-them that he had been in contact with the CIA who made it clear that no material resources would be available from them for the MRP struggle within Cuba until 4 pst Manuel Ray was dismissed as general coordinator. (NYTImes, July 17, 1961, Cuba Exile Group Criticizes C.I.A. by Peter Kihss) Charging the CIA with repeated interference in their affairs, Ray resigned his post to eliminate any obstacle to Sz. the group's cohesion. (ibid)