(404-10119-10182 i € ¢ o * a "16 February 1970 “MEMORANDUM FOR’ =: Director of Security : SUBJECT , eg Comments on Manuscript Give Us This Day; CIA and the Bay of Pigs Invasion by Edward J. Hamilton — a ‘This ‘manuscript has evidently been kicking around in publishing circles since at least mid-1968, presumably without CIA clearance. William Buckley of the National Review seems to have been "shopping" it at one point. One publisher rejected it as too “controversial”, and noted . its. -“egonfidential”: nature as well ae its potential for libel suits. . & In the foreword to this manuscript, the author (whom I shall to under his assumed name of Hamilton), describes the book as a al account" of CIA's role in the Bay of Pigs affair in which he was ‘a-sentor- CIA participant for 19 months. He notes in the foreword his hope that someone would have written this book so that he would aot have to do it; now convinced that, if he does not write it, it will never be written, he has taken up his pen "reluctantly and in a mood of nostalgic bitterness. ' ee Hamilton, states that he has used no official files or documente and has - ted no one in preparing this work. Where true names are used in -Jnanuscript for CIA personnel, he writes that they have been publicly “ddentified before, and in this contention I believe that he is correct, with “the possible exception off The author's claim that this book would provide no information not known to Castro's intelligence service, or that details this late are of no value to the opposition,is, in my view, seriously open to question. 3, The book is, in general,favorable to CIA actions in the Bay of s. The villains of the piece are certain liberal figures in the Kennedy hinistration (Schlesinger, Goodwin, Stevenson) and to some extent, - ‘the:President himself. In his concluding chapter, the author's bitterness ig undisguised againet those in the Administration and the prese who took the opportunity of the Bay of Pigs incident to attack and denigrate CIA. 4, Messrs... ‘Bissell. ‘and Barnes and the author's other CIA co- workers in the Cuban Project, by and large, are given quite favorable treatment. One exception is General. Cabell, whom the author excoriates, and it is apparent that Hamilton's opinion of Jerry Droller is far from moa. - ‘ RETURN TO CIA © mere fp Background Use Only EVes Laci Do Not Reproduod “Von a . _. Bids. Aaa
14-00000 ms ~ YES ONL ad 22- \ aweitton on the Bay of Pigs, including Charies Marphy's : pool September 1961 or the “insider” books. shat were published following the ee ‘. “Attached a hevewith is a chapter-by-chapter description of the manus crips particularly as it affects’ CIA security.. :This analysis states - what the author states, whether right or wrong. “Where Thave occasion pally added. comments of may own, they @ are re in brackets: Oo ee Sy Historteal Intelligence Collection” | _Origh | 2 - - DI cone
he ow ~ eyes oil a aa . 2Phe. chapter opens in 1956. in Ambassador Garduex's ‘tlic. fin Havana, hore ry ccurtooy call wae being paid on the Ambassador. by the CIA: Central --” e Americanané Casibbean. Chiefs of Station who are holding thelr annual reptona a re fai tas. “absence ‘etc Q - he savily. involved” ‘athe Bogotaso, : setcing the stage, for Hamilton's cubse- ae -qaent comment. © <[Actually Castro played a junior role‘in the’ Bogotsso, end | ‘at wan after the vent ef Figs ‘that. Mz, Dolies aselgned Hamilton the wae as : fer Castro's, 26eh: wed daly Movement, there were no orders from CIA ‘Head-': Es rters to penetrate pro-Castro groups abroad (p."10).° He then states: that h March 1960 he was “having coffee with the newly-elected president. of the > igned." (p.16) [This ‘could reveal the author's -..<" ee became President in “gueauthg dds thar ba hed worked with 2 ‘Barnse as a member of the team ~ - pasted ‘President Arbens from Gestemala {p. 1). At At this point J Hamilton called te Headquarters to become: ‘Chief af Political Action ‘in. amic gs oo isenhower-appreved project to assist Caban exiles in overthrowing ‘Castre.” we duties would include organizing Cuban leaders inte & government-in-. ~~ 7 ¢:which would form a provisional government in Cuba when Castro was — nS s forced out. Hamilton's base was to be in Costa Rica, ‘provided ex-President -. » Pepe’ Figueres could obtain Costa Rican agreement (p.)).-:- [This ‘link could | be. quite ren a in view of of Figueres’ xecent re-election am President, . a Pee. © this ‘point the. manuscript introduces the Project ‘Chiefs ‘2B Jake ces osumably Mr.: ‘Esterline), who is referred to as Jaks throughout {p. 12). . also meet Droller about whom there is some “diversity in attitudes” —- ‘Droller's operational name of Frank Bender is noted (p. 13), of the manuscript... {This | among CIA officers. ‘and he is referred to as Bender throughout the rest de not the first tims Droller has been identified as Bender; his name was , blown by Arthur Schlesinger in his book A_ Thousand Days in 1965. }. ‘Bender's “cover telephone arrangements in Miarni and New York, which allowed him to Helms, »guswer local calls there at his Washington desk, are disclosed {p. 14). Hamilton states that Bender told him that ae far as he knew “Richard my mad net been cut in‘ hare oe, Cer aaa eos ae <7)
tos vones actor eotet in Havens: ro nie pete Ratght oe abes setae ity a clandestine tadio.on Swan Island (p. 15)... The The Paramilitary Chief ts cara a ictenees: and is called ed en ut veeppa islond off Pet ’ off Fort ‘ 4 with certain rebel groups...” ‘{p.37). Hamilton alse charges that sistent Secretary uf State Rubottom and Willism Wieland “exsrcieed coo
14-00000 | that he vinit Havana, ‘and that the Oo te et eae ena bin aith the doves. . mentation for his operational alias of Edward J. Hamilton which he kept for © r 5¢ duration of the Project (p. 23). Upon returning from Havana, Hamilton | ‘ da report and recommendations, ‘The first recommendation was that fe be assassinated before ‘or coincident with the invasion.’ Hamiltoa con- — 1 recommendation, » but Barnes would only tell Bim _. . asain fn Asset or Rational Bocrity Ailes wf - Tet for the Vice ‘President. ‘Slamilten states that Cashman advived him that Nixon “as Chairman [sic] of the National Security Council, was the real - -., tpazk plug. behind the project" and the Administration's focal point ¢ and troubla- can mber in the event that he had a something for tt the Wiee President's ‘urgent
’ t Sea ae wee kte F 3 e co . a . -e @= . ‘ ~ 8 bet : © er 2 ta inp Hare again Manilow’ ditnain You Besdes Sore a nn “Hamilton being quite conservative and. Bender being a liberal, ize: , “Hamilton i was pro-Mixon, Bender apparently anti-Nixeg.' Hamilton gets the impression * ‘jin both Chapters: I and 11) that conservative Cubas elements, - gach as the: Ain isuge and profensienal atmaunities, would not bé much utilised ia the” Project's plans. In Hamilton's view, the emphasis was on utilising Cabans— had originally supported © Castro bat who had Hed ‘Cubs when eer: a -Eaipervone tebe plaend te pareeieny prope a sharp of waa Se The tuik af the chapter describes the various members of the Frente’ ading Bene met idioaynctasion,: ‘as teal! a0 some nacoust of thoes wholwoilé aot Join.
* ' This isa second Chapter Ti and. . ‘raptor 214 (commencing at page - 45. 4d te oct thvma ep ia Mexico City, to which Hamilton aad his’ 4 yepaived, Hamilton's office was to. be independent ?¢-wae toe that of a fiction writer, .. Hamilton's wee .of an yo. pa besinesiman in: ‘Mexico-named Sam as his principal: manager of »-safehouses andl the. Like are described. Here, the name‘of * s caplain f aaadodty ve masses be because it was. 1980, al to obi young children wn hé should be living under an assumed same in wife. end children were foreed te come “aaatke to Let
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14-00000 oo ORYESOHLY > ystiuer eoft oa Commenter oF 04 Monet ‘the issuss? {p.96). Hamilton offers his criticlem ecause the latter had siayed with Castro too long
14-00000 * Jeme'Wwithis' the Frente, -om aa Ray (pe ‘140-145). : a wo “o a 2. ‘Hamilton then tulle af 6 tascting with Biseell who oaid that be 'wes = under White House pressure to broaden the polltical‘base of the Frente... a Evidently former Venesuelan:President Botanceart, former. hasten ‘Rigas <: S “ar “om the inclusion af Manclo Ray {p.. 446). "Schlesinger and € tics iis were ‘of the. latenses: swith which he broke from :Cas tro {pian ‘SNL a hw tt ‘hat the Jatnt Caleta rall'wtahod te send an qsinstion team tip training, oe - as “rang Buzsed dates Hiculied \i.ceu Setininer oh ae Wii Rais, ome whore the latter Is working oa his famous, White Paper on Gaba fp. is. a a |, original Pei The beseee it onorpuaaetie bose “-Asabassaden Stevenson Joins the To "hich the Inties bad subsequently douted.” Warcilton ‘aise mentions the:fact of bie briefing of Stevenson before the