AGENCY INFORMATION « AGENCY: — FBI - RECORD NUMBER: — 124-10061-10228 RECORD SERIES: HQ AGENCY FILE NUMBER: 105-82555-1ST NR 5397 DOCUMENT INFORMATION ORIGINATOR: FBI FROM: SAC, WMFO TO: DIRECTOR, FBI TITLE: DATE: 03/05/1965 ; PAGES: 2] SUBJECT: LHO, PICARD, FREDERICK PALMER, BACKGROUND DOCUMENT. TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT ORIGINAL Secret NEW CLASSIFICATION: CLASSIFICATION: REVIEW_DATE: 10/30/1998 UPDATE DATE: STATUS Redact RESTRICTIONS: JFK Act 6 (1)(B) _ JFK Act 6 (1)(C) JFK Act 6 (3) COMMENTS: DoclId: 327140141 Page 1 06/01/2001
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote). . . DATE: ii- 14-9017 NAL. FORM NO. 10 . 5010-107 ¢. 1862 EDITION ¢ . - . SEN. REG. NO. 27 a .¢ UNITED STATES GO\ sNMENT | | Memorandum TO: “ DIRECLOR, FBI (65-69179) ° e eke ‘SAC, WFO (65-9464) (P) oo CHANGED {2 2FREDERICK PALMER  PICAR D, ee en etna anette: artnet em ade eteateaeanaae i L _28e8 , Title marked "Changed", “because investigation | ‘tae aa ae indicates that info in reBulet apparently refers to subject. : i ae . 8 These names were obtained from State Department records. cae “ oe Title formerly carried as "CHESTER A,CPICHARD." Y Se a ————--——~ | { a © ‘By & ReBulet 11/25/64, and WFOlet 1/18/65, both of whic oe b 3 ny were captioned "CHESTER A. PICHARD, ESP - Rk." Fe HEP tg So Rt oS Enciosed for Bureau | are Live copies of LHM captions | SS Estes rs ("FREDERICK PALMER PICARD, III, aka FRITZ. Therein is set . B ¢ fi forth info. concerning the death of VIRGENIA ROBARDS GOLDSTEIN, Cap, ithe negative check of the name CHESTER A, PICHARD in State _ WS ‘Department records and background info re GOLDSTEIN, one CHESTER A. PICARD and FREDERICK. oe PICARD, Iil, obtained ,y ‘a iVi'from State Department records . a hot te ' ; so! Investigation was conducted by SA JAMES F, MORRISSEY ie 4 with the exception of State Security file of VIRGINIA ROBARDS i | / << +GOLDSTEIN a -was reviewed by. _ JOHN J. _RADICAN, VU jE Le ‘g . <gixcL9 GauR le | oe le As indicated in relFolet, details of the suicide of | } 0. | SirMes. LDSTEIN and. PICARD's connection with same were not . Ty 2|,to be found in his regular personnel file. Special files on fof. ‘IRPICARD were located through. the courtesy of Mr. PETER SZLUK, ; roy >Personnel Office, USDS. These were maintained in SZit UK's ofc and were kept separately from his’ baad whee file because of possible administrative action. .' ; | los M2 SS —_ “NOT REQORDED | _ . In connection with his: intey OWA | 3418 , 19/64, a yPICARD was also asked about his relatt aShip with a Miss LILLIAN | | SABLACK, a former State Department employee. I He claimed she did_ >i) SOME - typing on a private basis, tha his- “calis to her residence’ . aires combination of social and business, that there was no Te question a an contact or improper relations ..-» x ASS ‘ : ; fs, (Sopureau CBagESY 1-WEFO RS j c? JFM: MS Bo J gash (3) : = + ar ee - J DoclId: 327140141 Page 2?
{ Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote). {| DATE: 11-14-2017 ed t fy of : =) : WEO aD A464. apparently was with Miss SABLACK: ie night of 3/11/64, after ; the suicide of Mrs. GOLDSTEIN. A communication in file _ revealed that State had checked SABLACK's security file which | .. contained no adverse information, , Se vt | { | i . Mr. SZLUK suggested and arranged an interview of Dr. LEWIS K. WOODWARD, Director, Medical Division, USDS, as of | : .. possible assistance in this matter. On 1/11/65, Dr. WOODWARD . . confidentially advised SA MORRISSEY that PICARD was a Sick “person when he returned to this country from Zanzibar. His “ understandabiy stressed condition was aggravated somewhat by his attempt to doctor himself with various pills available. He . said that PICARD was presentiy;under the care of a psychiatrist, whose name he was confidentially.offering to the Bureau only - i Dr. JOHN S. KAFKA, 7834 Aberdeen-Road, Bethesda, Md., telephone i OL 2-8226. hat VU. PICARD's security file also. contained an undated - “"Himited Official Use" memo for the record which revealed that ‘a Mr. BRUCE VAN VOORST of Newsweek met with Mr. DONHAUSER and . Me. WHITEHOUSE of State on 3/24/64, to discuss questions that -. WAN VOORST had raised with Mr. WILLIAM LEWIS of INR re the | oe . conduct of PICARD in Zanzibar. VAN.VCORST said his bureau had mY a , Vreceived info from a very high level Departmental source that | ‘My. PICARD had a bad record before his assignment to Yanzibar; , that he was an alcoholic; that he had insisted on evacuating his ot j Arab mistress on the USS Maniey and that he was undergoing psychiatric treatment. VAN VOORST was informed that PICARD was 1 assigned to Zanzibar on an excellent record; that he was not an | Baicoholic, although they understood he drank more than an | kaverage officer would, but his performance was good. They drew : sattention to PICARD's success in negotiations re a tracking l :Station and his handling of Zanzibar's independence. The , i fevacuation of the lady was justified.” They admitted rumors of #8 mistress, and said that PICARD suffered nervous exhaustion as — | ta result of his Zanzibar experiences and: was brought back to _ oy ; the Department. nee | a | Ae ay “8 Sop cnepneres PORE R Mr. VAN VOORST said she key.element of the story was PICARD's suitability for his Zanzibar assignment. If he had a J! good record, subsequent nervous condition was understandable under : the circumstances. He said he would report to Mr. BENJAMIN f BRADLEE (the Newsweek Bureau Chief) whose story this was and , : it seemed iltsely BRADLEE would drop it. The above is being set & forth for the information of the Bureau. | DoclId: 327140141 Page 3
“Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 - ns an . . 2 i > : a “Sloe WFO "65-9464  etorep ek ' With respect to PICARD's actions in Zanzibar, an Official Informal Limited Official Use communication intended | for addxessee only from Ambassador WILLIAM LEONHART, indicated l “that PEKZARD conducted himself with courage and spirit; that the ; American civilians who were evacuated on the USS Manley were | full of praise for him; that the. four American newsmen whom he ‘protected on 1/15 and 16/64 spoke with admiration for his efforts. | FPICARD was clearly not making responsible decisions during these ; i five days hit LEONHART did not believe any real damage to our v, i interests resulted. In another communication, LEONHART sad | PICARD made the right decision at, the right time. aS. . PICARD's security file contained a memo of conversation -. dated 3/14/64, between PICARD and JOSEPH PALMER, II, Director General of the Foreign Service. ‘The conversation occurred on oo . 8/12/64. “Mr. PALMER told PICARD that Department wished to be entirely fair with him in investigating and passing judgment on 1 - the questions which had been raised about his conduct and behavior; . that PICARD was complicating his own case by recent activities such as the involvement in the GOLDSTEIN case and several reports -. of his drinking. Mr. PALMER urged PICARD to return to the hospital ‘. for further observation and psychiatric care. PICARD said he ‘would not go to the hospital since he felt it degrading; that ‘his own psychiatrist, a Dr. RUBIN, thought he was making progress. and did not regard further hospitalization as necessary. He os claimed he was purely a victim of circumstances in connection | with the GOLDSTEIN affair. He admitted he had been drinking \ tfairly heavily, was under heavy strain. He made clear his , j uxresentment of not getting any recognition for his performance j "© during Zanzibar events. The memo indicated that PALMER had the : i impression of PICARD as a sick man who was undergoing great. . 4 psychological stresses and strains; that PICARD'sS bitterness 4 , at Department's lack of recognition in his performance during ‘ te jp tRe Zanzibar evacuation seemed to.color his entire attitude. vy, og cece toot oe See SEO ST encase 2 ee paovensties _ On 12/11/44, PICARD's Foreign Service Record indicated {wae applied on 3/29/55 for Russian language and area training. We noted that he had been studying Russian with the assistance ; of his wife, who majored in Russian at Middlebury College. She 4 is SHOANA J. EQGARRECARD, born. 9/22/30, United Kingdom. His Sy : security file indigates she attended that” college from September  , 1947 to June 1951 as a major in Political Science and Russian ¢) “ : She received 4B Degree cum laude.in Russian. ; Vf i oo FE nw BS Ae eS, ry 3s i i fy \ eapunnanannste hE RECTED INSTT ERT SIE TONS MS TNL EAMETS SS RANEY soy egies. OMe etait aes ae, oo WeéRET al DoclId: 327140141 Page 4
Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote). , DATE: ‘11-14-2017 | _ WFO, 65-9464 © | 'BECREL | oy . PICARD's security file elso indicated he was Ly investigated in 1952 in connection with State employment. tt | This investigation indicated his father had a record of : hospital commitments for dipsomiania and had been or was addicted to the use of drugs. The father is now deceased, His security file also contains an evaluation work-_ sheet of 8/26/54/9/27/54. It was noted that he was asked what J his attitude was toward military service. He replied he would : accept it as a duty as a citizen, but was not looking forward to it fd hoped he would not have, te Serve. Routine attempts to locate che security files of | _ feompsre SEN and PICARD met with the reply that Mrs. ANNA. WUENSCHEL oS State Security, advised Security. declined to make its files on 7 jjner and PICARD available to anyone, referring inguiry to the mE |\Office of Personnel. The security fiies were made available, aie | however, through the courtesy. of: Mr. WALTER JESSOP of State . , A # Security. Delay was experienced in PICARD's case Since his case © Jas presently up for administrative action by State Security 4? in connection with revalidating. his clearance and an overall ' j ovaluation oi his status with State Department. U. . Mrs. GOLDSTEIN's security file was sealed, and {administrative clearance was nécessary for it to be opened for i) eeview. The file was sealed at her request in accordance with i “f{ allowable procedure. The reason apparently for same is that i Mes. GOLDSTEIN had a child born "out of wedlock" after her first | marriage ended in divorce. The file contained no other information i \ pertinent to the allegation involved, and the above is not being’ iset forth in LHM in the interest of good judgment and discretion. 4 ‘It was noted, however, in a Ci investigation that her given ot uname at birth was ADA VIRGINIA ROBARDS which she discontinued gat an early age for reasons not” set forth, - § ; PICARD's present psychiatrist described by Dr. / WOODWARD previously, is JOHN S. KAPKA, ‘7834 Aberdeen Road, i Bethesda, Md., telephone. OL 2- 3226. . - U ; WEO files contain. a ‘elosed case entitled "MARION I. KAPKA, aka Mrs. JOHN S. KAPKA, IS = BR" Wrofile 105-5042S5. wWFo i letter dated 12/4/62 to the Bupeau conga ns all pertinent info. " it indicates that on 9/14/62, Fs 279-S3P¥dvised that MARION KAFKA, telephone OL 2-8226, contacte ALINA _VASILEVA, wife of wae BR DoclId: 327140141 Page 5
DATE: 11-14-2017 os c WFO 65-9464 . SECKEL YURI P. VASILEV, Second «6 t Soviet Embassy, concerning 2 woman drom the Soviet Embassy to | teach Russian to a group of Six or e bork women. It was desired | that the lessons be given in the home of one of the women. Source indicated that MARION KAFZA had previously spoken to someone: at the Soviet Embassy about this matter and was given VASILEVA's name. Source advised that VASILEVA was unable to give an answer to the inquiry at that time and stated she would contact Mes. KAFKA at a later date.. Credit Bureau record check at that time disclosed 1947 credit report for JOHN SIMON KAFKA and wife MARION, residing 7834 Aberdeen Road, Bethesda, Md. He was employed as resident physician at Chestnut Lodge, Rockville, Md. since 1957. WFO expressed the opinion Mrs. KAFKA naive or misinformed, and since husband member of the medical profession, - no furyier inquiry considered. neces sary at the time. ACA ' The enclosed “LEM ‘classif ied "Confidential" since iiwarious communications in State Department files of PICARD are pee fied Limited Official Use. Further, it reflects our | t | SOtar'y., canomics Divis ion, WE nvestigative interest in a foreign power, —_— JV On 3/3/65, Mr. ‘WALTER JESSOP, Office of Security, USDS, telephonically asked SA JAMES F, MORRISSEY, Wro, if © ; Bureau had open case on PICARD.’ He explained that PICARD was j ROW up for current evaluation of his clearance and status, phence his inquiry. JESSOP was advised of the origin nal info attributed to the informant of unknewn reliability. In view fof the request of the Bureau made infra, the Bureau's attention is directed to the fact that State may inquire about the results of this investigation or wait to include it in its evaiuation of PICARD. —— rel V, a H i “att <= “ANALYST 5 atm Sas es, It is apparent from the enclosed LH that the authenticity of the original information is questionable. it appears that FREDERICK PALWER PICARD is. intended by the] reference to CHESTER A. PICHARD, for whom there is no Staté record, or a confusion between CHESTER: A. PICARD and PICARD. Ka The information also indicates that Mrs. GOLDSTEIN had acauired | certain confidential information anc that it was indicated that eee information concerned LEE HARVEY Gs SYALD and the assassination. it would seem likely that during the ecurse of the LEE HARVEY WALD and assassination investigation, almost unparalleled in ureau history, that any information ss. GOLDSTEIN had possessed) tain ats Op b& s. ~ DoclId: 327140141 Page 6 “Reveasedinder the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2107 Hote}. wee eee een cre eeetimmte ne gt pan mig eee Angee te a
[ Released under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 19927 (44 USC 2107 Hote). DATE: 11-14-2017 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION March 3, 1965" T n Reply. Please Refer to File No. Basis or INVESTIGATION ae e following information was received at the Federal Burana of Investigation , Washington, D.C.: U — Virginia Goldstein (nee Robards) was found dead in her hone te Chester A. vickard. reportediy a State Depart- ment employee. According to newspaper accounts, her death resulted from. ‘@ gunshot wound and was reported to be a suicide. | An informant of unknoyn reliability has alleged that Pichard and Mrs. Goldstein were involved in a sex liaison and that: Pichard was iy pag tte of being an agent of Soviet Intelligence. same informant indicated that Mrs. Goldstein had acquired cortain confidential information, details of which were unknown to the informant. It was indicated, however, that this information concerned Lee Harvey Oswald and the assassinat @f the late President. Kennedy. «igs. Goldstein's husband is reportedly connected with the Navy Dopartasnt and was also alleged to be a long- (, time patient in New York Hospital, New York City. ‘The following background information was furnished U concerning Virginia Goldstein: She was allegedly born in Missouri, July 25, 1927, . and entered the enployment of the U.S. Govermaent as a clerk- stenographer, Social Security Administration, in 1944. She allegedly resigned in 1945 and was re~-employed as a secretary in the U.S. Foreign Service. It was indicated that she had served in Egypt, France, India, and Merocco, and that she was re-assigned to the State Department in September of 1959, where she remained until June 1963. She was reportedly transferred to the Office of Executive Director, Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs, as Personnel Specialist. DoclId: 327140141 Page fF
DATE: 11-14-2017 Be 4 ~~ " i a / BRE: PREDERICK PALMER PICARD, 111 PERSONNEL FILE CF FREDERICK. PALMER PICARD, 3 iii 2 AE t UsDS The aforementioned Personnel Lecater Section advised on pocenber. 8, 1964, that Frederick Palmer Picard, uber 30, 1927, Geneva; Nebraska, entered the Fo: ign ‘Service of the USDS on March 15, 1953, and was attending the Foreign Service fnstitate or the atid Washington, v D.C. , as 2 Poreign Service Officer. & personnel file of Picard as reviewed on January 29, - 1965, contained a Transcript of Proceedings of an interview — of Picard conducted by the Office of. Personnel, USDS,. en March 18#19, 19€4 in the matter of Urs. Virginia Goldstein. The interview concerned Picard's relationship with Mrs. Goldstein and some other people. -As background, he stated he left Zanzibar where he had been serving from June 1961 until January 1964, on January 7, 1964. He went to Tanganyika and left there January ‘21. or 22, "1964, arriving in the United States about January 24, 1964, having beén declared persona nom grata by the revolubionary government of Zanzibar. Arriving in this country he was met by State Department personnel, taken to George Washington Hospital and after a short stay there, spent some time at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Key West, Florida. We reported for duty, he believed, in February 1964, in Washington, B.C. Regaxding Mrs. Goldstein, . he said he first “met her when she was employed as.a. secretary an. USDS cither Jate 1958 or in early 1959. She served aot only . Picard but another desk officer and his. immediate supervisor. He worked with her for 4 matter of a fev months when she vas transferred to a better job. He saw her after this since they dived in an avea near cach other. She would visit bim and his family oceasionaliy, was considered a fxiend, and her husband sionally. During ntire period of time that he knew the Go dsteins, there was & cordial Pélationship — between their families. In August of 1968, while he was on. leave, be had a drink at the Goldsteins and their relationship JU was. still cordial. on Boon. big soturn from Key. west, ‘he-gave. ‘ber a cal » or stopped by her office to say. hella. He did this for persoual -weasons sitice she was a good friend and. the second was that professionally he was somewhat disturbed + unhappy because. of - unsubstantiated. reports that bis judgment. had been called into question as ” o whether or not to Svacuate the American comnunity fron wanzibar. He explained that. ee. Goldstein worked in the () DoclId: 327140141 Page &