HW S5078 | grrr eer McDermott to Jenkins memorandum Re: Request from Ron Kessler | ; i number of years, that the period that he was referring to was some 10 years ago and she was unable to recall any specific details concerning the matters that took place that long ago but that for his information she had never at any time ever delivered anything to the White House in connection with Bureau business or otherwise. She advised that Kessler was polite during the conversation; however, she concluded the call on the basis that she had no intention of discussing any matters relating to the FBI with him. At approximately 12 noon today, Mr. Robert E. Wick, Vice President, Pan American Airlines, New York City, and a former Assistant Director of the FBI, advised that he was contacted by Kessler late yesterday and that Kessler made reference to the same matter and that he was convinced that Kessler was reading from an official document of some sort. He (Kessler) refused to identify the document or where or from whom he had obtained it; however, Wick ~AA a J 2k 2-. NT ann La mt manwed nvern cl Lee Ann anata’ Aawdan- rvecauca ULeeee 222 AVAELY y tues aau Wao Babee Vw WU WY Vase a waa ppeetecenaed -who waS then Legal Counsel for the House Committee on Internal Security on the same subject and that he tried to be helpful to Sanders because of Sanders’ official responsibilities but that even on that occasion, because of the length of time that had passed, he was unable to give Sanders much in the way of specific details since he (Wick) was not personally involved in the FBI coverage of the National Convention ’ in Atlantic City in 1964, since it was his responsibility to run the front office in his role as Number One Man of the Division while Mr. DeLoach was away. Wick advised Kessler that he was displeased to receive such a call from Kessler, that he considezedKessler's inquiry unwarranted and unethical and that if Kessler bothered him again, he would consider discussing Kessler's activities with Ben Bradlee, Executive Editor . of the ''Post." ~(CONTINUED-OVER) -3- DoclId:32989535 Page Tf?
. McDermott to Jenkins memorandum Re: Request from Ron Kessler { | It should be noted that in Jack Anderson’ s column of 11/12/71, he mentioned that at the 1964 Convention Mr. Hoover assigned an FBI team, including Mr. C. D. DeLoach, to Johnson. Anderson stated, 'The FBI men acted as personal, political investigators for LBJ who wanted to keep track of every move at the Atlantic City Convention, particularly the activities of the late Robert Kennedy whom Johnson distrusied." It should be noted Bureau files do reveal that by teletype dated 8/20/64 to all offices captioned 'Disruption of Democratic National Conventior Information Concerning (Internal Security)" it was stated that information had been received indicating subversive groups, racial groups, racial agitators, hoodlums and the criminal element may attempt to disrupt the Democratic National Convention at Atlantic City, New Jersey, 8/24-29/1964 through picketing, demonstrating or other activity. The field was asked to send informants to Atlantic City.to cover such activities. The communication stated that the Bureau was not interested in purely political activity engaged in by delegates and others officially attending the Convention but was interested in subversive activity, hate group activity, hoodlum and criminal activity, o activity directed at disrupting the Convention. Hxtensive intormant cover_ge was put into effect and at one point 39 informants or potential informants were scheduled to be in Atlantic City to afford coverag2, including communist youth groups going to the Convention. We also hed extensive technical covera: both in Atlantic City and other parts of the country on key figures having con- nections with groups planning demmestations. or other activity at the Convention Apparatus was established to disseminate.this information on a daily basis to the White House. Data from our sources was disseminated tg Secret Service. Wa pfingto the “Kis, and of ly P, é Hantic. City, 2S well as the New Jersey Stat As a possible source of thé leak of the above information, SA Angelo J.{Lano, Washington Field Office, whe maintains liaison with the Special Prosecutor's Office, advised today that hs understood DeLoach did appear before the Watergate Grand Jury some $ to 10 months ago but was not questioned concerning matters previous to 1968. ~— eo NL Kessler recontacted my office today £t approximately 2: 30 p.m. and stated that in addition to interviewing SA Todi he would also like to inter- * view SAs Lloyd Nelson, Ben Hale and Bob Tage whom he believes are assigned to the Newark Office and had something to do witk the 1964 Convention in . Atlantic City. He also mentioned one Tavel (Sax Tavel, former Bureau officia! now retired) and stated he did not know what his zole was during the Conventicn and later stated that perhaps it wasn't that imporzant. fi ae — t - 4. (CONTINUED-OVER) DoclId: 32969535 HW 55076 Page T3
- on , faethe VN tala 06 mstrearach bs nella dentate A 8 cern cate ARN De Bite Ba fae RARE AT — _ OF oe McDermott to Jenkins memorandum Re; Request from Ron Kessler / | fet \ Ley feel : bye} mw. SA Lloyd A:/Nelson is presently SRA at Atlantic City. Nea Robert L.° Tagg, presently SRA in Lincoln, Nebraska (Omaha Division), was assigned to the Atlantic City RA in 1964. SA Ben D,/Hale is presently assigned to the’ Memphis Office. He was an Atlantic City RA in 1964, : tr var: should be noted that two female repoviers for the "Post™ subsequent to Kessler's last call today requested if they could learn the offices of assignment of five FBI Agents, names not identified. When asked as to the purpose of this request and informed that they were for Kessler both reporters were advised that the offices of assignment of Agents are not a matter of public record. Bureau files reveal that in addition to the above coverage being afforded the Democratic Convention in 1964, similar coverage was also : afforded both the Republican and Democratic Conventions in 1968 and 1972. Attached are copies of memoranda setting forth instructions to all offices for coverage with respect to those Conventions. OBSERVATIONS Based on the foregoing, Kessler obviously has access to some- one who has intimate knowledge of the Bureau's investigative role during the : 1964 Democratic Convention in Atlantic City. From comments made by former Bureau Agents who have been contacted by Kessler and advised us accordingly, it appears that the request for our investigation emanated from . ' President Johnson to Director Hoover and all involved were requested to keep this information closely held. Mr. Hoover was advised daily of the results of our activities in Atlantic City by Mr. DelLoach who in turn advised the White House. Dissemination was also made in Atlantic City to White House liaison representatives on the scene. Data from our sources was disseminated to Secret Service, Washington, D. C., and locally in Atlantic City, as well as the New Jersey State Police and the Atlantic City Police Department. Therefore, it is being recommended that we advise Kessler that as a result of a request from the White House the FBI did coordinate the development of intelligence information concerning the plans, of subversive criminal and-hoodium groups attempting to disrupt the Democratic National Convention at Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1964. This information gathered by FBI informants and sources was subsequentir furnished to the White House and its liaison representatives in Atlantic City (CONTINUED-OVER) -5- HW 55076 Docld:329899535 Page 74
McDermott to Jenkins memorandum , |, Re: Request from Ron.Kegsler | { New Jersey, on a continuing basis. Pertinent data was also furnished the U. S. Secret Service at Washington, D. C., and local representatives in Atlantic City, New Jersey, as well as to the New Jersey State Police and the Atlantic City Police Department. - Kessler should also be advised that in addition to the coverage afforded the 1964 Democratic Convention the FBI afforded similar coverage to both the Democratic and Republican Conventions in subsequent Presidential election years, 1968 and 1972. It is felt the FBI should deny the request to interview the Agents he mentioned. . RECOMMENDATIONS 1. That Kessler be advised that es a result of a request from th White House the FBI did coordinate the develepment of intelligence info:- suataon COurcauiig UuS plaids UL DUUVELSLIVE WLmival aud MUUULULL groups attempting to disrupt the Democratic National Convention at Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1964. This information gathered by FBI informants and. sources was subsequently furnished to the White House and its liaison representatives in Atlantic City, New Jersey, on a continuing basis. Pertinent data was also furnished the U. S. Secret Service at Washington, D. C., and local representatives in Atlantic City, New Jersey, as wellas the New Jersey State Police and the Atlantic City Police Department. 2. Kessler should also be advised that in addition to the coveras = afforded the 1964 Democratic Convention the #BI afforded similar coverage to both the Democratic and Republican Conventions in subsequent Presidential election years, 1968 and 1972. 3. Kessler should be advised that the FBI denies his request to interview the Agents he mentioned. Se ee 4 he Jf SEE ADDENDUM PAGE 7 a a? 55078 Docld:32969535 Page 75
McDermott to Jenkins memorandum Re: Request from Ron Kessler | ADDENDUM EXTERNAL AFFAIRS 2 ‘as 1/24/75 Kessler was ‘furnished the above sponses at 5:25 p.m. . 1/24 He was appreciative of the response and the only question he had w as with respect to the statement concerning ‘information gathered by FBI informer and sources” wherein he asked if this related to wiretap coverage. He was advised that the FBI was not going beyond the contents of the state~- ment furnished. a —— ’ 535 Page 76 *
f= f ‘him to avoid discussing the operation with the Secret Service. |i w i i | box boo , w J t. Na? r- a by the FBI was transmitted to President Johnson over a telephone line specialiy : ©w installed to bypass the White House switchboard. According to the news article, * . . ‘ ie 55078 Doctd:32989535 “payelgyt the express. approval of the FBI "UNITED STATES Mernaent ® ples A Q Dep. AD Aca 7 Memorandum, ae ; Comp. Sys. — TO : MR. CALLAHAN ; DATE: January 28, 1975 oe kee : Gen. inv. - \ o , ident. = FROM :H.N, BASSETT . BN, eee susject: SPECIAL SQUAD AT DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION . Sm ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY, 8/22 - 28/64 - Ne , deseo | elephone Ra. . Director Sec’y __ The Washington Post on Sunday, 1/26/75, carried a front page story by staff writer Ronald Kessler (attached) reporting that during the 1964 Democratic National Convention, President Johnson received reports on key convention delegates from "wiretaps and bugs" installed by the FBI on civil rights leaders, and attributed this information to a Senate Watergate Committee memorandum. The article summarizes a 1973 interview with Leo T. Clark (EOD as a Special Agent 1/11/43, retired 2/1/65 as Senior Resident Agent, Atlantic City), and quotes Clark as saying the information was reported to President Johnson pased on an installation in the hotel suite of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a store front used by civil rights leaders. Clark allegedly told the Senate Watergate Committee that the electronic and physical surveillances at the convention were carried out by a special FBI team ordered by White House and was under the | personal direction of Cartha D. DeLoach, then an Assistant Director. According . to Clark, the stated purpose of the operation was to gather intelligence on ~/ potential violence or disruption and Clark is reported as stating DeLoach told * . ro The news afticle continues Clark stated most of the information obtained :, Clark said information furnished included the activities of then Attorney General <* Robert F. Kennedy, identities ‘of Senatas and Congressmen visiting King's ; hotel suite as well as persons seeking support of civil rights leaders, plans of *~ delegates or delegations and speculation on Vice Presidential nominees. Kessler's article states the authenticity of the Clark memorandum which cites room numbers of hotel suites bugged and the source of funds for part of the operation were verified by persons who either received it or were preseut when Clark was interviewed. The article also states the FBI solicited intcilivence through Agents posing as reporters. According to the article, the memoracdum indicates Clark appeared in response to a subpoena but did not testify under osth. ** - % Av Enclosures 1 - Messrs. Adams, McDermott, Wannall, CONTINUED - OVER |, (4 Mintais Gebhardt: prepared in response to your request and is not for dissenvi- . tion outside your Comitittes is linite as an JAC:bhe 6 nO ae your Committee. Its use ts limited to official vroceedingds b g 6) your Committee and the content may nut be disclosed to unauthorized persow. - one
HW 55076 Docld:329899535 Page 73 Sort ae . ° .¢ S ° . "7 . - ee . ‘ . Memorandum to Mr. Bassett Re: Special Squad at Democratic National Convention Atlantic City, New Jersey, 8/22 - 28/64 Kessler's article indicates he has had access to the 1973 Senate Watergate interview of DeLoach.and spells out DeLoach's denial under oath having had a direct line to President Johnson or laving spoken with the President during the ‘convention. Kessler also states one surveillance was conducted as part of a _ continuing installation on a person believed to be under the influence of the Communist Party which had been approved by Kennedy. Kessler's article came as no surprise inasmuch as last week DeLoach and several other retired and current Bureau employees reported they had been contacted by Kessler for comments concerning the Bureau's operations at the Democratic National Convention in 1964. A review of the file of retired SA Clark contains no information that he was interviewed by the Senate Watergate Committee at any time or has been in touch with the Bureau in this regard. APPARENT LEAK CONCERNING FBI PARTICIPATION AT 1964 CONVENTION In connection with the 1973 hearings held by the Senate Watergate Com- mittee, John Dean, on 6/27/78, testified and identified certain documents which he previously had furnished to the committee. Among those documents were items referred to during the testimony as the "Sullivan Memoranda" which were not admitted into evidence by Chairman Sam Ervin. Subsequent contact with the Deputy Chief Counsel of the committee determined the committee had no intention of releasing the Sullivan Memoranda or even publishing them with the committee reports. The counsel stated he would discuss with the chairman the possibility of making a copy of the Sullivan Memoranda available to the FBI. On 7/25/73 the counsel advised’the Bureau that the chairman had agreed the FBI should have this information and in turning copies of the documents over to the FBI stated only he, Rufus Edmisten, and the other staff member who had inter- viewed Sullivan for the committee had reviewed the memoranda. The material turned over to the Bureau included four separate items and two envelopes, one addressed to John Dean at the Old Executive Office Building marked Personal" and an inner envelope bearing Dean's name with the words “Eyes Only" and "Secret." The first document, all of which is typed, is headed re "President Johnson, Politics of the FBI." This one-page document concerned an alleged request by President Johnson on 11/12/68 for the FBI to 5 -~2- CONTINUED - OVER <)
a ‘ . . . ‘ ® Memorandum to Mr. Bassett | Re: Special Squad at Democratic National Convention Atlantic City, New Jersey, 8/22 - 28/64 ‘check all outgoing telephone calls made by the then Vice Presidential candidate, Mr. Spiro Agnew, on the date of 11/2/68 when Agnew was in Albuquerque, New Mexico. This documént states President JohnSon called at 4:00 p.m., 11/13/68 to ask about the progress the FBI was making in this matter. (This matter pertains to the Mrs. Claire Chennault matter.) A second item concerns an alleged request by Marvin Watson on 2/18/66 for the FBI to cover Senate Foreign Relations hearings and a third item on the page indicates President Johnson asked the FBI to determine if Repuklicans were involved in instigating a riot in New York. The second document consists of one typewritten page labeled "Top Secret" and the heading "Preface" and is a general recitation of alleged- FBI involvement in politics and alleges President Johnson far exceeded Roosevelt in using the, FBI for political purposes. The third document is headed "President Johnson and the FBI}'is marked "Top Secret, '' and consists of three pages. It cites 10 alleged incidents of mis- use of the FBI by President Johnson as follows: (1) Re: Mrs. Claire Chennault and Embassy of South Vietnam, (2) Re: Democratic National Convention Atlantic City, N. J. 1964, (3) Re: Don Reynolds (a personality in the Bobby Baker case),’ (4) Re: Democratic Convention 1968, (5) Re: Walter W. Jenkins, (6) Re: Walter Jenkins, (7) Re: Mrs. Claire Chennault, Embassy of South Vietnam, (8) Re: Senator Barry Goldwater, (9) Re: George Reedy, (10) Re: Walter Jenkins. The fourth documents reads as follows: "John, Please see the enclosure the contents of which are self-explanatory. If lam to type my observations myseli please be tolerant of my poor typing. Bill." The fifth document bears a marking "Secret" re "Watergate."' This is an offer on the part of Sullivan to testify before the Watergate Committee in behalf of the Administration and by doing so could put the current (Nixon) administration in a very favorable light. =” When copies of this material were turned over to the FBI, Mr. Edmisten. Istatea that Seymor Hersh, @ newsman, had somehow obtained some or all of ithe information contained in the Sullivan Memoranda. According to Edmisten, Hersh had indicated he had no intention of using much of this material although some of it had been published regarding the checking of Agnew's telephone calls. On 8/13/73 DeLoach called the Bureau stating he had been interviewed by three newsmen representing Scripts-Howard, the Chicago Tribune, and the -3- CONTINUED = OVER ay ‘uid 55078 Docld:32989535 Page 79 tes
Memorandum to Mr. Callahan Re: Special Squad at Democratic National Convention Atlantic City, New Jersey, 8/22 - 28/64 Hearst Publications, who claimed they knew that Sullivan had given John Dean a memorandum alleging FBI political assistance to the Johnson Administration and the memorandum had been turned over to the Ervin Committee. While the reporters claimed they had not seen copies of the memorandum, DeLoach felt they knew the contents of the memorandum based: on the questions they asked. ; Subsequently, DeLoach advised the Bureau ‘that he had received a subpoena to appear before the Senate Watergate Committee on 10/3/73 and this subpoena was discussed with the Department with the recommendation that an - appropriate attorney be designated to appear with Mr. DeLoach to represent the interests of the United States. By letter to the Director dated 12 yn /73, DeLoach advised that he furnished three hours of testimony to Senator Howard Bagker and minority counsel, former SA Donald Sanders and a stenotypist who was present.- He advised the testimony was under oath and in executive session and the questioning was largely based on the memorandum furnished by Sullivan to John Dean. DeLoach reported that Senator Baker was most thorough, courteous and polite and on the advice and instructions of then Deputy Attorney General Ruckelshaus he attempted to answer every question with blunt honesty and Department Regulation 1622 was utilized only once pertaining to the usage of an electronic surveillance ds au- thorizd by former Attorney General Kennedy. DeLoach was subsequently interviewed by the Watergate Special P Prosecution Force in about January, 1974. However, according to SA Angelo Lano of Washington Field Office, DeLoach's testimony in this regard pertained to the 17 wiretaps and did not go into the 1964 coverage of the Democratic Convention. REVIEW OF BUREAU FILES AND CURRENT INQUIRY CONCERNING THIS MATTER _. Bureau files show that on 8/20/64 a teletype was directed to all continental offices captioned, 'Disruption of Democratic National Convention, Information Concerning Gnternal Security).'"' This teletype advises information has been received* which indicates subversive groups, racial groups, racial agitators, hoodlums and the criminal element may attempt to disrupt the convention in Atlantic City and the Bureau must be advised of all such Subversive criminal, hoodlum and racial elements who plan to be in Atlantic City during this period. Other general instructions were set forth concerning informant availability. <A follow-up instruc- tion was xt out 8/21/64 that any information of extreme importance or urgency should be submitted immediately by teletype or telephone to the Bureau. This ' ; ~4- CONTINUED —OVER HW 55076 Docld:32989535. Page 60