HW 55923 -81- Mr. Blackmer: I'm showing photographs taken from the publication Coup e'etat In America. These are photographs. I wonder if you could tell me if you recognize either one of those two. (These were taken from pages 208 through 223 of the above book.) Mrs. Tarasoff: As far as the people are concerned I wouldn't be able to recognize any of them. Because I never was shown any photos. | Mr. Blackmer: Having been in Mexico City. during this period of time, I was wondering if maybe you'd seen any of these people? Mrs. Tarasoff: Oh, you mean just casually on the’ street. No. Mr. Blackmer: Could I ask you if you know Howard Hunt? Mrs. Tarasofe: Know Howard Hunt, Hunt? Mr.Tarasoff: Is he a defector: from Russia? Mr. Blackmer: I'll show you three photographs of Howard Hunt, and I ask you if you recall having seen this man in Mexico City in 1963, when you first arrived, whether it be at the Embassy or on the street, or at a party? Doclda: 32277225 Page 106
-82- Mrs. Tarasoff: No Mr. Tarasoff: No. Mrs. Tarasoff: Because as far as our contact with the embassy was very limited. Mr. Blackmer: Can I also,ask you if ever in transcribing any of these tapes in Russian, if you ever heard the Russians discuss the fact that their Embassy was broken into or someone was attempting to burglarize their Embassy? Mr. Tarasoff: I cannot answer that positively .because I don!t remember. Mr. Blackmer: Very good. Thatconcludes my questioning. Mr. Brooten: Mr. and Mrs. Tarasoff, I thank you very much for taking the time that you have to discuss this both wee TN last night and tonight with us. I would request: — on behalf of Richard Sprague, Chief Counsel o£ the Committee, that you not discuss this. I can only make that: as a request. If anyone should contact I would like to certainly know | about it. . Other than someone:-of Ficially from our Committee. } And this concludes these interviews. HW 55923 DBocld:32277225 Page 107
-83- Mr. Blackmer: We are going back on the record for a brief question. | I understand that you .succeeded George Misko, who was familiar with the voices of the Russians in the Russian Embassy, because he did the translating of the tapes. iIsuthatecorrect? Mr. Tarassof: That is correct. Mr. Blackmer: I would also like to ask you if you know if there.was anybody else, other than George Misko, who was in the American Embassy, in September and October 1963 ) . that was as familiar with the voices of the Russians in the Russian Embassy than yourself. As familiar as you were. Mr. Tarassof: I doubt it. For the simple reason that I had to deal with them day in ana day out, and the. people at the Embassy would probably get a crack at them once in a while, which wouldn't give them sufficient basis 5 to know the people, to identify them. Mr. Blackmer: To identify the voices to put them with the people. eo Mr. Tarasoff: To identify the voices to put them with the people. HW 55923 Docld:32277225 Page 108
-84-— Mr. Blackmer: Then I would like to ask you if anyone checked with you to verify whether or not you. had an opinion as to who the voice was on the other end of the call with Oswald, on both conversations? Mr. Tarasoff: No, not that I know of. Mr. Blackmer: Mrs. Tarassof, do you know of anybody in the American Embassy during that time that was as familiar with the Russian voices:as your husband? @ Mrs. Tarasoff: No, I don't think there was really. Because actually the reason why they had him come down, was that needed somebody that was proficient. There were some people that had a slight knowledge of Russian, but as far as being proficient, no. Mr. Blackmer: Can I ask you wheh you were talking about voice identity tapes that you made putting the tape-.: with the name, were those identity tapes made before or’ after the Oswald call? Mrs. Tarasoff: These tapes were made regularly. e@ Mr. Blackmer: Do you recall having made them when you first came on or was it sometime after? HW 55923 Bocld:32277225 Page 109