MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD SUBJECT: WILCOTT, JAMES B
Originator: CIA
Document date: 09/27/1965
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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104-10256-10219

2022 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

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27 September 1965

SUBJECT

:WILCOTT, James B. Jr.

FILE NUMBER: #109301

1." Reference is made to Mr. BUNN's report of interview of the

Subject in Miand dated 28 July 1965. Although the Subject had been

summoned by cable on 20 July, no reply had been received as of 27.

July. Upon coordinating with Jerry MULLANE SO/WE division on this

date I was advised that Subject had arrived in his office at that

very moment. Mr. MULIANE sent him forthwith to Room 4 E 58 where

2. The Subject advised that he had arrived at the Headquarters

ares early last evening and was staying at the Park Arlington Motel

at Arlington Blvd. and U. S. 50. His room number is 205-A and he may

be reached on 524-4000. Subject further advised that he is ostensibly

an employee of the Melmar Corporation)in Miant, Florida.

3. I reminded the Subject that at the time that he was inter-

viewed by Mr. BUNN he had volunteered to take a polygraph examination

on any of the information which he had provided. Subject replied

that he recalled this very well and that he was perfectly willing

to take this examination.

4. I asked the Subject if he had been in contact with any of

the Civil Rights Workers about whom he had reported previously, since

301ng to Florida. I asked him most specifically in connection witt

Ray ROBINSON and Alex PASSIKLOFF. He replied that he had not seen them

since the New York trip In April of this year. He qualified that state-

ment to this extent wherein he stated that ROBINSON had called his home

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on several occasions after April 25 but Subject had already departed.

He explained that his wife joined him in Florida approximately one

week after his arrival there. ROBINSON had informed his wife that

he was coming out to iisit her, however, he never showed up.

S• Nita regara to PassiiLori, subject states that he 18 vague

and may have talked to alex on the telephone on one occasion prior

to his departure from Florida.

He belleves that on the one occasion

when he spoke to Alex. Alex mentioned his classes on labor unions, and

the subject said he put him off by saying that he would be in touch

with him later. The Subject stated that on the several occasions

prior to his departure for-Floride he avalded talling to Alex because...

of Mr. SHROUDT's admonition against becoming any further involved

with these people.

6. With respect to his iddnight trip to New lork in the company

Of Alex PASSIKLOFF and Al SMITH, I asked the Subject what his wife's

reaction was to this rather hasty decision. The Subject replied that

his wile is usedto his meandering and did not question him nor express

any surprise in any way. He explained that his wile is more the home

body and more Introverted than he, where as he is rather gregarious.

The Subject described his marrlage as & happy one and states that he

and his wife and six year old boy live in perfect barmony.

EEa5-3

T. I next questioned the Subject about his visit to the Corcoran

street address where he and Alex were apparently the only white persons.

The Subject reminded me that the wife of the home owner of that address

was a white woman. He was never introduced to his host and hostess

8. I asked the Subject how he knew that marijuana was being

snaked during this get together. He stated that Ray ROBINSON told bin

they were smoking "pot". Ray offered him one but he refused and used

as an excuse that he had once tried it but had become 111. Although

Ray was the only person whom he saw smoking, it was obvious from the

number of hand rolled cigarette butts in the ash tray that others bai

also smoket it.

He described the meeting as being made up of little

CRESTI

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groups of people sitting around on the floor who paid no particular

attention to him. Alex talked to him about labor organization and

advised him that he conducted classes and Subject could join his class.

Alex did not say where or when these classes were held and Subject did

not pursue it any larther. Subject states that he had not drunk mich

at this time possibly four or five drinks, however, he was interested

in what was going on and purposely held back on the liquor.

9. From Corcoran Street he accompanied Alex and Pay to Alex's

room at the Cairo Hotel. He estimates that they may have spent as

much as one hour there and had one drink going from there to jazz land

on 14 street. While at Alex's room he saw that Alex had numerous copies

of the WORKER displayed. Alex told him that he had all linds of litera-

ture and that if a member of the John Birch Society were to visit him

he could provide that person with the particular literature to his liking.

The Subject explained that Alex made no bones of the fact that he was.

& Communist Party member, however, he stated that he did not always

agree with Moscow or Peking, however, he had worked for the Party all

his life and had been jailed for them on occasion.

10. Subject was next questioned about the events leading up to

his arrest with Ray ROBINSON In November 1964. The Subject stated that

on that particular evening Ray had Invited him to his brother's home

to meeit his brother and sister-in-law. The Subject does not remember

where this house is located. He states that the brother is named Robert

ROBINSON and he 1s an employee of the District of Columbia government.

He is reported to be a radio technician servicing radios on cars owed

by the district of Columbia. During the course of the hour or so that

he spend there there was no talk of clull rights. Ray had told him

that his brother is not a civil rights worker and Ray 18 constantly

trying to recrult him.

11. From the ROBINSON house Subject and Ray went to the Subject's

home in Forrestville. While they were there the Subject consumed

several scotches while Ray talked with Subject's wife. Ray showed

her some drait notes he had compiled for a book he was proposing to

He was trying to interest Subject's wife in organizing and

assembling it for bim. According to the Subject this proposed book

was although autobiographical in nature it described his experiences

in the civil rights movement.

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12. The Subject states that when he went to drive Ray home the

liquor suddenly hit him and he stopped the car. He moved over to

permit Ray to drive. The Subject belleves that the scotch on top of

the bourbon he'd had at the brother's house coupled with the lack of

sleep the night before put him out.

Subject was very vague concerning

the circumstances surrounding his arrest. He vaguely recalls a police

officer talking to him and recalls being placed in the patrol wagon.

the Subject denies fighting with Pay and stated that Pay was pushing

and shoving him in an effort to rouse him. Ray told him that he wanted

to take him somewhere for coffee to help him sober up. Subject claims

that at first he thought perhaps Ray had done something which antagonized

the officer thereby causing their arrest. He stated that he called

the officer a day or so later to ask what had actually haypened and

learned that it was the officer's Impression that they had been fighting.

The officer stated he locked them up for his own protection.

13. The Subject was again reminded that he was rendss in his duties

in not reporting this at the time. The Subject stated in order to justify

condition 1t would have been another matter.

14. With regard to Subject's picketing activity, the Subject

stated that they had spent some time picketing the White House with &

group from All Souls Unitarrian Church. He states the nature of this

protest was the execution of the Reverend REIVE a clergyman who lost

his llfe In Alabama. He stated that he carried & sign bearing the legend

which said, "stop brutality In Alabana."

15. With regard to his contact with the ROTONDIS, JACKSON, PASSIKI,OFF,

ROBINSON and MONSOUNIS the Subject stated positivily that there has been

so contact with these people either in person, by telephone, or by ma1l

since early April prior to his Florida assigument.

actarly subte tates that he he met partialrated in any carl richte

17. The Subject was next asked if he had been in contact with

Al SMITH, the Howard University student since the New York escapade.

He replied that he has not seen nor heard from bis since the drive back

to Washington.

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With respect to the use of drugs, the Subject states net he

has never used drugs in any form.

21. With regard to his drinking, Subject stated that aside tron

the Hovenber Incident which culminated in his arrest he has never ¿st

to such an extent wherein his faculties vere imperrea.

22. The Subject was again asked in rayard to any contact tish

Alex either Immediately before or aîter bis arrival in Fiorida and is

stated that but for the one pione call he has not been in touch it!.

not give any location. Upon leaving the arca the Subject states ha

has used his mother's hone as a forwarding address. He states timi

this is in care of his brother-in-law Clifford MOSHER on Brinkario? Are.

in Utica.

23. In answer to the question as to whether or not the Subject

entertains any stipathy for Corminisn he replied that he has none.

2+. The Subject was next asked if he had ever been the recipions

of a rechuter approach by Alex or anyone else in the civil rights or

Consunist Party rovanent.

He replica that during the drive back thos

New York he mentioned leaving the government and going into business

to: hirsalf. He stated that at the time he ras thinking of opening a

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book store. Alex is supposed to have said, "don't leave your government

job, you are just where we want you in the Pentagon." Subject stated

that his reply. to this was just a laugh. The subject claims that at

this point he had adopted a rather frivolous attitude toward Alex.

He

explained further that he considers him dangerous.

By this he does not

mean that he was personally afraid of Alex, but that he recognized him

The Subject quoted ROBINSON as saying that Alex

worked against "nick" and Ray sighted an incident where Alex kept trying

to stir up the looters in Brooklyn, New York in 1964 when snick was trying

to calm them down.

Subject likewise stated that during the trip Alex

had bragged that he inalted riots in Brooklyn, Jersey City, Philadelphia,

and perhaps Cleveland.

25. The Subject next told me of a session with Alex in the homo-

sexual's apartment.in New York City. Subject identifies these as Russ

BATTLE and John BROOKS, 160 West 85 Street, Apt. 6-A. He stated that

In this apartment he also met a young man named Weldon YOUNG Of 436

Street, Nicholas Ave, New York City. Subject described him as being

either a student of pharmacology or of medicine at a New York City school.

The Subject claimed that at one point both homosexuals and he told Alex

that they were not in sympathy with Communism, where upon Alex became

very angry and finally waxed sullen.

subject was next asked for his

empression of the WE DuBois group in New York. He stated that it was

clear to him that this organization was dominated or heavily infiltrated

by CP members. He states that Alex circulated throughout the hall talking

to various groups and paid little attention to him. The Subject was

approached by an elderly well-dressed negro man who obviously commanded

great respect from other members of this organization. This man, whose

name he did not learn, spoke to him at length the tennor of which was

that the United States is the aggressor in Viet Nam.

to this At t it god toure su feet e excused and told to report back

Daniel A. Cullen

mks

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