MEMORANDUM:WASHINGTON STAR STORY, 1 OCTOBER 1976
Originator: CIA
From: WALLER, JOHN H, INSP. GENERAL
To: DCI
Document date: 10/01/1976
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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

L22O08

74-3084

MEMORANDUSI FOR: Director of Ceniral Intelligence

FROM

: John H. Wallor

Inspector Geseral

SUEJECT

: Washingion Star Siory, 1 October 1976

1. This is fur jour information only.

2. On 1 October 1276 the Washington Star published a rema

story with an Associated Press crecit line. headlined CLA

Viewed Oswald As Information Source (copy stached).

Contrary to sivorn testimosy, the ClA once con-

sidered using presidential assassin Lee Harvey

Oswald as a source of intelligence informition

about the Soviet Union, according lo a newly.

In sivorn testimony before the Warren Conmissios,

former CLA Director Richard Helms said the

Contacts ever Day "d even contemplated" any

The news story, in another section, made the following

statement:

The November 25, 1963, menio explained that

the Agency's interest in Oswald as a potential

intelligence source vas due to his "unusual

behavior in the USSR, " to utich he had defected

in 1959.

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4218.

3. There was such a memorasdurs, wiitten by & case

officer then stationed in Par':, recently relcased wider FOlA.

Writing three days alter Prè: dest ircuredy's assassination,

this case officer recalled that their had bes interest in Oswald.

As soon as I had heard Oswald's name, l recalira

that as Chiei of the 6 Branch I had dis-ussui ..

sometime in the summer of 1960 -- ivith the tren

Chief and Deputy Crief of the 5 Riscatch scion

the laying on oi interview (s) through i ll or

other suitable channels . . .

I remember that Oswald's unusual behavior in ilia

USSR had struck me from the moment I had re:d

the hrst ObACID dispatch on him, and I told my

subordinates something aricuating to "Don': push

too hare to get the information ise need, because

this individual looks sdd."

I do not know what action dereloped there-

after

4.

The Helms testimony before the Warren Cormission

on this subject was as follows:

Mr. Helms. On Mr. McCone's behalf, I had all

our records searched to see if there had been

any contacts at any time prior to President Kennedy'.

assassination by anyone in the Centrul Intelligence

Agency with Lee Harvey Oswald. We checked our

card files and our personal files ard all our records.

Now this check turned out to be negative. In addition

I got in touch with those officers who were in positions

of responsibility at the times in question to see it

anybody had any recollection of any contact having

even been suggested with this man. This also turned

out to be regative, so there is no material in the

Central Intchligence Agency, either in the records or

in the mind of any of the individuals, that there was

any contaci had or even contemplated with bim.

- 2.

3555

рент 144. 91

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5. Mr. Helms did state exactly the words quoled in the

news story -- "or even contemplaied."

But the context of

those words was what was reported to him as the resull of

a search of records and memories. To this day those

familiar with the extensive Oswald records state that there

is no reflection in those records tha: anyone even undertoo!:

to propose or approve a contact with Oswald. It sould have

been natural to do so, but apparently any such thoughts did

not progress to formal action.

From the memorandum

quoted, it is apparent that someone at Branch level tid think

about it, even if nothing ever came of it. This hardly con-

stitutes a responsible or official o= serious "contemplation"

of the idea. Mr. Helms' full statement on this point seems

literally corsect in the full context of his statement, although

more refined qualifications might have rciterated the basis

for his conclisions. The news story is mislcading on this

point.

6. The news story statement that Oswald was considered

duc to his "unusual behavior in the ÜSSR, " is exactly the

opposite of the statements of the quoted memorandun, which

reported the care that should be used if Oswald were approached,

because of his strange conduct.

7. The statement in the news story about Mr. Dulles

consulting with Agency personnel on how to answer questions

is basically true.

The interpretation to be placed on this

cousseiling will depend on the interpreier. The infercace of

the news story is that Mr. Dulles was counselling slanted

responses on the Oswald issue, thereby tending to reinforce

the interpretation of deception attributed to Mr. Helms.

Lest adla

"John H. Waller

Attachrent:

As Stated

cc: CDCI r/atts

DIG: Sereckiariage: js (4 1447) & Pesoser 1976

Distriberich:

Prig :lüiis - 'viresses"

3:la9ts - DJC1

/ades - Er

slates - 13 Crano

- 3 -

l stas - Sis Sirene

•Зf.чa,ч.0чI.04П99

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SITICLE APPELUD

Document Contradicis Testimony

CIA Viewed Oswallo

As Informaton Sourcel

inditio

Contrary to. sinor testimony, ise

ClA onse considered lising presider-

lial assassia ice

SOICE

o?

Jivey Usuald a5a

iniormation

EDOc! Lie Sovie:

according so.

a neily released Cla

its

Sti0r7

Delore -tre

Direcio:

Pic:.

plated®

Helms

ever

said

догід?.

atirig

51271718

larse days zi:er

Konauty 1535

rclassed

Cocumen

ied CIA officea

¿sicent John F.

is on tie's.

23, 1953

ligenes ineses.

in Oswald 24'

cussed.

93yiт3 0n

The unidentited officio adase

• TE DENO, DAS ADIOSE hUR

desds ol pagesi ci, documenis Ircra

the Chi's

The

rostersal.

Assaciaied

735:801

-The

Press

сото: 100.

ad=200ument-reveals

sat:

¿orner sid Disecior Alles Dulles..

while sarring as a member. oi Ms

Yaren Commission. privataig.co.n

seled CIl circials o2 ine desi sag io

inster riestors-irom the commis.

ision

agnes aliegado.2s. that.Qgual

Most 46991919

Duiles

0-09z3 inguage Wich

made it claza lina: Lee Marraj 65-

sale was rover an employe or ascal

ol Cli 7015 suilca.

an unide-".

fied Cli piticer sirois llelras in Ag=il

1954.

=5.

"I agree wish him laat a careity

-phiased conial of the charges ol ii-

variaà mili Osaali seemed mos!

then he appeared baore ide com-

11ay- 1951 Lielms,

head

ol. the agenay's, clandestine l

services, resired under can 1a2:

there's no material in sit Certai

lailligence agency,: either ia the

records ar in the mind of aay di the

individua's that there. was any cori

lace hart or even corsierpisted mili"

Oswald.

' TrE N0%, 25,1953, memo explain:

inal the agency's interest in Osrail!

1s a patralial Intollizerce source las

sue to his "unusuai bravior in tre

US5.?." du which he had delscied is

3952.

"Se were particularly interestso

i the (delcied) Osaid mizai pro.

side on the minsk factory in waich he

izen raciurad, ca carisia see-

ol Lie cisy isseil, and di cosose

sougne too usual (deleied) that

might nig derelos (deleted) persoo-

ziy Cossie-s ta memo sta'es.

Ibe memo indicates. tias Ostraid

1as also di interest to line, CIa. be

cause of concern that his Sessies

•Do=a

tide, Marina, mizht have been

pare ci a trad lor Soviet womea sol

marry fcreizners, Java the costig

and sutile overseas shere they coula

serve as spies: -

THE HERO ABCUE the agercy's

interes! "in' Oswald said she discus.

sion, abodi Canaid securred "some

time in rammer. 1958. The asitor:

continued: "i don't racall i! this las

discussed die Oswald and his fami

By sere en route to out couniry or it it.

vis aiter ligirarrival."

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922257

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IMMEDIATE TEHRAN. Y

UNINTEL RYBNT

•AP WIRE STORY IN LASHINGTOE STAR ON FOIA RELEASE OF GSUALD'S

MATERIAL MANES FOLLOWING STATEMENT UHICH YOU SHOULD BE AGARE, INN

ALUTE: IN SUORY TESTIMONY BEFORE THE LARREN CONMISCIRNA

RICHA:D LELMS, THEN A BRANCH CHIEF AND LATER CIA'S DIRECTORI

SAID THE AGENCY NEVER HAD OR EVEN CONTEMPLATED ANY CONTACTS

: WITH OSUALD... NEULY RELEASED DOCUMENT, SAYS UE SHOUED Ii..

TELLIGENCE INTEREST IN OSUALD AND DISCUSSES... THE LAYING ONL

OF INTERVIEUS! END QUOTE. !

FRATERIAL

•2: ABOVE MISCONSTRUED FROM SANITIZED I

•A RELEASED UNDER FODA

ERITTEN BY FORMER OFFICER UHO LAS INTERESTED IN POSSISLE USEFUL IN-

FORMATION OSWALD MIGHT HAVE IN CONTEXT DF SOVIET REILITIES: IN

RESPONSE TO DCI CALL TO ALL HANDS TO RECORD WHATEVER THEY THOUGHT

MIGHT BE RELEVANT TO WARREN COMMISSION INTERESTS, OFFICER GROTE THIS

J9F4D

MENO

THE CD DOES RECORD BRANCH LEVEL DISCUSSION BUT STATES flAT

URITER

DOES HOT KMOU UHAT ACTION WAS TAKEN. E-Z, INODET-S

DATE:

•3 00Т 71

O'S: CHAS BRIGGS: DCN

U:ill:

C/ISS

EXT: • 1,595

CAIRONO

• DDP

THEODORE GE SUASKET, ADDO

REPRODUCTION BY OTHER THAY THE ISSUING OFFICE IS PROHITED E 2

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