MEMO: JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA
Originator: CIA
From: CHIEF, DOMESTIC COLLECTION DIVISION
To: SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO DDO FOR EXTERN
Document date: 04/08/1977
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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

-MilliL

500-260/71

8 April 1971

HEMORANDUM FOR: Special Assistant to DDO for

External Oversight

FROM

• Jackson R. Horton

Chief, Domestic Collection Divisio

SUBJECT

: Joseph Raymond Merola

DCD's only recorded contact with Joseph Raymond Merola

prior to August 1961 occurred on 6 February 1961.

It followed

a series of telephone calls over a period of several months

in which Herola had expressed interest in offering his assis-

rance in connection with Cuban matters.

The DCD officer had

declined contact until 6 February when

Merola claimed to have

information on a Brazilian senator who was a "close friend

and confidante" of "Che" Guevera. Because Guevera was the

subject of requirezents levied on DCD, our officer agreed to

& meeting.

described

The substance of the 6 February 1961 meeting is

in report 00-A(S)-3179213, dated 8 February.

(This

report has been returned to the Agency Archives,

but will be

retrieved and reviered for classification.

it carry a

'secret" classification,

it will be downgraded to "Confidential"

and may be so considered for the purposes of this inquiry.

If the following deletions are made, I have no

objection to the release of this document.

a. Heading: "Support"

b. Paragraph 2: Delete the first sentence

c. Paragraph 4: Delete "Sam Kay"

d.

Signature: Delete "Justin F. Gleichauf"

and "JFG/amb"

Further inquiries on this matter may be directed

to Ruth Elliff, extension 2271.

!:

i :

cc :

ISS/PICG

JACKSON I. HORTON,

CONFIDENTIAL

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