SUBJECT: INFO RE CONVERSATION WITH CLEVE BACKSTER IN 'ANASTATIA' MATTER.
Originator: CIA
From: TSD/GARB/QDS
To: CHIEF, TSD/OA
Document date: 01/22/1965
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

104-10260-10032

2023 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

(

SECRET

G-65-40

22 January 1965

MEMORANDUM FOR

ATTENTION

SUBJECT

: Chief, TSD/OA

: Mr. Jack Tashiro)

: Info Re Conversation with Cleve Backster in

"Anastatia" Matter (22, 838-X)

I. In response to requestfrom Mr. Tashiro) following are the

facts to the best of my recollection (I made some notes at the time, but

have just recently destroyed them) of mydealings with Cleve Backster

in the celebrated "Anastatia" case. It has recently come to light, with

the publication in the Washington DAILY NEWS, 19 January 1965, of an

interview with Herman E. Kimsey, former Chief, TSD/GARB/A&R, that

one Col. Michael Goleniewski, Polish defector, might be related to

"Anastatia".

2. At about 2330 hours, sometime in February or March 1964

(specific date not recalled) Cleve Backster, director or owner of the

Academy for Scientific Interrogation, New York, called me at my home

and attempted to engage me, on a private basis, as a handwriting expert

or questioned document examiner to examine and compare some hand-

writing specimens of a Chicago woman named Smith with the handwriting

of "Anastatia" in an attempt to prove that Smith was the true "Anastatia".

3. I have never met Backster but have known of him for about

10 years, have read some of his articles on the operation of the polygraph,

and did know that he is a long-time friend of Kimsey's. It is claimed,

by Kimsey at least, that Backster set up the polygraph (lie detector)

program for the Agency.

4. I told Backster during the conversation that it would be impossible

for me to do any work for him on the matter of trying to prove that Mrs.

Smith was the real "Anastatia", citing heavy work load at the office or some

similar reason to placate him. (Frankly, from what I knew about him, his

connection or association with Kimsey, and entire muddled background of

the "Anastatia" matter, I was determined not to have any dealings with him.)

5. I have not had any conversation with him since. This was the

first and only one.

SECRET

GROUP 1

Easteded troma automatic

cannerading and

Esclassillestion

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14-00000

SECRET

G-65-40

Page 2

6. Mrs. (Thea Hall, ISD/BAB, did make some graphological

analysis for Backster on a contract basis, and I believe she furnished

him my residence phone number, or perhaps Kimsey supplied it.

Les Thomas

LON H. THOMAS

TSD/GARB/QDS

Distribution:

2 - Addressee

SECHET

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## Page 3

a ridex.

Business

Classified::.36,

45

41

Editorial

:18

Night Clubs 22,

23

Obituaries ..

18

TV-Radio ..12,

Sports

:....31,

Theaters :..26,

Travel

.24,

25

Women's

...28, 29

VASHINGTONI

CITY EDITION

1013 13t7 St. N.W. (20005) DI. 7-7777

44th Year-No. 62

TUESDAY, JANUAI

Second Class Postage at

Published Da

EX-CIA Official

Polish Detector

Son of the La:

CULIHLY OUR

"Tense wars

live under his own: nam

claim what is rightfully

Mr. Kimsey said. 42.0

He said-Allen Dulles,.

CIA head, and John A, MaCa

present agency: chief,

presse agency cy of ene

on all inquiries about col

Goleniewski, who has given

weeks of testimongstol

Government security

agencies

regarding involvement of

Americans- in the communist

spy apparatueses, andsistato

testify

year

before

congressional committees.snt.in

During the months oh91961

when Col. Goleniewstits

antecedents were

undera CLA

scrutiny

with

the

information

from

British

intelligerice, Mr. ' Kimsey was;

head of CIA's research sect on:)

He is

nOw

aiding tan

independent investigation of Col:

Goleniewski's claims: for the

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## Page 4

:: DI. 7-7777

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1965

Second Class Postage at Washington, D. C.

Published Daily Except Sunday

Weather

Sunny and cold;

high 30, low. 18.

Mostly cloudy and

cold tomorrow.

Today att

8:00 A.M.

....18

Official Claims

Detector to Be

the Last Czar

cuusu y

live under his

own name

and

claim what is rightfully

Mr. Kimsey said.

He said Allen Dulles,.

CIA head, and John A, Meet

present

agency chief,

reverse their policy: of stence:

on

all

inquiries

about "Col.

Goleniewski,

who

has given

weeks of

testimony to

Government

security

agenetes

regarding involvementrof

Americans

in

the communist

spy apparatueses, and isis to

testify

this

year

before

congressional committees...o

During the months

04.01961-

when Col. Goleniewskits

antecedents were under: CLA

scrutiny

with

the

aid.s. of

information from

British

intelligence, Mr. Kimsey was

head of CIA's research section

He is

now

aiding

* an

independent investigation of Col

Goleniewski's. claims for the

-(Page 2)

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