Originator: HSCA
From: CIA
Document date: 06/12/1978
Document type: NOTES

## Page 1

180-10141-10276

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

DDO

summary

3/9/78

Leslie wizelman

ED Browder -vor 1

Volume one of the Browder files. covers the period from 1954 to 1961

A may as, 1954 cable pes from mexico City reports that Browder

was born in Amarillo, Texas on June ad, 1917. Hé has a lorg

record of passing bad checks and has been conuted tusic e

in federal courts fur urolation of the Neutralty Act and theft

of gout property in attempting tosend a planes to assist

on the revolution against the venezuelan government

• Under

the name of Edward Sabatino

, Browder obtained reservations

in the Hotel monte cassino in mexico on may 6. "For

Info... this mani considered either soldier of fortune or

provocateur and into wanted on his activity by Havaria.

Other Browder aliases: Edward Browder Sabatino,

Eduardo sabatino, Edward Sabatino Olivier

In aleter from. Browder to mr. Hendy Luce (Time-Life), dated

11-15-54 , Browder offers Luce exclussue rights in full coverage

of revolution in costa rica, Browder offers to send a

C-47 to Dallas to pick up two of Luce's representatives.

In the pis, Browder says he would like to haue George salk

on this assigament.. A Nou 14,1954 lelter states that

frum Time

a wire was sent saying. "sorry cannot undertake.""

18010141-10276

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## Page 2

kuriten

summury

3/2/78

rosmas Ratbmaa.........

.201

_mclusive dates...

1951-1975

From back at File

1- categorize aol file on Rothman- as "former withinig....

collaborator (relationship terminated). OI code A3"

(As ot..

17 ?

1925

FOUr

2- Fensee pages.

..of legal pad notes- hand written -no date or

author gluen

Appears. to be notes from an interview, but it 13 not labeled

re who is being interulewed. It coula be Rothman or

DavId m. maconnell. The

¡first entry sta

- IS

"1. David m. mcconnell..

24387.16.

Charlote.,. N.C.

да7-ров"

The second entry...i......

"Norman Rothman...

American citizen - DOB NC 2? Deç 1914

.. Runs Bar Bel-Air hotel

Owner sans Souci, night dub, Haugna

Dispule...with.brother-in-law...of.

Batista, Moved to province Unenb-4030

425. Surfside Blud.

11

sounds like it's an intervew with Rothman.

The third entry is labelled Items"... and lists several points.

Item a- "Cardenas.plantation-.ammo. dump

Roth.claimsable.blowup.ifw/permissiun.FBI

BarR. will assemble operators for pb."

Item Bi. "Can set up bases in Yucatan -$50 - 100,00 0 cost

strips for B-26 / napalm. get FC

Ar ango boys to staff deal. "

---

## Page 3

Item c-

"Assign B sub targets - can handle w/

Latin friends...

congo Flap cutting into recrust pool."

D-"Clarms analysis Inuasion top"

e. "Claims know Prio, Betancourt""

f-"claims his contacts can get into Chinese Commiegrops".

g- " suspects Patrick 0p

as being funny and ill-aduised""

page a"- labeled "R" lists ach.

a- 4a5 Surfside Bludi Belain Bar- Cubans Frequent -

ex-invadors..; Batistranos....

"Francisco -trend-executed, Rogelio Gonzalez-"Francisco"

war name; Sori marion (sp?) - business acquaintance

Efigenio Fernandez (Dr) - associate

blgra.

c-"A pristi (peru) group- contacts.

mexico: -Cardenas - contacts, opposea Frente!,

story.re.camps-malcontents/ shootings, Cardenau-

commo.. ua mexitrienas: Last contact y -s munths ago

@ mexi friends in contact with triends; has met;

Last. met. ayrs ago Acapulco; Has wisted farm after

Acapulco; Has been in Yucatan; Last. there 1959-twodays-

claims Inclanfrienas...

Sanbhez Arango:

Has met;. Last met six. weeks ago

In last year-ca 20-25 times

R knows triends!

"Garora" and "Tito"

---

## Page 4

-3-

a'Re sub-Fargets:

FC Target:

Invasions (congo) Flyers. names_

Bare for air target- mexico

23-26'S / 6as/ Bombs.

2p- 51's

monroe Am Emb checkea.out Ran previous aharse

Claims airstrip in existence

(Auston. Young -R. "personal pilut"

C- Chinese commie Group

- claims groups chinese commies i going into canada

from Cuba. Grps in Peru Lime- ca 2 yrsago

if-Cuban Assets

How many agenrs.?

- How meny sent last yr?

At date - ca. 6 who in

Travel business?

Export Business

Nature of Ves - coast Guardi asked e re infiltrations/

exfiltrations.at Bel Air interurewi;.. also re shipments. AlsO

askedre Puerto Rico... Capability re Black market money

exchange - thru 6.'

6- Dominican Republic

"Last visit - 1159, purpose-Batiste, Commotoassets)

contacis... John Abbes askeaR do job....

h- Gun-runnirig

"Claims same people houses. Used by CIA in thae joos for

which f prosecuted... Claims shipposet

40 shops far

Frente- (IA trucked the stuff up- he (R) loaded.

Purchase.. 20.ff.

"Reeter" - pilot baat to underground.".

---

## Page 5

3 : DBF 35028 15 Oct 29°

"New. Anti-castro organizaton with has, in miami.

at Boltmore Terrace

Hotell., managed by subj: (Rothman)

whoissupposed.toproude.source.thru.uis.gangsters.com

1,

190ct59-under indictment

guns. and other.weapo.ss.

Pittsburgh- Interstate

Tronsportation af stolen aims'"

10 Dec 59- "Goingto

rucatan..mexico...to seek a

site for a base of sperations against the castro guut."

31 Dec 59 - subj asterreturning trom mexicocty,

reportedly remarked... that

"Wehave astrip" "Acompatriot

of subj. Eduardo whitehouse, is later sald to remark. that we

have the planes." "Beieued that both subj. and White house are

acquiring planes tor purpose of seting up base of operations

in Yuratan peninsula der anti-Castro. group heacled. by. Col.

Orlando Piedia. arra

Roberto Fernandez miranda.".

23 June 1960 - conucted of interstate transp. of firearms

stulen trom Nat'l Guard Armory -Canton, Oniu, sentence:

5yrs, and $10,000 one

after

5 Feb 1260 - sub; released trum Allegheny County Jail-appeal

bund. posted...

22 Sept 1960 - "Approuch made by subj... Who is hood

indicted for gun dinning

andstolen bond currently.out un

$50,000 bond...

FBI

contact. felt subji interest straight

..profit motive ur hope

favorable treatment re above rap. Also

delleue inspite of dero

into.subi.could probably prochuce

two. Mig aircraft whuch would be brought to states

by one. Crech and crile cuban pilut."

---

## Page 6

5-

noB in march 1944

4- Whitehouse Insua,. Eduardo JuLio

aka "Teddy"

compatriat of Rothman -

5. April 1960= repurt - subj (Whitehouse) lost us. citizenship

....by

uoting.in.cuba_ He& Elliot Spinning intended to tale B-a6

..to vera cruz..

Sam Rubin (believea to be identical @

Sam....

"Streten" Rubn- Chief doorman at. Bultmore Terrace Hotel.)

reported owner.of 3-26 Reg H N3.2446.

31 Dec 1959. US custom seriea B-aGat miami & anothar

(N28816)

B26 at vero Beah, when binitenuuse l spinning altempted to nove

1a Dec 1960 - Whitehouse - pilate who in 1966"-respensible

for setting fire to sugar crops from air.

Asked by Alberto...

.Feraander..

for help. ya-Fernandezhas

set up a guerrilla. organization fur. ex-employzes.

-whitehouseformerly.head of.cuban.cru Aeronatics

Administration.

13 Feb 1961- According to. Alexander:

I. Rorke, Jr. , Whitehouse

has 20 pilots auababled. ready to take draste actor against

Castro. a have workea out a "detinte plan of action" to

accomplish "Castro's ouerthrow."

formerly in charge

of Dept.

5- Orlando 8 Piedra - 201-247579 Poltie, under Bátista

cuban Nationzl -

8 Jan 1960

According to. Enrique. Fernandez Paraion, both he d

subj. (Predra) are heading. the "military Section" of the

counterrevolutionary. group which is receiving

monetary support.

from Bahsta."

4mar 1960 - subi met or planned to meei @ ben. Jose

Pedraza during. the latter's unsit.. to washington.

Reportand sus say spect agent, (on a7 mar 1901) of the No. FBI office who

local cunon m.

---

## Page 7

- 6-

- member of BRAC

- fled Cuba 1 Jan 1959

1195 a Oct 1959- recerved orders from Batista.

by Jose suarez Nunez to mmediately attempt. to

consolidate. whateuer.....

anti-castro forces he is able

for a move against castro with a particular arted condition....

6- Miranda Fernandez

& march 196| Admitted in 1959 $ 1960 had furnished aid

directly to Rolando masferrer. Now. prouiding.ad

§ assistance to his former military regiment uno arestal!.

in cuba. working against Castro. He thinks group is

associated. @ FRD.

X 7- Arspatch

Cable to Director. From. mAsH

MASH 0828

sept 27,1960

"''FBI has aduised

for.. procurement of two

af.approacs...made.to..Frank Frorrni...

mIG aircraft. which would be

brought to states by one rech and one cuban polat.

Approach. made by... Norman Ruthman...

..who is..hood

indicted for gun running and stolen bunds currently out

on A 50,000 bond, "

2. "FBI contact fet Rothman interest

was straight profit. matue ur hope fur.. favorable treatment.

re above rap, Contactstated, no chance ihateuer latler

and that had aduised Forini. that.FeI

•coula not

handle

such a. deal: but. would pass. to other

---

## Page 8

z-

..interested

M.s.. govst agency, sald. that inspite of

above. derog

infabeleued...Rothman.could very

•probably.proauce. 3, Has. Has..any interest pursue. ".

(entrre.cas./e)-

8- Sept 28-1960-cable

TO JMASH From Diréctor -

orig= v. Imier.

Releasing officer: RE. Gomez (Nesignature

Authentcating.of.f.cer - Esterline

cite Dir 0a97a

reponse

# 7.

mAsH. 08280

"If Ret para 1 plan

. noolves detection of mIG

and Czech pilot from cuba

Aduise.all..pertinent.details."

Hgs. untally interested...

(Entire Cable)

9- MASH

resp unse

Dir a9za

oct l1900

cile mash 0891

mass 828

-1. Urew Rothman Forthcoming. trial local FBI. feels

Jushce Department be

aculsed..prar.any.coa.contactsubj.

This to prevent any complication prosecuhun it op succeeds

and Rothman atlempts make deal re. possible. prison...

serm.

a. Per telecon a9) Sept mash acluised Has santiago.

Rey also approached by 2othmen.. with same plan pet A.

If tagers. H9s decides go ahead with: ops, mash plars...

make contact. through Rey."

What

mass

10-..From mash. to sir. oct 20, is60-

mash 1162

Request replies to

rets. (References are masst obas;

= MasH 0891) - "'FBI still has. open,cale Ret. A. and has called

several times..

"Also desire.... grue positue anuer to

Santiagor Rey

...On Ret B."

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## Page 9

"... memorandum ..for record. Subj: Normen Ruthmen

dated... 30 June 1961

preparea by Catherine La Maistre

4- D03 - 26 DeC 1914

POB-Bronx, ut

A. "When Rothman first came to cIA's attenton in

September... 1958, he was luing in Dallas, Texan and was

allegedly.engaged.n.public..relations.work.According

to his wife, Gloria, he made a bre-week trip to Los.

: Angelos in september un

undisclosedbus..ness...u

3- In OCtober 1959

Rothman was managing the Boltmore

Terrace. Hotel in. miami.

from.wheeh.

he was.reportedly

the FBI to be supplying

an anti- castro organization

with arms.whech.he obtained

through us gangsters".

4. "Following Pittsburgh conuktun,... Rothman. went to

chicago, where he surrendered on charges of playing

..akey role in one of the biggest... robberies in modern

crom. bistory, the 13,5 million A

looting of a canachen bank.

Robbery.was.touched.offwhen the canadian branchut the

matra recered. a hurry-up. order.... trom the carrbbean.

for arms... The canadian maria

did not have the money

..to buy arms, but. it knew how to wact get handsson

the contents of the Brockuille, ontario

bank.. It called

upen. the us. matic. for. assistance, and it. was then...

that Rothman. entered the picture.,.it

as charsea."!. ""subsequently

portions of loot.. turneano in shanghai, Argentina, lubai

& Austral.a.

continued

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## Page 10

9-

s- "Betore... Rothman

was.tracked.downin.comnecticn...with.the.

aboue crimes, he was reported by the FBI as traveling to bucatan

to seek a base.. of operations

against the castro gou?t. In this

enterprise.he.was..associated

with. Eduardo (Teddy) Whitehouse Insua,

formeriy of the cuban Gui!

Aeronautical Associationj-ex-colone!

Orlando Piedra Negueruela:, former member... of BRAC and bead.

or Cuban Bureau of Investigations; and colonel Roberto Fernandez.

micanaa

brother-in-law.. of Batista and former commander

of the presidenhal guards as well as president of the national

Sports Commission. unile no mentun. is made of Rolando

masterrerty in this connection, - Rothman. has engaged. in many

exploits and deal with masterper.

6- "In September 1960, Ruthman stall. Out un $50,000 bonch,.

mad.e.an.approach to. Frank. Frorinn, soldier of fortune, offering to obtain

two.migs-one.floson.dy. a crech and another by a Cuban. Florini felt that

interest

Rothman's pus. was stmulated by a straight profit motue or by

hopes tor tavorable: treatment regarding the Federal case ogainst him."

2=:In. oct 1960 R. again appeared in Dallas, where de approache

Robert E. Grinnan, an oil contracts promotion man... Rothman claimed

to have connections with.. Nor-Roth. Industries. of NYC. andstated

that clients of his had an .. interest in purchasing. ⅜ million metric

ions. of diesal fuel all and one million metric turs of cruce a.!

to be delivered. over a five-year perrud to Hamberg, Germany. Grinnen,

puzzled by the ofter i reported to the FBI.

He went to u.f in Noember

and met Rothman and the other principals of the deal, a mary

alley and a pr. Phillip Paneth. de Panay. Largely because of

Brinnari's.. suspicions

the deal was never. cunsumetee.".

---

## Page 11

"As at December 1960, Rothman was turing in Dalla, Texas,

mario regendes.

la-memo. tor Deputy Chief- WHDruision from clark ws Samm

re meeting with Norman Rothman.& David m. mcConnell

datea June 30, 196)

_m.et

.. Rothman and melonnell on agtune 1961 in office

of Deputy Alty deny to evaluate" Rothman's claim to

operational assets inside cuba.. and elsewhere in the

4 - 6:30

Caribbean.ar.ea.

Sa P.M. Agreed that R would return

to.. Miami an Friday 30 June, and Mr. DeConnel!

would.phunesimmondom.Julys.for.evaluation.or

"Rothmany operationel potentel in Cuban affairs."

mcconnell spoke to simmons privately. mcconnell descrisec

smseltas a "leading political. figure in the Democrate Party machine in

v, carolina" that he was: acquainded @..Pub. kennedy, Gen. taylor, Gen. van

Fleet.", corporale tax lawyer's concerned over embarassment to the.

dennedy administration caused by the Cuban "frasco." Mcconnell stated

that Rothman claims to have assets and cüpabiltties... which would anable

Rothman to... destroy the arms dumps on the plantatun of ex-pres-Cardenzs.

of mexico, to setup operational. bases in the bucatan at a cost offro-

21,000; to sabatoge targets in cuba identted by the us gou?

and to provide positive intelligence on the achurtes of Chrnese Communit!

groups in the western Hemisphere."

Ruthman stated O castro haa executed 3 of his close friends:

Rogelio Sonzaleza; Sori marin; Etigenio. Fernande.

continuac

---

## Page 12

2- operational capability

curdenas.... te hadi agent. assets

todestroy..arms.aumps.of

in. mexico, sald ne mode

contact as recently as y to

months. ago.

merican triends..

3_constructedan.arrstrip.in.theYucata.n.gbuslt

by Indians One B-a6 had landed there.

y-.well-acquainted@sanchez.Arango.considers.tim.

a good. persunal triona.... Last met @

-6 weeles ago.

5- had the personnel & capabihhes to attack or

sabatoge.anytarget...of.our choosing in cuba. Henad.

a basic plan fur assass, of Castro. plan called for an

airatack@napalmagainstcastro

when he was addlessing

asally.....Had 100 pilots.. una had participated in invasion

of Cuba & now working for Congulese Air Force, Would not

identiry pilots ....

6- sald he had many agents

. Sara he was in contart. @ 6 agents

going in Lout.ut Cuba...

at this time .

Agents were in the tournst travel

business or export-import

.businesses y entered us ura 3rd countrre)

b-knows ot many Chinese communists

going. into

canada from 6ba.

8- expressed resentment ouer gun running aberges. "': said.

that cIn used the same pecale in there gun running actutei

cmr, Ruthmen

and the same houses, tor which he was being prosecuted

oy the Federal Government. Hesald ihat he had supervised

40 ship operations. on behalf. of the Fronte aganst cuba.

He sard that cIA would truck the stuff to the point

---

## Page 13

12°

of shop pick-up, where he (mr. Rothman) would.

superuise the loading of the ships. He said that he had

purchased the au! ship! "reeter" which wa the first

boat....

support the underground in Cuba.. He addece

-that he knew everythiny the GIA planned in.

maritime operations, and for the Inuasiun."

9- close friend uf John Abbes Garcia, Chef of

Dominican Rep. Security..

comment by Simmus= did not belleve euthman's claim

at controling agents and material assets....

Recommence)

no.furthordiscussiun@Rothmon..rethese.cla.n.u

13.- memo for recora - subj. Norman Rothman

10 July 1961

prepared. by:

Catherine

Lenaistre.

..- During Batista regime Rothman was superusun of.

Slot machines in Camaguey prounce. under the nattunz!

supervisur,.. Albarto.. Ardura Moya, Who was one of

owners of Tropicana Nightclub. in Havana.

indicates as af. Dec. 1960 Ruthman Huing in Dallas, but

recent repurts.. place him

101-

Rothman's silent partner in

sans souci - Eu femio Fernandez Ortega

---