## Page 1

14-00000

104-10122-10141

2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

SUBJECT: Robert A. Mahou

MI. Robert A. Maheu was born on 30 October 1917 in

Haterville, Maine.

He graduated from Holy Cross College in 1940

and is narried with four children. Ho was employed as a

Speciel Agent with the FBI from 1940 to 1947, and upon re-

This ventura culminated

in bankruptcy in 1952. He then re-entered Government service

witis the Small Business Adninistration in liashington, D. C.,

and was appointed Special Assistant to the Administrator with

the specific duty of Director of Security. In February of

1954, he was forced to resign fron SBA because of political

reasons,

determined to be the result of backing the wrony

political party in the election. He then set up his own

investigative organization known as Robert A. Mahou Associates.

Mr. laneu was recruited by the Office of Security in

March of 1954. He was previously known to kir. Robert i.

Gunningham (deceased) who sas,

at that time, Chief, Special

Security Division, through their mutual employaent by the

FBI.

Cunninghan saw in Mahes a covert asset sho could be

utilized by the Office in extrenely sensitive cases. "iti

the approval of the Director of security, Subject was offered

a proposition wherein he was to receive $500.00 per monta,

with the stipulation that he nove into his on office and

that he he on call for any assignments by the Office of

Security. He agreed to this and innodiately took steps to

move out of his grea, where he rented desk space in a suite

occupied by Carnine S. Bellino, a forner PBI agent and CPA.

In July of 1954, Maheu was engaged by 'British shipping

interests" to check on Aristotle Onassis' activities while

in the United States.

aris trea

This included technical coveraga of

Onassis' New Yorl office. It was later learned that the

principal "British interos?" was Stavros Niarchus and that

the ultimate

this to rese

goal of this task was to scrap the Onassis/

Saudi oil doal. Maheu took the job but conditioned his

accaptance with the fact that he would do nothing ininical

to the li. S. Goverament.

Any infornation developed of interest

to the inited States was to be passed by liaheu to the appro-

priate fovernment azency.

---

## Page 2

14-00000

Uants..

During this operation Maheu had his staff prepare a

paper citing dangers to U.S. economy and trade resulting

fron the Onassis deal. Through contacts in FOA, Maheu

had Harold Stassen read this paper in the National Security

Council on 22 June 1954. During this same perica Maheu

briefed Scott McLeod, Assistant Secretary of State for

Security and Consular Affairs on the project.

MeLood

agreed to furnish State commo and pouch facilities subject

to Join Foster Dulles' approval. Additionally, Maneu

briefed J. Edgar Hoover and Vice President Nixon.

August of 1954, Maneu advised this Office of his rela-

tionship with Niarchus.

NEA Division was contacted and

expressed interest in this matter. They were put in touch

na operational guidance.

is a result of the Onassis Niarchus matter, and as a result

of Niarchus claining Governnent privilege in the case, the

Agoncy was subsequently identified as being the Government

agency involved.

Files of this Office reflect extensive

correspondence furnished us by the Office of General Counsel

in 1956 regarding the Onassis matter.

On 16 August 1954 Subject was granted a covert security.

clearance for utilization as an agent under Project TWIXT

in the Near East.

On 30 August 1954 he was granted a sinilar

clearanco to permit his use in the United States as a covert

associate under Project LPHIDDEN. In November of 1957, a

cable fron Ciudad Trujillo indicated that Mr. Maheu had

allegedly been involved in a violation of tha Name Act in

procuring and transporting prostitutes

during Sukarno's state visit to the United States in 1956.

NI. Maneu contacted this Office to advise that the allegations

were without foundation and stated that he would take steps

immediately to have his attorney see that appropriate

Dominican officials would retract the charges.

This was

subsequently done.

Edward Bennett Willians acted as Maheu's

LaWyer

In this matter.

In 1957 information was raceived indicating that during

President Sukarno's visit to Moscow in the fall of 1950, he was

Introduced to a soviet woman within the Kremlin. He had

an affair with

her against the adnonitions of his advisers.

It was reported

that the Soviets took detailed filns of the

affair and that a copy was sent to the PKI. In June of 1957

Al Ulmer and Sanuel Halpern, FE Division, contacted the

2

---

## Page 3

14-00000

Director of Security and outlined a project wherein they .

envisioned a filn being made sinulating this affair. It

was planned that clips frow this filn would be inseriod in

a leaflet for distribution throughout Southeast Asia sug-

gesting that Sukarno was compromised by the Soviets. In

July of 1957, Robert Mahen was given this assignnent. He

utilized a trusted male employee of this organization (since

deceased) and his fiancs.

Maheu after an intensive nake-up

course, auninistered the nate-up to the participants himself,

utilizing available pictures and descriptions of the subjects

as a guide. He hired a studio where he was given detailed

instruction on

the use of the lights and canera. imen the

film was taken, only Haheu and the

two participants were in

the studio.

The project known as "Happy Days," as never

copleted and the film was not distributed..

Files of this Office reflect that during the 1955-1959

period, FE Division was put in touch with saheu by this

Office

for assistance in another operation relating to

President Sanarno.

This project was orizinated in May 1258

Men PE Division initially contacted the Director of Security

and briefed his on the project known as HARPSIAR. Basically,

the project capitalized on President Sukarno's known weakness

for Caucasion women.

Robert Maneu was given the assignment

to locate a female-candidale. Hc advised that a proninent

that attorney and "nan about town, "e

#time could

come up with a qualified woman.

y was investigared with

favorable results and given a CSA on 2 July 1958 but was not

rode witting of CIA interest.

The fenale candidite las

mate, a well-to-do widow, approxinately

35 years of age, resident off

sa, considered to be

highly inceiligent ard extremely attractive;

In August of

1953, the Project HARPSIAR plan was concurred in by the COPS

and the DCI.

Office, met withh

en set enter of 1953 tee ord Jat: O'Connel, s€ this

briefed on Agency, interest in the natter.

Later in Saptember

raheu nei wich ol

in New York City under his true

nana and told her of governnental interest.

icheu's true identity having been introduced to his socially

On the sane day (25 Septenber 1955), CA

Has

Introduced to Joseph Snith, FE Division (moin to boti

and Maneu as Joseph Sins), Disashwas briefed on tia

assignment, indicated that she understood exactly what bas

---

## Page 4

14-00000

expected of her

and stated that she could leave the country

in 45 days.

On 24 September 1955 "Sins" again net with

at which tine she was told she rould be accoupanied by

fenale traveling companion, Elizabeth Hogarth (actually

Elizabeth Marter, FE Division).

a was told that riogarth"

would ostensibly be her secretary but would be, in fact,

the person she would look to for diraction.

Records of this Office io not reflect any of the

activities offide during the course of her mission.

is known that she did neet Sakarro, but due to unfortunzte

timing that had hin leaving his country on official business,

she had little tine to cultivate him.

Consequenily, the

purpose of the nission vas not fulfilled.

The last

Known

contacted had with the Agency was in the fom of a tele-

phone call on 12 April 1961 when she called on 1 sterile line

and talked to Mr. Hugh Tovar, who she knew as George Henry.

She advised

that one wo

men had asked her to give a

party for President Sukarno who would be in Los Angeles on

21 April 1951. miles wanted to know whether the Agency was

interested in sponsoring this party. A negative response

was given.

In june of 1959, a covert security approval wes issued

for the use of Mahen

by I0 Division in ordor for hin to be

approached and advised of Agency interest in Interuational

LabOr.

Files of this office do not refleci whether or noi

this was done.

On: 7 October 1959 a covert security approval

was granted for Mir. Maneu's use in the United States. The

request for approval indicated that Subject might be employed

by the

King of Jordan to handle Jordanian public relations in

the United States.

Mr. Maheu's later involvenent in the pIo-

curenent of feninine companionship for King Hussein during

the latter's state visit to the United States, is set forch

in Attachment A.

In August of 1969, Richard M. Bissell, the then DD/P

contacted the Director

of Security regarding the Roselli

matter. Details concerning this are set forth in Attacisaent B.

In 1960 information was received by the Agency indicating

that the Senate Administrative Practices Subconnittee,

undar

the chairmanship of Senator Euward V. Long, had advised Mahou

that his testinony was losired concerning his relationship

with Onassis, Savros Miarchos, Sam Giancana andl

The Subcommittee interest was invasion of privacy and

---

## Page 5

14-00000

particularly the use of aulio devices by private investigators.

In July of 1960, Senstor Long was alerted to the fact thai

the Agency had had sensitive operational contacts with Maheu.

Senator Long was told that the Agency had used waheu over

the years on a number of occasions but that he had never

been asked to engage in any viretapping and had nover

engage in any such activities on our behalf.

Office of

Security files do not indicate whothor or not llahen did

appear before this Subcomittee, although it appears that

he dis not.

In Jauazy of 1971, in light of the involvement of

Manen in a suit beireen

executives of the Hughes Company

and sanen, the Director of Security recommended to the dei

Files of this Office reflect that Subject's company,

Maheu and Associates, cooperated with the Agency in supporting

the activities of an LPGLOBE agent, Michael G. Merhige,

In ECuadOI.

A memorandun from the Chief, Contral Cover Staff to

the Inspestor General dated 10 Cctober 1973, delineates the

relatiorship between CCS and Robert Maleu and Associates.

Information rogarding the possibility thai Subject was

involved in a leak of information concerning a sensitive

DD/S&T Special Projects Staff project is set forth in

Attachnont C.

Subject's son Peter Robert Maneu was

a staff enployes

of the Agenty and of this Office from 1963 to 1964.

a cletical employee. In February of 1969, Peter Maheu

was granted a covert security approval as an employee of

Mahen and Associates

for uSE on ProjECt PRENCHANT.

---

## Page 6

14-00000

SUBJECT: Robert Maheu - King Hussein Incident

In cornection vith the official State visit of

hing Hussein fron 16 March through 18 April 1959, the

Office of Security has requested to render special support.

during the los ingeles and Her York phases of the tour.

According to NEA personnel Messrs: Norman Paul, Fred LaiTish

and Millian Aras, King Hussein was especially desirous of

Lenale cospanionship during his los Angeles visit and.it

Das requested that acoropriate arrangements be nade througi

a controlled source of the Office in order to assure a

satisfice visis.

2.: On 3 April 1959 Sir. Robert jaheu, a cleared Office

ci Security contact, was assed to arrange a party. for King

dussein at los Angales, California. This was done by

NT. Manes through it.

Mr. Amanic is z

ques figure pre-

viously granted a covert security approyal for use by fE

Division.. by pra-arrangenent, during the coursa of this

party King Husseid was introduced to de

Win, a part-

tize scIean and stage actress.

For the duration of Xing

Husscin's stay in los Angales, '5 through 7 April 1959, he

and Miss amas becane intinate frierds.

It was indicated

by tir. TatIast; tho was integrated into the Stage party,

that ring Hussein desired to continue his frieniship with

eas and that he wished to meet with her during his

stay in New York City fron 14 through IS April 1959.

3.

On 13 April 1959 arrangements were made to rent tha

hone of #

1, an Office of Sacurity source,

at Long Beach, Long Island, for lhe period 14 through 18.

April 1959.•

Tho home was to be used as a confidential useti.

place for Hiss eas and King Hussoin.

at the sase time

eat was registered at the Hotel Barclay, 111 East

48th Street, Nay York City, under the mano of Mrs. Aut

BE of El Paso,

Texas.

the publicity touching on the

relationship had bacone zore pointed since/(songpublicity

mention had been nade of the sanes background of tiss &

Ca 17 April 1959

lt. LaTrash. and Hiss Mintsers transporied

tO

the dut

Chong on Long Island which ras tader over as

...!..

---

## Page 7

14-00000

the

nesting place for fing Hussein and liss&

Lzte?

the sane day, by pre-arrangenent, to Departnent of Staze

Security Agents, a New York City police lieutenaat zaú

hired chauffeur

arrived with king Hussein.

Miss come .

renained, at the size through 13 April 1959, and King Mussein

and his

four to five bours.

party visited each evening and remained for about

During the stay at the Long beach sire, Miss

252543

solIces of certain personal infornation that she isli had

been leaked to the press.

Additionally she spoke of her

deep feeling for King Hussein azd comented on nor em

• initially sought her out to serve as a party con-

panioa for the King.

At the time she saiù she was unclear

as to just what part Mr. sis

• wanted her to piay.

attenting. to clarify his case MI. map said,

an.'.

employed by the CIA.: He want you to go to bed with him."

Miss dues

• said she rejected the proposal but finally went

to the party. She becane quite taken with King Hussein and

found hin to ba nost charming.

5. All personal contacts by Security representatives

in this case here under atias and inpliad State Depaitzant)

affiliazica.

There is no record or indication in any of the

files in this case that involvas Roberi, Maheu by name oi

reference.

It is believed thai Ki. Maneu was never intIo-

•drced to Miss unre, and as far as can

be determines

mr "fronted" for all arrangements. Office of Security

investigation conducted variously fion 25 lay through

17 September 1959 of a

man reflectad no substantive

derogatory information regarding her.

---

## Page 8

14-00000

SLBJECT: The Johnny Rosalli Matter

1. In August of 1960 Hr. Richard Bissell approached.

the ther Director of security, colonel Sherfield senaras.

o determina if the Difice of

Security had any assets that

night assist in a sensitive sission requiring gangster-type.

action.

The mission largel was Fidel Castro.

BECZUSO Of

its extrene sensitivity, only a saall group sas inowledgeabla

of the project.

The DCI was briefed and gave his approval.

Colozel J.C. Jing, Chies, IH Division, vas briefed, but all

details dare concealed fron any of the

BRAVE offIcialS.

Certain ISD and Comunications personnel participated in

the initial planning stages but were not witting of the.

purposo of the mission.

2.

Robert Maheu

was contacted, briefed generally on

the project, and requested to ascertain if he could develop

en entrze into gangster elements.

•T. Maneu advised that ho

haû met one Johnny Roselli on several occasions while visiting

Las Yegas. Maheu Inew Roselli caly casually through clionts

but had been given to understand tast Roselli. las a bigh

ranking menber of the "Syndicate" and controlled all of tha

ice uaking nachines on the Strip. Haheu vas asted to

approach Roselli, who knew Mahet as a personal relations

executive handling donastic and foraign accounts.

was to tell Roselli that he had recently been obtained by a cli-

ent to represented several international business firas which

CasIo's action, These firms were convinced that Castro's

ICHOTal H2S the

ansver to the problen and were villing to

pay a price of $150,000 for its successful accomplishment.

It was to be made clear to Roselli that the United States

Governaent was not and should not becone aware of this

operation.

3.

The pizch was sade to Roselli or 11 September 1950

at the Hilton Plaza Hotel, New York City.

Mr. Jases O'Connell,

Office of security, was present during this meeting sad was

identified to Roselli as an employae of Maheu. O'Connell

actively served as Roselli's contact until May 1962 at which

time he phased out due to an overseas assignment.

Rosaili's

---

## Page 9

14-00000

goss

initial reaction sas to avoid getting involyed, but through

¡aner's persuasion he agreed to introduce hin to a trieno,

San Gold. Roselli nade it claur that de would not want

any coney for his part, and he believed that Gold would

feel the same way. Neither of these individuals were ever paid

out of Agarty inids.

a5 "Joe" who Has supposedly a courier operating between

Havana and Miani. Several seeks later Maheu saw photographs

of bots of these individuals in the Sunday Supplenental

Parate.

They were identified as Moao Salvators Giancana

and Santos Trafficant. Both were on the list of the

Attorasy. General's ten most wanted sen. Giancana sas

described as the Chicago Chieftan of the Cosa Nostra and

SUCCESSOT tO Al Capone. Trafficant was identified as the

Cosa Nostra boss of Caban operations.

Mahen called this

Offico innediataly upon ascertaining this inforzation.

5. In discussing the possible nethods of accomplishing

the nission, sam suggested that they not resort to fireares

but thai he be. furnished sone type of potant pill thai could

be placed in Castro's food or drink.

Gold indicated that

he had a prospective nomince in the person of Juan Orts, a

Cuban official who had been receiving kickback payrents for

a gaabling interest and sho still had access to Castro and

was still in a financial bind.

ISD was requested to produce six pills of high..:

• Iethal content which vere then delivered to Orta by "Joo."

After sevaral weeks of reported attenpts, Dita apparently

got cold feat and asked out of the assignment.

He suggested

another candidaza who made several attempts without success:

"Joe" then indicated that Ds. Anthony Verona, one of the

principal officers in the Cuban exile junta, had become

disaffected with the apparent inoffectual progress of the

junta and was silling to handle the mission through his

Own reSOuICeS. Verona asted that he ba given 310,000 for

organization expenses and requested $1, 000 worth of communi-

cations equipment.

Dr. Verona's potential was naver fully

exploited as

the mission was cancalled shortly alter tle

Bay di Pigs apisode.

Verona sas advised the offsi vas

withdrawn, and the pills were retrieved. At the hight of

2

---

## Page 10

14-00000

-.

the project segoziations, Gold expressed concera

about

who be learned

Gold asked Maheu to put a bug

i.31

o.Ioon to deternine the extent offin

ine technician involved in the assignment

was aiscovered in the process, arrested, and taken to the

SheIIIt'S ofice foI questioning.

He called Manen in the

presence of sheiiff's personnel and inforned hin that be

had been detained. Subsequently, the Departnent of Justi

announced its intention to prosecute Maheu glong with the

Eechnician.

"Ja"T February 1952 the Director of Security

briefed tha then Attorney General Robert Kennedy on the circun-

starces leading up to Makeu's involvenent in the viretap. lt

our request, prosecution was dropped.

«л?.

In Hay 1962 MI. William Harvoy took over as Roselli's

case officer and it is not known if he was used officially

•Eton thai point on.

It was subsequently learned Fron the

FBI that Roselli had been convicted on six counts involving

Illagal entry into the United Staies sone zine during

Movescer 1957. On 2 Decenber 1968 Roselli along with four

other individuals was convicted of coaspiracy to cheat

Deabers of the Friar's Club of $400,000 in a rigged gin

Hr- harvey reported his contacis with Roselli

to tais office during Noyeader and Deceaber of 1967 and

JaRURTY :DI 19DO.

Roselll was facing deportaiion at that

time but felt that he sould win an appeal.

• On 17 November 1970 Mr. Mahen called James O'Connell,

Rosell's first case officer, ¿o adrise that Maheu's attorney,

Ed Morgan had received a call from Thomas Waddin, Roselli's

astorey, who stated that ail avenuas of appeal had been ex-

hausted and Roselli faced deportation:

Waddin indicated that

If someone did not intercede on Roselli's behalf, he rould

make a complete expose of his activity with the Agenty.

13 November 1970 MI. Helns was briefed on this latest develop-

ment and it was decided that the Agency would not in any way

assist Roselll.

Makes was advised of the Agency's position

and was in complets agreement. He staied that he was not

concersed about any publicity as 1t aflected ain personzlly

should Roselli decide to tell all. Subsequently Rosalli or

soncone on his behalf furnisaed Jaci Anderson details of the

operation. Anderson arose two colums isgarding this operation

3

---

## Page 11

14-00000

on 13 January 1971 and 23 February 1971:

Roselli was last

known to be in the Federal Penitentiaty in

Seattle,

Washington.

---

## Page 12

14-00000

SUBJECT:

Special Projects Staff Hatter

1.: On 25 June 1974 Mr. Paul Evans, Security Officer,

Special Projeces Staff, DD/S&I, requested that Offico of

Security records ba checied regarding a Ms. Janes R. Phelan

and AT. Hallace Turner tho mere both of interest in connection

with a sensitive SPS activity.

2.. A check of Fal and Office of Security records

indicated that Mr. Phelan had written an unfavorable

article about the FBI in 1965 which appeared in the Saturday

Evening Post. Additionally. Mr. Phelan testified as a defense

witness in the Clay Shaw conspiracy trial on 26 February 1959.

A review of Agency library sources reflected that Mr. Phalan

had published a nuaber of articles. Mr. Carl Duckett, DD/S&T,

has speculated that. Mr. Robert Naheu might have been the

SOUICE Of MI. Phelan's

inforsation. Several DD/S&T officers

recalled that in approximately Deceaber of 1970 Mr. Jamas

0! Connell received a telephone call fron N5. Maheu in which

Br. Maneu complained that the Agency had embasked on a nẹw

project with the loward Hughes organization and had not

gone through hin.: A revier of various articles by Mi. Phelan

indicated that he had written several stories concerning:

Maheu's defanation suit against Howard Hughes.-In these

articles Phelas reported variously that: Howard Hughes

night have paid Robert Mahen $520,000 a year because of

Makeu's Central Intalligence Agency expertise; Mahas

raportedly clained that one

of his assignaents for Hughes

was to get tho ClA to serve as a cover for the billionaire's

sctivities, a request nich Mabeu says he refused to carty

out; and Maheu claimed that Howard Hughes suggested that

Mahey work out

an arrangenent whereby he or his organization

could become a front for the CIA, another suggestion which

Mares clalris he did no undertake:

---