Originator: HSCA
Document date: 10/24/1978
Document type: NOTES

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180-10142-10242

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

Box 23

FOLDER 24

$ 30

his returne al

* CIA LOOM COB 112:5

October 24, 1978

busest

#1

i1trar

I:.

it'

Dearest Chris,

Funny you should have written me asking if I had ever heard

about Manuel Rey -- he has been

of interest to me

in my work

for nearly a year --

so here is all you ever wanted to know

but were afraid to ask.

Manuel Ray Rivero was born in Cuba in 1924.

He has

been described

as

softspoken, unassuming, almost humble --

a natural leader of the highest

intellect, deepest sincerity

2

and conviction.

In 1947, because of his outstanding performance

as a civil engianer, he was granted a scholarship by the Cuban

Ministry of Public Works to pursue graduate studies in engineering

at the University of Utah. Ray was in the United States for

*AnsHout a snot complete his work for a Masters pegree!

When he returned to Cuba, he held various positions in the

engineering field, one of which was Project Mánager for the

construction of the Havana Hilton 'Hotel.'

*10

In May 1957 he organized the Civic Resistance Movement,

which

supervised sabotage and acts of terrorism against the

1(45CA 009005 Outtie)

Batista regime.

Fidel Castro appointed him Minister of

Public works in february 1959 ta paybroke with castro-be-

-cause of his fonmunist comrections.dulin November 1959, Ray

was

sed and relieved of his official position. He then

founded the anti-Castro Movimento Revolucionari

del Pueblo

and served as its Chief. Other individuals completing the

leadership of the MRP were: Raul

Chibas, Special Assistant

to Ray; Juan Esteves Ramires, Secretary; Ramon Barguin,

Military Intelligence Matters;

and Rogelio Cisneros, Chief

of MRP in Cuba.

I NOT HERATUCE

RETURN TO C4 42-10242

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dy biles

):

In the Summer of 1960, while still in Cuba, Ray

was

actively recruited by the CIA to become a member of the

FRD.

His background was questioned by the State Department

and the Miami CIA office. Despite their objections, Ray

was granted Provisional Operational Approval by the CIA on

October 25, 1960 and, with the aid of the CIA, he was brought

clandestinely into the United States on November 10, 1960.

Ray's personnel papers at the CIA contain the following

assessment: "Subject has definite political action potential,

is a pro-democratic official

of

government who

is not in

sympathy with

aims of international Communism and

is interested

in strengthening

ties between Cuba and U.s."

Not everyone in the CIA who knew Ray) were in agreement

with this assessment. In a Memo for Record, dated 11/21/60,

it was reported that, "... Ray did not politically represent

anything to cheer about." Another CIA officer who met privately

with him in November 1960 stated that his political posture

was doubtful as far as U.S. Government acceptance was concerned.

CIA official

Still another/assessment of Ray stated that his action all

seemed directed toward making him the future power in Cuba

rather than overthrowing Castro.. It was believed that Ray

was so far "left" in his thinking that he would be as dangerous

(or more so in the long run) to U.S. interests as Castro, if

he ever got to be a power in Cuba.

Ray made his political position very clear during a

private meeting

with a CIA officer on November 15, 1960 - five

days after his

arrival in the U.S.

said that the MRP did

and

not wish to reinstate the 1940 Cuban/ Constitution/that the

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Castro laws passed

at the beginning of his regime would be

continued.

Ray further stated that he believed the State

should regulate private investments andutilities should

be nationalized. Charges of

"Fidelismo without Fidel" were

made against Ray's group, the MRP,

because of these "leftist"

ideologies.

Negative information about Ray was also voiced by

→ the Cuban exile community and came to the attention of the

CIA.

He was described by one exile as highly dangerous

because of his ambition to play a prominent role in the Cuban

government afterCastro's overthrow

Miro Cardona was opposed

to him on the grounds that his program

was too Marxist and

further stated that Ray was bitterly anti-American as well

as probably totalitarian in his thinking. Manuel Artime

said the MRP was opposed to banning the Communist Party and

in favor of "nationalizing everything."

Although aware of his controversial political

→ philosophy, the CIA actively recruited Ray to join the ERD.

Painers"?

L The White House and State Department pushed for his inclusion.

Ray received full/operational approval as a "political

asset" on February 7, 1961 and accepted

appointment to the

CRC in March. He himself had resisted joining the CRC be-

cause he felt the members

were too restrained and he did not

Guate

want to become a part of a situation in which someone else

was running the show

for the exiles. Within

a week after

i :

agreeing to join, Ray met with a CIA officer and complained

with it i dean.out Ethes-guys?

that Miro was backing away from his commitments and was not

willing to give Ray any voice in the Council. He recalled

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the events of this period to HSCA investigators in 1978,

stating that certain influential and wealthy Americans,

among them William Pawley, opposed him and a lot of heavy

propaganda was circulated at this time accusing him of being

a Communist.

Frang

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Sincert

бро 1964

Carla Tarrant. MUPE Chip 8 Sport CC1A/000

Carlos harraga Marting - Cable did 2/28/64) lesought

the menu lis great e per, ento in)

the JURE in 191964

hit He was of operational interest Is the CIA. (Shid

Veronalty Tile Requent

10 Cug 1964). 81772 Which -

General DooL Larraga evac

respossible for a great

deal parma o an enormo

a cupply of effloces

in Miami o Baerto Rieo. Jarraga reugned from

SURE in Sept. 1964. (Shid Tutel Dup Puport 9123167).

CADDO Zarraga -Tuld Dufo Raperit 9123164)

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Surent *1

(AMSHOT /1)

story

During this period, it har heen

alleged

that Bay was Friendly with members

of the Puerto Recan group which plotted I

assariate Preadint Tsumaw. (CAl desce

Nocumenta, Deepatch & Deputy Chief, WHISA from COS AIMINAVE,.

4/14/64, Mprico, D.F. -from aw undercour source with

eryptonym (AMSHOT/R Upon receyht f this enfor..,

Rays lace officer quertioned the sebability of the

information... HSCA. reseacher endeavored o

dintify couce + was told (AMSHOT) was stel

a current.

"asset in 1978) and a good

friend of (Pueito bican Commuinot Gedio Alkizu

Campar. "Shid! Of was fusther alleged that

Boy was in frequent contact with Puerts Pleas

who were working on the rennsoation of the

White House? Thie The assassination attempt

of Pres. Tsunaw occursed at Blair Hours, across

the sheet from the WHo doerring, the tonie the

Trumane were wing this home an an

ual sudence until such time as the

Tute House senior stai was complete

this rather hazare story surfaced ie

1964 and the exformation was

disseminated & the secret Serice" (HSCA 008290)

and the FBI (HSCA 006468, Ptems)

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Her actual accof accomplots

ents were

peroridly pusstioned within

He CiA. Within

the Wastern Hemisphere devicio

w, he was

areased as notorious for claiming accels or

and his accomplichness twards the effort t

veerthrow Castro negligeble. (C17/000 Ray VoL.V,.

Memo for Record, Tay 5, 1961, from Calven Hecke

Subj: InanoloRay- Commente on his Anti-Cootro

Celinter) Sir easy accer is the White

House and Stale Dept: made come wither.

the agency heritant to support him orteide

the umbiell a of the CR for fear that he

would discuss the his arrangemente weth

the CA aud, in a matte of time, the whole

Cubaw epile Com

unity would know where

Ray was getterg his support. (CIA/SDO Ray VaL V,

Memo for Record, June 2,1961, (from Jamoe A hail)

Subj: Relations with panolo Ray i the MRT)

ay continued to the of closely

ascociated. with the CIA. as evidenced try

Contences files on

hein. from 19.60 - 1996

ndecating he was of Jeratorial Vuterest lo.

tem. No documentation is anaulable lo

Icial outlay doo the mRY, as

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ditution and

•Cartro at the

all utilities: (CIA/DDO Ray VOL II, Cable I Duector from MASH)

Quest I - Do toll two anti-Castro Cuhous in

April 195q that he recognized the nymptoms o

ommuner ni the Castro regeme but wa

not prepared to conopire against "Il Rider

Maximo

"(give 4o This Day-p. 91) Bay was

relieved of his official portion in how. 81959

(HSCA 005 990; p. 2, FBI. Correlation Study, Manolo Ray

file 97-4576, Sec.) hut Continued I permit

his nome O he acrociated with the Cartro

regime (Guie e this Day-p.92) until ths t

formed the Revstationary Movement of the Verople (MRP)

around May1960 (HSCA. 009005), thie anti-Castro

organization.helenesthat the idea aud aime

if the democratic left hest suited the neede

7 aspirations of the Cubaw people. (CiA/DDO Pay

Vol. II, a June 1962 study of program for bleation

of eula dubmitted by. Ray Arociated with

Ray in this underground orgenization were

Raul Cubar, Ramon Barquin, Rogelió leneroe

(CIA/DDO. Ray VOL II, Organization MRP) Rufo Lopez

Gresquet and Ilife Pazor (que is Mis Duy, p92).

Ray was tritize criticized an a

tary adherent to the anti-Castro movemont.

(quie us This Day p9z) and Charges a "Didelin sin

Fidel" were made against him and the MRP becauce

of their leftect ideologies, C/A/DDO Ray VOLII Contact

Report from Wallace Garlet), 10/17/60, Subj; Mating ortti

(Quan Esters" Jorge: Berupt:) 1113/60.)

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