EXAMINATION OF A PORTION OF THE RECORDS OF RICHARD HELMS
Originator: ROCK
From: MANFREDI, GEORGE
To: THE RECORD
Document date: 1975-03-19 00:00:00
Document type: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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JFK Assassination System.

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

8/27/201

AGENCY: WILDEROTTE

RECORD NUMBER:

178-10003-10439

RECORD SERIES: ROCKEFELLER COMMISSION

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

ROCKEFELLER COMMISSION (6)

Document Information

ORIGINATOR :

ROCK

FROM: MANFREDI, GEORGE

TO: THE RECORD

TITLE: EXAMINATION OF A PORTION OF THE RECORDS OF RICHARD HELMS

DATE:

03/19/1975

PAGES:

11

SUBJECTS :

ASSASSINATIONS, FOREIGN LEADERS

CONSPIRACY THEORIES, CIA INVOLVEMENT

WARREN, EARL

WARREN COMMISSION

NOSENKO, YURI

HELMS, RICHARD

DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

CLASSIFICATION: Secret

RESTRICTIONS: 1A

CURRENT STATUS: Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 07/30/1993

OPENING CRITERIA:

COMMENTS:

Sce page 7 in particular.

v9.1

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COMMISSION ON CIA ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES

Washington, DC 20500

178-10002-10089

178-10003-10414

178-10003-10439

March 19, 1975

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: Examination of a Portion of the Records of Richard Helms

-

On March 13, 1975, I requested that Hank Knoche locate and make

available for the staff's inspection all of the following documents

maintained by Richard Helms or his secretary during the period

between his appointment as DDP and the date of his separation from

the Agency:

Desk calendars

Phone logs

Appointment logs

Diaries

Chronological correspondence files

Tape recordings of meetings and phone conversations as well

as any transcriptions thereof

File memoranda.

On the day I presented my request, Knoche explained that at the time

of his departure from the Agency, Helms "tidied up" his personal

files and that a substantial amount of material may have been destroyed.

Knoche believes that most of the tape recordings of the DCI's phone

conversations and meetings in his office were among the items

destroyed. He added that the Agency has no record of what was

destroyed but that the most productive source of that information would

be Elizabeth C. Dunlevy, who was Helms' secretary at the time, and

who has now retired from the Agency but resides in the Washington

area. Knoche stated that he would make every effort to locate all of

the documents in the above categories which are still within the custody

of the Agency.

On March 14, Knoche informed me that he had assembled two full boxes

• of M:. Helms' records which would be available on Monday in the oftice

of the Inspector General. On March 18, I obtained the documents from

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PHOTOCOPY FROM THE GERALD R.

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LIBPARY

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Scott Breckinridge who expressed doubt that anyone at the Agency

had previously examined them in connection with the Watergate

related investigations or the Commission's investigation.

The documents fall into three basic categories which are as follows:

Desk calendars (1965 through March 1973). The Inspector

General delivered these to me and described them as "Helms' desk

calendars". However, before the Senate Select Committee on

Presidential Campaign Activities, Mrs. Dunlevy testified that she

destroyed his calendars around the time of his departure from the

Agency. She further testified that she maintained her own calendar

of his appointments and travel plans and it appears that it is her

calendars for 1965 through March of 1972 that have survived. I

checked these materials only for names and dates of interest to Bill

Schwarzer and myself and suggest that if any of you wish to verify

meetings of importance to your subject areas, you examine these

documents yourselves or make out a list of items which Pete Clapper

could check. The documents remain at our disposal in eight manila

envelopes in one of the safes at our offices at CIA Headquarters (I

have

the combination.)

2.

Helms' Chronological Correspondence Files (1965 through

March 1973). These files are contained in eleven (ll) hard-cover

file folders, the titles of which are set forth below. I examined

each of these files in its entirety in an effort to locate documents

which might be of interest to our respective groups. Accordingly,

I do not recommend that any of you take the time to make an inde-

pendent examination of these files. In the following pages, listed

below the title of each of the correspondence files, you will find a

brief identification of those documents which appeared to me to have

some relevance to our inquiry (I have probably erred on the side of

over-inclusion). I have also bookmarked the files with white pieces

of paper in an effort to facilitate your finding any documents you

wish to examine.

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"1965-DD/P Chrono + DDCI"

- Helms' memorandum dated 7 December 1965 describing

telephone conversation between Helms and Sullivan re

FBI-CIA relations. In particular, the memorandum deals

with apparent FBI dissatisfaction over CIA activity in con-

nection with project BOURBON.

- Helms' memorandum for Bill Moyers dated 9 June 1965

enclosing a document describing the Agency's "efforts to

do something constructive in the student field on behalf of

United States foreign policy. " The enclosure is a particu-

larly unusual document in which it is difficult to determine

whether Helms is using cryptonyms for the actual names.

If he was using cryptonyms, they were poorly chosen and,

if not, the document appears to describe domestic involve-

ment in the New York area at a time well in advance of the

Ober Project. Among the institutions, organizations and

individuals mentioned in the memorandum are Columbia

University, Adelphi College, the AFL-CIO, the John Birch

Society, and Senators Dodd and Towers.

- A transcription of a 4 May 1965 phone call to Helms from

Sargent Shriver with respect to Agency use of Peace Corps

personnel in Santo Domingo, Chile.

b. "R. Helms - CHRONO-1966" (Jan-Jun)

None

c. "HELMS DCI Chrono (July-December 1966)"

The only document of interest in this file is a sheet of hand-

written notes made by Helms during a meeting with Bill Moyers

on 19 December 1966. The document appears to reflect a

discussion of the volume of wiretapping done by the FBI and

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possibly the CIA both before and after Jack Kennedy's election.

Among the provocative items in the document is the following:

"1. - Hoover-Kennedy

WSA take

a.

taping in embassies

b. snatch

c. RCA-III

d. "R. HELMS-DCI-Chrono-1967"' (Jan-July)

- There are a number of documents in this file that indicate

that Helms or his secretary maintained a phone log. For

example, there are a series of documents identifying all

calls Helms made to certain newsmen during 1966 and 1967

including Reston, Wicker and Wells. These documents

appear to have been compiled sometime in late 1967. The

file also contains a list of all phone calls made to Helms

by the President during 1965 and 1967. I will pursue this

possibility with Elizabeth Dunlevy and inform you of the

results.

- The file contains a series of documents apparently directed

to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy in May 1962. The

first document in the group is a Memorandum for Attorney

General Kennedy from Lawrence R. Houston dated 15 May

1962 and reading as follows:

"In accordance with your request of ll May 1962, I am

forwarding herewith, in the attached sealed envelope,

a Top Secret memorandum by Colonel Sheffield Edwards,

Director of Security, setting forth the facts on which we

briefed you on 7 May 1962. "

Typed in red at the bottom of the foregoing memorandum is.

"Senator Kennedy read this on 8 March 1967." The nest

two documents in the file were:

PHOTOCOPY

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nis.

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- Memorandum dated 16 August 1963 from Helms to the DCI,

the subject of which was "Sam Giancana".

- "Memorandum for the Record" dated 14 May 1962, the subject

of which was "Arthur James Balletti et. al - Unauthorized

Publication or Use of Communications. " This memo appears

to have been requested by the Attorney General after an oral

briefing with respect to a "sensitive CIA operation conducted

between August 1960 and May 1961. "

e. "R. HELMS-DCI-Chrono 196?" (Aug-Dec)

None

f. "R. HELMS-DCI-Chrono 1968"

"MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT" dated 4 September

1968, the first paragraph of which reads as follows:

"Some time ago you requested that I make occasional

round-up reports on youth and student movements world-

wide.

Responding. to this request, and guided by comments

and suggestions of Walt Rostow, we have prepared the

attached study.

You will, of course, be aware of the

particular sensitivity which attaches to the fact that

CIA has prepared a report on student activities both

here and abroad. "

The enclosure is the Agency's report entitled "Restless Youth".

g. "HELMS DCI Chrono 1969"

Handwritten notes apparently made by Helms during a meeting

with Jerris Leonard on 25 July 1969 during which Leonard

apparently complained about the inadequacy of FBI coverage

of dissidents.

The notes state, inter alia:

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"Bureau dead for five years

no mail coverage

stopped in 64-65

no NSA bag jobs (all embarrassments have been

discontinued)"

h. "DCI (Helms) Chrono No. 2. 1970"

"MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD" dated 28 July 1970

the subject of which was "Discussion with Attorney General

. Mitchell on Domestic Intelligence". Helms states that the

Attorney General had apparently heard nothing of President

Nixon's instructions with respect to domestic intelligence

until that morning. Helms adds that Mitchell also appeared

to have no knowledge of the 5 June 70 meeting with respect

to the Huston Plan which was chaired by the FBI.

i. "HELMS-DCI Chrono 1 - 1970"

None

j. "1971-DCI Chrono Helms"

The only document in this file is a memorandum to

from Helms dated 29 October 1971, subject of which was

"Don A. Nixon"'. The first sentence of the memorandum

states that "this is the monthly report on subject which you

requested". The memorandum goes on to set forth certain

information with respect to the President's brother which

is attributed to a reliable source.

k. "1972-DCI Chrono Helms"

This file contains a memorandum from Helms to the Deputy

Director dated 28 June 1972, the subject of which was

"Watergate Affair". The memorandum purports to describe

the substance of a phone call from Acting Director Gray in

which Helms asked for and received Gray's commitment to

PHOTOCOPY FROM

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call off the interviews of Karl Wagner and John Caswell,

The memorandum also reflects that Helms informed Gray

that Dahlberg was not a CIA agent. Helms also reports that

he requested that the Bureau confine itself to persons already

arrested or under suspicion, and that they desist from expanding

their inquiry into other areas that might eventually run afoul of

CIA operations..

3. Miscellaneous Files

a. "R. Helms - Memos for Record"' (1951-64)

_ "'Memorandum for Record" dated 24 June 1964, subject of

which was "Talk with Chief Justice Earl Warren". This

memorandum and several others in close proximity describe

meetings between Helms and members and staff of the

Warren Commission (including "David Belin of Treasury")

with respect to the Commission's use of certain information

provided by the Russian defector Nosenko. The group looking

into possible CIA connections with the Kennedy assassination

may be interested in reading these documents although they

appear to me to raise no significant questions.

b. "R. Helms - 1965 - Memos for Record (1965-1972)"

There appear to be no significant documents in this file but

it should be noted that while there are numerous memoranda

for the record in the earlier years, there is only one document

for 1972. In that document, during a meeting with Helms in

early 1972, John Ehrlichman expresses concern that Henry

Kissinger is copying classified documents apparently for use

in his writing when and if he returns to the academic life.

c. "President - 1967-68"

None

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d. "R. H. - Notes of Mtgs with Pres., HAK, PFIAB 1971-72"

- A document dated 29 November 1972 entitled, "Chairman

Mehon" which appears to be a handwritten agenda of a meeting

attended by Helms.

In addition to a variety of topics relating

to foreign affairs, other matters discussed were "Watergate"

and "SALT monitoring"'.

- Helms' handwritten notes of a meeting with Pat Gray on

18 October 1972, including the following notations

"1. What material provided by CIA was turned over

to the U.S. Attorney?"

"2. Do you wish to review our submission to the U.S.

Attorney?"

"3. Let us coordinate our approaches to the trial.

Neither wants to be caught by surprise. Please

check with us if you feel obliged to release any

'additional' information".

- Helms' handwritten notes of a meeting with Kleindienst on

24(sic)/10/72 which includes the following notations"

"I. Challenge re CIA implication by defendants (as

outlined in Warner's memo para 2)".

"2. - CIA will testify if essential to head off allegations

of CIA involvement'

"3. (ground rules to be established re handling of CIA

materials by U.S. Attorney) (confined to Assistant

U.S. Attorney in charge of case)".

- Handwritten notes of a meeting with George Meany on April

4, 1972, in which it appears Helms attempted to enlist the

support of AFL-CIO in various projects.

PHOTOCOPY

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- Helms' handwritten notes of a meeting with the President

and John Ehrlichman on October 8, 1971, in which the

following subjects appear to have been discussed:

"1. declassification

2.

.....

3.

......

Presidential linen

John McCone's reason for compiling document

Formal memoranda written by participants

State, Defense and JCS documents

• Internal CIA working documents never properly approved

No external distribution

No knowledge inside Agency of document

'History of the Vietnam Generals' Coup' prepared

in mid-November 1963 in the emotional atmosphere

of that period."

- Helms' handwritten notes entitled, "Lunch 22 September 1971"

which include the following:

"Bay of Pigs

1. CIA has no copy of Taylor report on Bay of Pigs

(Taylor & Bundy)

2. Hawkins report

3. Kirkpatrick report

Diem Episode

1. State and JCS

Cuban Missile Crisis

1. IG report by Community on Intelligence Activities -

summary + three volumes

Lebanon Landings

1. Two SNIE's"'

The second and third pages of this document are written

in different color ink and read in part as follows:

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"Declassification

1. Lebanon Landing

2. Cuban Missile Crisis

3. Bay of Pigs

4. Diem Assassination

call John E Friday

3. Bay of Pigs papers

a) Green Commission report claimed by Max Taylor

b) Lyman Kirkpatric report on Bay of Pigs

c) basic documents re operation

4. Diem episode

a) what papers we have

b) situation reports

c) backchannel traffic

2. Cuban missile crisis

a) paper on this

b)

summary

c) can we put together whole story?

PHOTOCOPY FROM THE GERALD R. FORD LIBPARY

good man to consult re declassification

Rehnquist

1. Lebanon landings"

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- Undated handwritten notes (apparently in 1970) headed

"AG" which appear to be 4 item agenda including as

item 4, "Roselli" .

- Undated handwritten notes (headed "AG"') which appear to

be an agenda. The first item is:

"1. technicians to work with RCA but on loan to FBI'

Written at the bottom of the page is:

"See HAK

.....

•..

1) AYJP (Mitchell re "getting caught"')

2) Orchid"

e. "NIXON-NSC"

A yellow sheet of handwritten notes "for January 30 meeting.

with Pres & HAK - DD/P and A/DD/P were also briefed. "

Items included in what appears to be an agenda are:

"Bay of Pigs

hold down since Vietnam

assassinations (Diem, Trujullio, Castro)

domestic organizations (Feb 67 NSA)

(RFE & RL)".

PHOTOCOPY FROM THE GERALD R.

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George A. Manfredi

SECRET SENSITIVE

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