MEMO: JOSEPH RAYMOND MEROLA
Originator: CIA
From: CHIEF, DOMESTIC COLLECTION DIVISION
To: SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO DDO FOR EXTERN
Document date: 04/08/1977
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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104-10219-10177

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

ACCESSITA

Cortal

9-28-44

DCD •205/71

8 April 1977

-:t.

MEMORANDUM FOR: Special Assistant to DDO for

External Oversight

FROM

Jackson R. Horton

Chief, Domestic Collection Division

SUBJECT

Joseph Raymond Merola 92849

1.

DCD's only recorded contact with Joseph Raymond Merola

prior

to August 1961 occurred on 6 February 1961.

It followed

a series of telephone calls over a period of several months

in which Merola had expressed interest in offering his assis-

tance in connection with Cuban matters.

The DCD officer had

declined

contact until 6 February when Merola claimed to have

information on a Brazilian senator who was a "close friend

and confidante" of "Che" Guevera.

Because Guevera was the

subject uf requirements levied on DCD, our officer agreed to

a meeting.

The

substance of the 6 February 1961 meeting is

described

in report 00-A(S)-3179213, dated & February.

report has been returned to the Agency Archives,

(This

but will be

retrieved and reviewed for classification.

Should it carry a

'Secret" classification,

it will be downgraded to "Confidential"

and may be so considered for the purposes of this inquiry.

2.

If the following deletions are made, I have no

objection to the release of this document.

a. Heading: "Support"

b. Paragraph 2: Delete the first sentence

C.

Paragraph 4: Delete "Sam Kay"

d.

Signature: Delete "Justin F. Gleichauf"

and "JFG/amb"

to Ruth Elliff, extension 2271.

Further inquiries on this matter may be directed

dirade it

/JACKSON R. HOSTONaL

Cc:

ISS/PICG

CONFIDENTIAL

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