Agency: SSCIA
Originator: SSCIA
Document date: 6/11/75
Document type: REPORT

## Page 1

JFK Assassination System

Identification Form

Agency Information

Date:

7/7/2015

AGENCY:

SSCIA

RECORD NUMBER :

157-10014-10107

RECORD SERIES :

MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTTEE

AGENCY FILE NUMBER :

07-M-13

Document Information

ORIGINATOR:

FROM:

TO :

TITLE:

SSCIA

DATE: 06/11/1975

PAGES:

10

SUBJECTS :

Released under the John

= kennation Records

Collection Act of 1992

144 USC 2107 Notel.

Case# :NIT 53244 Date:

06-14-2017

BISSELL, RICHARD

ASSASSINATIONS

DOCUMENT TYPE: REPORT

CLASSIFICATION: Declassified

RESTRICTIONS: 1B; 1C

CURRENT STATUS: Redact

DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 03/21/2000

OPENING CRITERIA :

COMMENTS: CCBOX 418

y9.1

1H 53244

DocId: 32423495

Page

---

## Page 2

Date

Page

08 / 06/95

1

JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM

IDENTIFICATION FORM

AGENCY INFORMATION

AGENCY : SSCIA

RECORD

NUMBER: 157-10014-10107

RECORDS SERIES : MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTTEE

AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 07-M-13

DOCUMENT INFORMATION

ORIGINATOR :

SSCIA

FROM

TO

TITLE

DATE

06/11/75

PAGES

10

SUBJECTS : BISSELL, RICHARD

ASSASSINATIONS

DOCUMENT TYPE : REPORT

CLASSIFICATION : TOP SECRET

RESTRICTIONS : REFERRED

CURRENT STATUS

POSTPONED IN FULL

DATE OF LAST REVIEW

01/05/99

OPENING CRITERIA

COMMENTS : CCBOX 418

[R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED

HH 53244

DocId: 32423495

Page 2

---

## Page 3

MEETING

1I SONET

B0x 418

TOP SE CACT

---

## Page 4

Excerpts from Bissell lestimony on 6/9/75

White House

1. Did not self inform 5412, i. e., Nixon. And

haven't heard others did. Assumed Dulles (26)

a.

Nor JFK in 11/60 (27)

2. "Not to my recollection"' re disclose to Bundy

effort to ass. C. underway (28)

a. "Explanation"' to Chairman (32)

was Edwards operation.

3. Knows nothing re outside agency (30)

4. Re Bundy: "Felt that it should be the Director's

judgment as to what information about it was provided

to him." (34)

5. "Believe" Ike/JFK both advised "guess " through

Dulles channel (38)

6. No disclosure to RFK/Taylor (42)

a. What is his 4th reason? (45)

b. No reason to believe Dulles didn't (46)

Compare Rocky 2302

HH 53244

DooId: 32423495

Page 4

---

## Page 5

=2 -

7. Given everything I know of Dulles "I would expect he

had perhaps obliquely advised both of the Presidents.

of this auxiliary operation, the assassination attempt."

(47)

8. "Executive Action"

a. "As far as I know is true" WH asked to create.

"study capability" (49)

b. Can't remember who (49)

c. Of request (50). Though do remember assigning

to Harvey (50-51) (76 - 77)

d. Most likely Bundy or Rostow

e. Doesn't recall telling them about actual (52)

f. what wanted was, much more than assassination

capability: "possibly assassination as a last resort."

(57)

g. RIDER X (attached)

9. Assumes, as expert and considered opinion that

JFK told but is 'gues$56)

10. Opinion: "Very much doubt if he at any time he /JFK/

was told any of the details" "Guess" that Dulles or staff

member had desire to shield -- intimate "something of the

Put in actual 196/

What papers?

Who might this be?

NW 53244 DocId: 32423495

Page

5

---

## Page 6

- 3 -

sort was going forward, but giving the President

aslittle info about it as possible"' - Purpose: allow

cancel, or go ahead without "extracting from him an

explicit endorsement of the detailed specific plan." (61)

NH 53244 DocId: 32423495

Page 6

---

## Page 7

RIDER X

g. "Normal practice" in agency to create various

kinds of capabilities before reason to be certain could

be used. (67). Would not be "particularly surprising"

to me if initial steps had been taken without outside

request (67-68)

(i) But doesn't disagree with IG report that WH

asked. Rests on Harvey's quote of him (69) to best of reco-

llection is true. No reason to believe H. would misquote "and

I believe if I said that at the time, as he reported it, it

was the truth." (70)

h. was a "capability to secure the removal from office

or to render powerless or in some other way to frustrate

figures (68)

(i) Task was "perform research on methods, or

possible assets, or kinds of Executive Action, presumably on

what would be feasible in various parts of the world." (73)

i. "Could have" set up plan for assassination capability

on own (79). But "relying on Mr. Harvey's evidence" believes came

through WH (SO). While doesn't remember conversations, "I believe did

have with Rostow at least. May have been initiated within agency but

"I béliove that if so I talked to him about it." (81)

HH 53244

DocId: 32423495

Page 7

---

## Page 8

Excerpts from Bissell Testimony on 6/9/75

White House

1. Did not self inform 5412, i. e., Nixon. And

haven't heard others did. Assumed Dulles. (26)

a.

Nor JFK in 11/60 (27)

2. "Not to my recollection" re disclose to Bundy

effort to ass. C. underway (28)

a. "Explanation" to Chairman (32)

was Edwards operation.

3. Knows nothing re outside agency (30)

4. Re Bundy: "Felt that it should be the Director's

judgment as to what information about it was provided

to him." (34)

5. "Believe" Ike/JFK both advised "guess " through

Dulles channel (38)

6. No disclosure to RFK/Taylor (42)

a. What is his 4th reason? (45)

b. No reason to believe Dulles didn't (46)

Compare Rocky 2302

HIW

33244

DocId: 32423495

Page

---

## Page 9

- 2 -

7. Given everything I know of Dulles "I would expect he

had perhaps obliquely advised both of the Presidents

of this auxiliary operation, the assassination attempt."

(47)

8. "Executive Action"

a. "As far as I know is true" WH asked to create

'study capability" (49)

b. Can't remember who (49)

c. Of request (50). Though do remember assigning

to Harvey (50-51) (76 - 77)

d. Most likely Bundy or Rostow

e. Doesn't recall telling them about actual (52)

f. what wanted was, much more than assassination

capability: "possibly assassination as a last resort."

(57)

g. RIDER X (attached)

9. Assumes, as expert and considered opinion that

JFK told but is 'gues$36)

10. Opinion: "Very much doubt if he at any time he /JFK/

was told any of the details" "Guess" that Dulles or staff

member had desire to shield -- intimate "something of the

Put in actual 1967

What papers?

Who might this be?

HW 53244 DocId:32423495

Page 9

---

## Page 10

53244

Page

10

- 3 -

sort was going forward, but giving the President

aslittle info about it as possible" - Purpose: allow

cancel, or go ahead without "extracting from him an

explicit endorsement of the detailed specific plan." (61)

---

## Page 11

53244

Page

11

RIDER X

g. "Normal practice" in agency to create various

kinds of capabilities before reason to be certain could

be used. (67). Would not be "particularly surprising"

to me if initial steps had been taken without outside

request (67-68)

(i) But doesn't disagree with If report that WH

asked. Rests on Harvey's quote of him (69) to best of reco-

llection is true. No reason to believe H. would misquote "and

I believe if I said that at the time, as he reported it, it

was the truth." (70)

h. was a "capability to secure the removal from office

or to render powerless or in some other way to frustrate

figures (68)

(i) Task was "perform research on methods, or

possible assets, or kinds of Executive Action, presumably on

what would be feasible in various parts of the world." (73)

i. "Could have" set up plan for assassination capability

on own (79). But "relying on Mr. Harvey's evidence" believes came

through WH (80). While doesn't remember conversations, "I believe did

have with Rostow at least. May have been initiated within agency but

"I believe that if so I talked to him about it." (81)

---

## Page 12

SECRET/SENSITIVE

R247

MEMORANDUM

To :

From:

Date:

Fritz Schwarz

Bill Bader

June 11, 1975

COPY

OF

INVENIORIEDI

ON MAR 15 1971

BY -

In recommending the agent or "asset" WIROGUE to

the Chief of Station, Leopoldville, the Chief of the

Agency's African Division (probably Bronson Tweedy)

wrote in late 1960:

"He is indeed aware of the precepts of

wrong, but if he 1s given an

assignment which may be morally wrong in

the eyes of the world, but necessary because

his case officer ordered him to carry it out,

then it is right and he will dutifully under-

take appropriate action for its execution

win rationaise co sciens."

In a word, he

HH 53244

DooId:32423495 Page

12

---