</s>104-10127-10297 6. September 1975 MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION: Dan Rather and Les Midgley Dan Rather and les Midgleys 3 September 1975 Mr. Rather said that CBS is working up a series of programs entitled, "The Assassinations," dealing with the assassination of President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Rev. Assassination, and the attempt on Gov. Wallace. He said they are particularly concerned that they have the facts about any possible CIA connection with Oswald. He Said that it seems also, on its face, incredible work in the Soviet some contact Cia connection with Oswalt. The said that it between an interview with him and worked in an agent; but between, an interview he said he realized all the difference between the work of Mark Lane in this field and making him an agent, but wanted to make sure he had covered all the bets. He referred to the work-of-Mark Lane on this field of CIA connections Dick Gregory of paranoia on the subject of CIA corrections. with the Kennedy death. "We went over a variety of matters, but it essentially firmed it up at the during his saying that CIA had no contact with it at the end during his Russian period or afterwards, that CIA's only records of Oswald came from our becoming aware of his visits to embassies in Mexico City, which, that CIA was made available to the Warren City, when that there was absolutely necessary to the Warrington, which (and that there is also the only opportunity that Howard Hunt visited Mexico at the CIA had interviewed there, and that the Russian traveler that CIA has interviewed that Howard hunt visited individual than Oswald was there, indeed a different of his time had interviewed Union. Indeed a different date was referred to give these answers under oath, based on information available within the Agency, I ended by saying I personal knowledge of the matter. I said, although I had no believe that any had been carefully examined from 1963 on, especially by Mr. Belin in the Rockefeller Commission in especially by my Belin be in the fact that some additional investigations due to his personal interest in the matter! Mr. Midgly referred to the fact about some additional information is coming out from the FBI, and I pointed out APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1993 CIA HISTORICAL-REVIEW PROGRAM 70077 RELEAS

Summary  
This document is a memorandum of conversation dated September 3, 1975, between CBS journalist Dan Rather and CIA official Les Midgley. The discussion centers on CBS’s planned series titled "The Assassinations," which includes coverage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and the attempted assassination of Governor George Wallace. Rather expressed concerns about potential CIA connections to Lee Harvey Oswald, particularly regarding Oswald’s activities in the Soviet Union and his later visits to Mexico City. The CIA official denied any direct contact with Oswald during his time in the USSR or afterward, stating that the agency’s records on Oswald were derived from U.S. awareness of his embassy visits in Mexico City. The official also noted that the Central Intelligence Agency provided information about Oswald to the Warren Commission but emphasized that no evidence of CIA involvement was found. The conversation touched on the Rockefeller Commission’s lack of authority over FBI matters and references to Allen Dulles’ comments on intelligence agent exposure, with Mr. Rather noting James J. Angleton’s (not Helms) stance on the matter. The official suggested that CIA might have avoided interviewing Oswald if prior FBI interest was indicated, and stated no military briefings were conducted for intelligence purposes between 1953 and 1963.  

Key People  
- Dan Rather: CBS journalist involved in producing a series on assassinations.  
- Les Midgley: CIA official participating in the discussion.  
- Mark Lane: Investigator known for his work on CIA connections to JFK’s assassination.  
- Dick Gregory: Civil rights activist and figure associated with paranoia about CIA activities.  
- Allen Dulles: Former Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) referenced in discussions about intelligence operations.  
- James J. Angleton: CIA official mentioned in context of comments on agent exposure.  

Key Locations  
- Mexico City: Site of Oswald’s embassy visits noted in the CIA’s records.  
- Washington, D.C.: Implied as location for the Warren Commission and Rockefeller Commission activities.  

Key Events  
- Production of CBS’s "The Assassinations" series, focusing on JFK, RFK, MLK, and Wallace.  
- Discussion of Lee Harvey Oswald’s connections to the Soviet Union and Mexico City.  
- Reference to the Warren Commission’s investigation into JFK’s assassination.  
- Mention of the Rockefeller Commission’s limited scope regarding FBI matters.  
- Speculation about CIA avoidance of interviewing Oswald due to prior FBI interest.  

Key Organizations  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): Central figure in discussions about Oswald and intelligence operations.  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI): Referenced in context of its role in investigations and the Rockefeller Commission’s limitations.  
- Warren Commission: Mentioned as the body that investigated JFK’s assassination.  
- Rockefeller Commission: Tasked with reviewing CIA activities but without authority over FBI matters.

RFK Declassified Files

00366761_memo_of_conversation_dan_104-10428-10180.pdf

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