</s>104-10126-10244 6. September 1975 MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION: Dan Rather and Les Midgboy 3 September 1975 Mr. Rather said that CBS is working up a series of programs entitled, "The Assassinations, dealing with the assassinations of President Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and they are particularly concerned that they have the facts about the assassination of the President Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. They are particularly concerning that they had not had some serious CIA contacts that have that CIA had not-had sems else to CIA conducted in the United States. The CIA had had some contact with an ex-Marine who worked in the Soviet- between, an interview with the Marine who made him an agent, but beetween, and the interview with him and making him in an agent. But wanted to make sure he had covered the following statements. He referred wanted him to his wife, and he had to be a member of the Soviet Union. Dick Gregory's paranoia on the subject of CIA connections with the Kennedy death. We went over a variety of matters that CIA has no consistently firmed. We went over the variety of sayings that Cia had to consistently with Oswald either during his Russian period or afterwards, are of his visits to embassies in Mexico City, which award of his visit to the Russian Federation. information was made available to the Warren Commission, Some indications to the embassy that Howard Hunt Visited some of his visitors to the contrary) that Howard Huntton traveler that CIA was interviewed was indeed a different individual that Oswald, despite the coincidence of the dates was prepared that CIA have interviewed was a different individual that they did despite the Agency was indeed on the dates was prepared to give these answers under oath, based on I information knowledge of the than agency I did not had no information that the agency did not have no believe that any additional information would surface in believe they that any personal information would suffice in especially that Mr. Belin in the Rockefeller Commission on, investigations due to his personal interest in the matter. Investigations were performed in the FBI, and I pointed out information is coming out from the FBI; and I pointed out APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1993 CIA HISTORICAL-REVIEW PROGRAM 2007

Summary  
This memorandum of conversation dated September 3, 1975, records a discussion between CBS journalist Dan Rather and Les Midgboy regarding CBS’s planned series on assassinations, specifically focusing on President John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. The conversation centers on CIA involvement in investigations related to the assassinations, including contacts with an ex-Marine who worked in the Soviet Union and was considered for CIA recruitment. The ex-Marine’s wife is mentioned as a point of contact. The discussion notes that the CIA had no consistent information about Lee Harvey Oswald’s activities during his time in the Soviet Union or subsequent visits to Mexico City and the Russian Federation, though some embassy-related details were shared with the Warren Commission. Howard Hunt’s alleged connections to Oswald are addressed, clarifying that the CIA interviewed a different individual despite overlapping dates. The Rockefeller Commission’s lack of authority to investigate FBI matters is emphasized. References to Allen Dulles and James Helms discuss intelligence agency protocols regarding exposure of agents and responses to false allegations. The conversation also touches on potential implications for CBS’s programming and the need to address public paranoia about CIA involvement in the assassinations.  

Key People  
- Dan Rather (CBS journalist)  
- Les Midgboy (CBS representative)  
- Lee Harvey Oswald (assassin of JFK and RFK)  
- Howard Hunt (CIA operative, alleged connection to Oswald)  
- Allen Dulles (former CIA director)  
- James Helms (CIA official)  
- Mrs. Garrison (alleged source of false claims about CIA activities)  

Key Locations  
- Soviet Union (ex-Marine’s work location)  
- Mexico City (Oswald’s alleged visit)  
- Russian Federation (Oswald’s alleged visit)  
- Washington, D.C. (CIA headquarters and Rockefeller Commission context)  

Key Events  
- CBS planning a series on assassinations of JFK and RFK  
- CIA’s contact with ex-Marine for potential recruitment  
- Discussion of Oswald’s activities in the Soviet Union and Mexico City  
- Clarification that Howard Hunt was not the same individual as Oswald  
- Rockefeller Commission’s limited scope regarding FBI investigations  
- References to Allen Dulles and James Helms on intelligence protocols  
- Addressing public paranoia about CIA involvement in assassinations  

Key Organizations  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Rockefeller Commission (investigation into CIA activities)  
- CBS News (planning investigative series on assassinations)

RFK Declassified Files

00464940_memo_of_conversation_dan_104-10419-10065.pdf

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