</s>104-10147-10039 6. September 1975 MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION: Dan Rather and Les Midgley 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, Rev. King, and the attempt on Kennedy. He said they are particularized, and on attempt on Wallace. Kennedy, Kennedy, and they are particularised with Owen Oswald. We said that it seems also, on its face, incredible that CIA had not had some contact with an ex-Marine who worked in the Soviet- Union, and returned. He had said he realized that CIA did not had between, and he said he had realized the difference- between. He made sure he had covered all the bets. He referred to to the work of Mark Lane in his field and I referred to Dick Gregory to make sure he covered all of the bets - He referred. with the Kennedy death. We went over a variety of matters, but I essentially firmed it up at the end by saying that CIA has no contact- with Oswald either during his Russian period or afterwards, that CIA was only records embassies in Mexico City, which that CIA has only recorded embassies for a conclusion. (and information was made available to the Warren Commission, that there was absolutely no basis for a conclusion, (and some indications that the CIA was conducted there, and that the Russian traveler that CIA was interviewed was indeed a different individual than Oswald, despite the coincidence of the Russian of his residence in the Soviets Union. I ended by saying I was prepared on available within the Agency, although I had no was prepared for the Soviet Union. personal knowledge of the matter. I said I could not believe that it any additional information would surface in the Agency as it had been carried into Rockefeller Commission on, investigations due to his personal interest in the matter- Mr. Midgly referred to the fact that some additional information is coming out from the FBI, and I pointed out JFK ACT APPROVED FOR RELEASE 93 CIA HISTORIC

Summary  
This memorandum of conversation dated September 3, 1975, records a discussion between CBS journalist Dan Rather and Les Midgley regarding a planned series by CBS titled "The Assassinations," which includes coverage of the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and an attempt on Alabama Governor George Wallace. The conversation focuses on CIA involvement in the assassination of RFK, specifically addressing whether the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had contact with Lee Harvey Oswald during his time in the Soviet Union or afterward. Midgley and Rather discuss the CIA's lack of documented contact with Oswald, noting that the agency only recorded embassies in Mexico City and provided information to the Warren Commission, which found no basis for concluding CIA involvement. The document also mentions a Russian traveler interviewed by the CIA who was identified as a different individual than Oswald, despite a coincidence in his Soviet residence. The discussion further references the Rockefeller Commission's investigation, noting that it did not have authority over FBI matters. Allen Dulles' comments on intelligence agents being exposed are mentioned, with Midgley referencing additional FBI information emerging. The conversation concludes with an assessment that the CBS series may help dispel conspiracy theories about CIA involvement in RFK's assassination.  

Key People  
- Dan Rather (CBS journalist)  
- Les Midgley (individual involved in the discussion)  
- Lee Harvey Oswald (assassin of RFK)  
- Allen Dulles (former CIA director)  
- J. Edgar Hoover (FBI director)  
- Roy C. Weatherup (Rockefeller Commission investigator, referenced in context)  

Key Locations  
- Mexico City (CIA embassy records mentioned)  
- Soviet Union (Oswald's residence and CIA traveler coincidence)  
- United States (CBS headquarters and discussion location)  

Key Events  
- CBS planning a series on assassinations, including RFK’s case  
- Discussion of CIA’s lack of contact with Lee Harvey Oswald during his time in the Soviet Union  
- Reference to Warren Commission findings on CIA involvement  
- Mention of Rockefeller Commission's limited scope regarding FBI investigations  
- Reference to Allen Dulles’ comments on intelligence agent exposure  
- Note on emerging FBI information and its potential impact on conspiracy theories  

Key Organizations  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Warren Commission (investigated JFK assassination)  
- Rockefeller Commission (investigated CIA activities post-Kennedy assassination)

RFK Declassified Files

00544153_memo_of_conversation_dan_104-10115-10303.pdf

Document Summary

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