</s>104-103901-10004 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 TOP SECRET CIA Internal Use Only Access Controlled by CIA History Staff TS#795052 Copy 1 of 2

Summary  
The document details extensive U.S. government planning and coordination for anti-Castro operations in Cuba during 1960–1961, focusing on covert actions, military strategies, and inter-agency debates. Key themes include CIA-led sabotage efforts targeting Cuba’s petroleum industry and microwave systems, propaganda campaigns via radio broadcasts to undermine Fidel Castro’s regime, and logistical challenges in training Cuban exiles for an amphibious invasion. Internal discussions highlight tensions between the CIA, Department of Defense, and State Department over operational methods, funding allocations, and deniability concerns. The Bay of Pigs Invasion (April 1961) is referenced as a failed attempt to overthrow Castro, with planning debates emphasizing risks of U.S. involvement, logistical failures, and intelligence misjudgments. Propaganda efforts included the "Revolution Betrayed" campaign, radio broadcasts from Swan Island, and media publications like *Avance* and *Bohemia Libre*. The document also notes Nixon’s alleged role in anti-Castro planning, refuting claims of direct involvement in assassination plots, and references internal CIA critiques of operational security and coordination.  

Key People  
- **Fidel Castro Ruz**: Cuban revolutionary leader targeted by U.S. covert operations.  
- **Allen Dulles**: CIA Director overseeing anti-Castro planning and sabotage efforts.  
- **Gordon Gray**: National Security Adviser involved in policy discussions and inter-agency coordination.  
- **Richard M. Nixon**: U.S. Vice President accused of masterminding Bay of Pigs operations; document refutes these claims.  
- **J.C. King**: CIA officer overseeing Western Hemisphere Division operations.  
- **Jake Esterline**: CIA operative involved in anti-Castro planning and propaganda efforts.  
- **Col. Jack Hawkins**: U.S. Marine Corps officer assigned to train Cuban exile brigade.  
- **Tracy Barnes**: CIA official supporting expansion of paramilitary operations.  
- **Thomas Mann**: Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Affairs, debated operational timelines.  
- **William Pawley**: U.S. diplomat and businessman linked to anti-Castro networks.  

Key Locations  
- **Cuba**: Target of sabotage, propaganda, and invasion planning; key cities include Havana, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantanamo Bay.  
- **Swan Islands**: Site of a 50,000-watt radio station for anti-Castro broadcasts.  
- **Panama (Fort Randolph)**: Training site for Cuban exile paramilitary units.  
- **Guatemala**: Used as a base for training operations prior to relocation to the U.S.  
- **Miami**: Location of meetings between U.S. officials and Cuban exiles.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Headquarters for inter-agency planning and National Security Council discussions.  

Key Events  
- **Bay of Pigs Invasion (17–19 April 1961)**: Failed CIA-backed amphibious landing to overthrow Castro; attributed to logistical failures and insufficient support.  
- **"Revolution Betrayed" Propaganda Campaign**: Department of State-led effort to portray Castro as abandoning Cuban interests.  
- **Swan Island Radio Station Establishment (May 1960)**: Operational facility for anti-Castro broadcasts, requiring significant logistical coordination.  
- **Planning for Paramilitary Training (1960–1961)**: Expansion of training programs from 60 to over 500 Cuban exiles, with U.S. military involvement in logistics.  
- **Internal CIA Debates**: Disputes over operational security, funding allocations, and the feasibility of covert actions against Castro’s regime.  
- **Nixon’s Involvement in Anti-Castro Planning**: Mentioned in context of 1959 meeting with Castro and subsequent briefings on U.S. operations.  

Key Organizations  
- **Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)**: Led planning for sabotage, propaganda, and military strikes against Cuba; faced internal inefficiencies and coordination challenges.  
- **U.S. Department of State**: Involved in diplomatic considerations and the "Revolution Betrayed" campaign.  
- **Department of Defense**: Supported amphibious invasion plans and logistical coordination with Latin American allies.  
- **Special Group**: Presidential advisory body overseeing anti-Castro strategies, including debates on military intervention.  
- **Voice of America (VOA)**: Collaborated with CIA on radio broadcasts to Cuba.  
- **Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (SONJ)**: Mentioned in discussions about economic sanctions and sabotage of Soviet crude oil shipments to Cuba.

Summary  
The documents detail U.S. government planning and coordination of anti-Castro operations in Cuba during 1960–1961, involving multiple agencies including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), National Security Council (NSC), and White House officials. Key figures include Vice President Richard Nixon, CIA Director Allen Dulles, Deputy Director for Plans Richard Bissell, and Cuban exile contacts like William Pawley. The text outlines covert actions such as paramilitary training, radio broadcasts from Swan Island, and support for anti-Castro groups like the Frente Revolucionario Democrático (FRD). Internal debates within the CIA focused on funding, operational risks, and political implications of these efforts. Nixon’s involvement included briefings on intelligence matters and coordination with CIA officials, though he was not directly involved in planning operations. The Bay of Pigs invasion (1961) is referenced as a CIA-led operation to overthrow Fidel Castro, distinct from Mafia-linked assassination plots. References to John F. Kennedy appear in the context of his role as a presidential candidate receiving intelligence briefings on Cuban policy and operations.  

Key People  
- Richard Nixon (U.S. Vice President, involved with CIA through aide General Robert E. Cushman Jr.)  
- Allen Dulles (CIA Director)  
- Richard Bissell (CIA Deputy Director for Plans)  
- William Pawley (Cuban exile, CIA contact)  
- Jacob D. Esterline (CIA officer)  
- Gordon Gray (National Security Adviser to Eisenhower)  
- John F. Kennedy (U.S. presidential candidate referenced in intelligence briefings)  
- Lyndon B. Johnson (Vice President, mentioned in meetings with Nixon and Cuban officials)  
- General Robert E. Cushman Jr. (Nixon’s aide, CIA liaison)  

Key Locations  
- Cuba (focus of anti-Castro operations, including Swan Island radio station)  
- Miami (base for anti-Castro publications and exile groups)  
- Washington D.C. (headquarters for planning and coordination)  
- Guantanamo Bay (military base referenced in personnel and logistical discussions)  
- Havana (Cuban capital, site of intelligence activities)  

Key Events  
- Planning and funding of anti-Castro operations by the CIA, including paramilitary training and radio broadcasts.  
- Meetings between CIA officials and Cuban exiles like William Pawley and Señor Garcia Kohly Antiga.  
- NSC briefings on Cuba’s political situation and potential U.S. intervention.  
- Internal CIA debates over supporting specific exile groups (e.g., FRD vs. Pawley’s faction).  
- Nixon’s involvement in coordinating anti-Castro efforts and his awareness of secret operations.  
- Bay of Pigs Invasion (1961, CIA-led operation to oust Fidel Castro).  
- Intelligence briefings for presidential candidates, including John F. Kennedy, on U.S. policy toward Cuba.  

Key Organizations  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- National Security Council (NSC)  
- Department of Defense (DoD)  
- Bureau of Operations (BOP)  
- Cuban exile groups (e.g., FRD, Montecristi)  
- Organization of American States (OAS)  
- U.S. Embassy in Cuba and other diplomatic posts

JFK Declassified Files

104-10301-10004.pdf

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