</s>104-10306-10018 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 1A 19 December 1963 MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD Noted by D.C.L. MEMORDUM Meeting with the President on Cuba at 1100 on Wither SUBJECT: Meeting with The President on Cuba at 1100 o 19 December 1965 1. Included in the meeting were Acting Secretary of State Ball, Acting Secretary in Defense Gilpatric, Secretary Cyrus Vance, Secretary Douglas Dillon, Ambassador Thompson, General, Secretary of Defense Wilson, Mr. McGregor Bundy, Mr. Bromley Smith, Mr ., Edwin Martin, Mrs. Toreensen, Mr. Bromley Crimin, Mr .. Gordon Chase, Mr., George Ready, Mr. Bill Moyers, General Carter, and Helms, and Mr. Fizz- Gerald. 2. The President, after full discussion, postponed any sizable operations to our Fitzgerald, primarily to avoid any possible embrassarassment to our OAS negotiations on the Venezuela arms cache. We are authorized to continue to put forward proposals for operations and also to continue preparations for air ops. The main thrust was to greatly increase political action with Canada, Britain, Spain, Italy, and others in an effort to promote greater economic blockade. 3. Mr. Bundy later stated that his analysis of the meeting was that the President would continue to approve smaller Fitzgerald-type operations continue to though they would be relatively unrewarding if they would assist in keeping up the morale of the troops on shore, if they could assist inkeeping up to keep up to keeping the ball rolling. MarshMarshall S. Carter Lieutenant General, USA Acting Director CA 1775 NO CUTIZION TO RELEASE OF THIS DOCUMENT AS SAINTIZED 29/23/78.

Summary:  
The documents detail discussions between U.S. officials and President John F. Kennedy (JFK) in late 1963 regarding Cuba-related policies, international operations, and intelligence activities. Key topics included postponing large-scale operations against Cuba to avoid diplomatic tensions with the Organization of American States (OAS) over Venezuela's arms cache, planning low-risk covert actions to sustain troop morale, and reviewing intelligence reports on Cuban military and civilian dissent efforts. The President emphasized increasing political pressure on Canada, the UK, Spain, and other nations to enforce economic blockades while expressing concerns about Soviet responses to U.S. actions. Discussions also addressed the Kennedy administration's handling of Cuba, including intelligence assessments of Soviet activities and the status of Lee Harvey Oswald's investigation. A separate document from November 1963 references discussions between U.S. officials and President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) regarding international affairs, including Vietnam, Cuba, and Soviet capabilities. It mentions LBJ’s dissatisfaction with current policies in South Vietnam, analysis of Viet Cong activity, and references to an independent investigation into JFK’s assassination that was reportedly blocked by the White House. Both documents highlight coordination between intelligence agencies (CIA, FBI) and the White House on security matters and foreign visitor logistics.  

Key People:  
- John F. Kennedy (President)  
- Robert F. Kennedy (Attorney General, later discussed for involvement in South Vietnam affairs)  
- McGeorge Bundy (National Security Advisor)  
- Dean Rusk (Secretary of State)  
- Robert McNamara (Secretary of Defense)  
- Richard Helms (CIA Director)  
- Desmond Fitzgerald (CIA operative)  
- Edwin Martin (Assistant Secretary for Inter-American Affairs)  
- George W. Ball (Under Secretary of State)  
- Gordon Chase (White House Staff)  
- John H. Crimmins (Coordinator of Cuban Affairs)  
- Lyndon B. Johnson (President)  
- Robert F. Kennedy (Assistant Secretary of Defense)  
- J. Edgar Hoover (FBI Director)  
- Henry Cabot Lodge (U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam)  

Key Locations:  
- Washington, D.C. (White House, government offices, Executive Office Building, State Department)  
- Havana, Cuba  
- Venezuela  
- Mexico City (CIA station, intelligence operations)  
- Saigon, South Vietnam  
- U.S. Embassy in South Vietnam  

Key Events:  
- Postponement of large-scale Cuban operations to avoid OAS tensions over Venezuela’s arms cache.  
- Planning for low-risk covert actions to sustain troop morale in Cuba.  
- Discussions on economic blockades and political pressure against Canada, the UK, Spain, and other nations.  
- Review of intelligence reports on Soviet activities in Cuba and U.S.-Cuban relations.  
- Examination of potential raids (e.g., Matanzas) and air strikes against Cuban targets.  
- Investigation into Lee Harvey Oswald’s activities, including interrogations of Silvia Duran and Alvarado.  
- LBJ’s discussions on South Vietnam’s political instability following the coup that ousted President Diem.  
- Analysis of Viet Cong military activity and implications for U.S. strategy.  
- References to an independent investigation into JFK’s assassination being blocked by the White House.  
- Coordination between CIA, FBI, and the White House on security matters and foreign visitor logistics.  

Key Organizations:  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Department of State  
- Department of Defense  
- Organization of American States (OAS)  
- U.S. Embassy in South Vietnam  
- National Security Council (NSC)  
- Joint Chiefs of Staff  
- Joint Committee on Intelligence (proposed expansion)

JFK Declassified Files

104-10306-10018.pdf

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