</s>157-10014-10178 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 JFK Assassination System Date: 77/7/2015 Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY : SCSIA RECORD NUMBER : 157-1001A-1018 RECORD SERIES : MISCELLANOUS RECOROS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTEE RECORD FILE NUMBER: 07-M-83 AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 07-M.83 Document Information ORIGINATOR : SSCIA FROM: Document Information TO: TITLE: DATE: 00/00/1975 PAGES: 161 SUBJECTS: CASTRO, FIDEL LUMUMBA, PATRICE, ASSASSINAATION CLA DOCUMENT TYPE: REPORT CLASSIFICATION: Declasified RESTRICTIONS : IB: IC CURRENT STATUS : Redact DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 05/31/2000 OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : CC Box 73 1 v.1 NW 50955 DocId: 324235666 Page 1

Summary  
The documents detail U.S. government discussions and covert operations related to political instability in the Congo during 1960–1961, focusing on Patrice Lumumba’s leadership and potential U.S. involvement in his removal from power. Testimonies from former CIA officers, State Department officials, and NSC staff describe planning for biological agents to assassinate Lumumba, internal debates over covert actions, and interactions between the CIA, Pentagon, and White House. While not directly referencing John F. Kennedy’s assassination, these records contextualize broader U.S. intelligence activities during his presidency, including discussions of "Executive Action" and covert operations in Cuba and Africa. The documents also reference NSC meetings where Lumumba’s political situation was debated, with some officials suggesting his elimination as a last resort. CIA involvement in planning for such actions is noted, though no direct link to JFK’s assassination is established in the summaries provided.  

Key People  
- **COS** (Chief of Station in the Congo): Testified about receiving biological agents from Sidney Gottlieb for Lumumba’s assassination and interactions with CIA personnel.  
- **Sidney Gottlieb**: CIA Technical Services Division operative who authorized the use of biological agents for Lumumba’s assassination.  
- **Richard Bissell** (CIA Deputy Director for Plans): Mentioned in discussions about Congo operations.  
- **Bronson Tweedy** (CIA Africa Division Chief): Potentially aware of the assassination plan.  
- **C. Douglas Dillon**: Former Under Secretary of State and Acting Secretary of State, testified about Pentagon meetings discussing Lumumba’s situation but dismissed assassination as impractical.  
- **Robert Johnson**: NSC staff member who claimed President Eisenhower may have suggested eliminating Lumumba during an August 1960 meeting.  
- **James Lay**: Former NSC Executive Secretary; stated he could not recall discussions about Lumumba’s assassination.  
- **Allen Dulles** (CIA Director): Involved in planning covert operations against Lumumba and referenced in debates over CIA ethics.  
- **John F. Kennedy** (implied through context of U.S. foreign policy decisions during his presidency).  

Key Locations  
- **Congo** (Stanleyville, Thysville, Katanga): Sites of Lumumba’s detention, movements, and CIA operations.  
- **Pentagon**: Location of meetings discussing Lumumba’s removal and covert actions.  
- **White House (Cabinet Room)**: Site of NSC meetings referenced in Dillon’s testimony.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Central hub for government offices and intelligence coordination.  

Key Events  
- **Lumumba’s assassination plan**: COS received biological agents from Gottlieb to poison Lumumba via food or drink, authorized by President Eisenhower through the DCI.  
- **Pentagon meeting (late July/early August 1960)**: Dillon recalled discussions about Lumumba’s mental state and potential for assassination, though CIA representatives opposed such actions due to moral objections.  
- **NSC meetings (July–September 1960)**: Discussions focused on Lumumba’s political situation, with some officials suggesting his removal from power.  
- **"Executive Action" reference**: Mentioned in a 1963 NSC meeting transcript, historically associated with the JFK assassination investigation but not explicitly tied to this context.  
- **CIA planning for covert operations**: Included sabotage tests, paramilitary force preparations, and financial support to Congolese "moderates."  

Key Organizations  
- **Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)**: Central to planning Lumumba’s removal, with involvement of Technical Services Division, Africa Division, and personnel like Gottlieb, Biss, and Tweedy.  
- **National Security Council (NSC)**: Conducted discussions on foreign policy and intelligence matters, including Lumumba’s situation.  
- **Department of State**: Involved in diplomatic coordination and debates over covert actions.  
- **Special Group (54/12)**: High-level interagency body reviewing covert operations against Cuba and Congo.  
- **Rockefeller Commission**: Mentioned in the context of post-assassination investigations into CIA activities, though not directly tied to this content.

JFK Declassified Files

157-10014-10178.pdf

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