Week in Review: What's in the Oswald and Joannides Files?
Malcolm Blunt calls for operational files as "Enhanced Historical Understanding"
We’re in a summertime state of mind. Congress has left town and thunderstorms are rolling through the DMV — that’s the District, Maryland and Virginia, not the Department of Motor Vehicles. While the Kennedy Center holds onto its name, JFK strides across The Reach. But stories from JFK Facts keep on with the call to release JFK assassination records.
The Codenames, Please
Jefferson Morley took a closer look at the six CIA operations that involved the man who would become known as the “lone gunman.” What meets the eye when we open the Oswald file?
The CIA’s surveillance of Lee Harvey Oswald while President Kennedy was still alive was persistent and high-level. It involved code-named covert activities conducted or controlled by the CIA’s Counterintelligence Staff, which was headed by James Angleton, one of the top three officials in the clandestine service.
The code names? HTLINGUAL, AMSANTA, AMSPELL, LIEMPTY, LIENVOY, LCIMPROVE.
Read about them here.
Enhanced Historical Understanding
British JFK researcher Malcolm Blunt explained a precedent for the release of CIA operational files that Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) now seeks. The operational files of deceased CIA undercover officer George Joannides were not part of the recent release of his personnel file. Operational files of CIA are exempt from external examination by congressional order but not — possibly — from review by members of the House who have the necessary clearances.
Blunt wrote in this note:
In the 1990s the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) sought William Pawley’s “personality” (or 201) file. The board learned that Pawley's 201 file had been deposited in the operational files relating to the Bayo-Pawley mission. The CIA also discovered some operational records in Pawley's 201 file.
A sensible agreement was reached by both parties that the Bayo-Pawley operational file could be released under what is known as EHU (Enhanced Historical Understanding). The agency made it clear to the ARRB that this decision was very much a "one off” and should be regarded as exceptional and not standard.
But the CIA itself conceded that the JFK Records Act required EHU action in some cases. There is a precedent.
Watch for more details Bayo-Pawley mission in a JFK Facts story coming soon.
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
Sadly (IMHO), Morley needed to defend his work again from the attacks by our “friends” at SpyTalk and their campaign to have The Washington Post correct, retract and deny a page one story by Tom Jackman that cites him. He compares their unprofessional behavior with the surprisingly gentlemanly invitation to discuss the JFK documents on air from Steve Bannon, sometimes known as the Prince of Darkness.
A link to the podcast is in the story here.
Who Was Joannides in the CIA Scheme of Things?
On our own podcast, Ryan Carter posted a recent chat with James Robenalt, historian, lawyer, and author, who grilled Morley, editor of JFK Facts, about the release of the personnel file of undercover CIA officer George Joannides. … What does this file tell us about the events of 1963? (A lot.) … Who was Joannides in the CIA scheme of things? (Trusted and decorated.) … Is the file a “smoking gun?” ... (It’s smoking gun proof of a CIA operation to blame JFK’s death on Fidel Castro.)
Help Wanted
Here’s a reminder that JFK Facts is seeking writers and creators to help mine the 77,000 pages of JFK material now found unredacted in the National Archives. There is new and relevant JFK information that has not been reported. New online sources of archival video and photography related to the Kennedy presidency are also proliferating. Download JFK Facts Writer/Creator Guidelines for what kind of articles we publish. You’ll also find details on how to submit your article, audio report, or short video for publication on JFK Facts.
Excellent recap Margot.