</s>104-10143-10016- OLC #77-0245 JFK JFK A 11/19/1997 25 January 1977 MELIAGE HSCA HSCa MEMORANDUM FOR: Chief, Counterintelligence Staff 77-0032 FROM Russell B. Holmes CI Operations Group SUBJECT Article B. Norman Kempster Appearing in The Los Angeles Times of 1 January 1977 and Entitled (CIA Withheld Data on Oswald." (Copy Attached) 1. The undersigned takes umbrage at the continual irresponsibility of the American press in its reporting on Lee Harvey Oswald and the Agency's alleged handling of the case. It is particularly galloping when Select Committee Counsel, it is particularly calling when Select committee Council, and the Secretary of the Agency is responsible for the release of as cited by Norman Kempstar, who both inaccurate and detri- mental to the Agency and releases to the press statements which, the opportunity to the agency and which the Agency has not been given It is evident from such releases that the Agency was the Agency as once again to be laid open to public scrutiny by a hostile press again to the open an unsympathetic Congressional Committed. In other words, the agency has been already charged and will be tried to an sentenced without being allowed the basic rights of any defendant by the Agency without being able to although would probably be rejected out of its own defense would probably Be rejected out to hand. 3) The inference of Sprauge's public public statements (as cited by Kempster) pertaining to the Agent's alleged mis- handling of the Oswald case is that the agency was dishonest; that it deliberately withheld pertinent information from the Federal Bureau of the Oswald case is not the Agency were not responsible for the Federal bureau of (base upon incomplete investigation) department of the Department of the United States Department. representatives during his first visit here on 24 November 1976 "that he will not prejudice (emphasis added) the Agency CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASE IN FULL 199 CIA IMPEDT 20689

Summary:  
The document discusses the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)’s involvement in the investigation of Lee Harvey Oswald’s activities related to his contact with the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City during October 1963. It addresses allegations by Norman Kempster, published in *The Los Angeles Times*, that the CIA withheld information about Oswald’s interactions with Cuban and Soviet officials. The CIA disputes these claims, asserting that it provided relevant intelligence to federal agencies, including the FBI, on October 10, 1963, detailing Oswald’s inquiries about visas to the USSR and Cuba. The document clarifies that the CIA did not initially know the purpose of Oswald’s contact with the Soviet Embassy, which was later determined to be related to his travel plans. It also notes that the Agency withheld specific details about Oswald’s visit to the embassy on September 28, 1963, due to incomplete information at the time. The text criticizes Select Committee Counsel Richard A. Sprague for making misleading statements about the CIA’s handling of the case and emphasizes the Agency’s adherence to protocols in disseminating intelligence.  

Key People:  
- **Richard A. Sprague**: Chief Counsel for the Select Committee, criticized for alleged misrepresentations regarding CIA actions.  
- **Norman Kempster**: Journalist whose article prompted the CIA’s rebuttal, alleging inaccuracies about the Agency’s handling of Oswald’s case.  
- **Lee Harvey Oswald**: Central figure in the investigation, with documented contacts with Soviet and Cuban embassies in Mexico City.  

Key Locations:  
- **Mexico City**: Site of Oswald’s interactions with Soviet and Cuban embassies.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Headquarters for CIA and FBI operations.  
- **Dallas, Texas**: Oswald’s place of residence at the time of JFK’s assassination.  

Key Events:  
- **October 1963**: CIA disseminated information about Oswald’s contact with Soviet Embassy in Mexico City to federal agencies.  
- **November 22, 1963**: Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which prompted a review of Oswald’s activities by the Mexico City Station.  
- **April 1964**: FBI provided testimony to the Warren Commission about Oswald’s investigation, noting CIA communication dated October 10, 1963.  

Key Organizations:  
- **Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)**: Central to the investigation of Oswald’s activities and interactions with foreign embassies.  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Collaborated with the CIA on Oswald’s case; provided testimony to the Warren Commission.  
- **Warren Commission**: Investigative body established to examine JFK’s assassination, referenced in discussions about Oswald’s involvement.

MLK Declassified Files

00305047_memo_complaining_about_hs_104-10143-10016.pdf

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