CIA AND THE WATERGATE

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00401787
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: October 23, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 10, 2023
• Case Number: F-2021-00923
• Publication Date: February 16, 1973

Approved for Release: 2023/03/28 C00401787
16 February 1973
TALKING PAPER
SUBJECT: CIA and the Watergate
The press has referred on many occasions to the CIA backgrounds
or associations of a number of the Watergate defendants. To make the
record perfectly clear, CIA had no connection with the Watergate inci-
dent or with the political activities of the Watergate defendants. CIA
had a variety of relationships with the individual Watergate defendants
in the past. A review of these past relationships should clarify CIA's
position and avoid possible misconstruction or misunderstanding as to
CIA's actual position.
Mr. E. Howard Hunt
Howard Hunt was a CIA employee from 8 November 1949 to 30
April 1970. While in CIA, he had a variety of duties involving intelli-
gence collection and
He was involved in the Bay of Pigs operation in a mid-level position. (b)(1)
He was gradually phased out of more delicate operations due to a roman.(b)(3)
tic streak in his nature (in particular reflected in his fictional writings
for publication under several pen names, none revealing any classified
material), although he was retained on Agency rolls for compassionate
purposes due to the injury of a daughter in an automobile accident and
the large medical expenses involved. Mr. Hunt had a wide circle of
friends and acquaintances in the Agency, with a number of whom he
maintained contact after his retirement from the Agency. He also per-
formed one or two minor editorial services for the Agency in writing up
recommendations for awards, etc., after his retirement. Mr. Hunt
joined the White House staff in the summer of 1971. On 22-July 1971
Mr. Hunt visited General Cushman, then Deputy Director of Central
Intelligence, and requested help on a sensitive project he was undertaking
for the White House. He stated that he wanted to interview certain people
but not be recognizable to them. For this purpose he requested some
(b)(3)
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alias documentation (driver's license, organization membership cards,
etc.) similar to material he had been furnished for operational use in
1960 while an Agency employee. General Cushman arranged that he be
provided the requested assistance through appropriate technical officers
of the Agency (see attachment). Mr. Hunt also requested and received
from them simple disguise materials. In subsequent meetings with the
technical officers, Mr. Hunt requested and was provided a commercial
tape recorder, a camera, and similar alias documentation and disguise
materials for a then unidentified associate (later identified from press
photos as Mr. G. Gordon Liddy). Mr. Hunt's escalation of requests
culminated in a request that the Agency actively support him by manning
a telephone and receiving letters at a New York address. At this point,
the Agency determined that the requests were beyond an appropriate
level and could risk the Agency's involvement in activities outside its
proper role. Consequently, on. 27 August 1971 assistance to- Mr. Hunt
(and Mr. Liddy) was terminated, and no further assistance was extended
thereafter. During the course of his discussions with Agency officers,
the implication was gained that Mr. Hunt's project involved an attempt
to identify the source of leaks of classified Government documents at
that time. Since 27 August 1971, the Agency has had no further associ-
ation with Mr. Hunt.
Mr. G. Gordon Liddy
See above. No other relationship.
Mr. Eugenio Rolando Martinez Careaga
Mr. Martinez had worked with the Agency during the Bay of Pigs
and on certain operations thereafter. In 1969 he was terminated from
full-time employment but was put on a $100.00-a-month retainer to
ensure the availability of his services if maritime operations for which
he was trained should be needed again and to report on Cuban exile
activities as learned by him in the Miami area. He was met on a regular
basis for this purpose and provided normal reports on these subjects.
He reported on several social contacts with Mr. Howard Hunt but gave
no indication of his or Hunt's involvement in any operations of the nature
of the Watergate incident.
�7r1"
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3
Mr. Frank Anthony Sturgis
Mr. Sturgis was never recruited by the CIA. He was a soldier of
fortune who has been involved in a number of activities aimed at Cuba
over the years and for a time was associated with. Mr. Martinez, dis,
cuss ed above.
Mr. James W. McCord, Jr.
Mr. James McCord was employed by CIA from 22 August 1951 to
31 August 1970. While in CIA, Mr. McCord had been a Security Officer.
When he retired from CIA, he formed a firm known as McCord Associate
specializing in providing security services to business and similar client
By arrangement with Mr. McCord, a number of retiring CIA personnel
were referred to McCord Associates with a view to possible-employment.
However, there was no official connection between CIA and McCord Asso
cialtes, and CIA was unaware of and totally unconnected with Mr. McCord
relationship with the Watergate incident.
Mr. Virgilio Ramon Gonzales-Rosabel
Mr. Virgilio Ramon Gonzales-Rosabel is not on record in any com-
ponent of the Agency.
Mr. Bernard L. Barker
Mr. Barker was utilized by CIA in the early 1960's but was terrnina
on 31 July 1966. There has been no further connection between Mr. Bari(
and CIA.
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a
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26 September 1960
30 September 1960
23 July 1971
20 August 1971
25 August 1'971
27 August 1971
Massachusetts Driver's License and
unspecified club and organizational
cards
Not returned
Driver's License in name Not returned
Alias documents issued in name
Edward Joseph Warren. Disguise
materials (wig, glasses, an.d.speech
alteration device) issued.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(planned use (b)(1)
only one week (b)(3)
and exchange
forL
(b)(1)
license in sarr(b)(3)
alias)
Not returned
recorder in typewriter case and Not returned
business cards issued in name of (b)(1)
Edward J. Warren- (b)(3)
Commercial /camera
is sued.
Associate disguised (wig and glasses)
and given alias documents in name
George F. Leonard.
Film developed and returned. New
York address and phone services
refused.
31 August 1971 Credit card requested and refused.
Returned on 27
August as un.-(b)(1 )
suitable (b)(3)
(b)(3)
Not returned;
said would be
returned or
destroyed.
(b
)(3)
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