CURRENT TIME MAGAZINE INVESTIGATION OF ROBERT R. MULLEN & COMPANY CONNECTION WITH THE WATERGATE INCIDENT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00497293
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 14, 2020
• Case Number: F-2016-01299
• Publication Date: March 1, 1973

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1 March 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Plans
SUBJECT
�
�
Current Time Magazine Investigation of
Robert R. Mullen 4 Company Connection
with the Watergate Incident
1. Mr. Robert R. Mullen, president of Robert R. Mullen
& Company, telephoned CCS on the morning of 28 February to
advise us that Sandy Smith, a reporter from Time Magazine,
was in the Mullen office late on 27 February. Smith started
off by saying that "a source in the Justice Department" had
informed him that the company "is a front for CIA." Mr.
Mullen denied the allegation stoutly, said the company clients
are all legitimate and offered to let Smith inspect the
company books. Mr. Mullen said that his intuition was that
Smith was on a fishing expedition and really had nothing to
substantiate his suspicions.
2. Smith had many questions concerning Howard Hunt,
such as how he secured Mullen employment and his salary.
Mullen told him the company paid him a salary initially and
later on a consultant basis when Hunt began to work for The
Committee to Re-elect The President. Smith wondered about
Hunt's source of income as there is no record in above
Committee's records of payments to Hunt. Mullen informed
Smith that one source of Hunt's income was a government
pension which, according to Hunt, was sizeable.
3. Mullen told Smith that Bob Bennett, partner of Mr.
Mullen who was on a business trip to California, really knew
most about Hunt's later period of Mullen employment. Mullen
could not show Smith records concerning Hunt as they are in
possession of the U. S. attorney:
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4. Bob Mullen again telephoned CCS at 1650 hours on
28 February 1973 as a follow up to his morning call, as
reported above.
5. Sandy Smith, the Time reporter, was in again in the
late afternoon and told Mr7gUllen that he had just seen,
through an FBI contact, a paper allegedly personally delivered
by a high official of CIA to Mr. Pat Gray, Acting Director of
the FBI, during the height of the Watergate flap and investi-
.gation of Howard Hunt last summer.
6. It was evident that Smith at least knew of the
existence of such a document, but Mr. Mullen could only guess
that Smith had not seen it long enough to digest it, or it
said so little that Smith is trying to develop more information.
7. Mr. Mullen continued to deny being associated with
the Agency in any way except for the Cuban Freedom Committee,
which connection had been admitted by Bob Bennett in June to
the news media and U. S. attorney. Smith told Mullen, whom
he has known for years because of some association in New York,
that he is now in his "corner," but would be most unhappy if
he ascertains that Mullen is not leveling with him. Mullen
does not trust Smith and is certain Smith will write up what-
ever he develops. Presumably Time would publish the article.
8. Mullen would like to know what exactly we gave the
FBI so that he can tell Smith what he already seemingly knows
from our memorandum to the FBI, or at least know how to best
cope with Smith. Mr. Mullen requested that our reply be given
him during the evening of 28 February.
9. Attached is a copy of the 21 June 1972 Memorandum for
the Acting Director of the FBI from the Office of Security
concerning Robert R. Mullen Company. Possession of the contents
of this memorandum by Mr. Smith could be very damaging to the
Agency and the company. The last sentence of Para. 4 states
"Mr. Hunt was aware of the two present cover placements under
Robert R. Mullen and Company." Paragraph .5 relates that eight
Mullen company employees have been witting of the company's ties
with the Agency. Paragraph 7 states "In view of the extreme
sensitivity of this information concerning the current use of
Robert R. Mullen Company, it is requested that this report be
tightly controlled and not be disseminated outside your Bureau."
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I.
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(b)(1)
(b)(3)
10. Mr. C/CCS and the CCS case officer for
the Mullen Company, Mr.t._ ; discussed the (b)(1)
above with Mr. William E. Colby and C Mr. Meyer, Ja at ard (b)(3)
approximatePf 1800 hours on 28 February. It was agreed that
Mr. Colby would recommend to the DCI, Mr. Schlesinger, that
Messrs. Mullen and Bennett be allowed to read the 21 June (W(1)
1972 memorandum to the FBI and that they be asked to continue(b)(3)
to deny any allegation of association with the Agency, and
state in effect that there was no relationship, and if there (b)(1)
were, it, of course, would not be admitted. Mr. Schlesinger (b)(3)
.did endorse the proposed course of action.
11. Messrs. of (b)(1)
cCC�7met with Messrs.Ualph Hatrpand(Charles BeckmarUof NOCAD (b)(3)
at 0840 hours on 1 March to inform tfiiin of developments which
endanger _4 who is Under cover the
company It was decided that Mr. would
(b)(1)
further discuss with Mr. Mullen and Mr. Bennett, who had (b)(3)
returned to his office, the Smith visits, allow them to read
the 21 June memorandum to the FBI and propose the immediate
return of Jto the United States and termination of (1D)(1WN
theCCoverlarrangement, the last with the company as the (b)(3)
was terminated in
12. Mr.r� and Mr. Mullen met near the Watergate (b)(1)
and proceeded to Mr. Mullen's apartment in The Watergate (b)(3)
through a rear entrance to The Watergate. Mr. Bennett joined
them shortly and both read the memorandum. It developed that (b)(1)
Mr. Bennett had been present during the second meeting with
(b)(3)
Mr. Smith. Messrs. Bennett and Mullen both were of the opinion, ,
that Smith had not seen the memorandum. They suggested that he
had only heard of its existence or had seen an FBI report whic1ODX1)
summarized the memorandum and said only that the company had (b)(3)
provided cover for the Agency. They felt that if he had seen .
the memorandum, he would not have re-visited them or would have
accused them on the rather specific information contained in .
the memorandum. They said they would continue to deny any �
association with the Agency other than the already acknowledged
relationship with the Cuban Freedom Committee.
13. They related that they told Smith he was beating a
dead horse and that the Washington Star, Washington Post and
Los Angeles Times had already investigated and concluded that
III" Mullen Company was not involved in the Watergate affair or
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the allegation that the CIA had instigated the Watergate Affair.
It was an intriguing theory which just died. Mr. Bennett said
that he recently spent four hours in Los Angeles being inter-
viewed by a Newsweek reporter and had convinced him that the
Mullen Company was not involved with the Watergate Affair. Mr.
Bennett rather proudly related that he is responsible for the
article "Whispers about Colson" in the 5 March issue of Newsweek.
Mr. Bennett does not believe the company will be botherea much
more by the news media which is concluding that "the company is
clean and has gotten a bum rap while the real culprits are
getting scot free." Mr. Bennett said also that he has been
feeding stories to Bob Woodward of the Washington Post with the
the understanding that there be no attribution to Bennett.
Woodwood is suitably grateful for the fine stories and by-lines
which he gets and protects Bennett (and the Mullen Company).
Typical is the article "Hunt Tried to Recruit Agent to Probe
Senator Kennedy's Life" on page A16 of the Saturday, February
10, 1973, Washington Post. Mr. Bennett mentioned the 12 February
1973 meeting among hiEgiTT, Mullen and when he stated his
opinion that the Ervin Committee investigating the Watergate
incident would not involve the company. He said that, if
necessary, he could have his father, Senator Bennett of Utah,
intercede with Senator Ervin. His conclusion then was that he
could handle the Ervin Committee if the Agency can handle
Howard. Hunt.
.Mr. Bennett reported that he is well acquainted with
.a Charlotte, N. C. attorney named McConnell to whom Senator
Ervin offered the position of Chief Investigator of the Con-
gressional Committee investigating the Watergate incident. Mr.
McConnell, according to Bennett, declined the offer because he
is a millionaire in his own right and doesn't need to put up
with all the grief associated with such a position. Mr. Bennett
said he asked McConnell to inform Senator Ervin that Mullen,
Bennett and the company are 100% clean of any involvement in
the Watergate. Bennett is certain that Senator Ervin has no
desire for revelation of legitimate arrangements or to harm the
Agency and would avoid questions concerning our overseas cover
placements. Mr. McConnell subsequently told Bennett that he and
Senator Ervin were the only passengers on a private plane
recently and he discussed Bennett, et al, as requested by
Bennett. Mr. McConnell believes Senator Ervin accepted his
comments and will not attempt to furthLr.involve the Mullen
Company people. Bennett believes he and his Agency affiliations
,!cpDirr
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(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3).
will not be raised again. He has the Ervin Committee shut off(b)(1)
and feels the Agency has the responsibility to persuade Howard(m3)
Hunt to avoid revealing what he knows of the history of cover
arrangements with the company. Bennett and Mullen further (b)(1)
suggested that the Agency. "plug the leak" in the FBI and/or (b)(3)
Department of Justice.
h,
15. At this time the Agency proposal to bring (b)(1)
back PCS prior to 10 March with the legend thatt_ , -as (b)(3)
become disenchanted with the company, does not like the change
in ownership from Mullen to Bennett, and has several job pro- (b)(1)
posals he wishes to pursue was then set forth. They said that(b)(3)
.s deeply involverin a Bennett project described as
on the conIrary Bennett and , get along very well and
�.iwhich purchases and sells paintings and works of
the
art. Bennett said that and his wif6jpersuaded him
o �ermit them to invesrpersonal funds in the project and that(b)(1)
is devoting considerable time to it. It would do
Bennett and the company serious financial damage ifr t](b)(3)
were not permitted to continue. It is especially important
that he be at the from 1,Ntar to 15 June (b)(1)
(b)(3)
1973. it4ra...
16. They proposed that they request o return (W(1)
next week for consultation. The company has lost the Morman (b)(3)
Church account to which l Uevoted some time, and new
accounts are being acquired. L could be kept away (b)(1)
from the D. C. area by immediately assigning him to prepare (b)(3)
the SUMMA Summit Conference in late April in Las Vegas.
consists of the top executives of the Howard Hughes companies
and is the successor in the Hughes empire to the Hughes
Summa
(b)(1)
Tool (b)(3)
overseas
will(b)(1)
Company(b)(3)
sul()(1)
Company, which was sold.._ with his extensive
experience, might also be a speaker'. The Summa Conference
be a "dry run" for similar conferences which the Mullen
is planning to do in representative West Coast cities to
acquaint top* West Coast executives with matters of interest
as pending legislation, overseas competition and the like.
Bennett believes that if May 1 passes without an serious
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
compromise, then nothing will happen. ould
then
thenmompanr y
handle the f 5 June and
if we
or prefer'i
has business interests sufficient to suppor
(b)(1)
(b)(1)
Mullen also recalled our proposal of two years ago
(b)(3)
' ... . .
�(b)(3)
(b)(1)
�
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
.�
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
� r...7:0 (b)(3)
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Mullen and Bennett took the position that while it was easy
to ascribe the opening and closing of thei office
(b)(1)' to an ex eriment it would be difficult to explain closing
(b)(3) in here._ , presence L "has
been trumpeted" among their clients, business prospects and (WO
n their literature3 It would hurt badly and cost lots of . (b)(3
money to end this one.
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
17. L broached the possibility of the company (bX3)
continuing as a legitimate employee if the Agency
should be unable to locate an appropriate assignment for him.
Mullen said tha rdoes not possess qualifications (b)(1)t
such as the ability to write, which are requisite in the publi(b)(3)
relations field, but is an excellent businessman.
asked whether might assist in servicing the Hughes (b)(1)
account. Bennett responded that the Hughes account cannot (b)(3)
stand further expenses and some new clients would need to be .
. obtained to support the legitimate employment of . (bX1)
The proposal was not rejected, but it was evident that the (bX3)
company prefers the current arrangement which is supported
almost entirely by the Agency. Mullen and Bennett both like
and admire and might employ him if emplov(W)
ment with the Agency terminates. It was learned that __ (b)(3)
discussed with Mullen the possibility of resigning
� from the Agency to accept legitimate Mullen Company employraent(b)(1)
if the company needs so warranted. (b)(3)
18. . Concerning the .!mployment of Howard Hunt in May 197C(b)(1)
Bennett said smugly that he wasn't responsible and Mullen (bX3)
wishes now that he had not hired him. He recalled that as heau
of the Marshall Plan some 25 years ago he became acquainted
with Hunt. External Affairs Branch, Retiremer(W)
Division, OffL66-6f�Pirennel, approached Mullen concerning tl(b)(3)
qualifications needed by Hunt for public relations work and
possible leads for employment fo Hunt who was retiring from (b)(1)
the Agency. *Mullen stated that "twisted my arm prettom3)
hard" and he hired Hunt. Mullen believed that DCI, Helms, .
wished him to employ Hunt, especially after receipt of a
(b X1)
splendid letter of recommendation of Hunt from Mr. Helms whe.�,
later personally expressed his appreciation to Mr. Mullen for
hiring hiring Hunt. Mr. Mullen said he honestly believed, as a .result
of the pressure exerted by that the Agency wished him
to resolve problems attendant to unt's retirement by hiring
Hunt4. (b)(1)
(b)(3)
�
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
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19. The meeting concluded with Bennett stating that if
cover employment with Mullen is terminated before
the mid-June ending of the 1 it will hurt
Bennett badly and cost him Lots ot money. Both then commented
that they were "not letting the Agency down. Don't you let'us
down."
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
�
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
Chief, Central Cover Staff
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
7:r1;21717
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