CONTACT REPORT - ROBERT F. BENNETT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00660768
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: August 14, 2020
• Case Number: F-2016-01299
• Publication Date: July 11, 1972

Approved for Release: 2020/08/14 C00660768
(When Fl cd In)
FILE NUMOERs.
CONTACT REPORT
ORGANIZATION (Nome & full address)
Robert R. Mullen and Company
Washington, D. C.
11 July 1972 (b)(1)
(b)(3)
NAME OF "ONTACT
TITLE
DATE OF Et,NTACT
Robert F. Bennett
President
10 July 1972
CONTACTED
Wei
CCS/CCB
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
1PURPOSE OF COW:ACT
Appearance of Robert R. Mullen & Company Executive, Robert F. Bennett,
before the Grand. Jury.
ACTION
REQUIRED
SUMMARY OF FiCSI.WLTS,
1. Mr. Robert F. Bennett, president of Robert R. Mullen and
Company, met with of CCS/CCB at noon on 10 July 1972,
at Mr. Bennett's request. Mr. Bennett said that he wished to bring
the Agency up to date on developments concerning E. Howard Hunt and
the "Watergate Five."
2. Mr. Bennett related that prior to his appearance at the Grand
Jury proceedings last week he had received a subpoena for the company
'records because of the employment of E. Howard Hunt by the company and
Mr. Hunt's involvement in the "Watergate Five" affair. Mr. Bennett
said that he brought with him to a private meeting before the hearing
only records relating directly to Mr. Hunt and that he had informed the
U. S. Attorney, Mr. Siebert (phonetic), that a van would be required to
bring all records of the company relating to matters in which Mr. Hunt �
had become involved. Mr. Bennett advised the U. S. Attorney that he .
was willing to bring in all the records if desired or specific additional
ones if requested. The U. S. Attorney was satisfied with the records
brought in by Mr. Bennett.
.s/4/52-
3. Mr. Szl.hr,rt then asked Mr. Bennett whether newspaper reports
that the company was involved with CIA were true. Mr. Bennett resprnded
that he had not scen any such stories. At this point another member of
the U. S. Attorney's staff suggested to Mr. Siebert that he had confused
the newspaper items with information he had read in FBI reports. Mr.
Siebert conceded that this was probably true.
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4. Mr. Bennett said that inasmuch as it was obvious from the
FBI reports that the U. S. Attorney was aware that there is a
current relationship between the company and CIA, he had therefore
stated that the current Agency relationship has absolutely no con-
nection with the "Watergate Five" incident. During the approximate
one-hour meeting with the U. S. Attorney, they agreed upon the �
questions which were to be asked and Mr. Bennett's responses. The
especially pertinent question related to the Mullen Company's
activities with the Agency upon mutual agreement was phrased "Is
your company working with the CIA in this Country?" Mr. Bennett
said that any question involving overseas association would have
required him to respond in the affirmative. By arrangement with
Mr. Siebert, this question was not asked. The Grand Jury questioning
of Mr. Bennett did reveal that the Mullen Company had done some work
for Radio Free Cuba in the 60's, but this was not considered unusual.
in view of the political climate at the time. Mr. Bennett said that
he had been commended by Mr. Siebert for his forthright responses
and behavior during the hearing.
S. Concerning the appearance of Douglas Caddy before the Grand
Jury, Mr. Bennett said that if Caddy had stopped his recitation when
he said he had no knowledge of the association between CIA and the
Mullen Company there would not have been repercussions caused by
his unnecessary additional corment that he had intimations that the
company did work for CIA. It then became necessary for Mr. Caddy
to say he was unable to discuss the "intimations."
6.� Mr. Bennett believes that there is now no danger to the two
cover arrangements presently in being unless Mr. Hunt "spills his
guts." He suggested that Hunt might take one or two courses. Ne
could either take the Fifth Amendment and take his lumps, including
possible imprisonment or because he is somewhat of an egotist, he
could just go on and become a nationally and internationally famous
person. Apart from his concern over the nature of Mr. Hunt's possi-
ble revelations, Mr. Bennett was thoroughly relaxed and prepared to
continue the present cover arrangement.
I. Mr. Bennett plans to be at the Democratic Convention in
Miami from Monday night through Friday, 14 July. He expects that
Mr. Mullen will return from his trip to the Far East on the afternoon
er evening of Tuesday, 11 July.
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Approved for Release: 2020/08/14 C00660768