NEWSPAPER ARTICLE BY EDITH KERMIT ROOSEVELT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 03087005
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: March 9, 2023
• Document Release Date: September 22, 2020
• Case Number: F-2019-01886
• Publication Date: August 24, 1962

Approved for Release: 2020/09/21 C03087005
ET
24 AUG 1962
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Newspaper Article by Edith
Kermit Roosevelt
1. This memorandum is for information only.
2. In response to your request, the Office of Security
indices were searched in the names of the following individuals
and a check made of the records of Task Force W:
CARDWELL, Don
MASTRE, Oscar
PORTUONDO, Rod
RORKE, Alexander I.
3. Office of Security Indices contain no record of Don
CARDWELL, Oscar MASTRE, or Rod PORTUONDO. However, the
following information was found concerning RORKE:
a. EE-27955, a file on Alexander I. RORKE, was
set up in July, 1960, pursuant to a request from 00/
Contacts Division in connection with RORKE's potential
as a source of positive foreign intelligence. Subsequent
name checks conducted at ONI, ACSI, and HCUA were
returned "No Record" on 2 November 1960. RORKE was
approved for contact on 7 March 1961. However, it was
noted that since he was a reporter, any classified infor-
mation released to him during such contact would be care-
fully identified as such.
b. The FBI indicated that RORKE entered on duty
with that Bureau on 4 February 1951 as a Clerk, Grade
GS-2, $2450 per annum. He submitted his voluntary
resignation effective 11 May 1951 to devote full time to
his studies.
sE,RtT
f:a;10
Exclutlat, frar.7 nalamatic
dawarratina,
eilflp.41fi":11.419
Approved for Release: 2020/09/21 C03087005
Approved for Release: 2020/09/21 C03087005
43,41t
c. An FBI memorandum dated 18 January 1960
in:heated that the Bureau interviewed RORKE regarding
recent developments in Cuba and among counter-revolu-
tionaries in the United States. RORKE, who resided at
51 Chambers Street, New York City, was a free lance
newsman and photographer who taped an interview during
November, 1959, with Edward SILVERMAN, Director in
Charge of News and Special Events, Radio Station, WABC,
New York City. This apparently was a follow up interview
since RORKE had previously worked with WABC shortly
after his release by Cuban authorities in August, 1959.
d. RORKE indicated he had received many threatening
telephone calls at his home after his initial interview with
WABC regarding his derogatory remarks concerning
Fidel CASTRO. He stated that while he was held prisoner
in Havana he was told that he would be taken care of by
CASTRO agents working in the United States if he spoke
out against CASTRO's regime. He indicated there was a
large CASTRO espionage ring working in the United States
with personnel operating on diplomatic passports. His infor-
mation, RORKE claimed, came from such persons as Major
William A. MORGAN. RORKE further advised he had been
approached in the United States by one Frank DE LLUNDE
who had worked for CASTRO in the United States during
the revolution. DE LLUNDE advised RORKE to stop criti-
cizing the CASTRO regime. The report went on to indicate
the details of RORKE' a meetings with various other individuals,
including Frank NELSON, an American who formerly operated
the frozen food business in Cuba, and Dominick BARTONE,
President of the International Trading Company. According
to RORKE, BARTONE was apparently involved in arms and
plane sales and one of these planes had delivered revolutionaries
into Nicaragua. RORKE believed that BARTONE also sokl the
plane which was used by the Cubans and Dominicans for the
invasion of the Dominican Republic which took place on 19
June 1959. RORKE indicated he had been in contact with
Cuban exiles; namely, General Manual BENITEZ and Dr.
Emilo NUNEZ PORTUONDO. RORKE indicated he was
arrested at MORGAN's home in Cuba and was held without
formal charges for nine days by Cuban authorities in August,
1959.
Approved for Release: 2020/09/21 C03087005
Approved for Release: 2020/09/21 C03087005
4, Task Force W records contained no information con-
cerning Oscar MASTRE and Don CARDWELL. However, the fol-
lowing information was found concerning RORKE and PORTUONDO:
a. Information dated 11 December 1961 indicated that
Alexander I. RORKE, Jr., was involved in smuggling and
violations of air navigation rules along with Robert F.
SWANNER, William J. JOHNSON, and Frank STURGIS.
Smuggled articles were 350 pounds of anti-CASTRO
pamphlets for a Cuban air drop. Smuggling charges were
not pressed.
b. A memorandum dated 19 December 1961 from
the United States Border Patrol detailed the above described
activity; however, nothing additional concerning RORKE's
involvement was set out.
e. Information dated 25 September 1959 listed RORKE's
address as 7 West 96th Street, New York City. RORKE
had recently returned from Cuba after being held without
charge from 9 to 14 August 1959. He had gone to Cuba to
photograph an invasion of that country by forces from the
Dominican Republic, making arrangements through Dominick
BARTON in Miami to be advised two days prior to the invasion.
d. Information dated 2.3 February 1961 indicates that
RORKE wrote an article concerning anti-CASTRO activities
in Cuba for Argosy. 00/Contacts said RORKE appeared to
be an adventurer type operating on the fringe of the Cuban
counter-revolutionary activities. He had the ability to weave
a few items of limited dissemination into a fabric of open
knowledge, thus .appearing extremely knowledgeable. 00
recommended no further contact with him.
e. The latest information on RORKE is dated 12 Septem-
ber 1961 and indicates that he arrived in Amarillo, Texas,
on 3 September 1961 accompanied by Sergio ROJAS, former
Cuban Ambassador to Great Britain. They planned to purchase
bombers in the name of a Panamanian photography company
and take them to Guatemala or Nicaragua where they would
be armed for use in bombing the Standard Oil Company refinery
in Habana. Such bombing, they claimed, would help raise money
for further action against Cuba. They claimed they represented
only themselves and indicated that they had unofficial CIA
approval.
Approved for Release: 2020/09/21 C03087005
Approved for Release: 2020/06/21 C03087005
SPirt I
f. The only information concerning Rod PORTUONDO
was a cable (OUT 75394, 13 May 1960) which advised that
one Rodrigo PORTUONDO had been approved as secretary
of the Moviemiento de la Recuperacion Revolucionaria
(MRR). The MRR is one of the groups of anti-CASTRO
Cuban exiles supported by this Agency.
5. Attached are the documents forwarded with your request.
Director of Security
Attachment:
Original Request Documents
SpET
(b)(3)
(b)(6)
Approved for Release: 2020/09/21 C03087005
Approved for Release: 2020/09/21 C03087005
ER 62-5632
8 August 1962
MEMORANDUM FOR INFORMATION
TO: THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR
VIA: TEE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
1. Edith Kermit Roosevelt, who up until now has been a supporter
of CIA in her columns in the NEWARK STAR LEDGER, in the attached
syndicated column in the SHREVEPORT (La.) JOURNAL of 21 July 1962,
gives the Agency quite a beating on the strength of allegations by
one Alex Rorke, Jr. "New York documentary film producer and lecturer,
who coordinates daring 'free lance' raids against Cuba with Oscar
Mastre, Rod Portuondo and other Cubans who took part in last year's
abortive Cuban invasion."
2. Ws. Roosevelt, who lives in New York City but works in Newark,
used to correspond from time to time with Mr. Dulles on items of news
interest, but seems to have soured according to the attached column.
(b)(3)
(b)(6)_
Attach.
Distribution:
Orig & 1 - Add
1 DDP
1 - TFW
1 - CI
1 -
1 - ER
ET
-STANLEY J. GROGAV
Assistant to the Director
Approved for Release: 2020/09/21 C03087005
J ou ail AL
II A AnC
Approved for Release: 2020/09/21 C03087005
tween the Lines� ?"
'Free Lance' Raids
By Edith 1