SURVEILLANCE OF RUSSIANS IN HOUSTON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01314R000100610019-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 7, 2004
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: November 11, 1973
• Content Type: MAGAZINE

Sae~~/d 1 /Oosrv,
THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE MAGAZINE I^ ,\ ~ yy~ ~g z~N e
Approved For Release 2O IQJ mb?IA-RF88-01314R0001006'r00"f9~8~' ~
fishy stuff, chief
To: Director, Central Intelligence Agency
From: Agent X-23
Subject: Surveillance of Russians in Houston.
Sir:
I am sending this report by regular mail rather than by diplomatic
pouch or IT&T courier, as I'really don't think my findings merit top
secret classification. In fact, I tried to telephone you but I kept
getting a recording telling me that the number I .was dialing was not in
.service.
I used my cover as Stan Redding, Chronicle reporter, on this
assignment. It seemed the simplest way to get things done and I think
it went off -well. I know I faked out the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration people. They even made photographs available. Copies of
the, pictures obtained, in black and white, are enclosed.
As you will learn, X-27 was more than-a trifle off in his assertion
that something "fishy" was going on at NASA, that a lot of Russians were
down there buttering up our astronauts and space brass and playing footsy
with the locals. I met with X-27 at his usual contact spot, Sambo's, where
he had picked up his information. Frankly, chief, I don't think Sambo's
is the ideal place to gather reliable intelligence. Pancake freaks are
rarely on the inside of anything but syrup jars.
Russians observed by our agent are Nicolas Timacheff, foreground, and Col. Aleksey Arkhipovich Leonov, the first
mon to walk in space, about to land a pair of king mackerels. Tod Habib stands by to gaff Col. Leonov's catch
during a deep sea expedition in the Gulf of Mexico.
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Approved For Release 2004/09/28 : CIA-RDP88-013148000100610019-8
 It took me only a few minutes to learn the type American.'I hope my patriotism won't be
Russians at NASA were Soviet cosmonauts questioned when I say I liked these dudes.
and space :cienlists,~ Vrokd F~rfa e !O QxYIQ9dVeaCllA RDP J1314R000100610019-8
guests of the U.S. v rnment in eague Take Leonov. We boarded the "Sea Lyon"
abstaining) to discuss plans for the joint U.S.- at G a.m., and we weren't clear of the channel
Soviet space flight in 1975! Hell, it was all over before the colonel dipped into his diddy bag,
the newspapers, almost every day, but X-27 pulled out a foot-long dried fish, sliced it up
says at this point in time he isn't reading the with an Arkansas toothpick and started sluic-
newspapers. Just John Birch Society newslet- ing it down with beer. The colonel gave me a
tern. piece of the fish. It tasted like salted shoe
I checked out the whole situation thor- leather. The Russians may be short on wheat
oughly, as a matter of routine. I made contact but they're long on brine.
with the Russians at the King's Inn, where Leonov was eating it like good cake, soft-
they were staying. Actually, I made contact ening it up with suds.
with George DeMontrond, his wife, Betty, and "Do you really like this fish?" I asked him,
Brig.-Gen: Tom Stafford, the honcho of picking some salty bones from my tongue.
America's astronaut corps. There was some "Not actually, but it gives me an excuse to
"fishy" business afoot, I learned, but it was the drink beer," Leonov admitted, laughing. You
kind a lot of people are geared for most of the have to admire a man who thinks like that.
time. Leonov has the features of a happy toy
The 10 Riissian cosmonauts, it seems, bulldog and the disposition of a contented bar-
were full to the follicle pits with guided tours tender. He is not a big man, but he is muscled
of parks, museums, college campuses; medical like a miniature Charles Atlas. He is famed in
centers, historical sites and scenic overlooks. Russia for his weightlifting feats.
So Gen. Stafford, DeMontrond Zone of the Like a lot of Americans, he is something of
hosts for the visitors) and Deke Slayton, a a redneck. He doesn't like the Red Chinese. If
member of the U.S. prime crew for the 1975 he knows that every sixth child born in the
mission, asked the Soviet spacemen i hat they world is Chinese, he is probably determined
*ould most like to"do before returning to the not to have more than five.
U.S.S.R. - Once at a function in-some foreign capitol,
The delegation opted unanimously to .go an Oriental rushed up to Leonov, hand out-
deep sea fishing, honest to Nixon! stretched. "Colonel, I am a great admirer of
I went with them, again just as a matter yours," the man said, beaming.
of routine. We put out from Galveston on three Leonov took the man's hand and began to
sea-going motor yachts owned by local busi- squeeze. He has hands like stone crushers.
nessmen - food executive Wayne Goettsche's "Please, Col. Leonov, I am a Korean!" yelped
"Nirvana," banker. Charles Stubblefield's the admirer.
"Panacea " and banker Jim Lyon's-Sea Lyon." If the colonel is the happy hooligan of the
"The Nirvana" and the "Panacea"are 44-foot- Soviet spacemen, Maj. Dzhanibekov is the
ers, and the "Sea Lyon" is a 54-foot cruiser. I philosopher-statesman of the space trekkers.
don't know what any one of the three cost, but He is a suave, elegant type. Square jaws.
I can tell you, chief, that we'll never be able to Piercing eyes. The Russians probably use him
afford one, not even moonlighting as security on their jet jockey posters.
guards at Watergate. But everything he says. makes sense. He
I went out on the "Sea Lyon," with the was visiting America for the first time, but he
DeMontronds and Gen. Stafford. Lyon didn't has been to many other nations. "This is a
go out, but his wife, Ann, did, and except for beautiful country. Most countries have natural
some kooky ideas'concerning sharks - which I beauties," said the major.
will detail later - she has to be one of the "But the people are the same everywhere.
world's most charming women. People are good. I like people."
The cosmonaut corps was headed up by He is a patriot divorced from politics. "I
Gen. Vladimir Aleksandrovich Shatalov, but I am not good at discussing the pros and cons of
did not get to talk to him much as he was on politics, communism, capitalism or other isms.
another at. The space explorers aboard the I love my country. My country gave me an
Lyon vessel included Col. Aleksey Ark_hipovich education. It gave me the opportunity to do
Leonov, the first man ever to walk in space, what I love best to do. It made me what I am
Maj. Vladimir Aleksandrovich Dzhanibekov, tcxlay. Why should I not love it?"
Valeriy Nikplayrvich Kubasov, Aleksandre 1 buy that, chief. I was reared by the U'S.
Sergeyevich lvanchcnkov and Boris Dm triye_ Navy and educated by the United States gov-
vich Aundreyev. ernmont and I have little use for a man who
Russians have a great sense of humor, I won't stand up for the country-that made him.
learned immediately. "1W'hat is all this 'vich' All in all, it was an exotic, memorable
business in the middle name?" I asked one. afternoon. None of the Russians had ever been
"Every Russian man is born a sonofavich," deep sea fishing. Some had never been fishing,
he told me gravely. The whole group cracked ,period. Bill Curry, skipper of the "Sea Lyon,"
Tod Habib, the chief mate and leaden seaman,
up Now, chief, you Cen. Stafford and DeMontrond hel d ri - th C u c i i' u e d
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