JFK FACED NOW-OR-NEVER CHOICE ON CUBA INVASION EARLY IN TERM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01350R000200640006-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 22, 2004
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: January 21, 1966
• Content Type: NSPR

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AND TIMES 11UALI)
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Approved For RIMIelckiPilioi : CIA-RDP88- % 1350R0 -0W06i00
'..7t Thousand IliskysVI ------''' i''., ? the Secretaries of State' ahdl
, . . Defense, the Joint Chiefs 'ofi
. ?
JFK tit aced Now-otA ever Choice..'CSteanfirr'althIne.
? t. elliiiig?ceenteocr .Aogfcntehyl
. . "If. someone tomes in. to tell':
i . . .
. ? ' me this or that about the
? Oh ?Cubainvasion; Early in .Tennilr
inifrium wage bill," Kenne-ti
said to Me later', "I 'havel
?
1;:,. ,' K?? . . . . ?. - , .. ,?, ? ? .
?. , ,.. . , , . .,..,,, no hesitation in oyere?
1,..... Details .of the first..Cuhai 4.90Wis..:Reeklep,... yei7e i ,,-,????, . bans was ,a Mounting. enlb..Fr rulin
...Vi them. But you ..1 always as.;
obit dre ?related, . (ow Prig.,?.li '*,?...,.!'frite,Aht !r:e,olu., 'tassment and that' .he Mtisk..:J tame . that the Military and'i ?
. . . . ,. .
!, hent Kennedli 'showed' suf.:. ponary tuba ,had. a egekless:,request. assurances that 'the,Y..:,,: Intelligence p.epple,,: ?,havei
,i, ?
1, arlo ..pnaiehic .::. vei,vo ,,' on..depatt by the -eh ? C-4pril, . some secret-, skill hot 'avail.
; prise at , Americals .raetidit .i.
ito the fiasco. ', . , ? . ..:..., . ? . ... ? ,.. -. For I;it s part. lb eport!'.,..:, ?J' able to, ordinary inortais."..
' ?
. . i itnown!,, igi? .anY.,. other : earn-. . ' - ?
,
(Sixth of a Series)' ans-themA . And so we went ?ahead.
.,1 . a , . . d . . .
' ? .abolistteit'cotrtiption;:ihat it ,ed ! that :the., en . . .
WaS.eduUting and .iiiglitrin,,selves -. were . clamoring te,tt'; 'By early, , Tuesday, ' April 18,
' BY Arthnt.M.:Sehlesingerjr .' its pele, that 'it had ..ex. mov.e;?Alie-spirit.....offther14::. :it was clear ? the Invasion
Uherantly ' 'reclaimed: 'a ',na- :gadP had. reached' its. nealt;?:'.1: . was In trobbre, Some people
: t ':1?16?:legendis ?
more. endtir.-ic.?-i . ? .. - ? ? cccand ? further.: postpenernent":., , were arguing that ' we had
ting..,',than the, ., notion,. thati'fruths?'.blotteit' nut ' hafah'er:,,wehlti,.,,elsk.,;plemeralizatientne ?.ehrtiee now - hut' to .cont-
, .,.
tWeShingtoril.??,"ftii'C'ecl"..'bubair trutlis?And,, 'subtler. corrull'-.:1.?acr- "there , ?wes....-,another:1,;;Inif American forces. .
Ken-
Into.thi.irtria...Of Moscow In 4ions. ,?!IThe Eisenhower Ad- And
?? ::resSoiir.-- for - ? olt.i.Al. :tAy .!...disagi?cett ? ,. Deli it ?,'; he
, !,,.,....,., ..i.,; :i.,,;,..A.,4i...;. .,,, ministratign bectueathett .the ?ah,each:Castriv.the. ai,d;?:.;.,7:.'said,,-would. be an iii?Od'enti
?',".`?".......', .L.UVUMI"j?I' .:' 'a'
new President a force of was about to recelv., , eVLIANt.. mit a . diaster: 'The test. had.
i.V.ory',.,poptilak: in . the:: ti...nited: Cuban ?exiles ?under Ameri. Planes II 1W : '.tife::.,.',S6V.If$tr.;,V.,a).11VAY8?, been 'Whetheiil?ho;:
;onion; After dime,!if,'W,Oul'14.C'ttbati PeoPle :Would.' 1.3tIele.X%
?tes in the early uritiths. can training in Guatemala,
t?rice, ilie? United. Statci..tlar,As,,i4...,.;,:revfilt ? .againsC ',..CaSkrdi;?...1, F
- ! a 1P59 lie Castro?*Isite,f a committee of Cuban pont'.
; thli'" thitntrf :in: the 'Orin g; :i clans Under American eon.' ines end Air porec,t,:te,:.11V.-erk-i.they :wouldn't,iAlle-Vt.ilitek?
throw Castro. ?1f,, a -,:ptirelig.,,,'..i:',".Stetts could not ', 6,i..:?itliitlOttd
,
!his ;iiottrifeyihad,,,,lispeets -,..,et;.trol in 'Florida and a plan to
'It?-? ttil,11110ball.lir06,88810,11/:,.:1.1.emPlek. the exilc!! in an in- C'''' ban ..1-nvi6j.?11 '''*-6?'''..e?i.'ti',IY:'ilnill?se'ta -fie* 'f'egiriie'.'litt
t,,,
? heii WM 16 k t t
l'' ' : ''' . ' ''.'
? 1 vasion . of their' homeland .to 1111 1' place, it hialq,b0?1' ',,i;i'' thetn;41ut;.Wotild not VnttIll
tCC. next CeW weeks,,,, i3 sf. told?,,;,,.:sotesoiregugp.stif6p,i,c: ,041
.thousand ' st ulehtt-i, :hi' :?thdand to ihstall the committee
March . the .? new- :Preside qt,let?the.'rebelllOh.fileket`int 7 '
-1-tor?afd; Stapium,:"..TaithW;hi?, on? Cuban soil . as the provi-
'his ollve;green ? .ftitights,,.h. sional government' of a ? free "ia8 ."nfr?"ted Willl'a ',I:0 ''401Whit''''-i.. 1314?t111611.16
gave 1.,,:a ,fluent.:,'. ?haftinguet1,1 Cuba, ? o , - , .., . . , . ..
or-never. clioicd.? .. - ' :.?',.' i'dit.:, asked?.,ir tritC.,;the ,:g NI 0
. . , ,., .., . . , , , -,, of .,,power. hr.. tha.:*thhtan,e?
?rtibinbfehle"ehieflY!!fer:a:(11S,i,-;^ On Jan. 22, two disc after i,Toe :Ge?Alieed '',.'i,,, ?
. .1
arrrihi'' . ibility,',4,Aki,J40trak. the Inauguration, Allen Dui. :?', ? '. '..- ,"'''? ?-:',.'t, '. ?? ? -",i10.-4.'Pow..0i.t.,,WP.are.,.!-80., d: ?49.
Early ?in 'April he.. deelded';':,?wOrIC tiri'?'.' the ' subitanee;.. of
riiirils ratiolii,Itheied.'illii,li Members of the new adminis.... ? 2. ''' '''''' '. ' ? '. '?IieniGritn- 'Day- ''' ''''. -?'?''...
,
hid
-irc'cl the
em 'ml ion
? itikes ti:.: peoh..if.,t,....! .11%...4. les and Gen. Lemnitzer ex- 1,i0-. 0.01-lei'd?ii./40.,..f.e.it. th-tr. fie,,,,.;? ... ? ,,. ce, '...:.? `,.?.,,,,..,,,,....? ? .,.,r,%?...,
?, V.11?0:..:the.,.0s - ' cr.-?.01 posed' the project to leading ! ,,, .* ? , ?? , 11.,,,P0wr. .::: .. ? .,,. ,, ! ,-,,1,.. ,,.-4 .?
itietein_lroin'._it.,grandlose'.anv 4- i; ..-- :,-.; --i7,-7.,:. 7' ;.",..?:.?..
- (While /they ..:Ceillt:'!",ile'zionieW tration,', among ? them Dean .. i
tplubtatts -asseult.' to . a'?:?" ,?'$!;'''' It?!:..Was "a , long!' incl(.,giliiv.
thing 'with hint ''Offiefell:??ht. Rusk,'.- Robert McNamara '
;j,ltifiltration. 'Aecepting ;,'''....de.Y.-47thei longest 'and, grim*.
1-4 -to`ward .(eStro,?;rit''MuSC. and Robert . Kennedy. assurances abotit,',the eat . ..,'..ithi?e-St.;theL,New Frontier the
We said. hid been Ali a -mofe!, Speaking , for the Joint 'esi.lipe fr011i the ;:-.1ieachhoticil 1.1ilibW11,'., W.,.'' could'. '.net,' '11, IiV
than :usual stete.'of. conftis; Chiefs, Lemnitzer tried to .ta enew
ol tlic hills, he-. sunposed.iip?niar ,inindsH,Crt:??the :,thitiiight,
ri. J,Iisenhowei''ilirst an?i?:' r discussion of atter.na - that the. cost, ?both ' milltarY.,-,c;arlortive.. Men.., ...rttntitnt,?Ifoi
1)4Hsa dor: ; % i'thur GdrdnEir;' lives ranging from mini-
was sit nnitly iird:136tifda; hit mum to maxlinum 'United .and poliiical, of, failure was pof atiliniinitien.,41thoPtiidg.'
nIw reduced to ? a 'tolernble:, ?,"?titiate.'-'.....alr. 'ePi76;:',clyin:::,..biO:
suceeS:,,or, Kari Ei!?T. Sinith'," States involvement: Six ? , it.,,,
hoi)ed, that Batiata wotfld,' days later President Kenne- . 'cve`? i? '' ''''
preNenled itself:. to hit*: hp:, ;;;Atiet lank.% ..Late Ahat:l.ragiii,
,, deelsion.t `..:'Cublin ? beaches .;ltefbtei,,'SO?;
ton ve ' quietly; "', While " tile, rly convened his first White ?
had to choose whether,..toli:the ..1 ).resident: walked'..'fOr ?4-.:
, State 'Dcharttnent was sure: House. meeting on the plan, ,, growf-yof '.brailcl long time in.:the'!dee64.1
that ' ,?the.. dictetership was;;, He was r wary; and :reserved ' --'1'''' "
'an ''C...:., ' . . :, White'
I downed'. i Mins' ''_:',tieliveileg in his reaction: Affer liSten d idealistic ubanS, al.t,?,11, late silence of the
- ,
f'were ;.stOpp.ett, .i-S.'.: early , ea:, log for a long ? Utile.; ''he in- i.ready treined end.!equipPed,;.! .1-fouSe garden.,'' i ? :' '''t.') i
i
Marth, 1958 but the ''United structed the DefeASe Dc ho ' wanted verY; much to i',13y., Wednesday , It ?WaS ',alt. '", 'r ` .
.0 Statesl...iniliteri,.?inisslori-re.i?,' pertinent t take a ' hard , return , .to :Cuba .: On. -tlielqrev.er:' i That' ? aftertioOn',:'.1
'imaitie'd '.-?---i, e',:, tOmProtniSe:., look at CIA military con- own,qO
l or .to , perMit?theiri''.:to,; i.. brought . the members of the 1
ghd.. ? ? .' ? ...':;:,...; ...; :.i':.":-.'-''',"i'o Cuban gelieltitIonarY.,.? .ttli.-' *biehldisole'ased.tbotltsidne.i.; eeption an . the State
' D-
o a ea
When Batista fled, the partment to prepare a pro'. -.? Mere ' gen brelly: tlie''tleet',4;',ell'i tn:- the President's 'Of ffee;:,
revolutionary: government- 'containment ? of ' 6 ' 1)-
rrY?' .**shiP4t01):?'.;%00 ..:tiier ..graryk for the iSo.lation". and :Sion
',?thet..be.,had..heen:111????offiee'i r,4,0vp. ? ,T..tie ,; ! strUggie, 'a'?Igeinet:v
resulted ,froM;'the:?,:ftiet.; '',.:?He ,WaS 't,iivei-,'Inore?tinpiei.:,..;
.. Washington '. in,', "-"`''' ? In the r;huatlIY?th7e1:;t1dmaetiri4P...46ar'dtUnhitityi::4!14611ittiliriLstil;..'116-'''8614''...1iii4:fri
U R ,0.,..... ,,,
i.praifipt.. reengnition.lpahtro,' th,.???1, . ? ' ,' '
the - OAS. \ ?i','.inany.,'. frontit..leaderSiii?P',..lia,
ireached .6,1 .W.
, 'State Depart meantime, CIA Was to ' con* ;it? . test ..'the , ,Inhertted,....fhthat: Struggle,,Impbsed,mank-
i Aprlyatid 'the'.
the econerniC memberS -; 'Of doing., The existing ground itnetiL,?ne'. could,' g?"'t'.4:",ti!lreapcirtiihilitlei, ,-. The;',,,Ilni tot!
ntent, i:sct ttn"Tneetingti: 'with tinue what II had been faulunentalitte's 7: tit '
het', ,ktiowo .,,;States ,had -to ',consider. ..the'
. rule against ?oyert.. Ihilted .'whith ;Of .?:hia :?ad visetVi?Were::','itieiftlee,Oritff airs. all around':
his delegation to ?discuss an?
aid program. r4it cagtro , competent 'and-Whic.h-..weto ? ':.,.,111e',9korld.!'liecadded4hall410?.,
.-. had 'instructed ?-?these off .L States partIehattiM.'wee'..still ' not, For. thtir .Patt,'?theY ? did?."stliad:hintielfrfOUght in ,l'ivar;',..'1
I net' t .ralee. the :?iihestion.,,bf - The ., pece,,,et ',1veht's ....owl i, to raise, hard questions lellth.';',A110t.ilhak.,-11e,'..bad?:;1109t,',4,
. . . preireti;.::,;', .,,..:.., ..:-..:r:,.,,. p.;,'...' ' i.not k'niil hin'i well though.''.4khat:lie'??had '.ateh,firaWth'er
.,?.,. .., . .. .
' eials, to .their. astonishment ? to
Ne.,begaif. to 'Oicked,'.11i earl-v . force MO cando.r.:':Mereniteryt'Sbi'utheKOintt.?!that Ile".11fieid
h?Mgl, nte.. AS eirly? as , ? . .
fti?-rtli 4,1:4 : 9,ittr, b.,. dielrill .17.. ,, -? - V. I , .? : the till:it:ed. authortty 01.#18)JAUtif.C1Wititti.CitiPlkiitt
'.. ?Rate ifilhe.rol '4:1/.n ,itifarehfil!!0:,0". Orddent:5.'....Of ,.senior ,i=o#lejais-,???in lei
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Approved For Release 2004/11/01:: CIA-RIDP88-01350R000200640006-k.
- . ? ? ?
1:t. lvas a fallur6,', hod .,1t(.:1
.. .. . .
t.,.'tobk'41( the blame liirriself
rtn'tbe .resp-onslble 'orrIcet.;'
. , ,i
'or the governmeht, ,' he told ,,,f.
his 'prehs ennfeVenee. 'adding 4
11,::ivri1Y, ".There's an old 'say.4-i
,?,-irig :. that: .-. victoY , has: -(134, ?
1huo'drOd.'.fathOrs':.atid 'clere,ati
ia 'all . 00J)an:".":
fi.'(.., 11e was' .alivay a ?li,it...,! ilitt.,,,11.
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Zrea-cti..0!.111,e ',fi,a!>ect, _I r:: hq-...
, had:15ciiii. ,I;a.fileitimh.. 414',.-10,
iiiiiisierio ::. he . privatr:IA'':?te;?;
t'...tnarked;;.,..; he wrolIft tiTty:6 .
P(beeti: thfciuni out di oirler;ij
loot::ln!....tiv.: United 'St:Iles:1
L'htailyre a had i'it.ii.w.o.,
i'":eliartil:11 I h..id :.,,,):,-.:
ee, they Tv,., :id 1, .0 :-. liked,
:,.1110' oien :io,,,,,,? it thig.,:,
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brought ? in :II: a-,1:,Icp 011',
!?..the , new (3fillop poll, show. ;
!,,,?:Ing ail itnpreeetleravd 82 I...?
'?,', per cen,t,helliod the Adtnin-4
t).; lstration. ?Kunoi.,:iy I os6ed itl
eacde and ;:aid. "Itis like.
Illaenhower. The worse I do, .?
more, ,popti::ar I 1260'
1,96?: nbVt?tfhtir M Sl. c 1i1t, tillitqsJr.
;, Frotn A: boyilTI nY,, I heti
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