KENNEDY'S EAGER LATIN AIDE STIRS CONTROVERSY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000300180043-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 25, 1998
• Sequence Number: 43
• Publication Date: April 8, 1962
• Content Type: NSPR

pp~ i,1_aA
!Kennedy's lager Latin
4
Aide (1H ia?s Controversy
By DOM BO\AFEDE
Of Our Washington Bureau
Kennedy family, he has stir-
red the most capital discus-
sion.
Al 30, he is called the fast-
est rising young man in Wash-
ington, and, it is said, ad-
mil ledly wilh exaggeration
but some justification, that he
guides the destiny of a hemis-
phere.
:Outside the ir>;epressible
n the AVashi_igton s c e n e
vible who sits at the hand ofaf
CPYRGHT
CPYRGHT
4
V he President of the United
tates?
'In his short span of fame,
he has become almost a mys-
ery man in gray-flannel suit
and button-down collar. T h e
public view of him is general-
y that of a presidential emis-
sary from Washington to the
capitals of Latin America.
Outside a small circle of top
overnment figures and a few
correspondents specializing in
Latin America, he is l i t t l e
:flown personally, Many of his
critics hal'dh' know him eV-
ept by his reputation as an
upstart.
Opinions on him range from
:te U.S. senator who refers
him by an unprintable
[lame to that of President
Kennedy who professes implic-
it faith in him.
Re,?ently, the senator a.n'-
grily declared: "The President
calls me about many things,
but when I start to talk about
Latin America and Goodwin,
he won't listen to me."
Goodwin, a deputy as;islant
secretary of slate, accepts
eritici,~m and accolades with
equal aplomb.
In appearance and icecm,rs
looks inure like a r[adu-
ate student in physics than a
ronfidante of presidents. Born
i;1 Boston, he was graduated
rotlii 'A tt$;,,] ar-
vard LsiW - ? l: He later
*iehard N. Goodwiti
... enfant terrible
he caught the eye of the
Kennedy brothers. During
John F. Kennedy's presiden-
tial campaign, he became a
member of the inner clique of
advisers, working mainly on
I,ntin American affairs, West
Virginia ?economic problems
and medical care for the aged.
Ile has black hair, and a
sr, arthy pallor. He alternate
1. (hews gum and smokes
cl,,rs.
lie is a man of many parts:
Iniollectual brilliance, crass
sex.-confidence, humor which
provokes smiles rather t h a n
laughter, indefatible stamina
and courage to experiment
w ilIn new ideas.
nian of 311 should exult in be-
lnw included in the spotlight
tensed on the President.
t,oodivin makes no concessions
to false modesty when speak-
ing of his closPnes with
th.
"As for my lac
in Latin Ameri
have had a layman -interest
in the area, including a year
and a half of study and writ-
ing speeches on it during the
campaign. And, of course. I've
worked in the area since then.
"But I would never quarrel
with my critics about that. I
would like to be evaluated in
the light of what I have ac-
complished and not in 1 It e
light of my inexperience."
Reports persist that Good-
win was transferred as a Ken-
nedy aide to the State De-
partment to act as a White
House conduit.
One high-ranking State De-
partment official agreed that
Goodwin did see the Presi-
dent often. "But so does Mar-
tin," he added, referring to
Edward M a r t i n, recently
named Assistant Secretary
for Inter-American Affairs,
and Goodwin's nominal boss.
boast of it. 1 1 'e ~ ard, predecessor to
CP 7 .as removed an d
"Only two people \\-re will_ given another post still rages.
ing for the President to take The frequently heard story is
the trip to Venezuela a n d that Woodward, an able
Lat- in veteran, was unable to
beep Goodwin in check a nil
necb and me. I told the Presi- Kennedy was persuaded to ap-
dent he would get the great- Point a more forceful rnrr-
est t'eceptio='i since 1" rankle seer of the precocious your.;
D. Poosev nIt. diplomat.
1 ai;:uit to sonic trepid~,-
tinn .hen he landed at
cas Airport, but that was alt
The only alternative would hr
that the president of the I'.,
can't go to Latin Amer;_;,.
And that would be a ' -
rageous."
Two of the most-often voic-
ed criticisms of Goodwin is
that he speaks little Spanish
and is inexperienced in Lat-
in American affiars. W h e n
asked about this, he cooly re-
plied:
Yet, there are man:, oboet.-
ers here who doubt his
high-flying career can be re-
strained now that it is in orbit.
"Both criticisms are true,
But I'm taking Spanish le.-
sons and I have picked lip
some of the language.
i asked for Congressional in.
stigating committees where
Sanitized l- Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000300180043-6