MEETING WITH JED JOHNSON, OF THE WATERGATE COMMITTEE STAFF, RE DR. ROBERTO ALONZO <SANITIZED>

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01482379
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 7, 2017
• Case Number: F-2007-00094
• Publication Date: September 25, 1973

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OLC 73-1111
25 September 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Meeting with Jed Johnson, of the Watergate Committee Staff,
Re Dr. Roberto Alonzo
1. In response to his request of yesterday, met with Jed Johnson,
who served one term in the House of Representa-
tives and who is now on detail to the Ervin Select Committee on Presidential
Campaign Activities staff from the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcom-
mittee on Separation of Powers. Johnson had asked me to run a check on
Dr. Roberto Alonzo (or Alonso)
2. I advised Johnson that thus far I had been able to determine only
that Dr. Roberto Alonzo had never had an employee or contract relationship
with the Agency but I could not assure, on the basis of the information he
had given me, that the Agency had never had any contact with him. I also
told him that in making our name check on Alonzo we had come across a
large number of persons with that first and last name and it would be most
helpful if he could provide us with his date and place of birth. Johnson said
he thought he could get this information from AID and pass it on to me.
According to Johnson, Roberto Alonzo is a son of a former attorney general
of Cuba.
3. Johnson explained to me that Alonzo has been working for AID on
a contract with the Equity Publishing Company of Orford, New Hampshire,
in connection with a project AID has undertaken on the revision of the laws
of Costa Rica. Johnson asked if we had come up with any information on
the Equity Publishing Company. I told him I had not asked for a check of
the company itself, but would follow up on this for him.
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5. Johnson went on to explain that in their investigation of the "Kanuck
letter" which was used against Senator Muskie in his bid for the Presidential
nomination and in connection with a Greek matter also involving Muskie there
were reports that both Alonzo and a man whom he identified as
Ferdyma had been involved in these activities.
7. I took this opportunity to ask Johnson if he had been involved in
the investigations of the Mullen Company and I referred to my talks with
Scott Armstrong and Dave Dorsen on this subject. He said he was generally
aware of the Mullen situation, but had not been working on it directly.
8. Johnson told me that he still had a warm spot in his heart for the
Agency and would do everything he could to protect the Agency's interest in
any matters we discussed with him. I mentioned that we were somewhat
surprised and concerned at the position which Senator Baker seems to be
taking in the Watergate hearings; his rather harsh interrogation of Dick Helms
being an example. I also said that when of our staff, had occasion
to meet with Senator Baker and members o e ommittee staff, a while back,
the Senator made a remark about the amazing reoccurrence of CIA in many
aspects of the Watergate hearings. I said we were getting the impression
that Baker felt we were not leveling with the Committee and this was a matter
of serious concern.
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9. I said it almost appeared that someone was laying the groundwork
for using CIA as a cove rup or a diversion in an effort to protect the Adminis-
tration. Johnson acknowledged that this line of reasoning is in fact in the
minds of at least some of the Republican members of the Committee even
though to Johnson it makes absolutely no sense and there is no concrete basis
for it.
10. Johnson commented that Dave Dorsen- and Rufus Edmisten, of
the Committee staff, had recommended that he contact me and in doing so
had indicated that the Agency had been most helpful and cooperative in all
of its dealings with them.
'GEORGE L. CARY, JR.
Deputy Legislative Counsel
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