MEMO OF CONVERSATION: DAN RATHER AND LES MIDGLEY 3 SEPTEMBER 1975

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Records Related to the Assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00544153
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: June 6, 2025
• Document Release Date: June 12, 2025
• Publication Date: September 6, 1975

104-10126-10244 . 6-September 1975 � � �� MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION: Dan Rather and Les Midgley 3 September 1975 �e Mr. Rather said that CBS is working up a series of *I .programs entitled, "The Assassinations," dealing with the assassinations of President Kennedy, Robert 'Kennedy., Rev. King, and the attempt on Gov. Wallace. He said they are particularly concerned that they have the facts about , any possible CIA connection with Oswald. He said that it seems also, on its face, incredible that CIA had not-had - � Ome contact with an ex-Marine who worked in the Soviet- 7 Union.ap31 returned. He said.he.realized.the_di.fference betweer.: an interview with. him and making him an. Agent; wanted:., to .make sure he. had covered all the: bets. .He referred. --to-the2work-of-Mark-Lantan' this:field'and I-refarred to -- ' :.1 A Dick Gregory's paranoia on the subject of CIA connections . 4 With the Kennedy death. ... � ..... � � � � ����� 4,10 � � � e� � - k t. -4 t .44 ..that there is absolutely no basis for.a �conclusion (and YoirielfidiCitibrii-16' the ' Mexico at the time Oswald was there, and that the Russian traveler that CIA had interviewed was indeed a different-1 individual than Oswald, despite the coincidence of the dates of his residence in the Soviet, Union. I ended by saying I i 4 was prepared to give these answers under oath, based on 1 information available within the Agency, although I had no _ .We.went over a variety .of matters, lult.i.essen-tially-'-- firmed it up at the end by saying that CIA had no contact with Oswald either during his Russian period or afterwards, that CIA's only records of Oswald came from our becoming aware of his visits to embassies in Mexico City, which information was made available to the Warren Commission, personal knowledge of the matter. I said I could not believe that any additional information would sur-face in t i . the Agency as it had been carefully examined from 1,963 on, i especially by Mr.'Belin in the Rockefeller Commission i investigations due to his personal interest in the matter: i Mr. Midgley referred to the fact that some additional information is coming out from the FBI, and I pointed out i . ..4 I APPROVED FOR 'RELEASE 1993 CIA HISTORICAL-REVIEW PROGRAM , o 077 1. 6 . � that the Rockefeller Commission had not had a charter to loqk into the FBI. We discussed Allen Dulles's comL � .mentsiabout whether an intelligence agent could ever be exposed, but we left on the final comment by Mr. Dulles . that he believed Mr. Hoover's comments on this matter, which*. Rather said he probably would himself at that I said that this in no way indicated a desire by � ..� Mr. Dulles to conceal any CIA activity.. Mr. Rather also said that Mr. Helms had become somewhat agitated over the Garrison allegations, and I said this was easily explained by Mr; Helms' concern that 'such false allegations be made against CIA. In response to Mr. Rather's question, I said I know of no indication'that Mr. Helms' agitation was because Mr. Garrison was. revealing information about the Agency which Mr. Helms wanted to remain coLcealed. � � With respect to Otwald's on appearance in our .records, I. explained that CIA might well have-shied off-from any . � interview with him if there was-an indication of prior FBI 7 -interest. As for the-military, I.said'the .Interagency Source Register did not indicate.Mr. Oswald was a clandes- tine source and that DCS Joint Debriefing�Program with. ,:the military services from 1953 on would probably have' indicated any military debriefing for intelligence purposes, . but none- appear in our files, so I believed none had been conducted. .We parted with my assurance that anything else that � arose which would cast doubt on my statements would be � bruught to-Mr. Rather's attention.-: The. two gentlemen ' � . expressed appreciation for our discussion. � COMMENT: From their attitude, I believe there is a � chance that the program will indicate that there is no CIA connection with Oswald beyond that. noted above. -This could make a contribution to knocking down the paranoic belief to the contrary. We must. however insure that Mr. Rather does learn anything which would caun�ihe ITII.TET.Z3T-6uUbf on the above account hpfo7e. he aual.252s "t programs -an, aovember. Distribution: Orig - DCI 1.- Review Staff 1 - DDO 1 DDA 1 - OIG 1 - OLC 1 - OGC � . W. E. Colby Director. �