Description:

Kennedy Robert

Robert Kennedy Superb Letter on the CIA Reorganization After the Failed Bay of Pigs

 

Bi-fold autographed letter signed, 7" x 9," on letterhead of The Attorney General, Washington. Undated but stamped as received "May 16, 1961," and signed by Robert Kennedy as "Bobby." Penned to first page, balance of pages blank. Near fine with single mailing fold and small notes along top edge. Accompanied by a copy of a memo from the US Department of Labor as a Memorandum to the President.

 

A short but revealing letter by Robert Kennedy, then acting Attorney General to Secretary of Labor, Arthur Goldberg. Kennedy is affirming that he was in full agreement with Arthur's memo on the CIA and "though brief, made great sense. I think you hit the nail on the head."

 

The memo referenced will be included with this lot and comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, dated May 5, 1961 written shortly and no doubt as a post mortem review of the  failed Bay of Pigs military invasion of Cuba undertaken by the CIA.  Castro had forged strong economic links with the Soviet Union which at the time  the United States was engaged in the Cold War. US President Eisenhower, concerned at the direction Castro's government was taking, allocated $13.1 million to the CIA to plan Castro's overthrow. The CIA proceeded to organize the operation with the aid of various Cuban counter-revolutionary forces, training Brigade 2506 in Guatemala. Eisenhower's successor, John Kennedy, approved the final invasion plan on 4 April 1961. However Castro decided to take personal control of the operation. As the US involvement became apparent to the world, and with the initiative turning against the invasion, Kennedy decided against providing further air cover.  As a result, the operation only had half the forces the CIA had deemed necessary (in effect at the involvement of other agencies outside of the CIA). The original plan devised during Eisenhower's presidency had required both air and naval support. On 20 April, the invaders surrendered after only three days, with the majority being publicly interrogated and put into Cuban prisons. The failed invasion helped to strengthen the position of Castro's leadership, made him a national hero, and entrenched the rocky relationship between the former allies. It also strengthened the relations between Cuba and the Soviet Union. (This eventually led to the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.) The invasion was a major failure for US foreign policy. 

 

After this disaster a look into the CIA's methodology was conducted. Goldberg's memo (referenced in this letter by Bobby Kennedy and a copy of which will be included with this lot), made numerous direct suggestions about how to reorganize the CIA, to allow for effectual espionage and emphasized the importance to disavow their activities, so their successes and their failures could neither be confirmed nor denied by any other organization. Above all "it must be the fixed and undeviating policy of the Government at all levels, from the President down, to deny, disclaim, repudiate and shed responsibility for the activities of this organization."  In addition, the memo makes numerous other suggestions to enhance their operations and maintain secrecy. As we know today, many of these suggestions and protocols are still the current Method of Operations used by the CIA.

 

A superb letter with stunning references to one of the most massive changes and reorganizations of this important secret agency. However in keeping with spirit of this memo, we can neither confirm nor deny this research.


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