Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume X, Cuba, January 1961–September 1962

276. Memorandum for the Record⁰

Washington, November 29, 1961, 9-10:20 a.m.

Discussion with Attorney General Robert Kennedy, 9:00 to 10:20 a.m., November 29, 1961.

(1) Cuba.

K. reviewed briefly Cuban experience stating his report to the President¹ was written in a single copy which would be given to me today for reading and return—highly critical of CIA and JCS, particularly critical of Bissell for statements made to President that operation would succeed, or at best substantial guerrilla complement be landed in Cuba for future operations—criticized Bissell because Pigs Bay area not guerrilla country and surveys establishing area as guerrilla country had been made in 1895—criticized JCS for having spent only twenty minutes on operation prior first reporting to President endorsing operation.

[Here follows discussion of other subjects.]

(12) Activities of the Lansdale group were discussed. Lansdale will probably not go to South Vietnam; he will head an inter-agency group. Kennedy resented CIA resistance to this idea, hoped that we would appoint the most able man to the Lansdale committee (not J.C. King) and agreed without reservation that the Lansdale committee must operate under the 5412 Committee.

John A. McCone²
Director

0. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files: Job 80-B01285A, Box 2,DCI (McCone) Memo for the Record, 29 November 1961-5 April 1962. Secret; Eyes Only. Prepared by McCone.
1. Not found.
2. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.