Victor Marchetti

[John Simkin]

Victor Marchetti was born in 1930. He joined the United States Army and in 1952 he was sent to the European Command's School at Oberammergau to study Russian. Later he was involved in intelligence work concerning East Germany.

After leaving the military Marchetti studied history at Penn State University. While at university Marchetti was secretly recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency. He officially joined the organization in 1955. Marchetti became a Soviet military specialist and was the CIA's leading expert on aid given to Third World countries. This included Soviet military supplies to Cuba in the early 1960s.

In 1966 he became special assistant to the Chief of Planning, Programming, and Budgeting. The following year he was special assistant to Richard Helms.

Marchetti became disillusioned with the "agency's policies and practices" and in 1969 resigned from the CIA. He wrote about his experiences in the CIA in the novel The Rope-Dancer that was published in 1971. He then began work with John Marks on a book about the need to reform the CIA.

The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence was completed in 1973. CIA officials read the manuscript and told Marchetti and Marks that they had to remove 399 passages, nearly a fifth of the book. After long negotiations the CIA yielded on 171 items. That left 168 censored passages. The publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, decided to go ahead and publish the book with blanks for those passages, and with the sections that the CIA had originally cut but then restored printed in boldface.

The publication of Marchetti's censored book raised concerns about the way the CIA was censoring information. It led to investigative reports by Seymour Hersh in The New York Times and the decision by Frank Church to establish a Select Committee to study government operations. The report, Foreign and Military Intelligence, was published in 1976.

In August, 1978, Marchetti published an article about the assassination of John F. Kennedy in the liberty Lobby newspaper, Spotlight. In the article Marchetti argued that the House Special Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) had obtained a 1966 CIA memo that revealed E. Howard Hunt, Frank Sturgis and Gerry Patrick Hemming had been involved in the plot to kill Kennedy. Marchetti's article also included a story that Marita Lorenz had provided information on this plot. Later that month Joseph Trento and Jacquie Powers wrote a similar story for the Sunday News Journal.

The HSCA did not publish this CIA memo linking its agents to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Hunt now decided to take legal action against the Liberty Lobby and in December, 1981, he was awarded $650,000 in damages. Liberty Lobby appealed to the United States Court of Appeals. It was claimed that Hunt's attorney, Ellis Rubin, had offered a clearly erroneous instruction as to the law of defamation. The three-judge panel agreed and the case was retried. This time Mark Lane defended the Liberty Lobby against Hunt's action.

Lane eventually discovered Marchetti’s sources. The main source was William Corson. It also emerged that Marchetti had also consulted James Angleton and Alan J. Weberman before publishing the article. As a result of obtaining of getting depositions from David Atlee Phillips, Richard Helms, G. Gordon Liddy, Stansfield Turner and Marita Lorenz, plus a skillful cross-examination by Lane of E. Howard Hunt, the jury decided in January, 1995, that Marchetti had not been guilty of libel when he suggested that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated by people working for the CIA.

[John Simkin]

Namebase entry for Victor Marchetti:

http://www.namebase.org/main4/Victor-L-Marchetti.html

Agee,P. On the Run. 1987 (55, 77, 82-4, 92, 122)

Agee,P. Poelchau,W. Whitepaper Whitewash. 1981 (69-72)

Ashman,C. The CIA-Mafia Link. 1975 (29)

Assn. National Security Alumni. Unclassified 1993-01 (16-7)

Bain,D. The Control of Candy Jones. 1976 (104, 128)

Bainerman,J. The Crimes of a President. 1992 (70-2, 81)

Berkeley Barb 1975-11-06 (3)

Berlet,C. Right Woos Left. 1991-12-16 (7, 15-6)

Borosage,R. Marks,J. The CIA File. 1976 (96)

Columbia Journalism Review 1984-08 (44, 46)

Constantine,A. Psychic Dictatorship in the U.S.A. 1995 (180)

CounterSpy 1976-W (63)

CounterSpy 1984-08 (29)

Covert Action Information Bulletin 1980-#9 (5)

Cummings,R. The Pied Piper. 1985 (138-9)

DeCamp,J. The Franklin Cover-up. 1994 (178-9)

DiEugenio,J. Pease,L. The Assassinations. 2003 (47, 195, 325-6)

DiFonzo,L. St.Peter's Banker. 1983 (35)

Duffy,J. Ricci,V. The Assassination of John F. Kennedy. 1992 (299-300)

Esquire 1991-10 (103)

Fensterwald,B. Coincidence or Conspiracy? 1977 (298-9, 452-3)

Fonzi,G. The Last Investigation. 1993 (239)

Frazier,H. Uncloaking the CIA. 1978 (9, 220)

Freed,D. Death in Washington. 1980 (119-20)

Freney,D. Get Gough! 1985 (58)

Furiati,C. ZR Rifle. 1994 (116-7)

Goddard,D. Coleman,L. Trail of the Octopus. 1993 (181)

Good,T. Above Top Secret. 1988 (364-5)

Gritz,J. Called to Serve. 1991 (503)

Groden,R. Livingstone,H. High Treason. 1990 (186, 292, 330, 346, 395)

Hinckle,W. Turner,W. The Fish is Red. 1981 (269)

Intelligence/Parapolitics (Paris) 1986-09 (3)

Jeffreys-Jones,R. The CIA and American Democracy. 1989 (186-7)

Kessler,R. Inside the CIA. 1994 (274-5)

Kwitny,J. The Crimes of Patriots. 1987 (119-22, 135)

Lane,M. Plausible Denial. 1991 (1, 119-47, 221-2)

Lee,M. The Beast Reawakens. 1997 (225)

Lisee,J. In the Eye of the Eagle. 1990 (102-3, 105)

Lobster Magazine (Britain) 1992-#24 (7, 9)

Los Angeles Vanguard 1977-06 (1, 4)

Mackenzie,A. Secrets: The CIA's War at Home. 1997 (42-52, 64-5, 78)

Marrs,J. Crossfire. 1990 (117, 192, 500)

Melanson,P. Spy Saga. 1990 (41, 48)

Melanson,P. The Robert F. Kennedy Assassination. 1991 (290)

Minnick,W. Spies and Provocateurs. 1992 (146)

Morrow,R. First Hand Knowledge. 1992 (286)

Oglesby,C. The Yankee and Cowboy War. 1976 (106)

Peake,H. Reader's Guide to Intelligence Periodicals. 1992 (132)

Piper,M.C. Final Judgment. 1993 (112, 197-205, 216, 291)

Powell,S. Covert Cadre. 1987 (57, 66, 73)

Powers,T. The Man Who Kept the Secrets. 1981 (313)

Probe Magazine. June/July 1989 (18)

Richelson,J. The Wizards of Langley. 2001 (147)

Russell,D. The Man Who Knew Too Much. 1992 (102, 222)

Scott,P.D... The Assassinations: Dallas and Beyond. 1976 (484, 491)

Sergeyev,F. Chile: CIA Big Business. 1981 (167)

Simpson,C. Blowback. 1988 (54, 64)

Spotlight Newspaper 1987-03-30 (2)

Spotlight Newspaper 1993-08-16 (18)

Spotlight Newspaper 1997-06-09 (16)

Stich,R. Russell,T.C. Disavow: A CIA Saga of Betrayal. 1995 (96)

Summers,A. Conspiracy. 1981 (173-6, 329)

Thomas,K. Keith,J. The Octopus. 1996 (77, 91-2)

Thomas,K. Popular Alienation: A Steamshovel Press Reader. 1995 (49)

Time 1992-04-27 (32)

Turner,W. Rearview Mirror. 2001 (173)

Tyson,J. Target America. 1981 (56, 147-8, 152, 173-4, 177)

Vankin,J. Conspiracies, Cover-ups, and Crimes. 1991 (110)

Vankin,J. Whalen,J. The 60 Greatest Conspiracies. 1998 (284, 308)

Washington Post 1986-06-26 (A23)

Washington Times 1989-11-07 (A2)

Washington Times 1992-05-10 (B2)

West,N. Games of Intelligence. 1990 (212)

Wise,D. The American Police State. 1978 (196-7)

Wise,D. The Politics of Lying. 1973 (147)

Z Magazine 1992-03 (20)

[Terry Mauro]

Namebase entry for Victor Marchetti:

http://www.namebase.org/main4/Victor-L-Marchetti.html

Agee,P. On the Run. 1987 (55, 77, 82-4, 92, 122)

Agee,P. Poelchau,W. Whitepaper Whitewash. 1981 (69-72)

Ashman,C. The CIA-Mafia Link. 1975 (29)

Assn. National Security Alumni. Unclassified 1993-01 (16-7)

Bain,D. The Control of Candy Jones. 1976 (104, 128)

Bainerman,J. The Crimes of a President. 1992 (70-2, 81)

Berkeley Barb 1975-11-06 (3)

Berlet,C. Right Woos Left. 1991-12-16 (7, 15-6)

Borosage,R. Marks,J. The CIA File. 1976 (96)

Columbia Journalism Review 1984-08 (44, 46)

Constantine,A. Psychic Dictatorship in the U.S.A. 1995 (180)

CounterSpy 1976-W (63)

CounterSpy 1984-08 (29)

Covert Action Information Bulletin 1980-#9 (5)

Cummings,R. The Pied Piper. 1985 (138-9)

DeCamp,J. The Franklin Cover-up. 1994 (178-9)

DiEugenio,J. Pease,L. The Assassinations. 2003 (47, 195, 325-6)

DiFonzo,L. St.Peter's Banker. 1983 (35)

Duffy,J. Ricci,V. The Assassination of John F. Kennedy. 1992 (299-300)

Esquire 1991-10 (103)

Fensterwald,B. Coincidence or Conspiracy? 1977 (298-9, 452-3)

Fonzi,G. The Last Investigation. 1993 (239)

Frazier,H. Uncloaking the CIA. 1978 (9, 220)

Freed,D. Death in Washington. 1980 (119-20)

Freney,D. Get Gough! 1985 (58)

Furiati,C. ZR Rifle. 1994 (116-7)

Goddard,D. Coleman,L. Trail of the Octopus. 1993 (181)

Good,T. Above Top Secret. 1988 (364-5)

Gritz,J. Called to Serve. 1991 (503)

Groden,R. Livingstone,H. High Treason. 1990 (186, 292, 330, 346, 395)

Hinckle,W. Turner,W. The Fish is Red. 1981 (269)

Intelligence/Parapolitics (Paris) 1986-09 (3)

Jeffreys-Jones,R. The CIA and American Democracy. 1989 (186-7)

Kessler,R. Inside the CIA. 1994 (274-5)

Kwitny,J. The Crimes of Patriots. 1987 (119-22, 135)

Lane,M. Plausible Denial. 1991 (1, 119-47, 221-2)

Lee,M. The Beast Reawakens. 1997 (225)

Lisee,J. In the Eye of the Eagle. 1990 (102-3, 105)

Lobster Magazine (Britain) 1992-#24 (7, 9)

Los Angeles Vanguard 1977-06 (1, 4)

Mackenzie,A. Secrets: The CIA's War at Home. 1997 (42-52, 64-5, 78)

Marrs,J. Crossfire. 1990 (117, 192, 500)

Melanson,P. Spy Saga. 1990 (41, 48)

Melanson,P. The Robert F. Kennedy Assassination. 1991 (290)

Minnick,W. Spies and Provocateurs. 1992 (146)

Morrow,R. First Hand Knowledge. 1992 (286)

Oglesby,C. The Yankee and Cowboy War. 1976 (106)

Peake,H. Reader's Guide to Intelligence Periodicals. 1992 (132)

Piper,M.C. Final Judgment. 1993 (112, 197-205, 216, 291)

Powell,S. Covert Cadre. 1987 (57, 66, 73)

Powers,T. The Man Who Kept the Secrets. 1981 (313)

Probe Magazine. June/July 1989 (18)

Richelson,J. The Wizards of Langley. 2001 (147)

Russell,D. The Man Who Knew Too Much. 1992 (102, 222)

Scott,P.D... The Assassinations: Dallas and Beyond. 1976 (484, 491)

Sergeyev,F. Chile: CIA Big Business. 1981 (167)

Simpson,C. Blowback. 1988 (54, 64)

Spotlight Newspaper 1987-03-30 (2)

Spotlight Newspaper 1993-08-16 (18)

Spotlight Newspaper 1997-06-09 (16)

Stich,R. Russell,T.C. Disavow: A CIA Saga of Betrayal. 1995 (96)

Summers,A. Conspiracy. 1981 (173-6, 329)

Thomas,K. Keith,J. The Octopus. 1996 (77, 91-2)

Thomas,K. Popular Alienation: A Steamshovel Press Reader. 1995 (49)

Time 1992-04-27 (32)

Turner,W. Rearview Mirror. 2001 (173)

Tyson,J. Target America. 1981 (56, 147-8, 152, 173-4, 177)

Vankin,J. Conspiracies, Cover-ups, and Crimes. 1991 (110)

Vankin,J. Whalen,J. The 60 Greatest Conspiracies. 1998 (284, 308)

Washington Post 1986-06-26 (A23)

Washington Times 1989-11-07 (A2)

Washington Times 1992-05-10 (B2)

West,N. Games of Intelligence. 1990 (212)

Wise,D. The American Police State. 1978 (196-7)

Wise,D. The Politics of Lying. 1973 (147)

Z Magazine 1992-03 (20)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I had a subscription to The Spotlight from 1992 - 1995, which is where I came across The Noontide Press, and was able to purchase "The Secret Team", at that time. It was located in Costa Mesa, CA.

Victor Marchetti also broke the story on Operation Watchtower, in The Spotlight during the time I had subscribed to it. All roads leading to Bush, via John Hull's landing strip on his Costa Rican plantation. This story on Hull's landing strip, later appeared in an article in Harper's Magazine in 1994, as well.

[Chris Cox]

All who haven't already; read Lane's "Plausible Denial" for some insights

[Terry Mauro]

All who haven't already; read Lane's "Plausible Denial" for some  insights

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Plausible Denial is what initially lead me to The Spotlight and The Noontide Press.

[James Richards]

John D. Marks and Victor Marchetti below.

FWIW.

James

[Guest Matt Allison]

If Victor Marchetti was actually a problem for CIA, they would have killed him.

But he wasn't. He was a plant.

Remember that ultimately, his stuff achieved nothing.

It was all a preemptive limited hangout operation that went to a big yawn. Quite on purpose.

An effective diversion to keep a real investigation from learning the kind of truth that results in indictments for treason.

But a patriotic act like putting someone on trial for treason is such a Pollyanna notion as to seem ridiculous nowadays, isn't it?

Indeed.

The real semi-cold war in this country has been going on for years. It consists of those that fight for the exact principles our founding fathers laid for us in 1776, VS. the 1946 CIA and the culture that now supports it as the defacto monarchy of the United States.

[J. Raymond Carroll]

If Victor Marchetti was actually a problem for CIA, they would have killed him.

But he wasn't. He was a plant.

Remember that ultimately, his stuff achieved nothing."

Interesting point, Matt.

It does seem that Marchetti has always remained a close friend of the CIA, despite his apparent "defection."

How many of us recall the gunman who opened fire outside CIA HQ at Langley in January 1993 and murdered several people? One curious fact about the killer was that he worked for a company owned by Victor Marchetti's son. This company had a highly classified relationship with CIA. Of course this is not to suggest any complicity in the murders by the Marchetti family, but one would think that if Victor Marchetti was persona non grata at CIA, then his son would have about zero chance of obtaining such a (lucrative?) contract with this highly secretive agency.