Steve Rosen

Thanks for those links, Bill. Zach, Robert K. Tannenbaum, Esquire, will be speaking at the Passing the Torch - Dr. Cyril Wecht conference on October 18, 2013 at Duquesne University. Perhaps he can help with Cliff Fenton information. By the way, that conference looks really good with great speakers (way to go, Bill Kelly). - Steve http://www.duq.edu/events/jfk

Gene, you are correct: Hunt was Knight and Richard McGarrah Helms was Fletcher Knight (insert wisecrack here.) The term "bishop" comes from a Germanic term meaning "messenger" or "runner". Phillips did in fact wryly remark to a friend to the effect that his subordinates were pieces on a chessboard to be moved around at his will. So Gene, from the information I've gathered, your observation is astute. Whether there are other people who used chess terms, I don't know (perhaps David "The Rook" Morales? ...). - Steve

Very cool, James. Good to see you. Your insights and numerous contributions here continue to spur on researchers. For those who don't know, get to searching ...

Larry, I agree. The Agency & Miami station especially were particularly adroit at exploiting the patriotic and chummy nature of reporters. The reporters, of course, were all too happy to help in order to get great scoops. It was a symbiotic relationship that worked quite well. Andric, thanks for posting. That "police sketch" of "Maurice Bishop" has always been interesting to me. Does anyone know who the artist is? I recall that Gaeton Fonzi commissioned it. I don't believe it's the dead ringer for Dave Phillips that most people seem to think. Phillips had dark hair, the sketch is lighter. The hairline is different, as is the face, to me. Assume it actually is a sketch of Phillips. That doesn't change the reality - not theory - that the Bishop handle was a name used by multiple operatives. Dig deeper here and you can find written confirmation for this fact from multiple and reliable sources who knew Dave Phillips and were familiar with the use of the Bishop name. Once you discover this, the endless confusion around Mr. Bishop makes a lot more sense. For example, DCI John McCone recalled a Bishop name for the HSCA, and then withdrew that recollection. "Bishop" wasn't any one person, so of course it could plausibly be said that McCone was "mistaken". Again - Bishop was an operational name employed by many people for various projects and purposes. People should conduct serious research into this largely unexplored but very important area. -- Steve

Larry, Thanks for adding that. I spoke to a reporter who both shared info with JMWAVE and knew Hal Hendrix. Hendrix was known to be especially close with the Miami station and of course was personally friendly with Dave Phillips. Of course, such professional camaraderie among writers and spies was looked at as harmless, patriotic, and mutually beneficial by reporters, not seamy and unethical. Steve

Zach, Thanks for pointing that out. John Simkin - any idea why a Robert Johnson thread was deleted? Zach is correct, Johnson is important in the shadowy world of commercial intelligence, with odd connections to many people on the Spartacus bio pages. I don't believe he has any solid connections to the JFK case, at least that I've seen. He is worthy of research as an intriguing 20th century soldier of fortune, writer, and paid intel advisor to Rafael Trujillo and others. Steve

Ian, David Atlee Phillips was the youngest of three brothers. Paul, I am short on Hal Hendrix bio information (as opposed to his brother, Jimi Hendrix ), but I believe he is still alive, if there is anyone bold enough to track down the so-called "Spook Reporter". --- Shot in the dark - has anyone researched the Maurice/Morris Bishop names in a while? There is great stuff to discover, none of which has appeared here ... Where is the intrepid John Kelly when you need him?

Excellent information, Zach, thanks. Reminiscent of Lee Forman and James Richards. Where are those guys? Cheers, Steve

Anthony Summers updated version of Not In Your Lifetime will contain some new information about David Atlee Phillips and other fresh material, especially in the final chapter. Should prove interesting. Steve

Hi Vince, What is your basis for saying yes? Cheers, Steve

Here's a good question, in line with the February 5, 2013 article at JFKFacts.org regarding the top 5 CIA files John Brennan should release: Why are a number Thomas Arthur Vallee's records still withheld at NARA? -- Steve Article: http://jfkfacts.org/assassination/news/top-5-jfk-documents-brennan-should-declassify/

Hi Paul, You are not crazy in regards to the Bishop issue. At this point, there is no doubt that Bishop was a name that was shared by a number of spooks for operational purposes. In that sense, Phillips "used" the name. Research is ongoing in this area and hopefully there will be more fit to print soon. Researchers should dive in, as it is an unexplored area, save for Gaeton Fonzi's work. Cheers, Steve

Excellent, thank you, Jim. Looking forward to the updated Destiny Betrayed. It certainly is a curious nickname, especially for the anti-Castro types that Jim Garrison was investigating. It doesn't reflect a Cuban background. When you throw in the fact that Bernardo De Torres was cheerfully assisting Garrison, things get even murkier. It would be most interesting to figure out who tipped off Garrison's team to "Indio". -- Steve

Thanks, Zach. The same to you sir. Your reply is intriguing. To which photo do you refer? Not too long ago, our friends Jack White or James Richards would be quick to reply with the correct photo. Time flies. *** The November 1963 Chicago Plot against JFK, involving a team of Cuban exile shooters, a gun-toting loner named Thomas Arthur Vallee, and the rail-roading of hero Secret Service Agent Abraham Bolden is fascinating, especially when analyzed in the context of Dallas. For interested readers, seek out Edwin Black's brilliant article on the subject titled "The Chicago Plot to Kill JFK", and James Douglass's JFK and The Unspeakable. Black's article is here: http://archive.org/d...goPlotToKillJfk and http://www.scribd.co...ot-to-Kill-JFK. I don't recall Wes Swearingen's book outlining the Chicago Plot. It'd be a good topic to discuss with him. However, the Chicago Plot was covered up pretty thoroughly by the Secret Service at the time, and still is. There are a number of documents at NARA regarding probable-patsy Thomas Arthur Vallee that are withheld by various government agencies. -- Steve

Mike, thanks for the kind words. I feel the same way when I see your name in the Ed Forum. Much appreciated for the New York Times link. John Simkin and Jim DiEugenio are on the money: That obituary was very nicely done and a fitting tribute. David Lifton, thank you for letting us know the obituary was not in the 9-11-12 edition. Please keep us posted. I believe Jefferson Morley's article on George Joannides files from 2009 was not in the West Coast edition of the Times. The linked article says that a version it appeared in the New York edition. Interesting. See: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/17/us/17inquire.html?pagewanted=all *** Jim, can you shed any light on the "Indio" tip that Jim Garrison received? Thank you in advance. -- Steve

The Last Investigation is an excellent book and essential reading. I believe that Gaeton Fonzi and his streetwise team did the most important work of all of the 1970's Congressional committees, in terms of shedding light on intelligence activities. Two chapters in his book are titled "On the Trail of the Shadow Warrior" and "Confessions of a Hometown Hero". They are about CIA covert operator David Sanchez Morales, aka El Indio, who admitted involvement in the JFK assassination to two close friends in a drunken, unguarded moment.** From post-WWII until at least the mid-1970's, Morales was the Agency's go-to guy for dangerous and unpleasant work. In addition, he had nearly unchecked authority within the CIA; the ability to conduct off-the-books operations; and access to networks of outside assets far beyond the oversight of officialdom. Fonzi had just begun to sniff out El Indio's trail when Morales up and died, shortly before he was to be called to testify. David Atlee Phillips helped conceal El Indio's whereabouts and importance when Fonzi asked Phillips about Morales in an interview. As well, Fonzi put in a lot of work investigating Phillips's connections to the shadowy entity known as Mr. Bishop. The relentless and dogged passion with which Gaeton Fonzi pursued the truth in his endeavors is a fine example for us all, and a lasting contribution to history. -- Steve ** Jim Garrison received a tip about an "Indio" who was involved as well, from an anonymous source in 1967, if I recall correctly. Does anyone have more detail?

Thanks Zach. Wes Swearingen is of course referring to David Sanchez Morales, known as "Indio" to his friends. Speaking of Indio's friends, he had a very small circle. One close buddy was Filipo Sacco, aka John "Handsome Johnny" Roselli, underworld mover and shaker, JM/WAVE asset, and mafia liason to The Agency. Mr. Swearingen was told by his Cuban source "Ramon" prior 11/22 that Roselli was another person involved in a plot to kill JFK. To Kill A President: Finally---An Ex-FBI Agent rips aside the veil of secrecy that killed JFK is a very interesting perspective from the FBI agent who was in charge of Cuban counter-intelligence matters at the Chicago field office in the early 1960's. Although not as severe, the story of what happened to Mr. Swearingen recalls what befell Abraham Bolden of the Secret Service when he spoke up. A breezy read and great material to consider. The book's heavy use of confidential sources may turn some people off. http://www.amazon.co...y/dp/1419693824

John, That's too bad. The book is a doozy. With M. Wesley Swearingen's background and credibility, I'm not at all surprised that the story didn't get more media coverage and discussion here ... The book has a short chapter on one "Indio", who Mr. Swearingen's Cuban source said (prior to 11-22-63) was involved with a plot to kill JFK. Steve

Yes, Tommy, thank you, I did pick up on that reference a while back. I was keeping it clean for the kids who may be visiting the Ed Forum. I didn't want to hit the point on the head. So to speak. "Michael C. Choaden" was used by a man, after all, who wrote a comedic play called "The Snow Job". - Steve

Zach, Thanks for that link. I missed that thread. Philip Agee's book is really good. I agree, the Michael Choaden pseudonym was very likely created by Dave Phillips as a joke. He had a pretty good sense of humor (maybe not so subtle in this case), a penchant for veiled references, & the autonomy to pick & use a name that would sail right over most other people's heads at the Agency (except for maybe some other Latin American & Spanish hands). - Steve

Zach, Thank you for checking in. Your contributions & research are always most welcome. It seems that the Ed Forum's other top anti-Castro experts (James Richards, John Kelly, Ryan Crowe, & Mike Hogan come to mind) are on extended sabbatical. Cheers, Steve

Hi Tommy, I concur with Zach in thanking you for breathing life into this thread that died on the vine some time ago. Many such potentially important topics have been gathering dust for too long. I would caution you not to spin your wheels too hard searching ancestry banks for these Agency pseudonyms: some are created out of whole clothe, in my understanding. Others are deliberately obscure names. This way, they are not confused with real people. Michael Choaden, a professional name that was used by David Atlee Phillips, is one example that comes to mind. A quick search (admittedly superficial) reveals one Choadens family, and no Choaden hits. Your interest is much appreciated. -- Steve

I've always assumed it was obvious that Photo #1 & #2 may be the same man but obviously different from photos 4~6 (beginning from upper left). I am convinced 1-2 are of a different man than 4-6 and that is quite clear personally. Hello B.A., Thank you for your topical comment. James Richards put that collage together, so I'd say it's a safe bet that all the pictures do in fact show Martinez. The four grey-haired shots are Watergate-era, I believe. Best, Steve

Back to the topic of anti-Castro fighter, Eugenio "Musculito" Martinez ... John Simpkin, Was Mr. Martinez invited to comment here, or was he receptive to questions via his granddaughter? I think we need to encourage more guests at the Ed Forum. Cheers, Steve

John, Did Eugenio Martinez's granddaughter ever reply to the questions you submitted to her, or did you have further communication with her? - Steve