Cryptonym: AMBIDDY-1
Regarding the crypt AMBIDDY-1, a great many CIA documents about AMBIDDY-1's activities list ARTIME in their NARA RIF sheet subject lines. And the Segregated Collection's folders on Artime are chock full of AMBIDDY-1 records.
Beyond being a prominent exile leader, Artime's story is of particular interest because of the still-murky events of 1963, when the CIA provided Artime assistance to relocate his operations to Nicaragua, under Project AMWORLD. See that crypt for more information on that project. Note that the HSCA film has Artime in Reels 1-2, as his name starts with "A", and is alphabetized throughout: http://maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=7528&search=%22201-236504%22#relPageId=2&tab=page This document makes it clear that 201-251689 is Bernard Barker/AMCLATTER-1, reporting on Fiorini and Artime: https://maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=21654#relPageId=3&tab=page Good backgrounder on Artime (SO # 210838) to Philip Toomey, WH, on 12/22/59: https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/104-10162-10176.pdf 104-10241-10133: Used the pseudonym "Ignacio" during 1963. Security number #210838. 104-10162-10195: His PRQ II shows that his case officers were David Morales aka "Dr. Gonzalez", Howard Hunt aka "Eduardo", and Gerald Droller aka "Frank Bender". The station's initial interest in Artime was for "KUCAGE exploitation". Inside the Company, by Philip Agee, p. 62. Psychological and paramilitary KUCAGE operations are action rather than collection activities. Collection operations should be invisible - action operations are visible but not attributed to CIA or the US government.
The document contains a summary and brief timeline regarding the activities of Manuel Artime. Among the written notations is his assigned cryptonym "AMBIDDY-1".
This document notes that AMBIDDY-1's parents were "Manuel Faustino ARTIME Fernandes and Otilia BUESA Beujardin." See 104-10241-10018, for one of many documents where Artime is referred to as AMBIDDY-1.
This section of the HSCA's volume on Cuban exile groups provides some good background on Artime.
Larry Hancock, Somebody Would Have Talked (2003)
Re 1960-61: "Manuel Artime was one of the Cuban exile leaders playing a major role in the U.S. assembled exile leadership formed before the Bay of Pigs. Artime and other leaders including Tony Varona, Aureliano Arango and Jose Cardona met with Senator John Kennedy as early as the Democratic National Convention in 1960. Artime became the exile favorite of the most fervently anti-Communist elements within the CIA. He provided an establishment contrast to more progressive and liberal exile politicians such as Manolo Ray (and the JURE party). Artime went into the Bay of Pigs with Brigade 2506, was captured and held prisoner in Cuba until his ransom was paid by personal friends of the Kennedy administration. In 1963, he was recruited by the Administration and the CIA to launch the only sanctioned Kennedy Administration military effort against Castro - code named Second Naval Guerrilla. During 1963, Artime officially and covertly received substantial cash, arms, supplies and boats for this effort; SNG however had to be based totally outside the U.S. and to have total "deniability" in order to honor an Administration pledge not to support an invasion of Cuba. Artime's major offshore assembly point and base became Nicaragua and preparations were well in progress for sea borne strikes and possibly a second Cuban invasion by 1964. Artime himself established close personal ties to the Samoza regime in Nicaragua, so personal that recently released CIA documents make it clear that the CIA was extremely concerned that Artime and Luis Samoza might well be taking the operation outside of U.S. control."
000-00000-00000: MISC FBI DOCUMENTS IN AARC CIA COLLECTION, BOX 114
Re 1961-64: MM T-2, a member of the MRR, reported to the FBI: "...Artime came into the MRR and through politics, tricks and deception took over the organization. Prior to the April 17, 1961 invasion, he arrived in the training camp in Guatemala, where through politics and intrigue, he succeeded in having himself named as the civilian leader of the invasion. As a result of this, a number of qualified military leaders in the Brigade 2506 resigned in protest. MM T-2 said that after Artime's return to the United States on December 24, 1962, he used his influence with the United States government to obtain an interview with President KENNEDY, and was later on the reviewing stand with the President at the Orange Bowl stadium in Miami, Florida, when Brigade 2506 was reviewed..." Also see 104-10180-10414 - a "Chronology of Concept of Autonomous Operations and Summary of Financial Support to Manuel Artime" - from 1962-64.
104-10240-10395: CABLE:ON 27 DEC STANLEY R. ZAMKA MET AMBIDDY-1. PURPOSE MEETING
1/1/63 dispatch from JMWAVE to Director: "On 27 Dec Stanley R. Zamka/David Morales met AMBIDDY-1. Purpose meeting was attempt assess and determine (Artime's) frame of mind plus his present and future plans. For HQS info (Morales) recruited (Artime) in Habana 1959, safehoused and infiltrated him black same year therefore (Artime) no stranger to (Morales)...(Artime) told case officer not in position give him concrete guidance but could suggest he guide himself along following lines which he accepted. A. Seriously consider remain active member AMBUD. B. Make every effort get along with AMBUD-1. C. Remain as titular head AMYUM/MRR, reorganize same and attempt regain prestige (MRR) lost in his absence. D. Attempt maintain Brigade intact and under umbrella AMBUD.
104-10271-10096: MPR RELATIONS WITH OTHER ANTI-CASTRO ORGANIZATIONS
6/1/63 FBI Letterhead Memorandum: "(Joaquin Godoy, AMRAZZ-1 stated that on 5/14/62) the Unidad Revolucionario (UR) invited MRP, Alpha 66, and the SNFE to a meeting with Manuel Artime and Cesar Baro of the (MRR). The anti-Castro organizations known as the 20th of May and (MDC) were also represented. During the meeting it was obvious that Artime was looking for weapons to use in connection with his own organization and was trying to build himself up as a leader. Godoy said that Artime is regarded as 'chicken' due to his conduct while a prisoner in Cuba after being captured at the Bay of Pigs invasion attempt. Godoy said that his fellow prisoners lost all respect for him. Consequently, Godoy and the other representatives of the new unity group were not interested in cooperating with Artime."
104-10221-10269: DISPATCH: TYPIC/OPERATIONAL - AMCLATTER/1 PROGRESS REPORT FOR MAY 1963
6/23/63 dispatch from Chief of Station, JMWAVE to Chief of Station, SAS: Subject 201-251689 (Jesus Pacheco Gonzales) reports that Fiorini said he had spoken twice during the month to General Clare Chennault, who wanted to participate in the anti-Castro effort. "Chenault recommended that Artime solicit aid from the representatives of the Chinese Nationalists in Washington, and urged that his (Chenault's) name be used."
"On July 26, 1963, Raul Mendez Perez, member of the CRC, stated it is the CRC's opinion that ARTIME is neither a military man or a politician, but only the "golden boy" of the U.S. government. MENDEZ said ARTIME is not a natural leader, and is accused by the veterans of Playa Giron of knuckling under and acquiescing to Cuban propagandists while he was in jail in Cuba after his capture at Playa Giron."
1993.08.18.13:00:42:590064 MEMO FROM THE DEPT. OF JUSTICE ON ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE
8/14/63, Dan Kurzman, Washington Post: "The lack of hit-and-run raids on Cuban shore installations or ships trading with Cuba in recent weeks reflects general agreement among the exile groups that sensational and well-publicized incidents are ineffectual, detrimental to CIA activities, and likely to meet with a swift crackdown by US authorities."
104-10241-10023: MEMO/BOOK ON THE BAY OF PIGS - AMBIDDY-1'S INVOLVEMENT
9/27/63 letter from Henry Hecksher to Chief, Special Affairs Staff, Subject: Book on the Bay of Pigs - AMBIDDY-1's involvement: "AMBIDDY-1 has contributed to a book on the Bay of Pigs which, he believes, is being published under the auspices of the Attorney General who introduced the author, Mr. Wayne Johnson. (Note: He was Haynes Johnson)...the other contributors are the Roman brothers, Oliva, and Harry Ruiz Williams...I conclude from AMBIDDY-1"s remark is that (his) concern stems essentially from a premonition that the book is likely to refer to CIA in not very complimentary terms."
104-10106-10013: DRAFT MATERIAL ON ROSELLI INVESTIGATION
Re: 1963-4/65: 4/7/77 memo re Rosselli investigation from Phil Fendig to Ed Cohen: "Artime was de facto agricultural chief in Oriente Province after Batista's fall...from June 1963 to April 1965, CIA supported ARTIME and the MRR operations against Cuba which can be broadly characterized as harassment, sabotage and psychological warfare at a cost of approximately $ seven million. Following that, CIA supported psychological warfare operations such as radio broadcasts and the publication of an anti-Castro periodical. This continued until ARTIME was terminated in January 1967."