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Cryptonym: AMOURETTE-X

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Definition:
A project of developmental propaganda activities in the television field under the direction of the Havana Station. Supported by David Phillips under alias of Michael Choaden.
Status:
Documented
Discussion:
I started by trying to create an AMOURETTE field, but realized that all the AMOURETTE cryptonyms had a suffix. A couple of the early memos say "AMOURETTE-K", but that appears to have been an error. The later ones all say "AMOURETTE-X".
Sources:

104-10177-10420: CABLE:FYI 6 APRIL AMOURETTE 7 RECEIVED CABLE FROM CUBAN

April 1957 priority memo from Havana to Director: Emilio Nunez Portunado meets with Amourette-7. "Plan full exploitation visit", to be financed with "AMOURETTE-X funds".

104-10178-10292: SUBJECT: MICHAEL M CHOADEN

9/5/58, Chief WH/3 asked Chief, CI, Operational Approval and Support Division to "perform, as a contract agent, general developmental KUCAGE/Psychological and Paramilitary Operations staff activities in Cuba."

104-10177-10113: CHOADEN ARRIVING HAVA 9 OCT.

10/9/58: The cover page of this document states Choaden (pseudonym used by Phillips) was arriving in Havana October 9, 1958, and this matches the assignment of David Atlee Phillips to Cuba during that period and the subject of the file is "201-88764".

104-10267-10185: MEMORANDUM: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO CONTINUE CHARGING MICHAEL M. CHOADEN'S EXPENSES TO PROJECT AMOURETTE-X

Feb 59 memo from WHD J.C. King to C/PP (Bernard Reichhardt signed for the C/PP): Choaden has rec'd 6 months pay under "Project AMOURETTE-X", request for 6 months more. After his arrival, "original project...planned around him was temporarily set aside in order to enable him to devote his full efforts to a high-priority project based in Venezuela. The Venezuela project...will very likely have its central operation in Habana."

104-10267-10180: FORM: REQUEST FOR APPROVAL OR INVESTIGATION ACTION. DAVID PHILLIPS

4/1/59, Request for Approval or Investigation Action. David Phillips is running the operation, his case officer is T. B. Cobb, Jr. Description of the project is identified as seen in the definition above.

104-10267-10178: FORM: RESPONSE TO GREEN LIST REQUEST - PHILLIPS, DAVID

David Phillips is described here as "proprietor of a television programming business".

104-10178-10272: APPROVAL WORK RECORD: PHILLIPS, DAVID ATLEE

Approval work record for David Phillips, pseudonym Michael Choaden. Includes a note about Tim Cobb.

104-10267-10176: CABLE: CHOADEN REQUESTED BY FILM COMPANY TO SHOW FILM TO NARA

On 4/2/59, Phillips was asked to display the (BGCRUMMY-R) film to potential clients Identity A & B, and to travel to Washington and NYC. See 104-10276-10177: The identities of A and B: Vision and Creole Petroleum.

104-10178-10274: STATION CONTEMPLATES USE SUBJECT AS KUCAGE CUTOUT

11/19/59 memo from Havana to Director: "Station contemplates use Subject (note: Arnaldo Berneguer) as KUCAGE (Psychological and Paramilitary Operations staff) cutout. Will be paid from AMOURETTE-X pending development of project. VIEW (note: reference to WOVIEW, covert action staff) anticipated departure Michael C. Choaden in two or three months, station considering use of (Berenguer) as cutout to AMPACA (media outlet on Cuban news, run by Phillips) Arnaldo Berenguer accepted offer work Cuba as contract agent...(note: John Newman believes Berenguer may be Emilio Rodriguez)

See Also:
Contributors:
Bill Simpich • John Newman

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