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Cryptonym: AMSMILE-1

Definition:

Ernesto Betancourt was a supporter and later influential staunch critic of Fidel Castro that worked for the Organization of American States.

Status:

Documented

Sources:

180-10143-10180: HSCA Cryptonym Decoder

This HSCA cryptonym decoder identifies AMSMILE-1 to be Ernesto Betancourt a former ally of Fidel Castro and subsequent critic of the Castro regime. https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/180-10143-10180.pdf

202-10002-10044: VIEWS ON CUBA OF MR. ERNESTO BETTENCOURT, PAN AMERICAN UNION

12/6/62 memo by Paul Nitze re meeting of his staff member with Ernesto (Betancourt) mistakenly spelled "Bettencourt", Pan American Union: "Now Castro is at the end of the line...start serious political opposition within Cuba by groups splintering off from the regime...there must be a concerted job of prospective nation building prior to the displacement of Castro."

104-10179-10200: MEMORANDUM - CONTACT REPORT: MEETING WITH AMSMILE-1

3/11/64 contact meeting with AMSMILE-1 (Ernesto Betancourt) held at Duke Zeibert's restaurant with an Agency official using the pseudonym Breitheim. AMSMILE-1 discussed his long association with AMBANG-1 (Manuel Ray Rivero) and Rivero's impressive talents. Officials noted wanting to keep in touch with Betancourt due to his "relatively pre-eminent position in the exile community."

104-10274-10274: CONTACT REPORT, MEETING WITH AMSMILE-1

6/10/64: CIA officer Sidney P. di Ubaldo aka John Breitheim met with AMSMILE-1 (Ernesto Betancourt) to determine if he had communication with Cuban exile leader AMBANG-1 (Manuel Ray Rivero) or insights in a recently failed JURE Cuban exile group mission. Betancourt told them he did not have contact with AMBANG-1 or "particular insights".