Cryptonym: SUGAR
8/16/62 interview of FPCC chair Richard Gibson by SAC New York Harold Hoeg and SA James Day. He said that SWP had an avid interest in the FPCC but the CPUSA never had "any real interest". He felt the FPCC was "no more than a translation service...and found the whole leftist movement in the US ineffective and inconsequential. Subject stated that he was not a Communist, never had been, and felt that as an American Negro, the Communists had failed to ever help the Negro race. The Subject described himself, stating that as an American Negro, he owed loyalty first to himself, and then to the Negro people. He stated he felt little or no loyalty to the US and he firmly believed that all young Negroes, in the US, felt the same way." He described Robert Williams as a close personal friend who was unhappy in Cuba and would like to return to the US, but not to a North Carolina chain gang. He described Robert Taber as "mixed up" and "no more of a Communist than I am." He described Ted Lee as "a harmless fanatic". He told the FBI he was willing to "publicly denounce" the FPCC. The FBI officers opined that they might be able to use Gibson to "disrupt, dissolve, or at least neutralize" the FPCC.
104-10518-10015: DOCUMENT TRANSFER AND CROSS REFERENCE - MONTHLY REPORT/ERROL A. KULPA
2/19/63, Monthly Report of Errol S. Kulpa, re Richard Gibson: "Saw Gibson with the photo of Marc Schleifer as well as others of Algerian personalities and scenes. He was cordial but cool, said he didn't really know what sort of pictures were desired for the publication.
104-10217-10221: GIBSON, RICHARD.
2/15/65 cable from Chief, WE to Chief, REDACTED, attn: KATZENBACH: "On 11 February (CIA) Staff Agent Errol S. Kulpa, who had contact with REDACTED 1963-64, listened to reference tape and made the following comments, which may be helpful to Katzenbach...KULPA has strenuous doubts as to any ideological motivation on the part of REDACTED. He recognizes the obvious monetary motivation and feels that this probably plays a large part in the man's being willing to talk to (the US government)."
10/29/65 memo from SAC, New York, to Director, FBI: "Richard Thomas Gibson is an SI (Security Index) subject of the NYO...CIA has advised in confidence that it is operating Gibson and has assigned the code name SUGAR to Gibson. Although Gibson's previous activities would warrant inclusion on the SI, it is felt that inasmuch as Gibson has been debriefed by CIA and is presently being operated by CIA, Gibson no longer warrants inclusion on the SI, and accordingly it is being recommended that the name of Richard Thomas Gibson be deleted from the SI."
Late February 1970 memo from SYNIC magazine: "Many people on the left tend to get a little paranoiac about the CIA, and to suspect absolutely everyone. There is, however, one person who moves around the British left who should be avoided - it is just a little more than coincidental that so many people and organisations abroad seem to think that he is working for the Americans. His name: RICHARD GIBSON. He is a black American, and he works for the NEGRO PRESS INTERNATIONAL, itself not totally above suspicion. Gibson speaks in Marxist-Leninist-Maoist terminology, and pretends to be no more than this. He produces a monthly bulletin, called RICHARD GIBSON reports, which carries a lot of information about those South African movements that are not fighting, like the PAC of South Africa, or ZANU of Rhodesia. He also carries in this bulletin smears about other movements, suggesting that they are lackeys of Israel, or terrorist and not revolutionary. Gibson is believed to be a CIA agent by most of the South African groups, by the Black Panthers, by the Palestinians, et al. He used to work with a magazine in Algiers, but he was sacked, and the magazine printed an explanation saying he was CIA. Similarly, he lost his tie with 'Jeune Afrique' after they found him having contacts with US embassy officials. Even Jordanian diplomats, who are not unknown for their US links, have been known to volunteer the information that Gibson is CIA. He works from Britain. SYNIC suggests that he should be watched with care. And his associates here should not be forgotten either. SYNIC will be covering a couple of them in future issues." At p. 48: Also see the 4/20/70 CIA memo: "Please advise if the attached clipping from SYNIC, dated late February 1970, a copy of which your Headquarters office sent this office on 10 April 1970, was obtained in this country or abroad, and if abroad, where." Gibson is identified in the memo as I-216.
11/12/70 memo: See page 26 of 80: "SUGAR is CIA cryptonym for Richard Gibson." Similar statement at page 45. Also see p. 38: "...relating to Sugar's intended visit in the United States during the period September 20-October 18, 1970...for ready reference purposes and for possible assistance in the direction of Sugar and abroad, there is enclosed a list of individuals who are presently in a fugitive status, and a list of black extremist fugitives."