Cryptonym: WUINDIGO-1
WUINDIGO-1 was available for temporary foreign assignments and was fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, German, French and English.
WUINDIGO-1 was judged to be "a reliable, productive intelligence agent who is skilled in eliciting information and in spotting and assessing targets of interest."
WUINDIGO-1 had apparently served for nine years as the Paris-based correspondent for several Brazilian publications.
Documents in May, 1965, noted that WUINDIGO-1 was allegedly a friend of Mauro Lucentini of ANSA, New York, and appeared to know Gregory Kalinkin, who worked in the UN Secretariat. Mauro Lucentini died in New York in April of 2020, aged 96. Indro Montanelli, a fellow Italian journalist, was mentioned in a obituary to Mauro Lucentini.
104-10221-10004: GALAN, VICTOR RICO, 201-336474
05/17/65: Cable from Director to Buenos Aires (Info: Mexico City, New York (DODS), Washington): (Orig: C. R. Halliwell, Unit: WH/1): "Acting through WUINDIGO HDQs placing story on ANSA wire service 16 May on Victor Rico Galan interview with Juan Mejia, DR leader 14 June Movement, which was broadcast by Radio Habana 2 May. 2. Expect story appear CLARIN and/or BUEN ANSA subscribers 17 or 18 May. If not overly long, PLS cable full text story MEXI Info DIR for immediate replay." Releasing Officer: Desmond FitzGerald, Chief, WHD. Authenticating Officer: (Signature) W. J. Kaufman, C/WH/1.
104-10221-10004: GALAN, VICTOR RICO, 201-336474
05/19/65: Contact Report: Subject: Meeting with WUINDIGO, 18 May 1965: "1. Rutherford met W/1 at the latter's apartment on 18 May 1965. 2. The following information was obtained: a. Dominican Republic: During the briefing by the WH representative on 14 May, it was agreed that W/1 would attempt to have the Havana broadcast of 2 May replayed through his friend Mauro Lucentini of ANSA, New York. It was felt that this approach would be more desirable than using W/1 directly, in view of his efforts to appear as a liberal journalist. During the meeting W/1 attempted to contact Lucentini, but ascertained that he had gone off on a holiday for the weekend. Upon learning that Lucentini would return to New York City during the evening of 16 May, it was agreed that W/1 would contact him at that time in an effort to have the story transmitted on 17 May. In addition to the major capitals in Latin America, W/1 also thought that the story would be sent to Rome. b. Following a phone call from the WH Desk, Rutherford subsequently briefed W/1 on the fact that the same story had been carried in the 2 May edition of Roy in Havana. (COMMENT: Rutherford pointed out to the Headquarters rep that, in his opinion, it might not be advisable to inform Lucentini of the Roy article as it might raise an objection in his mind concerning the current value of the news)...e. In order to supplement the Lucentini effort, W/1 prepared a more detailed version of the radio broadcast and cabled it to Corraio do Povo in Porte Alegre, Brazil. He paid for the cable in New York ($40.70) and signed it with his first and last initials and 'our NY correspondent'"...(CONTINUED BELOW)
104-10221-10004: GALAN, VICTOR RICO, 201-336474
05/19/65: Contact Report: Subject: Meeting with WUINDIGO, 18 May 1965: Page 2: "f. G. Kalinkin: On 17 May W/1 was invited to a cocktail party at the home of Lucentini, 305 East 56th Street, NYC. The reception was on the occasion of the departure of Ricardo Berla, Vice President of Olivetti Underwood in New York. W/1 was surprised to find that Kalinkin, the Soviet employed in the UN Secretariat, was present. It will be recalled that W/1 originally met Kalinkin at the home of Faubion Bowers in Manhattan in June 1964. Lucentini was present on that occasion. W/1 could not comment on whether Lucentini met Kalinkin for the first time at the Bowers affair. W/1 is not aware of any close relationship between Kalinkin and Lucentini...4. Next meeting: Friday, 21 May, at 1100. Guy W. Rutherford."
104-10221-10004: GALAN, VICTOR RICO, 201-336474
05/20/65: Dispatch from Chief of Base, New York to COS, Buenos Aires (Info: Chief, DO; Chief, WH (Attn: Wallace R. Parlett); COS, Washington): Subject: DYVOUR/OPERATIONAL - WUINDIGO/1/ANSA Article: "Attached is an article transmitted by ANSA New York on 17 May 1965. The article was given to the ANSA representative in New York by WUINDIGO-1. Guy W. Rutherford." - - - Page 172: Attachment to UNDA-1136, dated 20 May 1965: "On Friday, May 13, Radio-Havana cited Juan B. Mejia leader of Dominican '14 of June' Party who had given an interview to Mexican journalist Victor Rico Galan in which he declared over the telephone that 'Many of the 14 June Movement have disappeared but at the same time numerous contingents of insurgents are reported in the mountains of the region' and that 'The 14 of June Movement has much control of the situation.'"
104-10221-10004: GALAN, VICTOR RICO, 201-336474
05/20/65: Dispatch from Chief of Base, New York to COS, Washington (Info: Chief, DO; Chief, WH): (Attn: Wallace R. Parlett); Chief, SR): Subject: ISOLOG/OPERATIONAL - Meeting with WUINDIGO/1, 18 May 1965: "1. Attached is a Contact Report of a meeting with WUINDIGO/1 on 18 May 1965. As indicated, W/1 approached Mauro Lucentini and persuaded him to send a modified version of 2 May Havana broadcast via ANSA channels to Buenos Aires. In an effort to supplement this coverage, Subject also prepared a longer version for the paper Correjo do Povo in Porto Alegre, Brazil. 2. As shown in the Contact Report, Lucentini apparently has at least a social relationship with Gregory Kalinkin. W/1 stated that Lucentini, a friend, is a conservative and, to his knowledge, does not have any leanings toward communism. 3. For DO: Base would appreciate traces on Lucentini in order to determine his political leanings and connections. 4. The Base should be advised if either of the two stories mentioned in paragraph 1 is published. Guy W. Rutherford."
104-10174-10069: CIA FILE ON (ASSET)
Circa 09/06/68: Dispatch (rest is unintelligible): Page 2: "nine years he served as the Paris-based correspondent for several Brazilian publications. He was recruited in 1959 and has successfully performed difficult operational tasks in (unintelligible) China, (unintelligible), Laos, Vietnam, Brazil and the USSR. WUINDIGO/1, who projects himself as a left wing correspondent, is the representative of Italian, Swiss and Canadian publications and is currently in contact with a number of U.N. representatives. He is available for temporary foreign assignments and is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, German, French and English. WUINDIGO/1 is a reliable, productive intelligence agent who is skilled in eliciting information and in spotting and assessing targets of interest. C. ALABDUCT/1 (note: probably Brazilian asset) (Identity C) is now second in command of the ministry mentioned in Reference A...4. It (unintelligible) that Tichborn and WUINDIGO/1 would be the most desirable candidates." Sylvia B. Monestier. - - - Page 27: Under Separate Cover Attachment To: (Unintelligible)-7409: 6 September 1968: "Identities: A. Henry P. Lopez." B and C are both redacted.
https://www.lastampa.it/esteri/2020/04/30/news/e-morto-a-new-york-mauro-lucentini-decano-dei-giornalisti-italiani-in-america-1.38786140
04/30/2020: Obituary of Mauro Lucentini by Francesco Semprini on Lastampa website: Headlined: "Mauro Lucentini, dean of Italian journalists in America, died in New York: He was 96 years old. His interviews with Ronald Reagan and his friendship with Andy Warhol are famous: Mauro Lucentini, dean of Italian journalists in the Big Apple, passed away in New York. He was 96 years old and until the end he raised the honor of the profession by practicing it with the same attitude as always. And due to his long militancy in the United States, over half a century in which he was a correspondent for various national newspapers, he is considered the veteran par excellence of Italian journalism in America. 'Unfortunately dad died yesterday. He had broken a hip a few weeks ago, but that was resolved. But it set in motion a kind of general collapse. He avoided the Coronavirus, but ultimately died of old age. Anyway. we think that he left peacefully and without suffering', the children said. Born in Rome, after having contributed to the foundation of Ansa in Italy at a very young age, he was sent to the USA as head of the agency in North America. He then started collaborating for the magazine Il Mondo. Later Indro Montanelli called him to Il Giornale, where he remained for over ten years. Also author of several books, Lucentini has had numerous other collaborations, and his journalist activity continued until a few months ago. He is also one of the founders of Acina, the association of Italian correspondents in North America. In the years in which Lucentini collaborated with the magazine Commentary, he was the only one to whom Ronald Reagan granted two interviews during his election campaign, in addition to those as president in office. His interests, however, went far beyond the profession, embracing all fields and in particular art thanks to his friendship with Andy Warhol..." (Mention of his "beloved, highly esteemed wife Paola," who died years before the "dean").
https://prabook.com/web/mauro.lucentini/613331
"Mauro Lucentini: journalist. Mauro Lucentini, Italian Journalist. Avocations: art, music, science and technology, political science. M C. With Italian Army, 1950-1952. Background: Lucentini, Mauro was born on October 23, 1924 in Rome. Son of Venanzio and Emma (Marzi) Lucentini, came to the United States, 1960. Education: Law Degree, Rome University, 1943. Career: Editor foreign department, ANSA Italian International News Agency, Rome, 1950-1955; editor European desk, Reuters, London, 1955; Great Britain correspondent, ANSA, Rome, 1955-1960; head United States of America bureau, ANSA, Rome, 1960-1968; United States correspondent, Il Mondo, Milan, 1968-1974; United States correspondent, Il Giornale, Milan, 1974-1990; United States correspondent, Affari Esteri, Rome, 1990-1995; United States correspondent, Il Foglio, Milan, since 1996. General agent Siae, Italian Authors Society, Rome, since 1985. Achievements: Mauro Lucentini has been listed as a noteworthy journalist by Marquis Who's Who. Membership: With Italian Army, 1950-1952. Interests: Art, music, science and technology, political science. Connections: Married Paola Ajò, March 21, 1968. Children: Eric, Jack. Father: Venanzio Lucentini. Mother: Emma (Marzi) Lucentini. Spouse: Paola Ajò. Child: Jack Lucentini. Child: Eric Lucentini."