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Pseudonym: Costille, William

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Definition:
Robert Fulton, CIA officer serving as vice consul at the American embassy in Finland during the 1959 period. Obtained approval from his Soviet counterpart for a procedure for an American to obtain an instant visa into the USSR, which was immediately used by Lee Oswald.
Category:
pseudonym
Status:
Documented
Sources:

Tom Mangold, Cold Warrior, p. 211

"Fulton" is described in Mangold's book as "Robert Fulton".

104-10172-10301: DISPATCH- COSTILLE'S LUNCH WITH GRIGORY GOLUB

7/17/59 memo from Chief of Station, re William Costille’s lunch with Gregoriy Golub: Costille was first told about the “instant visa” over lunch with Golub the previous month, and buried the news deep in this memo.   It seems that Costille only gradually realized its strategic importance. 

104-10172-10294: DISPATCH- REDCAP/LCIMPROVE- PROSECUTING OF FEMALE COMPANIONSHIP FOR GRIGORIY YE GOLUB

8/28/59 Memo from Chief of Station REDACTED to William Costille: As long as the Americans had made travel arrangements through a local travel bureau, as well as hotel reservations, Soviet consul Gregoriy Golub said he had no objections to giving them a visa in a matter of minutes.

104-10262-10106: TRIP TO LENINGRAD, U.S.S.R., APRIL 10-13

Memo by Harry Sundvik to Helsinki chief of station Frank Friberg, 4/10/61, re trip to Leningrad, p. 7. This memo states that "Fulton" is the "one of the very nicest Americans at the embassy". This memo and the subsequent memo, read side by side, make it clear that Costille is the pseudonym for an agent named "Fulton", and that Roodine is the pseudo for Frank Friberg, the Helsinki chief of station:

104-10262-10111: DRAFT: QUESTIONING OF HARRY A. SUNDVIK

4/25/61 CIA memo, Questioning of Harry A. Sundvik: "He then asked me if I liked anyone in particular. I said that I don't associate with the staff. He asked me about William D. Costille. I said that Costille was outstanding. Then he asked if I liked Roodine. I said that Roodine was also in the outstanding group. He said, 'Did you know that Roodine is with the intelligence service?' 'No.' I said. 'Do you know I know as little about Roodine's affairs as I do about yours? Are you in the intelligence service?'"

104-10004-10143: DISCUSSION BETWEEN MEMBER SR DIVISION CONCERNING OSWALD'S STAY IN HELSINKI.

06/01/64: Memo for the record from Lee H. Wigren, C/SR/CI/R: "1. At 0900 this morning I talked with Frank Friberg recently returned COS Helsinki re Warren Commission inquiry concerning the timetable of Oswald's stay in Finland in October 1959, including his contact with the Soviet Consulate there. (Copy of the Commission letter of 25 May 64 and State cable of 22 May 64 attached). 2. Friberg gave me the following information...d. Passenger lists (manifests) at the U.S. Consulate in Helsinki are retained for six months only and then are destroyed. Mr. Robert Fulton (CIA) was (REDACTION) there at the time..."

Contributors:
Bill Simpich

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