Pseudonym: Jordan, Bob
Whedbee and William Caldwell signed a Fitness Report on Earl Williamson in January of 1955.
A memo in March of 1960 stated that "he (note: Jake Esterline) mentioned that the following Branch 4 personnel would be in contact with the participants at the meeting from time to time for planning the operational purposes: Mr. Robert Reynolds (Al Cox), DC/WH/4; Mr. David Phillips, Radio Operations; Mr. Phillip Toomey (William Kent), PP; Mr. Robert Whedbee, Economic Action; Mr. Adolf Lium; Mr. E. A. Stanulis, Plans and PM Ops."
A memo in April, 1960, stated that "there are two committees which are meeting regularly under that plan: one is an 'open' meeting composed of representatives of most of the interested agencies of the Government which meets daily, chaired by Mr. Mallory; the second, a 'covert' meeting, attended by a much smaller group, including a CIA representative, Mr. Whedbee, and Mr. Gray, is also chaired by Mr. Mallory."
Whedbee, as C/WH/A/FI, wrote a memo in March of 1961 on AMIRE-1 (Emilio Americo Rodriguez), which mentioned AMRYE-1 (Tony Sforza), and the wider stay-behind net in Cuba. Moreover, Robert E. Whedbee, as DC/WH/4, wrote a memo in June, 1961, on planning for JMATE (the Bay of Pigs project, as well as Cuban operations overall) activities.
Whedbee was mentioned in a FBI memo in September, 1961, on the Cuban situation. It stated that "Mr. Whedbee confided that his Agency continues to operate under severe handicaps because officials in State and the White House such as Goodwin are engaged in so many discussions and dealings with exiles, the details of which are unknown to CIA." In addition, Robert Whedbee, as Acting Chief, WH/4, wrote a memo in October of 1961 on a meeting with Tracy Barnes which concerned sabotage operations and relations with the CRC. Also present were Esterline, Zogby, Colonel Johnson, and a Mr. Schreyer.
104-10225-10007: OP FILE ON (STAFF EMPLOYEE)
01/18/55: Fitness Report of Earl J. Williamson (note: date of birth redacted), Intelligence Officer - KUFIRE, for 17 June - 30 September 1954: Assignments: "A. Liaison with Servicio de Inteligencia Militar and Buro de Investigaciones. B. Contacts and development of operational assets. C. Handling agents. D. Reporting." Signed by Robert E. Whedbee as name of mater (?) (true). William B. Caldwell signed as name of reviewing official in field (true). J. C. King signed as HQs official.
178-10002-10158: FIRST MEETING OF BRANCH 4 TASK FORCE, 9 MARCH 1960
03/09/60: CIA memo for the record: PARTICIPANTS: Col. J. C. King, CWH; J. D. Esterline, C/WE/4; Jack Baumann, Office of Security; Col. B. H. Vandervort, OTR; George Geyer, Office of Communications; Mike Ting, Comptroller; Scudder Georgia, DDS; Mr. Robert Macre, PP Staff; Ralph W. Brown, Office of Logistics; Ralph Brown, PP Staff; Col. Charles Cocke, OF/MPD; Edward Donohue, TSD: Casimiro Barquin, DPD; Mr. E. A. Stanulis, WH/4/PM: Page 3: ..."12. He (note: Jake Esterline) mentioned that the following Branch 4 personnel would be in contact with the participants at the meeting from time to time for planning the operational purposes: Mr. Robert Reynolds (Al Cox), DC/WH/4; Mr. David Phillips, Radio Operations; Mr. Phillip Toomey (William Kent), PP; Mr. Robert Whedbee, Economic Action; Mr. Adolf Lium; Mr. E. A. Stanulis, Plans and PM Ops..."
104-10167-10245: MARCOS DIAZ LANZ.
04/01/60: Memo for the record from Robert E. Whedbee (JORDAN), WH/4: "1. It would appear that subject left the U.S. for Mexico some months ago on the advice of a lawyer, that he went to Mexico, thereby violating his parole, and then couldn't get a visa to get back into the U.S. He was a little upset about this since he just trying to legalize his status in the U.S. After a couple of months, it was finally agreed that he would be allowed to re-enter the U.S. on parole...2. In the absence of Mr. Mr. Seehafer, Mr. Jordan of WH Division was asked to go over with Mr. Pennington to a meeting with I&NS, at 11:30 on 1 April...After consultation with Col. King, Mr. Reynolds and Miss Tharpe, Mr. Jordan said that it didn't seem likely that CIA would express in writing much of any desires or wishes about subject...4. The above, with the exception of the part about the Mexican pilot, was summarized for Mr. Reichhardt (probably Ken Crosby) by phone...6. Jordan passed to Pennington via Langlin a copy of the parole document signed by subject."
Undated HSCA document: Titled: Marcos DIAZ LANZ: 201-259716: VOLUME 1: Page 3: ..."Memo 4/1/60 from R. Whedbee (Jordan) re MDL: MDL left U.S. for Mexico several months ago, violating parole, then couldn't get visa to return to U.S. Allowed to reenter on parole, but MDL not told, consequently swam river made way back with help of Catholic organization, went to Washington, contacted congressional committee, which passed him on the INS. INS upset. MDL to return to FL, go to INS appointment 4/2. Whedbee using name Bob Jordan contacted MDL - no further contact anticipated..." - - - This is another document stating that Whedbee as Bob Jordan was the case officer of Marcos Diaz Lanz: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=225334#relPageId=1
05/02/60: Memorandum of a Conversation, Washington: SUBJECT: Cuban Policy and Operations. PARTICIPANTS: The Acting Secretary, Mr. Allen Dulles, Director, CIA; Mr. Gordon Gray, Special Assistant to the President; Mr. Richard Bissell, CIA; Assistant Secretary Rubottom: "Mr. Gray referred to his letter of April 29 to the Under Secretary, (2) copies of which were sent to Messrs. Dulles, Hare and Goodpaster, and said that he was responsible for the calling of the meeting to discuss the coordination of policy and operations respecting Cuba. The Under Secretary, referring to the letter, said that the Department was satisfied with the coordination now being effected under a plan approved by the Secretary. There are two committees which are meeting regularly under that plan: one is an 'open' meeting composed of representatives of most of the interested agencies of the Government which meets daily, chaired by Mr. Mallory; the second, a 'covert' meeting, attended by a much smaller group, including a CIA representative, Mr. Whedbee, and Mr. Gray, is also chaired by Mr. Mallory. Then there is the OCB weekly group chaired by Mr. John Hill, Special Assistant to Mr. Rubottom, as well as the regular weekly meeting of Messrs. Rubottom, Mallory, King, Gomez, Hill and Curtis which takes up Cuban and other operational subjects of interest to the Department. The latter group discusses exclusively 'covert' subjects, except for exchanges of information regarding policy decisions in prospect affecting operations..."
05/02/60: Memo by J. D. Esterline, Chief, WH/4 to Assistant Deputy Director (Plans) - Action: Subject: Liaison with United States' Agencies on JMARC Activities: ..."2. The attached chart on liaison with other agencies of the United States' Government on JMARC activities is restricted to those contacts that are made on a regular basis, such as the weekly policy meeting with the Department of State, and to offices which, we must contact quite frequently to solicit their support, such as the Immigration and Naturalization Service..." - - - Page 350: Robert E. Whedbee was the CIA representative to the State Department for the Cuba Working Group (State, USIA), (Chaired by Ambassador Mallory) - Overt Programs - daily. Also CIA representative to Inter-departmental Defector Committee - Cuban 'Defectors' - As requested (frequency). https://documents3.theblackvault.com/documents/jfkfiles/jfk2022/104-10301-10004.pdf
03/06/61: Memo from Robert E. Whedbee, C/WH/A/FI to Chief, WH/4: Subject: AMIRE-1 (Arrest on 3 March 1961): "1. Reference A does not give sufficient detail to make a very realistic appraisal at this time of the damage to our operations from the arrest of AMIRE-1. 2. According to AMRYE-1, the head principal agent of our staybehind nets in Cuba, AMIRE-1 was kept fully informed of everything concerning operations and reporting. He also knew of the AMPARCH-1 agent net and how contact can be made with the agents. He was kept fully cognisant of all incoming and outgoing radio messages and reports. 3. Following is a list of the agents known or probably known to AMIRE-1: AMRYE-1, AMPARCH-1, AMSTOW-1, (2 cryptonyms unintelligible), AMMIOLITE, AMMIOLITE-2, AMBOUT-1, AMPASHA-1, AMALBA-1, AMBLAB-1, AMWREN-1 (possibly), AMPARLOR-2, AMDOIT-1, AMCONCERT-1, AMFIX-1 (possibly), AMPHODARCH-11, AMGLEN-9, AMPALM-4. 4. AMIRE-1 was also in contact with counter-revolutionaries such as the following which could have been the cause of his arrest: (REDACTION). 5. AMIRE-1 was also made aware of the persons (unintelligible) staybehind (unintelligible) are cached or stashed. He was to have provided (REDACTION). He was also one of the staybehind agents (REDACTION)." Below and to the left is "WH/4/FI/R. G. Seehafer."
104-10229-10059: SUBJECT: PLANNING FOR JMATE ACTIVITIES.
06/09/61: Memo for the record from Robert E. Whedbee, DC/WH/4: "1. Mr. Esterline, C/WH/OPS, stated 8 June 1961 that the Special Group had met on that date and, in addition to the Nicaraguan paper, had considered the paper prepared by Branch 4 on 7 June, entitled: Policy Decisions Required for Agency relationships with the CRC and Other Cuban Exile Groups. 2. Mr. Esterline stated that he had discussed this matter with Mr. Bissell who would like to have by next Monday night, 12 June, a re-write of the paper of 7 June. Mr. Esterline discussed the re-write at some length. Basically what Mr. Bissell apparently wants is a memorandum forwarding three or perhaps four individual memoranda covering the same three subjects which we presented before plus perhaps Swan Island...6. Comment: It is abundantly clear that, for political reasons, the Special Group is not prepared to make any decision on the CRC matter and this re-write job is strictly busy work. Accordingly, no significant changes in our previous position seem to be indicated."
09/15/61: FBI memo from R. O. L'Allier to Mr. Sullivan: Subject: THE CUBAN SITUATION: "By memorandum dated 6-23-61, I reported the results of the briefing accorded to Agent Papich by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with regard to the nature and the extent of the Agency's relationship with Cuban exiles in the U.S. At that time, you were informed that there was no evidence of any fixed program or direction from the Administration...You may be interested in the following information volunteered to Agent Papich by Robert Whedbee and Joseph Langen of CIA. CIA has not initiated any new project or program which has as its objective the overthrow of Castro's regime...Mr. Whedbee commented that reports which periodically circulate indicating that CIA is supporting this or that group are for the most part completely unfounded. He stated that CIA specifically is not organizing any invasion force. A recent report indicated that CIA was backing the organization of a large PT boat force. Whedbee commented that as far as CIA was concerned, this report was absolutely false. He added that the Agency is controlling or has interest in one PT boat, the 'Susan Ann' whose existence is known to the Bureau's Miami Office...Whedbee stated that CIA definitely was not involved with Prio. Mr. Whedbee confided that his Agency continues to operate under severe handicaps because officials in State and the White House such as Goodwin are engaged in so many discussions and dealings with exiles, the details of which are unknown to CIA..."
10/18/61: Memo for the record from Robert E. Whedbee, Acting Chief, WH/4: "PARTICIPANTS: Messrs. Barnes, Esterline, Zogby, Whedbee, Colonel Johnson, Mr. Schreyer (during discussion fo Item A only):