Pseudonym: Tansing, Richard M.
A cable on October 17, 1963, was originated by Anita Potocki, SAS/CI, and Tansing, C/SAS/CI, was a Coordinating Officer.
A memo by E. Mendoza on October 18, 1963, on a conversation between Anita Potocki and Dick Tansing on October 15th, stated that "Tansing let it slip that the 'top echelon' of SAS is anxious to remove Ted Shackley from his assignment as Chief of the SAS Base. According to Mrs. Potocki, Tansing inferred that certain individuals are setting a trap to catch Shackley. Source stated that Shackley was personally selected by Bill Harvey for the assignment, and this may have been something to do with the move to force him out."
The "top echelon" of SAS was likely a reference to the Chief of Special Affairs Staff, Desmond FitzGerald. It possibly may have included others as well.
Harold Swenson, in testimony in 1976, stated that he was Chief. SAS/CI, at the time of the assassination of President Kennedy. and had become chief after the Cuban missile crisis in October of 1962. In addition, a memo in March of 1963 was signed by Swenson as Chief, SAS/CI. Therefore, it is probable that Tansing was a pseudonym for Harold Swenson.
Tansing was WH/C/RP/OS according to this memo in March of 1965: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=226976#relPageId=1
104-10048-10217: FRANK ANTHONY STURGIS, ALSO KNOWN AS FRANK FIORINI
R. Tansing, TFW/CI, ext 5874, to FBI, Department of State (Security), CIA: "Subject: Frank Anthony Sturgis, also known as Frank Fiorini. Subject, according to a fairly reliable source who has been involved in previous leaflet operations against Cuba has scheduled his next overflight for 26 July 1962. This same source has reported additional information as follows on subject's recent activities. (Marginalia then states "CARDED" - see this clearer copy) On 6/21/62 subject delivered to Pedro Diaz Lanz an quantity of weapons including 57 mm recoilless rifles several automatic weapons and a considerable amount of ammunition." Authenticating officer CI/LIA Cal Tenney; Releasing officer William Harvey. July 13, 1962: Also see https://documents3.theblackvault.com/documents/jfkfiles/jfk2022/104-10183-10063.pdf - here, Wallen describes himself as C/TFW/CI - "unable brief HQS case officer alias Thompson before departure for Tepedino/AMWHIP-1 meeting New York 13 July..." The background is "Tepedino telecon with AMCONCERT-1/Pancho Varona indicating Echevarria desire to defect." Echevarria may be a reference to Lucia Echevarria or her father - 104-10295-10016 states that on 7/6/62 "AMCONCERT-1 learned from Lucia Echevarria's father that (Tepedino) had received postcard from Rolando Cubela...Sloman/Tony Sforza requested (phone talk with Tepedino)."
104-10218-10274: ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
8/8/62: Here Tansing describes himself as TFW/CI. He creates new entries in the files for Charles Morrow and Gerald Hemming. Morrow's letter ties himself to Hemming - it is understandable why Tansing thinks Morrow is slightly nuts. See 8/14/62 memo, 104-10176-10042, involving 201-42669/AMLASH-1/Rolando Cubela and NY's Oscar Nodarse, with signatures by C/TFW/CI Victor Wallen and C/TFW William Harvey. Also see 9/11/62, 104-10217-10188, involving FPCC chief Richard Gibson, who was "discreetly trying to get in touch with the Agency" and "conversations between Mr. Victor Wallen of this Agency and Mr. William Cregar of this Bureau concerning (Richard Gibson)."
104-10506-10007: CABLE: POSSIBLE PLOT TO ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT KENNEDY
12/8/62 memo from Rufus Austin Horn, reporting Jose Menendez letter from Cuba (at pp. 3-4): If we are able to kill President Kennedy...we will completely paralyze "the future plans of the United States". Bill Harvey is the authenticating officer, Horn is the releasing officer, with both names signed by Horn at the direction of Victor Wallen, C/TFW/CI.
104-10506-10015: ROUTING SHEET AND GREEN LIST NAME CHECK REQUESTS/RESULTS
12/10/62 Green List: Harvey has two major aides in this project to study this assassination threat. One is his long-time ally from Berlin days - Anita Potocki. His right-hand man on this project is Richard Tansing. Tansing originates the Jose Menendez request Green List and on other reps from Libertad la Voz. Request goes from Tansing to Bill Harvey, Chief FI/D. SAC John Marshall said Libertad la Voz is a CIA-sponsored organization.
104-10506-10017: MEMO: REPORTS RELATING TO POSSIBLE PLOT TO ASSASSINATE PRESIDENT KENNEDY
12/12/62 memo: Jose Menendez, active with INRA in Cuba, union baker in Tampa, exec committee of the FPCC, left for Cuba on or after Oct 61:
2/14/63 memo: Harold Swenson asks for coordination with FBI on legitimate travelers to Cuba at what looks like it could be the beginning of the AMSANTA program (note the similar communications from Brennan to Papich at FBI).
104-10506-10019: FORM 812: FILE TITLE: PLOTS TO ASSASSINATE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
3/4/63 memo: Tansing creates the neighbor to what John Newman called the FPCC smoking file, described as 100-300-011. Tansing's file is 100-300-012. F. W. Hughes of CI/STAFF is coordinator. Here's Tansing in 1963 apparently described as "SAS 8" and as an ordinary SAS/CI...setting up Harvey's project in March 1963. Doesn't it look like Wallen left as chief and took on a monitoring function using Tansing as a pseudo? Especially on these Cuban threats to kill JFK.
104-10163-10013: HQS WISHES MAKE REF PITCH IF HE AVAILABLE FOR TRAVEL MEXI.
9/10/63 cable DIR 67341 from Richard Tansing, C/SAS/CI/OPS, to Win Scott, chief of the Mexico City CIA station, ref MEXI 6077: "HQS wishes Casas to make ref pitch if he available for travel Mexi. Otherwise, LITAMIL-3 can make pitch. HQS objective (note: for Azcue) is recruitment in place and not defection. Request MEXI plan ops (in) this regard. HQS contacting Casas and will advise MEXI availability soonest." SAS comment: "Mexi reported Cuban consul Azcue departing PCS Cuba in ten days. Wish Casas from HQS make pitch, also LITAMIL-3 available in Mexi for pitch. Signers include Tansing for C/SAS/CI, A. A. Maloney for C/SAS/MOB, and John Whitten for C/SAS/EOB (Edward Stanulis-no handwritten signature - see 104-10112-10208 for proof of his identity). See 104-10216-10144 for verification of A. A. Maloney as C/SAS/MOB - as this document was signed by John Tilton with no mention of him doing it "for" Maloney, it is an indicating that Maloney may have been a pseudo for Tilton. Tansing had been a lead TFW/CI. He worked with secretary gdr on 12/10/62; others like Pauline Miller shared the use of secretary gdr and phone line 6471.
104-10163-10010: CABLE - ASSET REPORTED 11 SEP AZCUE RETURNING CUBA 4 OCT.
9/13/63 cable MEXI-6142 from Mexico City (Win Scott) to Director (Tansing):. Note that both Scott (W/C = Willard Curtis) and Tansing (signed with a "T") have their names are on it. This memo indicates that "SAS 8" is Tansing. The above 9/10/63 memo, and this 9/13/63 memo both have "SAS 8" in the address column. "LITAMIL-7 reported 11 Sept Azcue returning Cuba 4 Oct. In recent conversation, she advised him not to leave. LITAMIL-7, LITAMIL-3 and Azcue have long-standing close personal relationship. Azcue has told LITAMIL-7 despite fact wife and daughter wish (to) remain in (Mexico) his duty is to return (to Cuba). LITAMIL-7 reports Azcue is sad to leave Mexico after 19 years. LITAMIL-7 feels Azcue will return despite feelings of wife and daughter. LITAMIL-3 intends (to) see Azcue again soon to follow up earlier approaches made at his own initiative, will delve more into Azcue's feelings but hold off making recruitment pitch. LITAMIL-3 acknowledges that Azcue always had communistic ideas but says he is good person, charitable and humane. LITAMIL-3 does not think Azcue will agree to recruitment in place. Of interest is AMSAIL-1 appraisal of Azcue which coincides with LITAMIL-3 to effect subject charitable. According to AMSAIL-1 Azcue has been very helpful by granting passports and other favors to known anti-Castro Cubans. Station would be interested (to) see Casas in Mexico ASAP but believe who should make approach, Casas or LITAMIL-3, must be made locally after clarification of (extended) Casas-Azcue friendship balanced against Azcue long-time friendship with and high respect for LITAMIL-3. Might use both in compartmented one-two punch. Station is naturally planning and hoping for recruitment in place but we feel must have something to fall back on and must realistically consider acceptable alternative of outright defection. Again request guidance of financial inducements which might be offered."
104-10163-10010: CABLE - ASSET REPORTED 11 SEP AZCUE RETURNING CUBA 4 OCT.
(Continued from above): Chief of station comment: "Stated HQS objective is recruitment in place and not defection. Requested MEXI plan ops in this regard. Note that Win Scott advocates in this memo for "a compartmentalized one-two punch" by LITAMIL-3 and REDACTED (Jose Antonio Casas). Both these men and Azcue are described as having a "long time close personal relationship". Casas was ultimately not used. Was Oswald used with LITAMIL-3 as part of a compartmentalized one-two punch, where even Scott was compartmentalized out of punch #2?
104-10163-10260: (CABLE) LITAMIL-3 SPOKE BY PHONE TO AZCUE 19 SEPT TOLD A OF WISH SPEAK
9/19/63: Cable MEXI-6216 from Mexico City to Director, ref DIR 68283: On September 19, just a week before Oswald’s arrival to Mexico City, LITAMIL-3 made his pitch to recruit consul Eusebio Azcue. Azcue said, "'You know my feelings on this. Have not changed mind, will not change mind.' LITAMIL-3 said will call later, (Azcue) said quote I beg you no no no don't call me again re this unquote'. (LITAMIL-3) considered (Azcue) sincere and that it impossible to lay on op." Includes handwritten notes, saying “Good try. Nothing lost”, and “…let’s wait for further developments.”[ 100 ] It looks like Jack Whitten’s initials, “JHS”, used for his alias “John H. Scelso”. Harvey’s colleague Neill Prew is also copied on this important document.
104-10303-10002: SHACKLEY EXTRACTS: MEMORANDUM AND NOTE
Memo to file from E. Mendoza on 10/18/63: "On 15 October 1963 Mrs. Anita Potocki advised as follows: During a conversation with Dick Tansing, also of SAS, Tansing let it slip that the 'top echelon' of SAS is anxious to remove Ted Shackley from his assignment as Chief of the SAS Base. According to Mrs. Potocki, Tansing inferred that certain individuals are setting a trap to catch Shackley. Source stated that Shackley was personally selected by Bill Harvey for the assignment, and this may have been something to do with the move to force him out." - - - Anita Potocki, SAS/CI, originated a cable on October 17, 1963, with Tansing, C/SAS/CI, as Coordinating Officer: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=222901#relPageId=1 - - - Harold Swenson, in testimony in 1976, stated that he was Chief. SAS/CI, at the time of the assassination of President Kennedy. and had become chief after the Cuban missile crisis in October of 1962: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=1411#relPageId=7 - - - Swenson was C/SAS/CI in March, 1963: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=160736#relPageId=55 - - - Swenson became president of Bishop's Service after his retirement from the CIA. William K. Harvey represented Bishop's in Indiana: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=103946#relPageId=191