278E. Letter from CIA Director McCone to President of the President’s Foreign Intelligency Advisory Board Killian, January 191

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Dear Dr. Killian:

Attached is copy of the CIA Inspector General’s “Survey Of Cuban Operations” together with comments thereon by General C.P. Cabell, Deputy Director of CIA and “Analysis Of The Cuban Operation” by Deputy Director (Plans). This latter report is intended as a comment on the Inspector General’s report.

As you readily understand, I am not in a position to render a personal opinion concerning the validity of the IG’s report or the statements by the DDCI and the DDP because I was not in CIA at the time. However it is my personal opinion as a result of examinations I have made of this operation after the fact that both the report and the rebuttals are extreme. I believe an accurate appraisal of the Cuban effort and the reasons for failure rest some place in between the two points of view expressed in the reports.

I believe it is safe to say the failure of the Cuban operation was Government-wide and in this respect the Agency must bear its full share (though not the entire) responsibility.

For this reason I would recommend that your board, in reviewing the Inspector General’s Survey also review the comments and analysis of the DDCI and the DD/P.

Yours very truly,

John A. McCone
Director
  1. Forwards Kirkpatrick’s survey of the Cuban operation and comments of other CIA officials. 1 p. Top Secret. CIA, DCI Files, History Staff Files: Job 85–00664R.