Office of the Historian

Cuba, 1961-1962

121. Memorandum of Conversation

Washington, April 18, 1961.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret. This memorandum apparently was based on a tape recording later transcribed by Wilhide. The transcription printed here begins, as indicated in mid-conversation. The earlier portion of the conversation may not have been transcribed, and no record of it has been found. Wilhide was Burkeʼs aide at the time.

122. Telegram From the Chief of the Subsidiary Activities Division (Gray) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

Washington, April 18, 1961, 1:37 p.m.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, Subjects, Taylor Report. Top Secret; Flash; Limited Distribution. According to the memorandum for the record prepared by Commander Mitchell, which traced the evolution of the rules of engagement, this message, sent on behalf of the JCS, was authorized by a telephone call to the JCS Operations Center from Admiral Burke at the White House. (National Defense University, Taylor Papers, Box 12, Cuba, Paramilitary Study)

123. Telegram From the Chief of the Subsidiary Activities Division (Gray) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

Washington, April 18, 1961, 2:49 p.m.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, Subjects, Taylor Report. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Limited Distribution. According to a memorandum for the record prepared by Commander Mitchell, this message, sent on behalf of the JCS, was authorized by a telephone call to the JCS Operations Center from Admiral Burke at the White House. (National Defense University, Taylor Papers, Box 12, Cuba, Paramilitary Study)

124. Telegram From the Chief of Naval Operations (Burke) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

Washington, April 18, 1961, 3:23 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Limited Distribution. A “chronology of events on Cuba taken from the records in Op-00 immediate office” indicates that this message was sent as a back channel message. (Ibid.)

125. Telegram From the Commander of Special Task Group 81.8 (Clark) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

USS Essex, Caribbean, April 18, 1961, 4:42 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate. Repeated to JCS,COMCARIBSEAFRON, COMWESTFOR, and COMNAVBASE GTMO.

126. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison) to the Commander, Key West Forces (McElroy)

Norfolk, April 18, 1961, 4:52 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate. Repeated to JCS, COMNAVB GTMO, and CTG 81.8.

127. Telegram From the Commander of Special Task Group 81.8 (Clark) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

USS Essex, Caribbean, April 18, 1961, 5:12 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Emergency. Repeated to JCS, COMCARIBSEAFRON, COMKWESTFOR, and COMNAVBASE GTMO.

128. Telegram From the Chief of the Subsidiary Activities Division (Gray) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

Washington, April 18, 1961, 5:29 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Limited Distribution. Repeated to CTG 81.8, Exclusive for Admiral Clark from Gray.

129. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison) to the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Norfolk, April 18, 1961, 6:06 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Bumpy Road. Exclusive for General Gray from Admiral Dennison. Repeated for information to CTG 81.8, Exclusive for Clark from Dennison.

130. Memorandum of Conversation

Washington, April 18, 1961, 6:50 p.m.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 737.00/4-1861. Confidential. Drafted by McSweeney.

131. Telegram From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

Washington, April 18, 1961, 7:57 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Limited Distribution. Repeated to CTG 81.8, Exclusive for Clark from Gray.

132. Telegram From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

Washington, April 18, 1961, 7:59 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Limited Distribution. Repeated to CTG 81.8, Exclusive for Clark from Gray.

133. Telegram From the Chief of Naval Operations (Burke) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

Washington, April 18, 1961, 8:37 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Limited Distribution. Drafted by Burke. A “chronology of events on Cuba taken from the records in Op-00 immediate office” indicates that this message was sent as a back channel message. (Ibid.)

134. Telegram From the Chief of Naval Operations (Burke) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

Washington, April 18, 1961, 9:17 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Limited Distribution. Repeated to CTG 81.8, Exclusive for Clark from Burke.

135. Telegram From the Commander of Special Task Group 81.8 (Clark) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

USS Essex, Caribbean, April 18, 1961, 11:52 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate. Passed to JCS at 2:01 a.m. in CINCLANT telegram 190701Z, Exclusive for Gray from Dennison. (Ibid.)

136. Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency to Agency Personnel in Nicaragua

Washington, April 18, 1961.1

Source: Central Intelligence Agency Files: Job 85-00664R, Box 4, Vol. I. Top Secret; Flash.

137. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison) to the Commander of Special Task Group 81.8 (Clark)

Norfolk, April 19, 1961, 1:27 a.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Exclusive. Repeated to JCS.

138. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison) to the Chief of Naval Operations (Burke)

Norfolk, April 19, 1961, 2:01 a.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret.

139. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison) to the Chief of Naval Operations (Burke)

Norfolk, April 19, 1961, 2:11 a.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret.

140. Telegram From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

Washington, April 19, 1961, 3:37 a.m.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, Subjects, Taylor Report. Top Secret; Exclusive; Flash. Also sent to CTG 81.8. A chronology maintained in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations indicates that the instructions in this telegram resulted from a conference at the White House. (Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials) The conference cited in the chronology was the one listed in the Presidentʼs appointment book as having begun at 11:58 p.m. on April 18 and concluded at 2:46 a.m. on April 19. No participants are listed for this off-the-record meeting on Cuba, and no other record of the meeting has been found. (Kennedy Library, Presidentʼs Appointment Book)

141. Telegram From the Chief of Naval Operations (Burke) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

Washington, April 19, 1961, 3:41 a.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Exclusive.

143. Telegram From the Commander of Special Task Group 81.8 (Clark) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

USS Essex, Caribbean, April 19, 1961, 8:40 a.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret. Repeated to JCS.

144. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison) to the Commander of Special Task Group 81.8 (Clark)

Norfolk, April 19, 1961, 10:46 a.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Exclusive. Repeated to JCS.

145. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison) to the Commander of Special Task Group 81.8 (Clark)

Norfolk, April 19, 1961, 11:24 a.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Emergency; Exclusive. Repeated to JCS.

146. Telegram From the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison) to the Commander of Special Task Group 81.8 (Clark)

Norfolk, April 19, 1961, 11:32 a.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Emergency; Exclusive. Repeated to JCS.

147. Telegram From the Joint Chiefs of Staff to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

Washington, April 19, 1961, 11:57 a.m.

Source: Kennedy Library, National Security Files, Countries Series, Cuba, Subjects, Taylor Report. Top Secret; Operational Immediate; Limited Distribution; Exclusive. Repeated to CTG 81.8. A chronology maintained in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations indicates that the instructions in this telegram resulted from a conference at the White House. (Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials) It is not clear from the Presidentʼs appointment book which conference at the White House produced these instructions; President Kennedy was busy throughout much of the morning of April 19 in meetings with the visiting Prime Minister of Greece, Constantine Karamanlis. No meeting that might be interpreted as dealing with the crisis in Cuba was listed for the morning of April 19. (Kennedy Library, Presidentʼs Appointment Book)

148. Telegram From the Mission to the United Nations to the Department of State

New York, April 19, 1961, noon.

Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.37/4-1961. Top Secret; Niact; Eyes Only. The outgoing copy of this telegram at USUN indicates that it was drafted by Yost and Pedersen and cleared in draft by Stevenson. (USUN Files: NYFRC 84-84-002, Outgoing Tels 1962)

149. Telegram From the Commander of Special Task Group 81.8 (Clark) to the Commander in Chief, Atlantic (Dennison)

USS Essex, Caribbean, April 19, 1961, 12:06 p.m.

Source: Naval Historical Center, Area Files, Bumpy Road Materials. Top Secret; Emergency; Exclusive. Repeated to JCS,COMCARIBSEAFRON, COMKWESTFOR, and COMNAVBASEGTMO.

150. Telegram From Central Intelligence Agency Personnel in Nicaragua to the Central Intelligence Agency

Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua, April 19, 1961, 12:07 p.m.

Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DDO/LA/COG Files: Job 82-00679R, Box 3, Gen Maxwell Taylor, Green Study Group, Vol. II. Top Secret; Flash.

  1. A handwritten note on the source text indicates the time of transmission of this telegram was between 11:26 and 11:52 a.m. The action authorized in the telegram indicates, however, that the telegram must have been drafted after 11:58 p.m. on April 18. See the source note, Document 140.↩