A faithful reader sent a link to a telling new story about the CIA in Miami in the 1960s when the presence of one of the largest CIA stations in the world was an open secret — yet officially unknown.
The revelation of the CIA Miami station came in a Look magazine excerpt of David Wise and Thomas Ross’s book, “The Invisible Government,” which introduced the general public to the workings of the CIA.
Yet the CIA’s presence in South Florida was no secret to the the editors of Miami News. A year and half before this article appeared, the paper’s foreign editor, Hal Hendrix, had lunch with Miami station chief Ted Shackley. They met during the missile crisis in October 1962. Hendrix was looking for help in writing a piece critical of President Kennedy.
After the lunch, Shackley reported to headquarters via cable:
“Hendrix trying research story on inconsistencies in [US.-Cuba] policies: statements to [Cuban Revolutionary Council] re liberation [of Cuba] versus guarantees to Soviets that [U.S.] will not intervene militarily if Soviets withdraw missiles from [Cuba]. ”
Shackley added, “If above info used by [Headquarters] pls protect fact that info obtained from Hendrix. This most important if we are to continue development of Hendrix as source.”
Hendrix quit journalism and became a corporate executive for ITT, a big telecommunications corporation. In 1970s, he assistant covert CIA operationst in Chile, ordered by the Nixon administration to destabilize and overthrow tthe democratically elected government of Salvatore Allende.
If you want to share memories, photos, tips, or anecdotes about the CIA in Miami in South Florida in the 1960s, send me an email.