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Cryptonym: DTDORIC

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Definition:
Indicator for covert action to be used in book distribution programs directed at intellectuals in communist and socialist countries.
Status:
Documented
Discussion:
This program was a major tool in the Cultural phase of CIA's campaign against the spread of Communism/Socialism during the Cold War. The covert action aspect of this program was revealed in the recently released document 104-10335-10001, discussed below.
Sources:

3/4/57 message from Frankfurt to Director: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1705143/QKACTIVE%20%20%20VOL.%201%20%20%28CS%20FILE%20JUL%201951-JUL%201957%29_0041.pdf

"The action unit was determined as though the indicator DTDORIC had been used."

104-10335-10001: Memo from AARB Executive Director to CIA Historical Group Director, May 30, 1995: https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/104-10335-10001.pdf

See pages 6 and 9 - defining "DTDORIC" as "covert action", sent by Assassinations Records and Review Board Executive Director David Marwell to the Director of the CIA Historical Review Group John Pereira. It offers a list of Agency cryptonyms and pseudonyms and requests officials to provide the corresponding true names or a general description of the type intelligence relationship the related person, group, or location had with official projects.

104-10179-10095: CABLE- DIFFICULTIES CONFRONTING CCF IN EFFOR IN MOUNTING CAMPAIGN

5/12/61 memo from Director to Paris, with Chief/IO Cord Meyer releasing officer; "...do not believe that CCF (Congress for Cultural Freedom) should refrain from publishing hard anti-Castro materials...continuing CCF exposure of the true nature of the Castro regime and the Communist conspiracy in the Western Hemisphere...Two articles for possible HTHAWKBIT or magazine exploitation are Newman piece in May 11 Herald Tribune on Castro Trujillo relations, and Liberation article by Roy Finch carried in May 5 press comment."

104-10179-10131: Following is Summary Report of Contact with Mr. John Hunt and Manolo Ray

7/2/63 cable from Paris to SAS W. Raymond, who forwarded to Alfonso Rodriguez and Seymour Bolten, slugline TYPIC DTDORIC ()CRISP: "Following is summary report of contact with Mr. John Hunt of Congress for Cultural Freedom and Manolo Ray...Hunt agreed (to) provide documentation service which would keep him supplied with articles from European press critical of Castro regime...Ray said in fundamental agreement with Kennedy Administration Cuban policy. Said his group presently broadcasting from Venezuela and planning for more broadcasting from another identified station..Hunt discussed need create image of viable opposition to Castro among European audience. In connection with this Hunt arranged luncheon 17 June for May attended by Manes Sperber, David Rousset, Leo Souvage, German Arciniegos, Julian Gorkin and others. Ray spoke at length and created good impression." Julian Gorkin was the editor of Cuadernos magazine, printed in Paris with CCF support and distributed throughout Latin America. While residing in Mexico, Gorkin is seen in Chile conference in 1965: http://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=91345&search=Neruda#relPageId=2&tab=page Supportive marginalia by Jack Stewart/Alfonso Rodriguez on front page of document.

104-10529-10366: CABLE: DUE HEAVY BOOKINGS ARRIVING AMERICAN FLIGHT 57

10/17/63, memo from CA/B3 Walter Raymond to Mexico City, DTDORIC QKOPERA slugline: Huyette and Bastear arriving on separate flights on Oct 21, and available to meet Choaden/David Phillips and Tichborn for dinner later that night if desired.

104-10098-10091: OPERATIONAL - MEXICAN PROGRAM

Late October 1963 memo from KUWOLF chief Adrian B. Maslott to Mexico City station, sluglines DTDORIC/operational; QKOPERA/DTGODOWN/Mexican program: GPBEFIT has been commissioned to do a study of "Two Revolutions" (Cuba and Algeria) and plans a trip to these countries in January and February. "We will discuss this and other problems with GPBEFIT when QKOPERA staff agent WINTERROWD visits HQS early in November."

104-10527-10262: CABLE: HAVE NO OBJECTIONS POSTPONING UNTIL JAN IF AND AGREED

11/29/63, DIR 85773, CA/B5 to Mexico City, slugline DTDORIC HBEPITOME, ref MEXI 7102, DIR 82069: "Have no objections postponing until Jan if WSACROBAT and LIQUIFIERS agreed...emphasize need maintain good relations between ZRAFRAID officers and WSACROBAT. If necessary delay seminar must avoid appearance WSACROBAT stalling an event ZRAFRAID eager to hold."

7/22/65 dispatch from Chief, Munich Operations Base to Chief, KUWOLF: DTDORIC/PBCHORD/Operations: http://www.foia.cia.gov/sites/default/files/document_conversions/1705143/QKACTIVE%20%20%20VOL.%209%20%20%20%28CS%20FILE%20JAN.%201965-DEC.%201967%29_0006.pdf

About a book program in Yugoslavia.

Alfred Reisch, Hot Books in the Cold War - the CIA-Funded Secret Western Book Program Behind the Iron Curtain (2013).

This study reveals the hidden story of the secret book distribution program to Eastern Europe financed by the CIA during the Cold War. At its height between 1957 and 1970, the book program was one of the least known but most effective methods of penetrating the Iron Curtain, reaching thousands of intellectuals and professionals in the Soviet Bloc. Reisch conducted thorough research on the key personalities involved in the book program, especially the two key figures: S. S. Walker, who initiated the idea of a “mailing project,” and George C. Minden, head of the FEC (Free Europe Committee) who developed it into one of the most effective political and psychological tools of the Cold War. (at p. 8) Reisch describes C. D. Jackson as president of the Free Europe Committee in 1951 (the official name of the group was National Committee for a Free Europe in 1949 and finalized as the FEC in 1954). The FEC was covertly subsidized by the CIA.

104-10101-10179: CABLE:LIQUIFER/7 LETTER - REQUEST MEETING TO DISCUSS

12/11/63 DIR 88294, memo from HQ to Mexico City, info to PALP, about LIQUIFER-7. He wants to meet with the Officers Foundation for Youth and Student Affairs (FYSA) and the Institute for International Student Affairs (IIYA). He wants to meet with CIA officer Raymond Laffitte to discuss future work among professionals and students, but Laffitte's travel makes that impossible.

5/7/65 dispatch from REDACTED to Chief, Soviet Division

Slugline in this dispatch is REDWOOD DTDORIC TPLINGO. Informing the Soviet desk about a book exchange program in Sweden. The book exchange program is a low- key, mass propaganda effort involving getting non-provocative Western literature into the hands of the Soviet public by a variety of methods: Direct mailing by individuals in the West to addressees provided by the program's directors (in essence this is blind mailing); personal gifts by Westerners to their Soviet opposite numbers; distribution to Soviet tourists abroad and to Western tourist groups going into the USSR, etc.

Contributors:
Bill Simpich

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