Cryptonym: AMDIP-1
104-10061-10115: LIST OF NAMES RE KENNEDY ASSASSINATION INVESTIGATION
At pages 22-23, on a list prepared by the HSCA staff, "AMDIP-1" is listed on line 28. On the next page, AMDIP-1 is identified as "Manuel Antonio de Varona." Also see 180-10143-10183 - good handwritten summary of Varona security file - https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=110032#relPageId=1
180-10118-10069: 180-10118-10069
This HSCA list of people that Varona may have known is a good cross-section of all the key players in all the key anti-Castro organizations.
104-10260-10425 BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION ON MANUEL ANTONIO DE VARONA Y LOREDO
1948-52: During 1948-50, he was the Prime Minister and Senator in government ohttps://www.maryferrell.org/php/crypsuedit.php?type=crypt&id=AMDIP-1#f Carlos Prio Socarras. From 1950-52 he was President of the Cuban Senate.
104-10414-10124: MEXICO CITY STATION HISTORY, EXCERPTS
AMHAWK-1, Tony Varona's original crypt, was compromised in December 1960 when two briefcases were lost.
There were five members of the FRD's executive committee in late 1960. At the time, the FRD was the largest coalition of anti-Castro Cuban forces. One of the five representatives of the FRD Executive Committee was "Antonio Varona, leader of a large faction of the Autentico Party, which was the official political party during the administrations of Ramon Grau Martin and Carlos Prio (1944-1952)".
104-10168-10072: CABLE: AS ANTICIPATED AMDIP-1 RAISED AMBRONC-1 AFFAIR DURING 9 FEB 61 MEETING
2/10/61 from Gerry Droller at JMBELL to Guatemala City: "As anticipated AMDIP-1 raised AMBRONC-1 affair during 9 Feb 61 meeting with Crabanac (Howard Hunt) and Parlett...AMDIP-1 maintains that AMBRONC dismissal should have been handled via AMPORT/FRD Executive Committee...AMDIP warns that if troops become aware (of) unilateral AMBRONC dismissal wholesale exodus from camps of more than half of troops will occur. AMDIP-1 cites Mr. William Carpenter as having told pilots that AMPORT useless instrumentally. AMDIP-1 repeatedly alleged not only AMIRON but also majority (of) Miami Cubans solidly behind AMBRONC-1 (on) this issue. AMDIP-1 stated that some formula needed soonest (to) smooth ruffled feelings. Further said Villafana (LITAINT-1) and San Roman not acceptable to him and AMPORT in any leadership capacity."
104-10240-10213: CABLE:SITUATION IN AMPORT SEEMS SLOWLY TO BE REACHING SETTLEMENT VIA
2/18/61 JMWAVE memo: In negotiations over leadership of FRD, "AMDIP-1 ploy seems to be accept AMPALM-5 and (Manuel) Hernandez if they tender him unconditional support...(re) upcoming negotiations with AMBANG-1 (Manolo Ray)...apparent reason for AMJAG-1 non-acceptance trav trip is fact AMBRONC-1 was AMJAG-1 nominee".
157-10014-10151; SELECT COMMITTEE ASSASSINATION REPORT
1962: "Following this first failure (to poison Castro in early 1961), Roselli told O'Connell that Trafficante believed Tony Varona, a leading figure in the Cuban exile movement, might be able to accomplish the assassination (I.G., p. 29). Dr. Manuel Antonio de Varona y Lorado headed the Democratic Revolutionary Front, a Cuban exile group supported by the CIA. The Inspector General's report suggests that Varona may have been receiving funds from Trafficante and other racketeers interested in securing 'gambling, prostitution, and dope monopolies' in Cuba after the overthrow of Castro (I.G. p. 29)...Varona claimed to have a contact inside a restaurant frequented by Castro (Roselli, p. 21). As a prerequisite to the deal, he demanded cash and $1000 worth of communications equipment. (I.G. pp. 31-32; O'Connell, p. 23)...The money and pills were delivered in a meeting between Maheu, Roselli, Trafficante and Varona at the Fontainebleau hotel in Miami...Varona had no better luck than (Juan Orta)...Varona subsequently returned the cash and the pills...The date of the Varona operation is unclear. The Inspector General's report places it in March-April 1961, prior to the Bay of Pigs. (I.G., p. 29)...O'Connell, however, was certain that it occurred during early 1962 (O'Connell, pp. 47-48)."
Tony Varona spoke to the CRC in New Orleans on 11/15/63. He stayed with Augustin Guitart, uncle of Silvia Odio.
Tony Varona was the head of Rescate Democratico Revolucionario (RDR) as well as the head of the CRC during 1963.