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Pseudonym: Whiting, Harold S.

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Definition:
Frank G. Wisner, he was a lawyer, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, and a high ranking CIA official that led the Office of Policy Coordination in the nineteen forties, a media article reports he "masterminded the (Agency's) successful anti-Communist coup in Guatemala in 1954", and Wisner operated during the nineteen sixties under State Department cover.
Category:
pseudonym
Status:
Documented
Discussion:
Wisner had advocated for the use of foreign émigrés in future intelligence operations just months before his appointment to the Office of Policy Coordination. He would use German intelligence sources to assess the reasons for their defeat at the hands of the Soviets and sought to use former German agents to combat the expansion of Soviet Communism. The OPC increasing size and importance necessitated it to be incorporated within the Directorate of Plans under later CIA Director Walter Bedell Smith during the early nineteen fifties.
Sources:

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Wisner

1948-65: On 6/18/48, the United States National Security Council approved NSC 10/2 which created the Office of Special Projects. On 9/1/48, the office was formally established...renamed to the Office of Policy Coordination (OPC) for obfuscation purposes. Wisner was chosen to lead the OPC in the capacity of Assistant Director for Policy Coordination (ADPC).The OPC initially received services from the CIA but was accountable to the State Department. ...the OPC's responsibilities include(d) "propaganda, economic warfare, preventive direct action, including sabotage, antisabotage, demolition and evacuation procedures..." On August 23, 1951, Wisner succeeded Allen W. Dulles and became the second Deputy Director of Plans, with Richard Helms as his chief of operations. In this position, he was instrumental in supporting pro-American forces that toppled Mohammed Mossadegh in Iran in 1953 and Jacobo Arbenz Guzmán in Guatemala in 1954. Another project he was involved in was with regard to the Belarus Brigade's leaders, a unit incorporated into a German SS division, who were assisted into the United States after the Second world war, due largely to his efforts. In defiance of federal law, John Loftus asserted, the OPC helped obtain visas for Nazi collaborators from Belarus — who were believed to have facilitated numerous atrocities by the Nazi Germany.. Allen W. Dulles dismiss(ed) one of his key staff members, Carmel Offie, in 1953 over Wisner's objections. Wisner worked closely with Kim Philby, the British agent who was also a Soviet spy. Wisner was also deeply involved in establishing the Lockheed U-2 spy plane program run by Richard M. Bissell Jr. Wisner suffered a serious breakdown in September 1958... diagnosed as manic depressive and received electroshock therapy. Richard Bissell replaced Wisner as Deputy Director of Plans. After a lengthy recovery, Wisner became chief of the CIA's London Station." He retired in 1962, and committed suicide on 10/29/65.

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952-1954: Guatemala

This State Department summary of US Foreign Relations between nineteen fifty-two and nineteen fifty-four recounts US operations conducted in Guatemala that include a reference to the pseudonym Harold S. Whiting. This pseudonym is identified in the later document under the Persons and Pseudonyms section as Frank Wisner.

Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952-1954: Guatemala Current Section: 265. 6/30/54-Telegram From the Central Intelligence Agency to Operation PBSUCCESS Headquarters in Florida

06/30/54: Telegram from Ascham (Allen Dulles), Ordway (Charles Cabell) and Whiting (Frank Wisner): "1. To Playdon (Tracy Barnes), Dunbar, and all hands at LINC as well as all elements of PBSUCCESS complex: Heartiest congratulations upon outcome developments past forty-eight hours.4 A great victory has been won. This victory is the more notable by virtue of the extreme difficulties of the operation and the odds which were recognized to be against our chances of success from the outset. The energy and devotion of the personnel at LINC and the field Stations has been truly exceptional and has served as an inspiration and a challenge to all of us at hqs. 2. It is requested that LINC pass on the foregoing to all appropriate elements of PBSUCCESS field complex and at full strength. Hqs assumes LINC will have its own special messages to send to the field but desires to have hqs congratulations expressed as well. 3. Not necessary to repeat hqs congratulations to Guat and [place not declassified] because this done directly by refs. These messages were thus sent by hqs for special reason that JMBLUG and SKILLET key members team effort WSBURNT and WSHOOFS parts of operation and had their initial briefings and indoctrination from hqs. Accordingly it seemed appropriate hqs extend congratulations to them both as members of the true team effort and individually..."

FRANK GARDINER WISNER DEAD; FORMER TOP OFFICIAL OF C. I. A.

A New York Times article offers some detailed information about Frank Wisner that includes the statement he masterminded the CIA's successful coup against the Communist aligned government of Guatemala. https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP75-00001R000200520013-5.pdf

Contributors:
Carmine Savastano

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