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(b) completely revising the planned air operation against Castro's Air Force and military targets.* * The critical issues mentioned above were lost in the flurry of political reaction to other statements which Kennedy made about air cover -- principally, that JFK had made it quite clear that there would not be any us air support for the planned invasion nor would there be any additional US support for the invasion effort in the way of troop advisors or cadre leaders. When Kennedy's remarks -- many of which first appeared- in the Miami Heratd on 21 January 1963 -- hit the press, there was an immediate uproar. Richard Helms, who was then Deputy Director for Plans, prepared a memorandum for theCoor- dinator of Cuban Affairs in the Department of State pointing out that the comments of the Attorney General were of great concern to the Cuban community and threat- ened to blow Jose Miro Cardona out of the leadership of the Cuban Revolutionary Council; and they also were causing extensive criticism of the Brigade's military leaders, Manuel Artime and Jose Perez San Roman. If these Cuban leaders knew that neither US air support nor other US assistance had been promised, then the invasion should not have been permitted to take place. On the other hand, Tony Varona, who had frequently - opposed the FRD and the CRC for their extreme depend- ence on the US prior to the invasion, was coming more to the fore as the leader of the exiles. 139/ The Attorney General's 28 January 1963 session with u.s. News and WorZd Report was his second attempt to deflect criticism from the Administration following release of the Brigade prisoners by Castro. On 11 Jan- uary 1963, Jose Perez ("Pepe") San Roman, when inter- viewed while paying a "courtesy call" to Robert Kennedy's offices, denied that he "had called unsuccessfully during the invasion for cover by jet airplanes." San Roman also said that he had not been told that the US would provide air cover for the operation. 139a/ His latter statement was true insofar as can be determined, but he was less than candid about events on the beach. The cable traffic between TIDE and Headquarters for (footnote continued on following page) - 299 -