◆ SpookStack

were groundless and that it "turned out to be a congenial team" which worked harmonisouly "in resolving the many 3/ contentious issues." Despite recognized biases, Taylor probably did as relatively impartial a job of reporting as possible on the basis of what he understood. without intent to denigrate General Taylor's many signifi- cant contributions to the nation, it is obvious that during the course of the Taylor Committee hearings both CIA and the JCS suffered more direct hits than did the President, Cabinet members, or White House personnel who were involved in de- cisions relating directly to the modification of the planned o~eration at the Bay of Pigs. Additionally General Taylor's recall from retirement to become military adviser and then Cbairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for President Kennedy related directly to the mutual admiration which developed between the General and the Attorney General in their service on the CSG.* * Taylor would subsequently write about Robert Kennedy that: ~'lJ was impressed by his ability as a thorough and incisive interrogator of witnesses, always on the lookout for a snow job, impatient at any suggestion of evasion or im- precision, and relentless in his determination to get at the truth, particularly if it bore on a matter affecting John F. Kennedy. His attitude toward the President was unusual, quite the reverse of the usual fraternal rela- tionship in which a big brother looks after a junior. It was Bobby, the younger, who took a protective view of the President, whose burdens he always sought to share or lighten. In watching Bobby at work on the Cuba Study Group, I liked his performance, and our work together was the start of a warm friendship." !I