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Former ~~ To RFK Bug ‘Pressure’ M. WHITTEN World Journal Tribane Spreial Bz LESLIE WASHINGTON, Dec. SI—A former tcp aide to Attorncy General Robert F. Reunedy aaid today he distinctly re- members Kennedy pressing the FBI to use more “tech- nical equipment’ ‘to fight or- ganized crime. The statement of Edwyn Silberling. former chief of the Justice Department's or- ganized crime and racketee:- ing section, is finportant be- cause it is the first break in the phalanx of Sen. Kennedy and. his former assistants who insist that Kennedy had ng trowlerce of FBI “bug- ging.” Althouch “technical equip- ment” does not mean “bug- fing’ in the diclionary sense, it is as much a euphemism for electronic snooping de- vices ag “passed away" ls for “died.” Silberling In an interview, said “everybody at the meet- Ing knew he «Kennedy: was talking about electronic sur- veillance—paraboli¢ = micro- phones, spixse micrephoncs, bugs—that is micro-trans- mitters—the whole thing.” This statement appears to Tun counter to a statement Dec. 11 by Kennedy that “I Was not aware of the ‘bus- ging’ practices of tue FBI during my term as altiorney general.” FBI Director J. Ec- gar Hoover has said bugging increased at the insistence of Kennedy. The Hoover-Kennedy con- tradilcions remain wore- solved, but Sen. Edward V. Long, D-Mo. has said he plans to ask both men t> tes- tify before his subeommittce which ts investigating ,elec- tronic mooping. ne Genel Prater ais a Ee aca neers a As ee. Aide = St ll Recalls RECALLS MEETING Silberling, who served in his key post from Feb. 1, 1961, to Feb. 1, 1963, made ciear he is not taking the FBI's side against Kennedy. The FBI. said Silberling failed to cooperate with his own ¢fforts to bring tie na- tion's top hoods to bar by refusing fo tel] him wheth- er infermaiion they got came from bugging or In- formers. Ths question is vital to a prescevter who must csticre = Fan am wh ot ~ ming what is evidence ard witat is “hearsay.” Tne FEI deciined comment. Silberling, now in private pract.c2 ja Afincota, M. Y.. recasted that the crucial meeting with Kennedy took place in 1561 and that the FSI agrnat in charge of Lal- son sith Kennedy. Courtney A. Eva's, was present -lont walt ocier Department of Jusiica ofsicials. The conierence, tn Arnne- dy's fiitn floor ofsice at the department. was cailcd ta discuss progress of the anti- racketeering program sead- ed by Silocrling. Kennedy was concerned over the lack of solid information on the “top hoods.” said Silberling. The “top heeds” are leaders of the Cosa Nostra, sometimes called the Malia, the mob or the syndicate. WROTE LETTER Si'beriing cecalis that en- nedy winied faster rosults in the anii-panester provram and told Frans without quai- [fication that he wanted the FBI to use more “techiuical equipment” to get informa- tion, the “ee ar The secollegtion of the fo.mer Justice Department aide is strikingly similar to a memo tn 1961 from FBI a ete Agent Evans to his Superior ja the FBI. In the memo dated July 7, 1961, Evans said he had “contacted” Kennedy and that the attor- ney general “wouid like to g:e a list of the technical surveillances now In opera- tion.” Kennedy had made some observations “as to the possibility of utilizing ‘elec- tronic devices’ in organied crime investigatiors.” Almost five ycars later, Evans wrote Kennedy a letter saying he “did no* discuss the.use of bugs” with Kennedy. Silberiing quit the Justice Department to take up pri- vate practice. During Silberling’s stay at Justice, a number of miajoz Faugsters were convicted of fedcral crimes. ‘Silberling made plcin in his interview tedey that he has no bad feciiegs against Kennedy and Was on'y onsveiine’ a report. ers circet questions. "World Journal Tribune" New York, New York January 1, 1967 Lees oy en es : Khe. het Pane! i i Ws hw ev + _— Tet es rarinis Teng oF