Collection of Assorted Newspaper and Magazine Clippings: Jfk Assassination, Conspiracy Theories, Etc

Read from the scan by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word.

other in the code room of the embassy. "We have a private message coming in from Chairman Isanov for President Taner. We are in the process of decoding it, but the instructions are quite specific. It is to be double sealed in envelopes and handed directly to the President and to no one else." He had been told.

In his entire diplomatic career, Stepanov had never communicated a message to a head of state without knowing its contents. But instructions were instructions and he was too faithful a servant of his government and the Communist Party to defy an order.

He had had his secretary call the White House and ask for an appointment with President Tanner and he had been relieved to learn that the President would receive him at four P.M. He had not seen the President for more than two years, but, like everybody else in Washington, he had heard a number of rumors, which he faithfully reported to his government, about the declining state of his health.

At precisely 3:50 P.M., he eased himself into the back seat of his limousine and was driven the four blocks that separate the Soviet enclave from the White House. His instructions had been to go through the southwest gate so that the reporters who congregated in front of the main entrance wouldn't see him. He was cleared through immediately by the guard and met by General Buchanan at the west basement entrance.

A few moments later, he was ushered into the Oval Office.

His first impression was that Tanner had aged: His face was drawn and there were large hugs under his eyes, which looked bloodshot. But he was affable: "Sit down, Mr. Ambassador. Please sit down." he said.

Stepanov sank into a chair.

"And how is Chairman Ivanov? You know, I like him a great deal."

"The chairman's health is excellent." Stepanov replied. "He has just returned from a month's vacation on the Black Sea. I saw him there while I was on vacation; he asked about your health."

"Oh, you can tell the chairman I'm just fine. I'm having some problems at home politically, but I'll find a way out."

"That was the same thing Nixon had told Brezhnev." Stepanov thought.

"What is this message all about?" Tanner asked.

"Well, Mr. President, to tell you the truth, I have no idea. I have been given strict instructions that it is for your eyes only. I have scrupulously followed those instructions."

"You're probably a little curious, though, aren't you, Stepinow!"

A little, Mr. President, that deliver

our message is part of our work.

He handed over the envelope.

I thank you, Mr. Amissoader." The President smiled warmly. "If I have an answer, I will arrange to communicate it to the chairman."

Steennow said that his interview was at an end, shook hands and left.

Tanner played with the envelope for at least a quarter of an hour before he took out his letter opener and slit the edges. Then he started to read:

Dear Mr. President: This letter is for your eyes only because of the gravity of the information it contains. I have discovered the existence of a joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. operation called Red Rose. I am sure it means nothing to you, as it meant nothing to me until this morning. Apparently, at the time of the U.S.-Soviet Summit of 1974, the K.G.B. and the CIA, unbeknown to Mr. Brezhnev and certainly to Mr. Nixon, signed an agreement that in the event that either country wanted to get rid of its leader, it could call on the secret services of the other to carry out the assignment.

A look of stupefaction crossed Tanner's face as he continued to read:

Those of my staff who were involved in the negotiations told me that there was some thought, at the time, of invoking the clauses of the agreement against Mr. Nixon. Obviously, they did not feel it necessary to do so, particularly when he resigned. But now the CIA has called on us to carry out Operation Red Rose. It has asked us to assassinate you, Mr. President. Of course, I have forbidden my people to carry out this assignment, but at the same time, because of my high regard for you, I have felt it incumbent on me to inform you of this plan so that you can take whatever actions you wish within your own Government. My very best wishes to you, Mr. President.

Buchanan strode into the Oval Office. "What was that all about?" he asked--curious but without suspicion. He noticed that Tanner's hands were shaking.

It was signed simply "Ivanov." Tanner reread the letter several times. Then he pushed the button for General Buchanan.

"Just something personal." Tanner answered. "Wiley, is there still a terminal of the hotline telex in the White House?"

Y. N. Presents.

---

It is in the situation room - in the treatment. There's an operator on duty twenty-four hours a day.

Grodd" the President said. I'll go down there. And Wiggs call the operator and tell him I want to be left alone.

General Buchanan fought not to show his alarm, though in fact he could think of nothing more dangerous than an almost surely deranged President sending a private message to the Soviet chairman. It was the possibility of just this sort of thing that had made him resort to Operation Red Rose in the first place.

Tanner seemed to be able to read his aide's mind. "I don't want any argument!" he snapped. "Just carry out my orders." He then headed out of the office, made his way down the stairs that led to the basement and walked to the far end of the situation room, where the telex machines were kept. One of them hore a sign reading: DIRECT TO KREMLIN. Tanner was alone. It Buchanan had proved himself capable of treachery. he was nevertheless weak-keed about disobeying a direct order.

Then he dropped in at General Buchanan's office—"What's come over the man?" the astonished general asked himself—and announced that he was accepting an invitation to speak at a farmers' convention in Moline, Illinois, the following day. It was at that convention, a few minutes before noon, that Tanner was shot to death, and in the confusion that followed, the assassin got away without a trace.

Tanner sat down and punched out. his message.

Tanner's funeral rivaled Lincoln's and Roosevelt's. Millions of people, many of them in tears, lined the streets as the cortege made its way to the cemetery at Arlington and the martyred President was laid to rest at the side of John F. Kennedy. Even the press, with whom he had gotten on badly, eulogized him as a better-than-average President and a patriot.

And the new President, hand-picked by Tanner for the Vice-Presidency, carried out Administration policies even more vigorously than his predecessor.

Buchanan, of course, kept his mouth shut. He had long since run through his paper shredder the piece of crumpled reles carbon he had found in a basement wastebasket:

Ivanov. Do not ask questions. Carry out Operation Red Rose. You will get along well with my successor. Thank you. Tanner.