Soviet nuclear capability who had
worked for the Central Intelligence empty boat ran aground under full sail Agency. Paisley was last seen that
tary sailing; he was also an expert on
he had picked from Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass." The the following morning, Its ship-to-shore morning, crossing a narrow section of the bay aboard his sloop Bril lig, a name
radio still crackling.
writer based in Washington, D.C. Tad Szulc
By Tad Soule
is a
national-security-affairs
55-year-old man who
had a passion for soli- crabs. He was a quiet
peake Bay, the silent Sept. 23, 1978, John Ar- kingdom of oysters and in the waters of Chesa-
n the moonlit night of thur Paisley vanished
shot wound in the back of the head, weighted diver's belts around the waist. The next day, the body was iden-
set of Paisley's fingerprints. The hands
aminer as that of John Arthur Paisley.
floating in the bay, a 9-millimeter gun- badly decomposed body was found were severed and sent to the F.B.I., and — neither the C.I.A. nor the Federal Bureau of Investigation could locate a Over the next 17 days; however, finger- print identification could not be made tified by Maryland's Chief Medical Ex- ton, D.C. proved funeral home outside Washing-
the body was cremated in a C.I.A.-ap- C.I.A. work, top-secret. Who was John Arthur His 'suicide' was bizarre; the nature of his Paisley, and what actually happened to him?
A week later, on Oct. 1, a bloated and
The Maryland State Police initially
spect, too, when it came time to release
vestigative one and had not taken part a matter of policy, the C.I.A. almost
who were the first to search the boat. suggested that death was by suicide, Maryland State Police, C.I.A. spokes- of evidence by C.I.A. security officers, information on John Arthur Paisley, As what they called the "contamination" men said that the agency was not an in- after a belated investigation marred by in any criminal investigation. cluded that death was "undetermined" The Maryland State Police later con- and the C.I.A., to questions posed by re- porters, saw "no reason to disagree." Presented with this statement by the
The C.I.A. spokesmen were circum-
-CINIAILJS2E21:1131
The New York Times Maguzlne/January 7, 1979 13
at the time of his disappearance, but spokesmen acknowledged that Paisley chief of the C.I.A.'s Office of Strategic analyst. Prior to his official retirement agency emphasized that he was just secret operations they may have been this reporter another senior analyst, having nothing to highly classified information since engaged in and thus compromise the data on its officers; various aspects of was still a "consultant" to the agency ments of Soviet nuclear forces, and the in 1974, Paisley had served as deputy his retirement. agency's "sources and methods." they insisted that he had had no access further prodding by reporters, C.I.A. to do with clandestine operations. After Research, which deals with assess- the C.I.A. portrayed Paisley as a rather unimportant intelligence officer and never discloses complete biographical their careers could provide clues about
Yet, from information supplied to
In its public statements, therefore,
by
extremely authorita-
in the days thereafter. The committee, committee, The thereafter. days the in
mine what exactly happened that Sep- that happened exactly what mine
but energetic investigation to deter- to investigation energetic but
ble political and other implications of of implications other and political ble
tember night on Chesapeake Bay, and and Bay, Chesapeake on night tember
the Paisley affair, has launched a quiet quiet a launched has affair, Paisley the
lice, by William P. Kampiles, a young young a Kampiles, P. William by lice,
C.I.A. officer who last November was was November last who officer C.I.A.
convicted on espionage charges. charges. espionage on convicted
telligence, concerned about the possi- the about concerned telligence, ago to the K.G.B., the Soviet secret po- secret Soviet the K.G.B., the to ago
generation of orbiters, targeted on on targeted orbiters, of generation
the manual sold in Athens about a year year a about Athens in sold manual the
Soviet strategic deployments. This was was This deployments. strategic Soviet
satellite, the most sophisticated in this this in sophisticated most the satellite,
II II
secret manual on the operations of the the of operations the on manual secret
United States KH-11 spy-in-the-sky spy-in-the-sky KH-11 States United
agency officer who had dealt exten- dealt had who officer agency
sively with Nosenko. Nosenko. with sively
superior was Katherine Hart, wife of an an of wife Hart, Katherine was superior
clandestine operations. Her immediate immediate Her operations. clandestine
most sensitive divisions of the C.I.A.: C.I.A.: the of divisions sensitive most
his North Carolina hideout. hideout. Carolina North his
ployed for a year in 1974 in one of the the of one in 1974 in year a for ployed
the office handling funds for foreign foreign for funds handling office the
officer frequently visited Nosenko in in Nosenko visited frequently officer
later became friends, and the C.I.A. C.I.A. the and friends, became later
most senior K.G.B. defector in the the in defector K.G.B. senior most
United States. Paisley and Nosenko Nosenko and Paisley States. United
flPaisley's widow, Maryann, was em- was Maryann, widow, flPaisley's
debrief Yuri Ivanovich Nosenko, the the Nosenko, Ivanovich Yuri debrief
missions. missions.
equipment designed for secret trans- secret for designed equipment
riDurIng the 1960's, Paisley helped to to helped Paisley 1960's, the riDurIng
carried sophisticated communications communications sophisticated carried
RWhen it washed ashore, the Brillig Brillig the ashore, washed it RWhen
his disappearance. disappearance. his
project aboard his sloop at the time of of time the at sloop his aboard project
working on materials related to this this to related materials on working
projects. From August 1976 on, on, 1976 August From projects.
access to the most highly classified in- classified highly most the to access
one of the agency's most secret secret most agency's the of one
evaluate the Soviet nuclear threat - threat nuclear Soviet the evaluate
telligence documents. He had been been had He documents. telligence
13Within 13Within
by the C.I.A. to coordinate efforts efforts coordinate to C.I.A. the by
retirement, Paisley was brought back back brought was Paisley retirement,
highlights of "the Paisley connection": connection": Paisley "the of highlights
The Senate Select Committee on In- on Committee Select Senate The
Intelligence materials. These are the the are These materials. Intelligence
Sept. 23, he was privy to highly secret secret highly to privy was he 23, Sept.
operations since the late 1940's. Until Until 1940's. late the since operations
some of the most sensitive agency agency sensitive most the of some
Paisley was an unusually Important Important unusually an was Paisley
C.I.A. figure who had been involved in in involved been had who figure C.I.A. Paisley was a contributor to the top- the to contributor a was Paisley
another another
tive intelligence sources In Washington, Washington, In sources intelligence tive
John John
two years of his official 1974 1974 official his of years two
Arthur Paisley emerges. emerges. Paisley Arthur
he he
had had
to to
happy with the agency's assessment of of assessment agency's the with happy
Soviet missilery, and the C.I.A. failed failed C.I.A. the and missilery, Soviet
parts of the Administration are un- are Administration the of parts
tack. Policy-making officials in many many in officials Policy-making tack.
munity. In addition, the C.I.A.'s ability ability C.I.A.'s the addition, In munity.
to collect and effectively evaluate vital vital evaluate effectively and collect to
foreign intelligence is now under at- under now is intelligence foreign
high-level position — having pene- having — position high-level
secret documents and talk of a Soviet Soviet a of talk and documents secret
trated the American intelligence com- intelligence American the trated
nal security have been bedeviling the the bedeviling been have security nal
agency in recent years, what with mys- with what years, recent in agency
"mole" — a deep-cover operative in a a in operative deep-cover a — "mole"
terious disappearances, thefts of top- of thefts disappearances, terious come at a worse time. Cracks In inter- In Cracks time. worse a at come
fore mid-January. mid-January. fore
such difficulties trying to learn the the learn to trying difficulties such
to come up with conclusions, if any, be- any, if conclusions, with up come to
truth about the events that it is unlikely unlikely is it that events the about truth before Thanksgiving, but it has run into into run has it but Thanksgiving, before
Paisley's Paisley's
ana, had hoped to to hoped had ana,
chaired by SeriatOr SeriatOr by chaired
The investigation could hardly have have hardly could investigation The
mentor: mentor:
come up with a report report a with up come
James Jesus Angleton, former C.I.A. counterintell'gence chief. chief. counterintell'gence C.I.A. former Angleton, Jesus James
I I
lich lich
--
to to
nard Fensterwald, a well-known Wash- well-known a Fensterwald, nard
ington attorney, to help her find out out find her help to attorney, ington
security officers after Paisley's disap- Paisley's after officers security
what happened to her husband. Mrs. Mrs. husband. her to happened what
pearance, she recently retained Ber- retained recently she pearance,
Having first worked closely with C.I.A. C.I.A. with closely worked first Having
lems is Paisley's widow, whose loyalty loyalty whose widow, Paisley's is lems
to the agency seems to be flagging. flagging. be to seems agency the to
vestigations of its past scandals, or the the or scandals, past its of vestigations
recent massive firings of its clandes- its of firings massive recent
recovered from the Congressional in- Congressional the from recovered
tine-services officers. officers. tine-services
in the agency, which has not fully fully not has which agency, the in
Central Intelligence, for these short- these for Intelligence, Central
comings. This further damaged morale morale damaged further This comings.
Adm. Stanfield Turner, the Director of of Director the Turner, Stanfield Adm.
move, President Carter reprimanded reprimanded Carter President move,
and Nicaragua, despite clear signals. signals. clear despite Nicaragua, and
to to
Not least among the C.I.A.'s prob- C.I.A.'s the among least Not
In November, in a most unusual unusual most a in November, In
the present crises itit Iran Iran itit crises present the
began in the late afternoon of Saturday, Saturday, of afternoon late the in began Sept. 21 a warm autumn day. He had had He day. autumn warm a 21 Sept.
intelligence operation. operation. intelligence
secret post In the Defense Intelligence Intelligence Defense the In post secret
with the case have described as one of of one as described have case the with
what Senate investigators familiar familiar investigators Senate what
Sept. 24, the Coast Guard station at St. St. at station Guard Coast the 24, Sept.
someone (whom he will not identify) identify) not will he (whom someone
Inigoes on Chesapeake Bay was noti- was Bay Chesapeake on Inigoes
the "spookiest" cases ever involving an an involving ever cases "spookiest" the
the last anyone heard from Paisley. Paisley. from heard anyone last the
radio. Colonel Wilson contacted the the contacted Wilson Colonel radio. Lookout. He had ascertained that no- no- that ascertained had He Lookout.
and 6 P.M., and Paisley advised him him advised Paisley and P.M., 6 and
Brillig, as he recalls, between 5 P.M. P.M. 5 between recalls, he as Brillig,
Guard, the medical examiners, sources sources examiners, medical the Guard,
in the intelligence community, and and community, intelligence the in ble to reconstruct events leading to to leading events reconstruct to ble
"he would be in after dark," asking asking dark," after in be would "he bay. The ranger had driven to Point Point to driven had ranger The bay.
full sail aground at Point Lookout, Lookout, Point at aground sail full
Island, at the mouth of the Patuxent Patuxent the of mouth the at Island,
where the Potomac River runs into the the into runs River Potomac the where
morning from from morning State Police, the F.B.I., the Coast Coast the F.B.I., the Police, State Force officer who had served in a top- a in served had who officer Force
that Paisley wanted to be called on the the on called be to wanted Paisley that
Shore of Chesapeake Bay — a short and and short a — Bay Chesapeake of Shore
that the dock lights be left on. This was was This on. left be lights dock the that fied by telephone by a state park ranger ranger park state a by telephone by fied easy easterly crossing — with friend or or friend with — crossing easterly easy
sailed aboard the sloop Brillig that that Brillig sloop the aboard sailed
from people who knew him, it is possi- is it him, knew who people from time during the day he was told by by told was he day the during time
for about 10 years. years. 10 about for
to Col. Norman Wilson, a retired Air Air retired a Wilson, Norman Col. to
friends unknown. The mooring belongs belongs mooring The unknown. friends
River, to Hooper Islands on the Eastern Eastern the on Islands Hooper to River,
Agency and had been Paisley's friend friend Paisley's been had and Agency formed him of sighting a vessel under under vessel a sighting of him formed
that two separate pleasure craft had in- had craft pleasure separate two that
shown the body before the cremation. cremation. the before body the shown
Paisley Paisley
it. Actually, no one who had known known had who one no Actually, it.
Paisley's body, nor the photographs of of photographs the nor body, Paisley's
body found In the bay. She did not see see not did She bay. the In found body
suicide theory and the Identity of the the of Identity the and theory suicide
Paisley Paisley
friends say that she questions both the the both questions she that say friends
John Arthur Paisley's final drama drama final Paisley's Arthur John
At 10:30 A.M. the next day, Sunday, Sunday, day, next the A.M. 10:30 At
According to Colonel Wilson, some- Wilson, Colonel to According
From the accounts of the Maryland Maryland the of accounts the From
in life is reported to have have to reported is life in
refuses to talk to to talk to refuses
a a
mooring on Solomons Solomons on mooring
El El
reporters, but but reporters, been been •
According to those in
area.
ligence community, closely with Angleton in this sources and methods of ac-
known that Paisley worked nuclear developments. The
major intelligence function. protection of sources and of in- quiring intelligence on Soviet
formation-gathering methods tereatler, was assassinated ously kept C.I.A. secrets— the by terrorists. Paisley had a de-
from a potential enemy is a
strategic research and deploy- order gree in electrical engineering
United States. Paisley was
privy to one of the most jeal- ment. He learned Russian from the University of Chicago Intelligence intercepted by the
key C.I.A. specialists on Soviet (he was born and raised in journals and the flow of Soviet
the Soviet Union quickened, gleton. strategic problems. Paisley al- ways stayed in touch with An-
analytical work on Soviet
between the United States and Paisley emerged as one of the
World War II had been a mer-
what he did until 1953, when learned Spanish), and during Phoenix, Ariz., where he mal and he was assigned to do his employment was made for-
cruits, although
chant marine radio operator.
came to join the Bernadotte James Jesus Angleton, who It is not clear how Paisley
C.I.A.'s ley came to the attention of
later became chief of the
staff. Angleton was touring the
cruiting personnel for the in- Middle East at the time, re-
mission.
among Angleton's first re-
fant agency; Paisley was
As the
It was in Palestine that Pais-
to study Soviet technical
pace of the arms race
counterintelligence
it
is not known
the
it is
intel-
In
the C.I.A. began the lengthy
and laborious process of de-
Soviet Union, who had de- of the K.G.B.'s Second Chief
counterintelligence within the
briefing Nosenko, a member
Directorate, responsible for
early in 11)64. Nosenko was the
fected to the United States
ever to defect.
est value to United States In-
most important K.G.B. officer
home and abroad. This may
ligence agents operating . at telligence was to provide infor- mation on Soviet counterintel-
have included data on counter-
sial C.I.A. secret intelligence
intelligence in the strategic
field— part of Paisley's exper-
tise — and Paisley became en- meshed in the most controver-
sin of President Kennedy, had
around Nosenko's claim that
project of the decade.
Lee Harvey Oswald, the assas-
no K.G.B. ties. This corrobo-
agent in New 'York, code-
by a deep-cover Soviet double rated the information supplied named "Fedora," to the F.B.I. "Fedora" had told the bureau
acted alone. Commission that Oswald had It was on the strength of what
was able to assure the Warren that Director J. Edgar Hoover concluded that Nosenko might according to retired C.I.A.
officer John L. Hart in testi-
have been a Soviet "plant." In
near Warrenton, Va. There -
mid-1964, he was incarcerated
mony before the House Select
in an agency "safe house"
Paisley was called in when
Ostensibly, Nosenko's great-
The controversy revolved
The C.I.A., however, soon
Committee on Assassinations
in September — he was sub-
interrogation. Nosenko's case was handled by the C.I.A.'s
Soviet-Russia division of the
clandestine services, and jected to three years of brutal
among the interrogators -
Paisley is said to have been
his strategic specialty, and had no part in the cruel treat-
ment of the K.G.B. defector.
set him up in a house in North
C.I.A. decided in 1968 to clear though he confined himself to
fact, became friends. After the
Nosenko once and for alt, and
Carolina under a new identity,
down the East Coast. Having
there while sailing up and Paisley started visiting him
purchased a 31-foot sloop fol-
lowing his retirement, Paisley
mington, N.C., often keeping the sailboat at the Masonboro registered the Brillig in Wil-
from Nosenko's home. Accord-
Boatyard and Marina, not far
late last spring.
ing to a Masonboro employee,
Paisley's final visit there was
senko friendship, and on the
analyst's earlier role in de-
an extraordinary coincidence, comment on the Paisley-No-
gether with the others [around
"He was a likable person, but sailed out, he would call on the days or so — and to say where briefing the Russian. But, by and extended. The employee and not known whether Nosenko be
his mail should be forwarded.
he didn't talk about his busi- ness," she said. "He got to- the marina] to have fun." It is ley's group on the sloop. recalls that when Paisley
radio to say how long he would.
Paisley and Nosenko, in
The C.I.A. has refused to These visits were frequent
gone — sometimes for 10
his wife were ever in Pais-
Nosenko was back in the news the day • before Paisley was
said that he does not consider
and that "no person familiar Assassinations
tor of Central Intelligence, killed.
Nosenko a bona fide defector,
Richard Helms, former Direc-
statements about Oswald to be
with the facts finds Nosenko's credible.... Therefore, this
dence. Maryann Paisley's im- tends to sour all the other opin- during the year she is known to
sion, which handles requests ions he maintained." have worked there (1974) was stations. Her husband is John
cer in the Requirements Divi- operations by overseas C.I.A.
mediate superior in the C.I.A. Katherine Hart, a senior offi-
for funds for clandestine Committee and who played
clearance. (Mrs. Hart is now deputy chief of station in an the House Assassinations
key role in Nosenko's final
"contract employee," but it
capital.) The C.I.A. has con-
L. Hart,
important Western European
firmed that Mrs. Paisley was a
ley, a mere "contract employ-
refuses to describe her duties.
It is not clear how Mrs. Pais-
C.I.A. vigorously denies any
of this manual
satellite, which was designed
regarded as a major setback K.G.B. last winter, in what is nuclear deployments. A copy for American intelligence. The
volves Paisley's role as a con-
ee," held such a sensitive posi-
to photograph Soviet strategic
tributor to the top-secret manual on the operations of the KII-11 United Slates spy
tion In the C.I.A.
Testifying before the House
There is another coinci-
Yet another coincidence In-
who testified before
was
Committee,
sold to the
a
connection between the theft death.
of the manual and Paisley's
Graham, former Director of
strategic arms limitation
why Paisley retired in 1974 at the time. agreement with the Soviet experiment in competitive the Defense Intelligence Agen-
secrecy enveloped the project
director of Harvard's Russian Union, and Gen. Daniel 0 (his wife retired at
history professor and former was eligible for a Government time) except to suggest that he one of the agency's most sensi- may have done so because he bership included Paul Nitze,
former Deputy Secretary of Defense and negotiator of the consultant two years later on why he was brought back as a nuclear capabilities. Total
Richard E. Pipes, a Harvard pension. Nor does it explain
drawn from outside academ- specialists, and a "Team B," gence and defense officials, to
evaluate separately the same study that the C.I.A. under- tive strategic intelligence Research Center. The mem- materials on Soviet strategic
projects.
ics and former senior intelli- "Team A," formed by C.I.A.
periment ran from August to
December 1976. It called for a
analysis conducted to deter-
be improved. (The estimate is takes every year.) This ex- probably the most important
the National Intelligence Esti- mate on Soviet Forces for In- tercontinental Conflict could
mine whether the quality of
The C.I.A. has not explained
This was the controversial
Heading "Team B" was Dr.
the
same
Then, at 3:98 P.M. on Sunday, Oct. 1. 1. Oct. Sunday, on P.M. 3:98 at Then,
ported publicly for the rest of the week. week. the of rest the for publicly ported
the Coast Guard station on Taylors Is- Is- Taylors on station Guard Coast the
sailed the Brillig back to Solomons Is- Solomons to back Brillig the sailed
cartridge aboard. aboard. cartridge
also found several live cartridges cartridges live several found also land — and he found still another live live another still found he and — land
picked up additional documents. They They documents. additional up picked
there. Later that week, Colonel Wilson Wilson Colonel week, that Later there.
Massachusetts Avenue, where they they where Avenue, Massachusetts
to Paisley's bachelor apartment at 1500 1500 at apartment bachelor Paisley's to
insisted later that they were not classi- not were they that later insisted
Use" — and. with Mrs. Paisley, drove drove Paisley, Mrs. with and. — Use"
documents from the boat — the agency agency the — boat the from documents
fied and marked only "For Internal Internal "For only marked and fied simply missing. missing. simply
struggle. At that point, Paisley was was Paisley point, that At struggle.
were no traces of blood or signs of of signs or blood of traces no were
gun, but it was not on the boat. There There boat. the on not was it but gun,
cartridge on the deck. Paisley was was Paisley deck. the on cartridge
known to have owned a 9-millimeter 9-millimeter a owned have to known
headquarters. The C.I.A. men combed combed men C.I.A. The headquarters.
the Brillig, finding a live 9-millimeter 9-millimeter live a finding Brillig, the
telephoned their first report to C.I.A. C.I.A. to report first their telephoned
cers, Joseph Mirable and Frank Rocco, Rocco, Frank and Mirable Joseph cers,
reached the scene. At 1:50 P.M., they they P.M., 1:50 At scene. the reached
Va. By noon, two C.I.A. security offi- security C.I.A. two noon, By Va. C.I.A. Office of Security at Langley, Langley, at Security of Office C.I.A.
the boat, Mrs. Paisley telephoned the the telephoned Paisley Mrs. boat, the
son and his wife, Barbara, and Philip Philip and Barbara, wife, his and son
the C.I.A. when he retired. After seeing seeing After retired. he when C.I.A. the , body was aboard, and "that there were were there "that and aboard, was body ,
with her daughter, Diane, Colonel Wil- Colonel Diane, daughter, her with
Waggoner, Paisley's replacement In In replacement Paisley's Waggoner,
ryann Paisley arrived at St. Inigoes Inigoes St. at arrived Paisley ryann
on. on. since August, but his new downtown downtown new his but August, since
boat. boat. Va. The Paisleys had been separated separated been had Paisleys The Va. documents, and the radio was turned turned was radio the and documents,
Washington address was not on the the on not was address Washington Paisley's disappearance went unre- went disappearance Paisley's
from personal and business pacers pacers business and personal from
aboard, three pairs of shoes, various various shoes, of pairs three aboard,
aboard, the Coast Guard telephoned telephoned Guard Coast the aboard, St. Inigoes. There were cans of food food of cans were There Inigoes. St.
Mrs. Paisley at her home in McLean, McLean, in home her at Paisley Mrs.
call to the Coast Guard. Guard. Coast the to call
refloated the Brillig and towed her to to her towed and Brillig the refloated
no tracks in the sand, leading to or frcm frcm or to leading sand, the in tracks no
the boat." The ranger then put in the the in put then ranger The boat." the
The C.I.A. officers removed several several removed officers C.I.A. The
At 9 A.M. of Monday, Sept. 25, Ma- 25, Sept. Monday, of A.M. 9 At
Identifying the sloop as Paisley's Paisley's as sloop the Identifying
Shortly afterward, the Coast Guard Guard Coast the afterward, Shortly
records. A A records.
had Paisley's fingerprint sets in their their in sets fingerprint Paisley's had
ibly, neither the C.I.A. nor the F.B.I. F.B.I. the nor C.I.A. the neither ibly, still have been possible since one hand hand one since possible been have still
was relatively unscathed, but, incred- but, unscathed, relatively was
cluding Paisley's scraggly beard, was was beard, scraggly Paisley's cluding
one hand had been eroded. All hair, in- hair, All eroded. been had hand one gone. Fingerprint identification would would identification Fingerprint gone.
recognition, and the top layer of skin on on skin of layer top the and recognition,
that comes to mind is this: How could could How this: is mind to comes that
Paisley's? It was decomposed beyond beyond decomposed was It Paisley's?
Dr. Fisher be sure that the body was was body the that sure be Fisher Dr. out in the name of John Arthur Paisley, Paisley, Arthur John of name the in out
was signed on Oct. 2 by Dr. Russell Russell Dr. by 2 Oct. on signed was
next day; the death certificate, made made certificate, death the day; next
Fisher, the Chief Medical Examiner. Examiner. Medical Chief the Fisher, cal Examiner in Baltimore. The au- The Baltimore. in Examiner cal
spent 30 minutes in a preliminary preliminary a in minutes 30 spent
topsy was apparently performed the the performed apparently was topsy
examination, then had the body dis- body the had then examination,
patched to the office of the State Medi- State the of office the to patched
State Medical Examiner, were await- were Examiner, Medical State
notified by radio. A Maryland state state Maryland A radio. by notified
ing the body's arrival. Dr. Weems Weems Dr. arrival. body's the ing
trooper and Dr. George Weems, Deputy Deputy Weems, George Dr. and trooper
Dock on Solomons Island. Island. Solomons on Dock
from the Solomons Island mooring. A A mooring. Island Solomons the from
Coast Guard utility boat picked up the the up picked boat utility Guard Coast of Patuxent River, just a few miles miles few a just River, Patuxent of
P.M., taking it to the Naval Ordnance Ordnance Naval the to it taking P.M.,
frightfully decomposed body at 5:15 5:15 at body decomposed frightfully
ceived a radio message from the pleas- the from message radio a ceived ure craft Ramada that a body was was body a that Ramada craft ure
floating in the water east of the mouth mouth the of east water the in floating
land, on the bay's Eastern Shore, re- Shore, Eastern bay's the on land,
At this point, the immediate question question immediate the point, this At
The Maryland State Police had been been had Police State Maryland The
none were lifted from Pais- from lifted were none
Washington, D.C. (It is not not is (It D.C. Washington, ley's apartment or office in in office or apartment ley's
best of its knowledge, it added, added, it knowledge, its of best
prints from the boat; to the the to boat; the from prints
by its own admission, had had admission, own its by
made no attempt to lift finger- lift to attempt no made
stance they had been "inad- been had they stance
vertently destroyed" in the bu- the in destroyed" vertently
sent to the F.B.I., in this in- this in F.B.I., the to sent
reau. reau.
agency employees are finger- are employees agency
printed and the impressions impressions the and printed
C.I.A. spokesman explained to to explained spokesman C.I.A. this reporter that while all all while that reporter this
The Maryland State Police, Police, State Maryland The
(Continued (Continued
on Page Page on
56) 56)
zarre form of suicide, if sui- sui- if suicide, of form zarre
head behind his left car, a bi- a car, left his behind head
of Paisley's demise. The bullet bullet The demise. Paisley's of
disposition of the severed severed the of disposition
that killed him entered his his entered him killed that
hands. hands.
essary if the body had been been had body the if essary
positively identified. To date, date, To identified. positively
the F.B.I. has not disclosed the the disclosed not has F.B.I. the Spokesmen for Federal agen- Federal for Spokesmen cies have refused to discuss discuss to refused have cies
procedure, seemingly unnec- seemingly procedure,
the reasons for this unusual unusual this for reasons the not known who had ordered ordered had who known not
hands were first severed (it is is (it severed first were hands
ginia, apparently on Mrs. Mrs. on apparently ginia,
this), and sent to the F.B.I. F.B.I. the to sent and this),
Paisley's instructions. But the the But instructions. Paisley's
funeral home in suburban Vir- suburban in home funeral
signed death certificate until until certificate death signed ley's was cremated a few days days few a cremated was ley's
ance. ance. following the autopsy at a a at autopsy the following
Oct. 20, 18 days after its issu- its after days 18 20, Oct.
O'Grady, an attorney for Mrs. Mrs. for attorney an O'Grady,
porters. porters. Paisley, did not receive the the receive not did Paisley, to discuss his findings with re- with findings his discuss to
mouth. The dentist has refused refused has dentist The mouth.
a dentist who had treated Pais- treated had who dentist a
plate removed from the body's body's the from removed plate
tified as his work an upper upper an work his as tified
ley was reported to have iden- have to reported was ley
apartment, it Is impossible to to impossible Is it apartment, longed to John Arthur Paisley. Paisley. Arthur John to longed
determine whether the "Jack "Jack the whether determine
Paisley" Paisley"
lifted from his boat, office or or office boat, his from lifted
wish to volunteer a set of his his of set a volunteer to wish
"Jack Paisley" was, would would was, Paisley" "Jack
ley's fingerprints were not not were fingerprints ley's
why Paisley, if that's who who that's if Paisley, why
fingerprints. If indeed Pais- indeed If fingerprints.
No reason has been given as to to as given been has reason No
given to the bureau by Paisley Paisley by bureau the to given
which had been voluntarily voluntarily been had which when lie was was lie when
the name of "Jack Paisley." Paisley." "Jack of name the
came up with a set of prints, prints, of set a with up came fingerprints were filed under under filed were fingerprints
lice said, on Oct. 19 the F.B.I. F.B.I. the 19 Oct. on said, lice
the C.I.A. have done so.) How- so.) done have C.I.A. the
ever, the Maryland State Po- State Maryland the ever,
known whether the F.B.I. or or F.B.I. the whether known
Also puzzling are the details details the are puzzling Also
The body identified as Pais- as identified body The
It appears that Terrence Terrence that appears It
Five days after the autopsy, autopsy, the after days Five
(Continued (Continued
fingerprints fingerprints
17 17
years old; the the old; years
on on
Page 60) 60) Page
be- be-
operator with the United Na- United the with operator
headed by Sweden's Count Count Sweden's by headed
Bernadotte, who, shortly shortly who, Bernadotte,
went to Palestine as a radio radio a as Palestine to went
signed up with with up signed tions peacemaking mission, mission, peacemaking tions
sources, it appears that Pais- that appears it sources, some years before he officially officially he before years some
sisted that Paisley never had had never Paisley that sisted
a variety of intelligence intelligence of variety a sions surrounding the C.I.A.'s C.I.A.'s the surrounding sions
characterization of Paisley's Paisley's of characterization
ley's covert activities began began activities covert ley's
links with the clandestine side. side. clandestine the with links
highly covert activities. From From activities. covert highly
headquarters in Langley in- Langley in headquarters
(D.D.O.). Spokesmen at C.I.A. C.I.A. at Spokesmen (D.D.O.). side," as distinct from the the from distinct as side,"
clandestine operators of the the of operators clandestine
Directorate of Operations Operations of Directorate
"black side," the realm of of realm the side," "black
This is the analysis side of the the of side analysis the is This C.I.A., the so-called "white "white so-called the C.I.A.,
which Is part of the Director- the of part Is which ate of Intelligence (D.D.1.). (D.D.1.). Intelligence of ate
post of deputy chief of the Of- the of chief deputy of post
and that he had reached the the reached had he that and
fice of Strategic Research, Research, Strategic of fice
'this an attempt to conceal the the conceal to attempt an 'this
agency from 1953 until his for- his until 1953 from agency
mal retirement in August 1979, 1979, August in retirement mal
were willing to say only that that only say to willing were
gone an "emotional crisis" crisis" "emotional an gone Paisley? C.I.A. spokesmen spokesmen C.I.A. Paisley? Paisley had worked for the the for worked had Paisley
that September weekend. weekend. September that
they say he may have under- have may he say they disappearance said that he he that said disappearance
templating suicide, although although suicide, templating
had given no "clues" of con- of "clues" no given had
whom he saw often before his his before often saw he whom
trist and a woman friend friend woman a and trist
even if there had been a find- a been had there if even
interviews, Paisley's psychia- Paisley's interviews, policies would have been made made been have would policies
ing of suicide. In newspaper newspaper In suicide. of ing family attorneys say that pay- that say attorneys family
fact of suicide? Paisley's Paisley's suicide? of fact
ments on his two insurance insurance two his on ments
body was weighted with diving diving with weighted was body
belts weighing 38 pounds. Was Was pounds. 38 weighing belts
cite it was. Also, Paisley's Paisley's Also, was. it cite
In 1998, at the age of 25, he he 25, of age the at 1998, In
This is one of many impreci- many of one is This
Who, then, was John Arthur Arthur John was then, Who,
the the C.I.A. C.I.A. serving as a consultant on the
Soviet military expenditures, Cy. It was a formidable group, sified materials on the Soviet
was the man who provided the perhaps more access than h
of "Team B." sified information had not designated as the coordinator
questioning by this reporter amine the papers there. and John Arthur Paisley was Military Economic Advisory documents, he brought "Team Union in the possession of him access to the highest clas- cialists advising the C.I.A. on United States intelligence - ments. Sometimes, because of the special sensitivity of the ended with his 1974 retire- B" placed him in an exceed- the C.I.A. had while working full time fo. ingly crucial position. It gave denied, however, that there and at his downtown Washing- but his assignment to "Team were classified "Team B" ma- bers recalled recently, Paisley lic, and acknowledged under to "Team 13," a fact that had team with top-secret docu- B" experts to Langley to ex- not heretofore been made pub- Panel, a group of outside spe- worked for a nationally known that, contrary to earlier asser- tions, Paisley's access to clas- firmed Paisley's assignment
ment.
found aboard Paisley's sloop terials among documents
ton office (since 1977, he had
The C.I.A. spokesman As one of the group's mem.
A C.I.A. spokesman has con-
Paisley had already been
,
This is in conflict with re- ants) and his apartment after his disappearance.
firm of public account-
ports from reliable intel-
sources. According to
ligence - community
1977 on the conclusions on the "Team B" exer-
them, Paisley had still
been working on a report
cise. The report sup-
to the press in January something of a Washing-
posedly concerned leaks
reached by "Team B,"
since the leaked version
outside panel took a much
ton scandal at the time,
Soviet strategic potential purported to show that the
more serious view of the
than the C.I.A. Again, with this material In Sep- there is no explanation as to what Paisley was doing
sloop was equipped with a
"burst transceiver," a
sources say that Paisley's
signals a minute on a
tember 1978.
mystery. of thousands of words or
radio device designed to
secret communication,
transmit and receive tens
preset frequency. Burst
C.I.A. and the National fect, scramblers for top- transceivers are, in ef-
normally used by the Security Agency, which is
ceive and decode, through
in charge of classified in- Government. They can re-
telligence communica- tions for the United States
lance satellites. tape transcripts, trans- missions from surveil-
But there is still another
Intelligence
supplied by the National
er, along with other com- Security Agency.) It ap- commercially. (One can- ever, are not available sloop by Mrs. Paisley and
munications gear, has
that the equipment was not rule out the possibility equipment had been
Burst transceivers, how-
equipment remains un- pears that the transceiv- been removed from the cated" radio equipment, taken to her home. The
claimed.
issued by the agency.
have denied that the sion, C.I.A. consulting
Brillig carried "sophisti- over $50,000 annually, mitting that the sloop
wholly ruled out, motiva- happen to Paisley on the night of Sept. 23? Al-
children. was close to his two grown
health, and his family at- from his Government pen-
fees and his accountancy though suicide cannot be gence? tional clues are missing.
making efforts to mend faced financial problems. Paisley was in good their marriage. Paisley did Paisley attempt to lie had an income well torneys firmly deny he
diver's belts? Could Pais- promised by Soviet intelli- cause he had been com-
ley have killed himself be-
job. He and his wife were
the body by wearing the
prevent the discovery of
C.I.A. spokesmen, ad-
What, then, actually did
If suicide it was, why
some speculation that if
were there live shells on
pulled the trigger and why
say that Paisley's pro- Some intelligence experts and moved him to another
the boat? There has been whoever killed him cap- craft tured him on the Brillig,
Paisley was murdered, C.I.A.'s methods of ac-
found knowledge of the quiring and evaluating se-
cret data on Soviet nu- clear forces could make
stances. Numerous inter-
the K.G.B. But agency him an inviting target for
each other's operatives - except under the most ex- unwritten code of behav- people doubt this. It is an
suggestions as to why the ior that the C.I.A. and the K.G.B. do not murder
gence community offer no traordinary
ested in Paisley's death. views within the intelli-
question: Was it Paisley's
ing in Chesapeake Bay?
body that was found float-
K.G.B. would
gence wars that are invis- John Arthur Paisley. know, and we may never know, what happened to
have been the latest casu-
alty of the great intelli-
in some sense he may However he met his fate,
ibly waged around us. NI
If it was not suicide, who
There is, finally, this
In the end we do not
-
for the execution.
be
circum-
inter- The day Paisley (above). a 55-year-olci C.I.A. analyst, disappeared, he went sailing on his stoop, which carried radio equipment designed for top-secret transmissions.