An Affair of State: the Profumo Case And

Home , Christine Keeler, Johnny Edgecombe, John Profumo, Michael Eddowes, Profumo affair, Stephen Ward

PHILBY THE SPY WHO BETRAYED A GENERATION GENERATION A BETRAYED WHO SPY THE PHILBY

THE SECRET LIVES OF LAWRENCE OF ARABIA ARABIA OF LAWRENCE OF LIVES SECRET THE

THE SECOND OLDEST PROFESSION PROFESSION OLDEST SECOND THE

the War Correspondent as Hero, Hero, as Correspondent War the

The Spy as Bureaucrat, Patriot, Patriot, Bureaucrat, as Spy The

Propagandist and Myth-maker Myth-maker and Propagandist

From the Crimea to Vietnam, Vietnam, to Crimea the From

The Story of Thalidomide Thalidomide of Story The

SUFFER THE CHILDREN CHILDREN THE SUFFER

THE DEATH OF VENICE VENICE OF DEATH THE

Also by Phillip Knightley Knightley Phillip by Also

THE FIRST CASUALTY CASUALTY FIRST THE

THE VESTEY AFFAIR AFFAIR VESTEY THE

Fantasist and Whore Whore and Fantasist

(co-author) (co-author)

AN AFFAIR AFFAIR AN

FRAMING

THIRTY-TWO BEDFORD SQUARE SQUARE BEDFORD THIRTY-TWO

OF STATE STATE OF

Caroline Kennedy Kennedy Caroline

Phillip Knightley Knightley Phillip

THE PROFUMO CASE CASE PROFUMO THE

JONATHAN CAPE CAPE JONATHAN

- -

OF STEPHEN WARD WARD STEPHEN OF

AND THE THE AND

LONDON LONDON and and For Elisar, Mayumi, Jasmine, Aliya, Marisa and Kim -

Jonathan Cape Ltd, 32 Bedford Square, London acts

3. Great Britain—Politics and government-194

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

An affair of state: the Profumo case and

1. Profumo, John D. a. Ward, Stephen

941.081'6'0924

the framing of Stephen Ward

Printed in Great Britain by

Title H. Kennedy, Caroline

and for Stephen Ward

Mackays of Chatham Ltd

ISBN

First published 1987

Knightley, Phillip

0-274-02347-0

DA591.P7

JEL

13 Astor's Summer Swimming Party 14 Playing International Politics to The Artist and the Royals 15 Wigg Seeks Revenge

18 Cooling the Cuban Missile Crisis 16 The FBI and the London Call Girl

19 Problems with Profumo

20 A Knife Fight in Soho 21 A Shooting in Marylebone

zz Ward Stops the Presses

23 The Police Show Interest

24 25 The Boil is Lanced

26 The Move to Silence Ward 27

4 A 2

3 Ward Cracks the Social Scene

6 The Waif and the Crooked Businessman

8 The Promiscuous Showgirl

5 A Rising Star in the Tory Party 9 Living Together 7

I Enter Ivanov, Soviet Spy

Scandal in High Places The Crusading Osteopath

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Delightful Days at Cliveden

Mandy and Christine Run Riot

The New York Caper

The Scandal Begins to Break

Cooking a Case

Magnet for Girls

CONTENTS

1os 113

117

Too

121

129 1

138

161 33

1 46

168 37

61 67 53

9 8 93

44 4

publishing publishing

of Profumo's letters to Christine Keeler — and had considered considered had and — Keeler Christine to letters Profumo's of

Since it was widely known at that time that Fleet Street had seen one one seen had Street Fleet that time that at known widely was it Since

statement would have totally lacked conviction — 'There was no no was 'There — conviction lacked totally have would statement

impropriety whatsoever in my acquaintanceship with Miss Keeler.' Keeler.' Miss with acquaintanceship my in whatsoever impropriety

and Profumo is going alone to Ward's flat where he meets Miss Miss meets he where flat Ward's to alone going is Profumo and

terms'. But, and here there had to be a direct lie, otherwise the the otherwise lie, direct a be to had there here and But, terms'.

Keeler on about 'half a dozen occasions'. They are on 'friendly 'friendly on are They occasions'. dozen a 'half about on Keeler

couple. Yet in the very next sentence, Mrs Profumo has vanished, vanished, has Profumo Mrs sentence, next very the in Yet couple.

Ward' suggested that if the Profumos visited Ward it would be as a a as be would it Ward visited Profumos the if that suggested Ward'

meeting. Again, 'My wife and I had a standing invitation to visit Dr Dr visit to invitation standing a had I and wife 'My Again, meeting. party' — although strictly true, hardly accurately reflects the actual actual the reflects accurately hardly true, strictly although — party'

disarming phrase 'my wife and and wife 'my phrase disarming

drafting the statement realised that their case was weak. The The weak. was case their that realised statement the drafting

With hindsight it is easy to see where the legal minds occupied in in occupied minds legal the where see to easy is it hindsight With

shall not hesitate to issue writs for libel and slander if scandalous scandalous if slander and libel for writs issue to hesitate not shall

56 56

allegations are made or repeated outside the House. House. the outside repeated or made are allegations

because of what was said in the House last evening by the three three the by evening last House the in said was what of because

with Miss Keeler. Mr Speaker, I have made this personal statement statement personal this made have I Speaker, Mr Keeler. Miss with hon. Members, and which, of course, was protected by privilege. I I privilege. by protected was course, of which, and Members, hon.

standing invitation to visit Dr visit to invitation standing

called to see him and his friends. Miss Keeler and I were on friendly friendly on were I and Keeler Miss friends. his and him see to called

terms. There was no impropriety whatsoever in my acquaintanceship acquaintanceship my in whatsoever impropriety no was There terms.

1961 1961

for Major Gagarin at the Soviet Embassy. My wife and I had a a had I and wife My Embassy. Soviet the at Gagarin Major for

wife or or wife attaché at the Russian Embassy. The only other occasion that my my that occasion other only The Embassy. Russian the at attaché

whom we already knew slightly, and a Mr Ivanov, who was was who Ivanov, Mr a and slightly, knew already we whom

Cliveden. Among a number of people there was Dr Stephen Ward, Ward, Stephen Dr was there people of number a Among Cliveden.

and I first met met first I and

any way connected with or responsible for her absence from the the from absence her for responsible or with connected way any

since. I have no idea where she is now. Any suggestion that I was in in was I that suggestion Any now. is she where idea no have I since. trial at the Old Bailey is wholly and completely untrue. My wife wife My untrue. completely and wholly is Bailey Old the at trial

opportunity of making a personal statement about these matters. I I matters. these about statement personal a making of opportunity

last saw saw last

about the disappearance of Miss Keeler. Keeler. Miss of disappearance the about

disappearance of a witness and the perversion of justice. justice. of perversion the and witness a of disappearance

have been responsible for concealing information concerning the the concerning information concealing for responsible been have

Criminal Court. It was alleged that people in high places might might places high in people that alleged was It Court. Criminal

Minister with a Miss Keeler and a recent trial at the Central Central the at trial recent a and Keeler Miss a with Minister

Blackburn [Mrs Castle], opposite, spoke of the rumours connecting connecting rumours the of spoke opposite, Castle], [Mrs Blackburn

I understand that my name has been connected with the rumours rumours the with connected been has name my that understand I

I I

met Miss Keeler on about half a dozen occasions when I I when occasions dozen a half about on Keeler Miss met

I I

it; it;

met Mr Ivanov was for a moment at the official reception reception official the at moment a for was Ivanov Mr met

Miss Miss

something a newspaper would not do unless it it unless do not would newspaper a something

Keeler in December 1961, and I have not seen her her seen not have I and 1961, December in Keeler

Miss Miss

AN AFFAIR OF STATE STATE OF AFFAIR AN

Keeler at a house party in July 1961 at at 1961 July in party house a at Keeler

. .

I I

Ward. Between July and December December and July Between Ward.

first met Miss Keeler at a house house a at Keeler Miss met first

I I

would like to take this this take to like would

an an

a a

clear clear

Wells the fully story, including Christine's dealings with the the with dealings Christine's including story, fully the Wells

newspapers and the letter from Profumo she had kept which made made which kept had she Profumo from letter the and newspapers

where, where,

me, the ambassador's secretary Alfred Wells, and Billy Hitchcock. Hitchcock. Billy and Wells, Alfred secretary ambassador's the me, what was going on and to let him know as quickly as possible. I I possible. as quickly as know him let to and on going was what

American who had taken Mandy Rice-Davies to Paris three months months three Paris to Rice-Davies Mandy taken had who American telephoned Ward from Bruce's office and arranged a lunch — Ward, Ward, — lunch a arranged and office Bruce's from Ward telephoned earlier. Corbally recalls, 'Ambassador Bruce asked me to find out out find to me asked Bruce 'Ambassador recalls, Corbally earlier.

suspect that his own advisers were not telling him the truth about the the about truth the him telling not were advisers own his that suspect Billy Mellon Hitchock, the cousin of Center Hitchcock, the the Hitchcock, Center of cousin the Hitchock, Mellon Billy discreet inquiries to to inquiries discreet

were trying to cover up to avoid a scandal. So at one of his lunches lunches his of one at So scandal. a avoid to up cover to trying were was a friend of Ward. Bruce knew of this friendship from his nephew, nephew, his from friendship this of knew Bruce Ward. of friend a was affair, either because they were involved in it themselves, or they they or themselves, it in involved were they because either affair,

with Bruce, the Prime Minister asked the ambassador to make make to ambassador the asked Minister Prime the Bruce, with

and Keeler since November the previous year. He had begun to to begun had He year. previous the November since Keeler and

Bucks Club. Macmillan had been hearing rumours about Profumo Profumo about rumours hearing been had Macmillan Club. Bucks

shoulder, a public gesture of warmth and confidence. Yet we have have we Yet confidence. and warmth of gesture public a shoulder,

David Bruce, a great Anglophile, with whom he lunched regularly at at regularly lunched he whom with Anglophile, great a Bruce, David

was lying. lying. was

discovered that Macmillan had every reason to believe that Profumo Profumo that believe to reason every had Macmillan that discovered Profumo had finished speaking Macmillan clapped him on the the on him clapped Macmillan speaking finished had Profumo

alongside Profumo on the Government front bench, and when when and bench, front Government the on Profumo alongside

with Christine Keeler would have believed him for an instant. instant. an for him believed have would Keeler Christine with beleaguered Member. The Prime Minister gave his support by sitting sitting by support his gave Minister Prime The Member. beleaguered

who heard Profumo's denial of any impropriety in his relationship relationship his in impropriety any of denial Profumo's heard who

of Commons had known about the outings, the gifts, the letters and and letters the gifts, the outings, the about known had Commons of Take her out? Give her any gifts? Write her any letters? If the House House the If letters? any her Write gifts? any her Give out? her Take

occasions he saw Christine Keeler at Ward's flat? Exactly how how Exactly flat? Ward's at Keeler Christine saw he occasions

friendly was he with Keeler? For example, did he ever see her alone? alone? her see ever he did example, For Keeler? with he was friendly the use of the endearment, 'Darling', it is inconceivable that anyone anyone that inconceivable is it 'Darling', endearment, the of use the

cannot be debated or challenged because the honour, truth and and truth honour, the because challenged or debated be cannot

u integrity of the Member making the statement is accepted absolutely. absolutely. accepted is statement the making Member the of integrity

Yet what Profumo had to say reeked of omission, inconsistency and and inconsistency omission, of reeked say to had Profumo what Yet

foolhardy foolhardy

nanswered questions. Why did his wife not accompany him on the the on him accompany not wife his did Why questions. nanswered

'The lunch was held upstairs at Simpson's in Piccadilly in a booth booth a in Piccadilly in Simpson's at upstairs held was lunch 'The

Bruce went to Thomas Corbally, the American businessman who who businessman American the Corbally, Thomas to went Bruce

One of Macmillan's closest American friends was the ambassador, ambassador, the was friends American closest Macmillan's of One

But the convention was observed. The establishment backed its its backed establishment The observed. was convention the But

ggested ggested

B B

lyacr lyacr

her relationship with him.' him.' with relationship her

convention convention

we hoped, none of us would be recognised. There Ward told told Ward There recognised. be would us of none hoped, we

a close relationship — this denial of any impropriety seems seems impropriety any of denial this — relationship close a

a a

n n

best. best.

n a a n

see see

personal statement to the House of Commons Commons of House the to statement personal

THE BOIL IS LANCED LANCED IS BOIL THE

what he could discover. discover. could he what

157 157 15

Grosvenor Square, Corbally filled in the details while Wells made a some new information. They insisted that Macmillan- had been (and Mandy) to Astor's swimming party — but the thrust of their said, for instance that it was Profumo who had taken Christine Keeler note of them. The substance of this note is now in the FBI files in account was correct: Profumo had definitely had an affair with

Washington. The FBI got some of Corbally's details wrong — they Christine; Ivanov may have done so. And the FBI version added of trouble.) So Macmillan, with every reason to believe that Profumo informed of the scandal the day before by 'a British newspaper' and dangers of publishing anything until the trial of Johnny Edgecombe information to Macmillan. (Foolishly, Bruce failed to tell as well his that an official letter had been sent to this newspaper warning it of the employers, the State Department, and this was later to cause him a lot was over.

All this was reflected in the newspapers the following day. Most was lying over the main point in his statement, must have had some

Sandown Park races with his wife and the Queen Mother and in the had got away with it; Labour's attack had been routed. `The atmosphere in the House was icy,' Crossman wrote in his diary. `We uneasy moments as Profumo read his way through it. But the reaction from the Government benches quickly reassured him — they Minister of the Crown having to get up to explain his acquaintance the Hatch End Conservative Party. He received a rousing reception. evening he appeared at Quaglino's for a fund-raising dance given by were extremely isolated ... We had made ourselves unpopular.' Wigg with a a x -.year-old girl is, to say the least, unedifying.') When the Daily Sketch was furious; Profumo had beaten him again. 'I left with black rage in reported Profumo's statement in full and with sympathy. (But the Spain for Christine Keeler and they finally found her in Madrid on

European press — my heart because I knew what the facts were. I knew the truth . . . I had been trussed up and done again.'

damages of E5o which he gave to an army charity. turned instead to the other players. Reporters had been scouring continued to be linked with Christine Keeler, Profumo sued. to follow Fleet Street's lead and instead said that Profumo's name

Match

Wells passed his note to Bruce. Bruce in turn passed the

Profumo gloated over his victory. That afternoon he went to

Robbed of Profumo as the main target for their stories, the Press

published a retraction and.

January, in Wells's office in the American Embassy i

called Profumo 'lucky' and said that 'the spectacle of a

Paris Match

AN AFFAIR OF STATE

in France and

ll Tempo

paid Profumo's costs and

Il Tempo in Italy —

failed

Paris

n 25

This was for a statement about Profumo, and photographs which

showed her as a sex goddess. The statement was short and false: 'What Mr Profumo said is quite correct. I have not been in his was to get £2,000 immediately, of which a quarter would go to Mann. company since 196 The March. Mann quickly did a deal for her with the

Christine repeated her line on Profumo. 'Certainly both he and his

wife were friends of mine. But it was a friendship no one can criticise.' Ward supported her. Interviewed on television he said, 'I

was there when the meetings took place, and there is absolutely denials, the one point Fleet Street failed to probe was: who was nothing of a sinister nature to these occasions.' In this welter of

could be, that she just decided on the spur of the moment to run away from all the fuss and the pressures around her. It is also possible that seeing that she was out of the country. As her manager, Mann would she behind Christine's disappearance?

expect to see publicity and money in her disappearance. Wigg and security risk of her association with Profumo. Astor or Ward could

have been trying a desperate exercise in damage limitation. Lewis might have wanted to exploit her absence to highlight the

and it would appear that all Christine got out of the trip was her £2,000 contract with the reasoned that whoever wanted Christine out of the way would have had to pay for it. True, the trio did not have much money in Spain

followed up this line. When he asked about Mann's bank account payment to, say, Mann, for organising the disappearance. Denning contained any money given to him for organising Keeler's disappear- Mann said he had a couple of safe deposit boxes that were not in his

name and were 'entirely secret'. But he strongly denied that they

ance or, indeed, that he had received any such sums. Astor and could find nothing to indicate that they had made

payments to anyone to further Christine Keeler's disappearance. seen, Ward first suggested the idea that Christine should go away as Both denied making any such payments. But what little evidence

desire to save themselves — and Profumo — from a scandal. As we have there is points to a joint effort by Ward and Astor, motivated by a seen to be involved in such a scheme.

early as February. His solicitor warned him of the dangers of being

The following Sunday, in an interview with the

It is possible, knowing how impulsive and irresponsible Christine

Lord Denning went to some lengths to find an answer. He

Next, Denning checked the bank accounts of Profumo and Lord

was manipulated by one or more of those with an interest in

THE BOIL IS LANCED

Daily Express.

Express

then flew her back to London.

But that does not rule out a

News of the World,

Daily Express.

She

59 196 API nrrnan C1 r uin .c Even George Wigg, who must have still been savouring his victory over Profumo, conceded in an unremarkable speech that he could not hope to emulate Birch's graceful oratory. The vote was, of course, a foregone conclusion — in that the Government would win; no one expected the Conservatives to commit suicide. But every member 311 Save John F. Kennedy who abstained from voting for the Government was, in effect, casting a vote against Macmillan's leadership. The Whips had done their figures; 20 abstentions would be bearable; any more would be alarming. There were 27. The Government majority was down to 69 and anything under 7o was considered a threat to the leadership. There would have to be changes. The Daily Telegraph, the most One of Ward's close friends was Thomas Corbally, the American Conservative of papers, headlined the debate Premier likely to resign businessman who had told the US ambassador, David Bruce, about soon'. The Daily Mail said, `Mac: the end'. The Daily Mirror's view the Profumo affair. They first met at a party. Corbally was in pain was, 'His future, short of a miracle, will be brief.' from an old knee injury and Ward, noticing this, treated him on the Macmillan, who had looked drawn and dejected throughout the spot. After that they met frequently. 'Ward was a lovely, decent kind debate, confided to a friend, 'My spirit has not broken but my zest has human-being,' Corbally recalls. 'He was a fine artist and a brilliant gone.' But he survived. Two factors helped him. He did a deal with osteopath. He was the most unmaterialistic person I've ever met. some of the more senior Conservatives. He would go, but not yet. It There was a period when he was at my flat twice a day to treat me and was in the party's interest that he should not be seen to have been there was no way I could get him to accept any money at all from me. forced out of office by the Profumo scandal. He would lead the party He would accept dinner. He liked going to the Mirabelle and some into the next election and after victory, bow out. Macmillan took the other places. And sometimes there he would say, "Tom, can you cash opportunity of a television interview with Independent Television a cheque for me for five pounds?", and I'd say, "Stephen, I haven't News to hint at this decision. 'All being well,' he said, 'if I keep my got five pounds. Let me give you fifty, I owe you at least that by health and strength, I hope to lead the party into the election.' now." No way. All he would want was five pounds. It gave him a Interpreters of political nuances got the message — Macmillan would thrill to live on the brink of financial disaster.' resign after the election pleading health reasons, which is exactly what Corbally remembers that all Ward could talk about at this time was happened. the Profumo affair. 'If only Stephen had kept his mouth shut, The other event which gained Macmillan a reprieve was a 24-hour Profumo would never have been disgraced. But Stephen talked about visit to Britain by the President of the United States, John F. it and talked about it. At every dinner party he went to and Kennedy. The two leaders were photographed together, and the Press everywhere else. There was no way to shut Stephen up. And he was announced a tactical victory for Macmillan in persuading the greatly amused by it AL It was typical of him. He loved being the President that NATO should not have a mixed-manned nuclear centre of attention, loved being the one to come out with all the latest surface fleet because this would mean the Germans getting near gossip. He loved telling stories and taking the establishment apart.' atomic weapons for the first time. Macmillan was seen as a statesman Corbally's close relationship with Ward had made him the ideal of international stature, on terms of amiability and equality with the man to gather information for Bruce. But Bruce's mistake was to pass American President. What the British public did not know was that the information to Macmillan and neglect Washington. Perhaps he the Profumo scandal had created almost as big a stir in the United was worried that he and his staff might be dragged into the scandal. States as in Britain. But all the American investigations into the affair There certainly had been a connection. The US naval attaché in had been conducted in deep secrecy — because they concerned the London, Admiral It. B. Lynch, had met Ivanov frequently on the President himself. diplomatic party circuit, and when Ivanov had suddenly left London amid rumours that he had been an intelligence officer, Lynch had told many people, 'If he was a spy he certainly fooled me.' The assistant naval attaché, Captain Thomas W. Murphy, had been even friendlier 198

Soviet defector who had agreed to remain in place as an employee of

was already deeply interested in the Profumo affair and had even been with Ivanov and there were photographs of Ivanov in a warm embrace with Mrs Murphy at a party, about to kiss her on the lips.

in touch with the President over it. This was j. Edgar Hoover, head of controversy. Hardly an intelligence event in the Western world took contacted the FBI, revealed that he was a KGB officer under either Victor Lessiovski, a short, plump Russian who worked for the diplomatic cover, and offered to work for the United States. the FBI. From the summer of 1962 the FBI had been listening to a UN Secretary General, or a lowly press attache at the Soviet he passed them direct to the White House. They played a role in the the United Nations. Codenamed 'Fedora', this would have been One reason for this was that Fedora confirmed Hoover's worst the next twenty years Fedora's reports so intrigued Hoover that often Kennedy assassination investigation and the 'Pentagon Papers' place in this period without Hoover seeking Fedora's views on it. cover, it provided an easy source of information for Communist call As well as housing dozens of Communist spies under diplomatic prejudice about the UN. It was, Fedora said, a hotbed of espionage. Embassy. 'Fedora' had been in New York only a short while when he

among their customers. girl rings who numbered many diplomats, especially black ones,

sex, espionage and degenerate 'non-Caucasians' was something that

indicated that call girl rings did indeed operate in the vicinity of the UN — it would be surprising if they did not — and the link between

Intelligence's division of duties and strict application of the 'need-to- had long intrigued him. It was almost an automatic reaction therefore, to consult Fedora when the first whispers of another call girl ring to collect valuable Western secrets by taping pillow talk disappoint him. He said that yes, he had heard of the scandal in know' principle, it is much more likely that Fedora had heard of the Fedora claimed to have heard of Ivanov's success. Given the Soviet political sex scandal in Britain reached Hoover. Fedora did not between the girls and their highly-placed political clients. Fedora London. Ivanov, a competent GRU officer, had been using a British

knew all this, he said, because Ivanov had boasted about his success, had later told Fedora. when on leave in Moscow, to a fellow GRU officer and this officer

Unknown to Bruce, someone in the United States Government

Hoover personally assessed Fedora before accepting him and for

Hoover was greatly titillated by this because cursory investigation

All this sounds like a spy fairy tale, especially the route by which

AN AFFAIR OF STATE

espionage details to intrigue Hoover. But why would Fedora fake a Profumo scandal from gossip at the United Nations and added the

report to the FBI?

and dissension in the West, to encourage Western security services to

reason: he was a KGB plant, a fake defector sent to sow disinformation information to please their employers. But Fedora had an even better

waste energy chasing phantom spies while the real ones worked

unimpeded. At the time Fedora was reporting to Hoover no one in the FBI or the CIA knew this — although some suspected it. It was

only in 1981, when Fedora's tour of duty in the United States ended, ended and with him about to be recalled to the Soviet Union, the FBI

a genuine defector. For, with his usefulness as a defector-in-place fully expected Fedora to seek asylum in the United States as any true defector would. Instead Fedora went home to Moscow. that the FBI became convinced that he was a KGB plant and not secretly controlled by the KGB and made up from girls of many

a Soviet conspiracy of international proportions. A call girl ring,

nations, was operating in the major cities of the Western world. The pet Russian. Under Fedora's influence Hoover developed a theory of

— politicians, servicemen, public servants — who used the girls and

aim. The first was to gather intelligence from men in important posts

ring was run by local Communists or fellow travellers. It had a dual who could be encouraged to be indiscreet. The second was to create scandals involving Western leaders so as to destroy public confidence

in those leaders. horrified fascination. All his worst fears about a KGB-controlled

international call girl and blackmail ring were being realised. The

Hoover sent off an urgent radiogram to the main American stations head of London FBI, Charles W. Bates, was placed on full alert and

is now declassified because it shows both how the conspiracy came this document remains secret even today but it is worth quoting what giving them his version of the background to the scandal. Some of

together in Hoover's mind and the extent to which he believed the rot had gone.

It is not unusual for genuine defectors to exaggerate or even invent

For Hoover in

So Hoover had watched the Profumo scandal develop with

For information. John Profumo was British Minister of War until

Christine Keeler. Stephen Ward, London osteopath, has been his recent resignation following disclosure of his relations with

arrested in London charged with living on the earnings of Keeler and Marilyn Rice-Davies, prostitutes. Ward's operations reportedly

1962,

SAVE JOHN F.

this was all in the future and Fedora was his

KENNEDY

1YY

January 29 that Keeler and Margaret Davis Davis Margaret and Keeler that 29 January

ment of State, Washington, and not known this office.' Bates Bates office.' this known not and Washington, State, of ment

must have realised how his boss would interpret this because because this interpret would boss his how realised have must

Sunday paper listing men with whom they had spent the night. One One night. the spent had they whom with men listing paper Sunday

Grosvenor Square. 'Thomas Corbally told the ambassador's office on on office ambassador's the told Corbally 'Thomas Square. Grosvenor on January 28. Then came the sentence that excited Hoover: Hoover: excited that sentence the came Then 28. January on

was Profumo and another was a Russian naval officer.' Bates's Bates's officer.' naval Russian a was another and Profumo was

investigations Bates had been able to carry out at the U.S. Embassy in in Embassy U.S. the at out carry to able been had Bates investigations

`Info received by Embassy from Corbally was not furnished Depart- furnished not was Corbally from Embassy by received `Info

message confirmed that the Prime Minister was advised of this this of advised was Minister Prime the that confirmed message

allege that the Macmillan Government may fall as a result of it.' Then Then it.' of result a as fall may Government Macmillan the that allege Bates sent a long 'very urgent' message in code. This set out what what out set This code. in message urgent' 'very long a sent Bates

and that the scandal was having widespread ramifications. 'Some 'Some ramifications. widespread having was scandal the that and

had met Ivanov a number of times on the diplomatic cocktail circuit, circuit, cocktail diplomatic the on times of number a Ivanov met had

he had badly underestimated the extent of the conspiracy. First, Bates Bates First, conspiracy. the of extent the underestimated badly had he

revealed that Admiral R. R. Admiral that revealed

200 200

occurred: it' was here that Profumo first met Keeler; Douglas Douglas Keeler; met first Profumo that here was it' occurred:

Towers was a Soviet agent and that Soviets wanted information for for information wanted Soviets that and agent Soviet a was Towers

and many others also involved. involved. also others many and

Fairbanks, Jnr, movie actor; Earl Felton, American screen writer; writer; screen American Felton, Earl actor; movie Jnr, Fairbanks,

purposes of compromise of prominent individuals; Lord Astor of of Astor Lord individuals; prominent of compromise of purposes England England permanently residing behind Iron Curtain. Novotny alleges alleges Novotny Curtain. Iron behind residing permanently

for two years prior to his arrest in above white slave case. He He case. slave white above in arrest his to prior years two for

participated in orgies at Ward residence. Alan Towers was in NYC NYC in was Towers Alan residence. Ward at orgies in participated jumped bail and is now now is and bail jumped

three, one nine six one, and was victim in white slave case case slave white in victim was and one, six nine one three, involving her procurer, Alan Towers. She fled to England and has has and England to fled She Towers. Alan procurer, her involving

who operated in NYC [New York City], was arrested on March March on arrested was City], York [New NYC in operated who

held is husband of Maria Novotny; Maria Novotny is prostitute prostitute is Novotny Maria Novotny; Maria of husband is held

Horace Dibben, British citizen, in whose residence sex orgies were were orgies sex residence whose in citizen, British Dibben, Horace

U.S. representing her interests re sale of her story to publications; publications; to story her of sale re interests her representing U.S.

Early reports from Bates must have made Hoover wonder whether whether wonder Hoover made have must Bates from reports Early Michael Michael

business in Britain, who reportedly gave wild parties in his flat; flat; his in parties wild gave reportedly who Britain, in business from Profumo; Thomas J. Corbally, U.S. citizen engaged in in engaged citizen U.S. Corbally, J. Thomas Profumo; from

Keeler and who reportedly requested Keeler to obtain information information obtain to Keeler requested reportedly who and Keeler

Ivanov, former Soviet Naval Attaché, London, who patronised patronised who London, Attaché, Naval Soviet former Ivanov,

Ministers of British Cabinet not yet identified. Other individuals individuals Other identified. yet not Cabinet British of Ministers involved include Yevgeny Ivanov, aka [also known as] Eugene Eugene as] known [also aka Ivanov, Yevgeny include involved

prominent people in the U.S. and England including other other including England and U.S. the in people prominent

part of a large vice ring involving many people including many many including people many involving ring vice large a of part

H. H.

[sic] [sic]

B. Eddowes, British attorney for Keeler, now in the the in now Keeler, for attorney British Eddowes, B.

on whose Cliveden Estate sex orgies reportedly reportedly orgies sex Estate Cliveden whose on

AN AFFAIR OF STATE STATE OF AFFAIR AN

B. B.

a a

Lynch, the U.S. naval attaché in London, London, in attaché naval U.S. the Lynch,

bureau fugitive. He is reportedly now now reportedly is He fugitive. bureau

[sic] [sic]

had sold article to a a to article sold had

a report on the result of the mission. Hoover cunningly replied that that replied cunningly Hoover mission. the of result the on report a for Burden's arrival. arrival. Burden's for

report. But Hoover immediately alerted Bates in London to watch watch to London in Bates alerted immediately Hoover But report.

the State Department to decide to whom to distribute Burdett's Burdett's distribute to whom to decide to Department State the

the FBI was not investigating the matter in London and it was up to to up was it and London in matter the investigating not was FBI the

assistant secretary for European Affairs as the emissary. The State State The emissary. the as Affairs European for secretary assistant Department duly notified the FBI of Burdett's mission and asked, 'in 'in asked, and mission Burdett's of FBI the notified duly Department

view of the delicacy of the embassy in this matter,' if the FBI wanted wanted FBI the if matter,' this in embassy the of delicacy the of view

State Department files to substantiate that there were such meetings meetings such were there that substantiate to files Department State would probably appoint a personal emissary to take this up with the the with up this take to emissary personal a appoint probably would

at the London Embassy, but that this, of course, did not mean that that mean not did course, of this, that but Embassy, London the at

Ambassador in London.' London.' in Ambassador

the meetings did not take place. Swank said that Secretary Rusk Rusk Secretary that said Swank place. take not did meetings the

advise that Secretary Rusk had asked him to check into the report that that report the into check to him asked had Rusk Secretary that advise

was Secretary [Dean] Rusk's special assistant, called at 9.3o a.m. to to a.m. 9.3o at called assistant, special Rusk's [Dean] Secretary was

there were some contacts with the Embassy in London with regard to to regard with London in Embassy the with contacts some were there

the Profumo/Keeler matter. Swank said that there is nothing in the the in nothing is there that said Swank matter. Profumo/Keeler the

learned of Hoover's moves. The last thing it wanted was the FBI FBI the was wanted it thing last The moves. Hoover's of learned

investigating the London Embassy. It moved quickly to protect its its protect to quickly moved It Embassy. London the investigating

rights. On On rights.

extremely interested in the Keeler case and has asked to be kept kept be to asked has and case Keeler the in interested extremely

promptly informed of all developments.' developments.' all of informed promptly

has informed us that Defense Secretary [Robert] McNamara is is McNamara [Robert] Secretary Defense that us informed has Bureau agent and present head of the Defense Intelligence Agency Agency Intelligence Defense the of head present and agent Bureau

now had the backing of powerful people for his investigations, as an an as investigations, his for people powerful of backing the had now was trying to find out why. In one way the inquiries helped him. He He him. helped inquiries the way one In why. out find to trying was FBI internal memorandum indicates: 'General Joseph Carroll, former former Carroll, Joseph 'General indicates: memorandum internal FBI

departments asking what the FBI knew and Hoover was forced to to forced was Hoover and knew FBI the what asking departments diplomats or politicians may have been compromised.' compromised.' been have may politicians or diplomats

reveal that the FBI had not received any such information and that he he that and information such any received not had FBI the that reveal

of the scandal and appeared to have kept it to himself. Could Bruce be be Bruce Could himself. to it kept have to appeared and scandal the of

forced him to go public. The report said, wrongly, that 'information 'information that wrongly, said, report The public. go to him forced

one of the prominent Americans whom Hoover believed were were believed Hoover whom Americans prominent the of one

Sullivan to look into the Embassy's handling of the matter. As As matter. the of handling Embassy's the into look to Sullivan had been forwarded to the FBI on the possibility that American American that possibility the on FBI the to forwarded been had

involved in the international vice ring? Hoover would probably have have probably would Hoover ring? vice international the in involved

kept these investigations secret, but a report in the the in report a but secret, investigations these kept

Hoover saw it, the ambassador, David Bruce, had advance knowledge knowledge advance had Bruce, David ambassador, the it, saw Hoover

he concluded with : 'Recommend extreme care in handling this.' this.' handling in care extreme 'Recommend : with concluded he

Two hours later Rusk appointed William C. Burdett, deputy deputy Burdett, C. William appointed Rusk later hours Two

Washington being the town that it is, the State Department quickly quickly Department State the is, it that town the being Washington

This brought a flush of inquiries from other U.S. Government Government U.S. other from inquiries of flush a brought This

Hoover immediately deputed one of his senior officers, William C. C. William officers, senior his of one deputed immediately Hoover

as as

June, the FBI recorded: `Mr Emory Swank who said he he said who Swank Emory `Mr recorded: FBI the June,

SAVE JOHN F. KENNEDY KENNEDY F. JOHN SAVE

New York Post Post York New 20I 20I Journal-American.

Sunday, t6 June when an article by Michael Eddowes appeared in

during the Cuban missile crisis. Eddowes described Ivanov as highly him a personal letter summarising the case and highlighting the Air Force enlisted personnel may have had relations with Christine Force base at Ruislip, West London. 'There is a possibility that some coloured airman to Keeler.' Both airmen, said Hoover, had access to classified information. pimps, sex maniacs and Soviet agents must have received a boost on aggressive and full of blustering threats to wipe out England and to Robert Kennedy, knew what was going on. He did this by sending pounds a night and gave the impression that he had spent several American involvement, both at the US Embassy and at the US Air

nights with her. Another enlisted man is said to have referred a

Keeler. One airman was reported to have said that Keeler charged too drop art atomic bomb in the sea 6o miles off New York. According to

Eddowes, Hoover immediately 'instructed' him to make further in-

quiries into the security aspects and report back to him. Washington

was now buzzing with as many rumours as had swept London during

202

surprise. The White House became involved. The most likely

why should the US share its defence secrets? Another was a cal! in the

the height of the scandal, so what happened next was not entirely a

plans for a multi-nation NATO nuclear force. If Britain was so leaky,

foundering Government of Prime Minister Macmillan . . . We can Washington News

explanation for President Kennedy's sudden interest in the affair is

Hoover. There were then both political and personal reasons for the that his brother, Robert Kennedy, told him of the long report from London because it would provide 'prestige and moral support for the Kennedy's opponents in Congress with ammunition to attack his think of no better time for an American President to stay as far as President's interest. One was that the scandal could provide

possible away from England.' And a third reason, a personal one, was

against him. So, on the President's behalf Defense Secretary Robert

that given Hoover's animosity for the Kennedy family, the President him, the director of the CIA, John McCone, and Lieutenant General call was returned by one of Hoover's lieutenants, A. H. Belmont. McNamara telephoned Hoover on zo June. Hoover was out and his became concerned that Hoover would somehow use the scandal

Belmont to come over to his office that very afternoon to meet with

Hoover's conviction that British society was riddled with whores,

In the meantime Hoover made certain that the Attorney-General,

McNamara said he was concerned about the affair and would like

In it Eddowes told of his meeting with Ivanov

for Kennedy to cancel his scheduled visit to

AN AFFAIR OF STATE

Carroll of the DIA, for a conference. What went on at the meeting

assistant. From what then occurred we can make an informed

was sent off immediately to McGeorge Bundy, the President's special Two FBI agents left for London where they liaised with the Scotland scandal to be identified and investigated without delay. He wanted assessment of what McNamara would have said at the conference. He Their job was to interview people about possible security leaks

would have told the FBI that the President wanted any security risk

that the United States might have incurred through the Profumo security angle than our own service did.' Yard team still gathering evidence against Ward. Sergeant Glasse the whole affair cleared up quickly.

remains classified, but a note of its discussions made by a CIA officer, States. The resources of the Bureau were then mobilised to find out

because of the Ivanbv connection. We would pick the people up and

what the two girls had been up to, whom they had seen,' and why? police to question. The Christine Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies had been in the United take them to the American Embassy to be questioned. In return the recalls: `The two FBI men were here on a fairly permanent basis. FBI brought two girls over from the United States for the British

queried the details and sent the agents back to double check. For example: the FBI agent checking the Hotel Bedford's records

chastened agent reported, 'Recheck of Hotel Bedford records reports. These were then read by Hoover himself who sometimes Agents from the Bureau's New York office tramped around the city

telephone calls, questioning hotel staff, and filing minutely-detailed reconstructing the girls' visit the previous year, checking their

Some refused. Others, like Margaret Brown, agreed, and said Ward

for both rather than a total bill of $15.5o.' after paying their bill of $15.so. Hoover queried the date. The

the affair was checked. Anyone who knew Ward either in Britain or the United States was tracked down and asked to agree to an interview. discloses the date to be correct. However the bill was $1 5.5o per day

reported that the girls had checked out at 3.03 p.m. on z4 July 1962

was a wonderful person.

the married a lawyer called Charles Hammond, who, the paper said, was the former head of the FBI in London. The Bureau was suitably

What followed was a rapid acceleration in the FBI investigations.

At some stage during the FBI investigation the Bureau learnt that

The background of everyone who had volunteered information on

The investigation was not without its funny moments. On

Daily Sketch

said that Ward's former wife, Patricia Baines, had

SAVE JOHN F. KENNEDY

FBI

seemed to me to be more interested in the

June,

203

anything else he remembered of what had occurred in January and and January in occurred had what of remembered he else anything Captain Murphy, Ambassador Bruce's possible involvement, and the the and involvement, possible Bruce's Ambassador Murphy, Captain

apart from Corbally's information, the Embassy did not know any any know not did Embassy the information, Corbally's from apart

shown 'none was involved directly or indirectly in any way, or had had or way, any in indirectly or directly involved was 'none shown

any knowledge' of the case. Two of the men had met a girl called called girl a met had men the of Two case. the of knowledge' any

made loud statements that he had been the principal liaison between between liaison principal the been had he that statements loud made

more than Fleet Street as the scandal developed. Wells had either either had Wells developed. scandal the as Street Fleet than more crisis. 'Ward spoke concerning the confidential messages he carried carried he messages confidential the concerning spoke 'Ward crisis.

questioned over a period of days. The results, announced publicly by by publicly announced results, The days. of period a over questioned

equally swift. A search of the Embassy's files produced several several produced files Embassy's the of search A swift. equally lunched or dined at parties at which Ward had been present, and he he and present, been had Ward which at parties at dined or lunched Embassy's knowledge of the affair, the role of Admiral Lynch and and Lynch Admiral of role the affair, the of knowledge Embassy's

memos from Bruce's secretary, Alfred Wells, which showed that that showed which Wells, Alfred secretary, Bruce's from memos Department flew them back to Britain to resume their duties. duties. their resume to Britain to back them flew Department

`Christine', who was presumed to be Christine Keeler but, the the but, Keeler Christine be to presumed was who `Christine', had been intrigued at Ward's lack of discretion. discretion. of lack Ward's at intrigued been had

Air Force assignments.' The men were given lie detector tests and and tests detector lie given were men The assignments.' Force Air even know her last name until they read the publicity concerning her her concerning publicity the read they until name last her know even

Embassy's failure to report its knowledge to Washington, had proved proved had Washington, to knowledge its report to failure Embassy's

procured girls for wealthy clients. clients. wealthy for girls procured

frequented by non-Caucasian elements in London . . . The three three The . . . London in elements non-Caucasian by frequented

in the newspapers.' As a gesture of confidence in the men, the the men, the in confidence of gesture a As newspapers.' the in airmen will be housed at Bolling Air Force Base and the investigation investigation the and Base Force Air Bolling at housed be will airmen get their story before the Air Force does'. According to the FBI, 'the 'the FBI, the to According does'. Force Air the before story their get

wrote that he had asked a man sitting next to him who Dr Ward was was Ward Dr who him to next sitting man a asked had he that wrote outraged. 'This is obviously not right . . . The article shows a photo of of photo a shows article The . . . right not obviously is 'This outraged.

for intelligence data which they might have in connection with their their with connection in have might they which data intelligence for

and the man had replied that he was an osteopath and that he he that and osteopath an was he that replied had man the and three Negroes had met Keeler in low class night clubs, generally generally clubs, night class low in Keeler met had Negroes three is designed to determine whether Keeler had attempted to pump them them pump to attempted had Keeler whether determine to designed is

interrogation 'to ensure that the thrill-seeking English press does not not does press English thrill-seeking the that ensure 'to interrogation Department added, 'they had no intimate contact with her and didn't didn't and her with contact intimate no had 'they added, Department

men completely. The Department said that the investigation had had investigation the that said Department The completely. men

between Ivanov and his friends in the British government.' Wells Wells government.' British the in friends his and Ivanov between the Defense Department the following month, was to clear the three three the clear to was month, following the Department Defense the

three U.S. airmen, all black, were flown to the United States for for States United the to flown were black, all airmen, U.S. three

the Soviets and the British Government during the Cuban missile missile Cuban the during Government British the and Soviets the lieutenant in the U.S. Navy's uniform.' uniform.' Navy's U.S. the in lieutenant 204 204

Hammond and Baines at the time of marriage. He appears to be a a be to appears He marriage. of time the at Baines and Hammond

The stepped up investigation soon produced results. On zo June June zo On results. produced soon investigation up stepped The

At a dinner party on 5 November 1962, Wells wrote, Ward had had Ward wrote, Wells 1962, November 5 on party dinner a At

When the scandal broke, Bruce had asked Wells to put down down put to Wells asked had Bruce broke, scandal the When

Meanwhile the State Department's investigation into the London London the into investigation Department's State the Meanwhile

AN AFFAIR OF STATE STATE OF AFFAIR AN

McNamara, CIA director John McCone, and DIA director, Lieutenant Lieutenant director, DIA and McCone, John director CIA McNamara,

Jnr, was asked to check if Ambassador Bruce knew Ward. Roosevelt Roosevelt Ward. knew Bruce Ambassador if check to asked was Jnr,

substantiate Hoover's thesis — no evidence of treachery or KGB KGB or treachery of evidence no — thesis Hoover's substantiate

General Carroll. The CIA's London liaison officer, Archie Roosevelt Roosevelt Archie officer, liaison London CIA's The Carroll. General was 'constantly badgered by my headquarters and Supreme Boss Boss Supreme and headquarters my by badgered 'constantly was

interest in Washington in its results cannot be explained solely by by solely explained be cannot results its in Washington in interest

conspiracy. But the extent of the investigation and the high-level high-level the and investigation the of extent the But conspiracy.

sketch him. Roosevelt passed this news to CIA headquarters, but the the but headquarters, CIA to news this passed Roosevelt him. sketch

checked his diary he had discovered that Ward had called on him to to him on called had Ward that discovered had he diary his checked

Hoover's obsession. The FBI investigation provoked a meeting of of meeting a provoked investigation FBI The obsession. Hoover's

three of Washington's most powerful men — Defence Secretary Secretary Defence — men powerful most Washington's of three

did not. However Bruce later told Roosevelt that when he had had he when that Roosevelt told later Bruce However not. did

senior men went through the FBI files, talked with agents, and and agents, with talked files, FBI the through went men senior adopted the direct method — he asked Bruce. Bruce at first said that he he that said first at Bruce Bruce. asked he — method direct the adopted

agency continued to press Roosevelt and he was ordered to report report to ordered was he and Roosevelt press to continued agency

assessed the theory. They had to tell the OSI that there was no no was there that OSI the tell to had They theory. the assessed

instantly if any further American connection emerged from the the from emerged connection American further any if instantly

evidence whatsoever to establish such a link. link. a such establish to whatsoever evidence

revealed nothing of importance to Washington, there was nothing to to nothing was there Washington, to importance of nothing revealed

liaised with the British Secret Intelligence Service, Archie Roosevelt Roosevelt Archie Service, Intelligence Secret British the with liaised

American American

second meeting, he had telephoned Bossom to learn whether Bossom Bossom whether learn to Bossom telephoned had he meeting, second

Profumo scandal were linked through an international call girl ring ring girl call international an through linked were scandal Profumo

looking very tenuous. The Office of Special Investigations (OSI) had had (OSI) Investigations Special of Office The tenuous. very looking

the FBI if there was any substance in the report. Three of Hoover's Hoover's of Three report. the in substance any was there if FBI the become interested in the possibility that the Novotny case and the the and case Novotny the that possibility the in interested become

had actually done anything about Corbally's conversation. Bossom Bossom conversation. Corbally's about anything done actually had

this does not add anything to the Profumo case.' case.' Profumo the to anything add not does this

naming Profumo. Wells said that while writing the memo on the the on memo the writing while that said Wells Profumo. naming based on the UN — Hoover's original thesis. When the the When thesis. original Hoover's — UN the on based

both Fraser and Profumo, and that Profumo had shrugged it off with, with, off it shrugged had Profumo that and Profumo, and Fraser both

'There are always rumours about men in the limelight'. (Corbally has has (Corbally limelight'. the in men about rumours always are 'There

nothing in this worth pursuing further. It noted, 'While interesting, interesting, 'While noted, It further. pursuing worth this in nothing

had replied that after hearing Corbally's warning he had passed it to to it passed had he warning Corbally's hearing after that replied had

he had met Clive Bossom, Parliamentary Private Secretary to Hugh Hugh to Secretary Private Parliamentary Bossom, Clive met had he

no recollection of the meeting with Bossom.) Even the FBI saw saw FBI the Even Bossom.) with meeting the of recollection no another meeting with Corbally on 5 February. Corbally had said that that said had Corbally February. 5 on Corbally with meeting another

apart from his meeting with Corbally on 29 January he had had had had he January 29 on Corbally with meeting his from apart

Fraser, the Air Minister, and had told him about Keeler's story story Keeler's about him told had and Minister, Air the Fraser,

February. Wells now wrote another memo, dated t8 June, saying that that saying June, t8 dated memo, another wrote now Wells February.

Yet, Yet,

The CIA investigation was the briefest of all. The CIA officer who who officer CIA The all. of briefest the was investigation CIA The

Links between a UN call girl and the Profumo affair were now also also now were affair Profumo the and girl call UN a between Links

at the end of the day, the whole American investigation investigation American whole the day, the of end the at

published its own attempts to link the two, the OSI asked asked OSI the two, the link to attempts own its published

SAVE SAVE

JOHN JOHN

F. KENNEDY KENNEDY F.

Journal Journal

case. case. 205 205 ao6 AN AFFAIR OF STATE SAVE JOHN F. KENNEDY 207 personally about an American connection with the Profumo case.' We have only the FBI's account of what transpired. This makes The President's special assistant, McGeorge Bundy, showed intense Robert Kennedy appear almost pathetically grateful for the FBI's interest in the affair. And the President's brother, the Attorney- help. According to agent Evans, 'The Attorney-General was General Robert Kennedy, asked Hoover personally to keep him appreciative of out bringing this matter to his attention personally. informed about the investigation. He said that it did seem preposterous that such a story would be The only feasible reason for this widespread fascination is that all circulated when a presidential candidate, during the campaign, travels these people feared that the President of the United States was about with scores of newspapermen. He added that with the next to be dragged into the scandal, not on a political level, but on a sexual Presidential election now less than a months away, he anticipated one. There is evidence that this fear existed. On a July Robert that there would be more similar stories and he would like us to Kennedy asked Hoover if he could tell him exactly what Christine continue to advise him of any such matters coming to our attention Keeler and Mandy Rice-Davies did when they visited New York the on a personal basis, as he could better defend the family if he knew previous year. It seems strange that Robert Kennedy, the Attorney- what was being said.' General of the United States, a man with enormous issues on his This, then, was the effect of the Profumo scandal had on the United mind, should have the slightest interest in what two then unknown States. It allowed Hoover to consolidate the hold that he already had English girls had done during a seven-day visit to the United States a over the Kennedy family, by making the FBI appear indispensable in year earlier. protecting the family name. Stephen Ward would have enjoyed the The reason was that Robert Kennedy was worried that one, or irony. both girls might have slept with his brother, the President of the United States, during their visit and he needed to know for certain so that he could protect the President from the scandal that would follow if the girls blabbed. It would have been simpler for Robert Kennedy to ask his brother if he had slept with Christine or Mandy instead of asking Hoover, however indirectly. But, as we now know, John F. Kennedy's sexual appetite was so prodigious and so indiscriminate that he would not have been able to remember. Robert Kennedy was right to be concerned. On 23 July, according to an FBI internal memorandum, the tape recording which Christine Keeler had made with her new manager, Robin Drury, mentioned President Kennedy as one of Keeler's lovers. All that needs to be said about this allegation is that if Keeler had indeed slept with Kennedy then it would have been completely out of character for her to have kept it quiet on her return to London. She would have told everyone. The fact that she never mentioned it until she was recounting her memoirs for sale to Fleet Street strongly suggests that she invented it to make them a more valuable property. The FBI hastened to tell Robert Kennedy, 'There is attached [to this memorandum] a letter to the Attorney-General furnishing the information concerning the allegations about President Kennedy for his information. It is recommended that this letter be delivered to the Attorney-General by assistant director Evans.' The letter was never sent. Hoover considered the information to be too sensitive to come to rest in the Attorney-General's files. Evans was ordered instead to contact Kennedy and tell him what the FBI had learnt.