NSA Intercept: Antonio de Varona to Interview President Betancourt (Jan 1962)
This one-page textual record, part of the FBI HQ series within the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection, is an NSA intercept of a Venezuelan diplomatic communication dated 2 January 1962. The decrypted message, from Venezuelan diplomat Mayobre in Washington to the Foreign Ministry in Caracas, states that Antonio de Varona would arrive by plane from Miami on 3 January and wished to obtain an interview with the President (Rómulo Betancourt). The intercept is stamped 06 January 1962 and was classified Top Secret DINAR. The record was reviewed on 11/04/1998 and released by NARA on 03/18/2025 under the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992. The document remains partially redacted, with opening criteria requiring NSA approval.
Description
A JFK Assassination Records Collection document released by the National Archives in 2025. The file is an NSA intercept/decrypt of a Venezuelan diplomatic cable reporting that Cuban exile leader Antonio de Varona would travel from Miami to Caracas to request an interview with Venezuelan President Rómulo Betancourt. Originally classified Top Secret DINAR.
Claims
The document was released with redactions requiring NSA approval for full opening.
90%The document is an NSA intercept/decrypt of a Venezuelan diplomatic cable, classified Top Secret DINAR.
90%The message was an NSA-intercepted Venezuelan diplomatic communication classified Top Secret DINAR.
88%Antonio de Varona intended to arrive in Caracas on 3 January 1962 by plane from Miami to seek an interview with the Venezuelan President.
85%Antonio de Varona was to arrive in Caracas by plane from Miami on 3 January 1962 seeking an interview with President Betancourt.
85%
Events
Mar 17, 2025
NARA public release
Document released under the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act 2025 disclosure.
Jan 1, 1962
Venezuelan diplomatic message intercepted
Cable from Mayobre in Washington to the Caracas Foreign Ministry reporting Varona's planned arrival and desire to interview the President.
Jan 2, 1962
Antonio de Varona's planned arrival in Caracas
Varona to arrive by plane from Miami on 3 January 1962 seeking an interview with President Betancourt.
Jan 1, 1962
Venezuelan diplomatic cable sent
Mayobre in Washington cables the Foreign Ministry in Caracas about Varona's planned visit.
Jan 5, 1962
NSA intercept stamped
Intercept marked 06 Jan 2147Z / 1962.
Jan 2, 1962
Varona's planned arrival in Caracas
Antonio de Varona to arrive by plane from Miami on 3 January to seek an interview with the President.
Dates mentioned
Keywords
Entities
Organizations
Extracted text (OCR)
JFK Assassination System
Identification Form
Date:
4/29/201
Agency Information
AGENCY: ° FBI
RECORD NUMBER: 124-90055-10279 U25 Release under the President Jonny
7 . Kennedy Assassination Records
i 1332
RECORD SERIES: HQ lion Blot
AGENCY FILENUMBER: CR SEE TITLE
; Document Information
ORIGINATOR: NSA
FROM: NSA
TO:
, TITLE: — [Restricted]
DATE: — 01/02/1962
PAGES: 1 | ‘
SUBJECTS :
ANTONIO DE VARONA, ADMIN
DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT
CLASSIFICATION: — Top Secret
-RESTRICTIONS: 1B
CURRENT STATUS: —Redact
DATE OF LASTREVIEW: — 11/04/1998
OPENING CRITERIA: INDEFINITE, APPROVAL OF NSA
COMMENTS :
v9.1
NW 89804 Dochd:32326687 Page 1
2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS COLLECTION ACT OF 1992
—, Té °° SECRET DIN? < 5
(Venezuelan VEDK~1 | (Ts) ws 2632 3/ofvep TO7-62 |
| . | IS 06 Jan 2147Z P 7
VARONA TO INTERVIEW PRESIDENT BETANCOURT
FR (Washington: -MAYOBRE > , \~ 2. Jan 62 7
TO JCaracas: Foreign Ministry s\ --
Msg Nr: 3
“~~ ANTONIO DEXWARONA,, wil 1 ‘arrive tomorrow, 3 January, by plane
from Miaii’"He’ wishes (B percent to have an interview with the
President) ,
e% ;
“ idSlis BY Stebf se ‘)
wy GN: 25 :
-_ DECLASSIFY ON 5 inh
Per
{ g4-390 - 22% ~ 3 15}
Cn | | FEB 20 1962 |
INDEXER re
MS 974 cnfixe JSS =r -- |
(Venezuelan Jers} 3/0AGED} 07-62 Gs3
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS 1 PAGE(S)
TOP SECRET DINAR | 7
| NW 89804 Docld:32326687 Page 2
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