UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
Memorandum
TO: Mr. DeLoach
FROM: R. E. Wick
DATE: 12/28/66

SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN H. R. GROSS (R-IOWA)
DOCTOR RE
LETTER BEING SENT TODAY
ELECTRONIC EAVESDROPPING

Clark Mollenhoff, Washington Bureau of the "Des Moines Register and Tribune," today telephonically advised Bishop in my office that he has learned from Congressman Gross' office that the Congressman is going to send a letter to Mr. Hoover, probably dated today, in reply to the Director's letter to him of 12/7/36 wherein the Director set forth the true facts, supported with documentation, concerning the approval of the Attorney General for the use of electronic eavesdropping techniques by the FBI. Mollenhoff said he has ascertained Congressman Gross' letter will advise the Director that after careful study of the Director's letter and its enclosures, Congressman Gross is convinced the FBI utilized electronic eavesdropping techniques only upon the specific approval of the Attorney General and the Department of Justice.

In his letter Congressman Gross will also make reference to the case of Otto F. Otepka, former chief, Division of Evaluations, Office of Security, State Department, which received considerable publicity after hearings on his dismissal from the State Department were held by the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee.

It will be recalled that Otepka's position in the State Department was to evaluate and make decisions with regard to individuals employed by the State Department who possibly could be security risks. When the Administration became unhappy about the number of persons being declared security risks by Otepka, John F. Reilly, who was then an attorney in the Department of Justice under Bobby Kennedy, was transferred to the State Department as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Security, and thus became Otepka's boss. The purpose of Reilly's going to the State Department was to check up on Otepka. Reilly proceeded to put microphones in Otepka's telephones and to place a "bug" in his office. This was finally disclosed to the public in hearings before the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee. In spite of this, after Otepka was dismissed by the State Department, Reilly was rewarded for his work by being appointed by the Administration to a high position in the Federal Communications Commission. Congressman Gross is going to cite in his letter to the Director the Otepka case as another instance where Bobby Kennedy was aware of the utilization of electronic eavesdropping techniques and certainly approved their use.

Clark Mollenhoff also advised that Congressman Gross will conclude his letter to Mr. Hoover by asking that Mr. Hoover keep him advised of any additional developments with regard to electronic eavesdropping.

Mollenhoff stated his information is that Congressman

AI responses may include mistakes.

Chapter 8 - in your place