Mr. Rankin. Your Agency does have an important function in some aspects.
Mr. McCone. We have a very important function in connection with the foreign travels of the President, and I would like to inform the Commission as to how we discharge that responsibility by quickly reviewing the chronology of the Central Intelligence Agency's support of President Kennedy's visit to Mexico City from the 29th of June to the 2d of July 1962.
Mr. Rankin. Will you please do that.
The Chairman. Director, is that a security matter?
Mr. McCone. No. I think I can handle this for the record.
The Chairman. Very well.
Mr. McCone. If I have to make a remark or two off the record I will ask that privilege.
That visit, as I said, started on the 29th of June. On the 28th of April, in anticipation of the visit, instructions were transmitted to Mexico for the Ambassador to coordinate planning and informational guidance for the advance party of the Secret Service.
We asked that the Secret Service be given information on local groups and persons who would cause disturbances, embarrassments or physical harm, an estimate of the determination and ability of the Mexican government to prevent incidents, and preparation for special briefings to the Embassy officials and the Secret Service, and such additional support and communications personnel that might be required.
These instructions were given two months before the trip.