Early in 1961, Harvey was approached by Dick Bissell, the CIA’s operations chief, and told to develop “Executive Action capability,” a euphemism for assassination. Bissell made clear that this request came from the top. Harvey knew better than to inquire too closely. (Years later, Bissell testified that his orders had come from McGeorge Bundy and Walt Rostow and that they “would not have given such encouragement unless they were confident it would meet with the president’s approval.”)61 Harvey duly developed a program known as ZRRIFLE to give the White House what it wanted. In the process, he
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