1:38:00
Way the talks, he acts like
he knows Kruschev personally
1:38:02
but he's never elaborated
1:38:05
I've used him as a source
in a couple of stories
1:38:08
The FBI has identified
this Alexander Fomin as the...
1:38:13
Soviet Rezident, the KGB equivalent
of one of our station chiefs
1:38:16
He's their highest ranking spy
in this country
1:38:19
And he knows John's a friend of mine
1:38:20
All the trademarks of
a back-channel overture
1:38:23
Yeah. Some back channel
1:38:26
ABC News guy
My goddamn next-door neighbor
1:38:31
So they'll remove the missiles
1:38:34
And we'll pledge not to
invade Cuba or de-stabilize Castro
1:38:37
or assist anyone who plans on doing so
1:38:43
I think this may be
our first real message from Kruschev
1:38:46
The alternative, Mr. President
1:38:48
is that is this could be a trap
1:38:51
And how is that exactly?
1:38:53
Dangle a settlement
1:38:55
tie us down in negotiations
we come up short
1:38:58
Why else would they
approach us this way?
1:39:01
It's deniable
1:39:02
The Soviets have done nothing
but lie to us
1:39:03
This could just be more of the same
1:39:05
That may be
why Kruschev's introducing this guy
1:39:09
We're been burned by his usual players
in the formal channels
1:39:12
so he brings in an honest broker
1:39:14
That may be what they want us to think
1:39:17
The truth is
1:39:18
we don't really know
who Fomin speaks for
1:39:21
It could be Kruschev
1:39:22
It could be some faction
in the Politburo
1:39:25
Or the KGB itself
1:39:26
We just don't know
1:39:28
By the way, Scali
your activities now fall under...
1:39:32
the secrecy codicils
of the National Security Act
1:39:34
Sorry, John
1:39:35
No Pulitzer
1:39:38
Mr. President, we haven't much time
1:39:41
I'm scheduled to meet with him again
in three and a half hours
1:39:44
So it seems the question of the day is
1:39:46
is the offer legitimate?
1:39:49
And if it is
1:39:51
we can't afford to ignore it
1:39:54
So, John...
1:39:57
We'll have instructions for you
in a couple of hours