:03:02
Way the talks, he acts like
he knows Kruschev personally
:03:04
but he's never elaborated
:03:07
I've used him as a source
in a couple of stories
:03:09
The FBI has identified
this Alexander Fomin as the...
:03:14
Soviet Rezident, the KGB equivalent
of one of our station chiefs
:03:17
He's their highest ranking spy
in this country
:03:21
And he knows John's a friend of mine
:03:22
All the trademarks of
a back-channel overture
:03:25
Yeah. Some back channel
:03:28
ABC News guy
My goddamn next-door neighbor
:03:33
So they'll remove the missiles
:03:35
And we'll pledge not to
invade Cuba or de-stabilize Castro
:03:38
or assist anyone who plans on doing so
:03:45
I think this may be
our first real message from Kruschev
:03:48
The alternative, Mr. President
:03:50
is that is this could be a trap
:03:53
And how is that exactly?
:03:55
Dangle a settlement
:03:57
tie us down in negotiations
we come up short
:04:00
Why else would they
approach us this way?
:04:03
It's deniable
:04:04
The Soviets have done nothing
but lie to us
:04:05
This could just be more of the same
:04:07
That may be
why Kruschev's introducing this guy
:04:11
We're been burned by his usual players
in the formal channels
:04:14
so he brings in an honest broker
:04:16
That may be what they want us to think
:04:19
The truth is
:04:20
we don't really know
who Fomin speaks for
:04:23
It could be Kruschev
:04:24
It could be some faction
in the Politburo
:04:26
Or the KGB itself
:04:28
We just don't know
:04:30
By the way, Scali
your activities now fall under...
:04:33
the secrecy codicils
of the National Security Act
:04:35
Sorry, John
:04:37
No Pulitzer
:04:40
Mr. President, we haven't much time
:04:43
I'm scheduled to meet with him again
in three and a half hours
:04:46
So it seems the question of the day is
:04:48
is the offer legitimate?
:04:51
And if it is
:04:52
we can't afford to ignore it
:04:56
So, John...
:04:59
We'll have instructions for you
in a couple of hours