32 The DeVito story is based on his interviews with Blum and his July 1978 testimony before Congress:
32 In response to FOIA requests, both the FBI and CIA said they did not have any file(s) on Braunsteiner.
33 Hermine Braunsteiner Defense Fund: Immigration Subcommittee hearings, op.cit., 78. It is not clear whether the fund was a tax-exempt 501(c)3 entity or a private fund.
34 The Maxala story is based on: Blum, Saidel, Hersh, Summers, Lofus and Aarons, and Higham; NA, CIA RG 263 and FBI RG 65; and the speech of Congressman Kowalski. See also
34 Required his five thousand workers: Report 100-2-16-40Y, June 18, 1944, NA, RG 263, CIA Name Files.
34 Based on interviews with former CIA agents, Summers says Malaxa bribed Wisner to get him into the United States. According to T. Vincent Quinn, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, Malaxa bribed Colonel Brady C. McClausen. “Nicolai Malaxa Internal Security,” Quinn to FBI, April 8, 1948, NA, RG 263, CIA Name Files. McClausen was chief of the OSS in Romania at the time. It is unlikely that Malaxa bribed Wisner because Wisner was no longer working for the OSS at the time Malaxa came to the United States.
34 There are variations in the spelling of McClausen’s name. Sometimes his first name is given as “Brady,” sometimes as “Grady.” Sometimes his last name is spelled “McClausen,” sometimes “McClaussen.”
35 Whispers rippled through: Loftus and Aarons, 223.
35 “As Malaxa is extremely clever”: Untitled CIA memo, Feb. 14, 1948, NA, RG 263, CIA Name Files.
35 Hundred thousand dollars: Hersh, 159–60. Hersh highly documents the allegation. See also Summers, 133. Hersh further reported that the CIA had a photocopy of the check courtesy of a Romanian on its payroll.
36 Senator Baldwin’s bill was S-2942. Representative Lodge’s bill was HR-7160. The identical bills were introduced in September 1946. They were voted on in August 1948. According to the FBI, Pennsylvania congressman Francis Walter attempted to save Malaxa as well. The FBI reported that Malaxa bribed him to introduce a private bill. “From: A. Ross… To: Director,” NA, RG 263, CIA Name Files, Dec. 23, 1959.
36 There are several versions about a congressional bill or resolution to grant Malaxa permanent U.S. residency. One version says Nixon introduced it. A second version says it was Hillings. A third says McClellan. There is also confusion about whether it was a bill or a resolution that was introduced, and whether the bill or resolution contained just Malaxa’s name or whether he was part of a longer list. None of the sources actually give a name or a number to the bill/resolution. My version is based on the assumption that the legislation in question was Senate Concurrent Resolution #58 of the 82nd Congress. Drew Pearson (“Malaxa Tries to Enter U.S.,”
36 Plan B was launched while the Justice Department was trying to get Congress to grant Malaxa permanent residency. It appears that the strategy was: if one won’t work, the other will. Blum and Kowalski describe and document Plan B. Also “To Director… From: SAC/NY,” NA, RG 65, FBI Name Files, Oct. 10, 1955.
36 According to documents in NA, RG 263, CIA Names Files, Malaxa was the founder of the Iron Guard in Argentina, which became a hotbed of Guardist activity. He went there to build an armament plant.
36 The CIA opposed permanent residency for Malaxa: “In spite of the fact that certain prominent individuals in the country are allegedly sponsoring Mr. Malaxa’s cause, the voluminous amount of derogatory information in the CIA files strongly supports the view that it would be undesirable for Mr. Malaxa to obtain permanent residence,” Memo: For Deputy Director (Plans), NA, RG 263, CIA Name Files, Feb. 9, 1952. Also “The Agency should take action to prevent naturalization,” Untitled Memo for Deputy Chief, SE, NA, CIA RG 263, Feb. 1952, author and specific date not given.
36 Powerful Republicans in Congress supported permanent residency, which raises the question: Were they bribed like Nixon and others? “Some of the GOP’s top people have tried to prevent the deportation on the grounds that this industrialist can make a contribution to our national defense…. A prominent Midwest Senator is blaming the Justice Department for recommending that he sponsor legislation granting permanent residence to a refugee who worked with the Iron Guard, then the Nazis, and finally made a deal with the communists. The senator’s friends say he’s too embarrassed to make an issue of it,” NA, RG 263, CIA Name Files, Untitled FBI report, Oct. 13, 1953.
36 The Department of Justice also supported permanent residency. “Malaxa’s name has been favorably forwarded to the House Judiciary Committee by the Justice Department,” NA, RG 263, CIA Name Files, W. Pforzheimer letter to the FBI, Jan. 17, 1952.
36 The threat to have Schiano fired and the INS transfer order to Alaska: “Director/SAC NY,” RG 263, CIA Name Files, Oct. 10, 1962.
37 “Around two hundred thousand”: Schiano,
37 “What would it take”: Schiano, Ibid.
37 Offered twenty thousand: “NY SAC to WAS. SAC,” NA, RG 263, CIA Name Files, June 24, 1956; and “NY SAC to FBI Director,” ibid., Feb. 10, 1956. The bribe was offered by Malaxa’s son-in-law Dr. George Palade.
37 Attorney General Rogers upholds the BIA decision:
37 Double agent working for Romania and Soviets: See NA, RG 263, CIA Name Files: “There are no limits to how far Malaxa will go to ingratiate himself with the Soviets, including sizeable financial aid to Romanian communist activities in the United States,” 100-2-16-40y; and “There is no doubt that Malaxa is an agent of the Soviet government and of the Romanian communists in the United States even if he himself is not a commie at heart…. As Malaxa is extremely clever, efficient, perfectly self-controlled, very discreet, of an unbelievable perfidy and a master in the art of bribery, he must be considered one of the most dangerous agents,” Feb. 24, 1948 (untitled). Also, Malaxa was the only Romanian to receive compensation for property taken over by the Soviets.
37 “Mr. Malaxa is undoubtedly”: To Hoover from Department of Navy/William Abbot. Ibid., Sept. 18, 1953. See also: Department of Navy to Hoover from Carl F. Espe, Rear Admiral, Director of Naval Intelligence, NA, RG 263, CIA Name Files, Oct. 7, 1953.
37 FBI memos suggest that Malaxa was a “highly confidential source” about Bishop Moldovan, who was under investigation by the FBI. “To FBI/SAC WFO,” Ibid., Jan. 8, 1957.
CHAPTER FIVE
Blum,
Perry, Michael.
