---
alias:
- Sam J. Papich
category: Law Enforcement & Legal
created: 2026-09-21
location: Washington, D.C.
summary: FBI liaison officer to the CIA whom James Angleton told of the agency's New
  York mail opening in 1958, and who in 1967 recommended Wackenhut to William Harvey
  as a reputable private investigator.
tags:
- Person
- SamPapich
- FBI
- CIA
- HTLINGUAL
- JamesAngleton
- WackenhutCorporation
updated: 2026-09-21
---

Sam Papich was the liaison officer of the [FBI](/organizations/federal-bureau-of-investigation/) to the [CIA](/organizations/central-intelligence-agency/) until 1970.[^1]

### The Mail

In January 1958 the bureau's inquiries at the New York post office about a mail cover of its own ran into the agency's existing project, [HTLINGUAL](/programs/htlingual/). [James Jesus Angleton](/people/james-jesus-angleton/) then told Papich "on a personal basis" of the opening of mail, saying "the sole purpose for the coverage was to identify persons behind the Iron Curtain who might have some ties in the U.S. and who could be approached in their countries as contacts and sources for the CIA." Alan Belmont wrote: "It would appear that our inquiries of the Post Office officials in New York have flushed out a most secret operation of the CIA." Papich testified that the bureau was "greatly concerned" at the intrusion on its jurisdiction and that he "anticipated all hell was going to break loose." The bureau chose instead "to capitalize on the situation by receiving the benefits of the program without the expense and manpower requirements which would accompany a more active role in its operation."[^1]

### Roselli and Wackenhut

[Sheffield Edwards](/people/sheffield-edwards/) of the [Office of Security](/organizations/cia-office-of-security/) informed Papich of the agency's contacts with [Sam Giancana](/people/sam-giancana/) and [Johnny Roselli](/people/johnny-roselli/). In November 1967 [William Harvey](/people/william-harvey/), who had run Roselli and was leaving the agency to practice law, asked Papich for reputable private investigators. [Howard Osborn](/people/howard-osborn/) recorded: "Mr. Papich suggested [Wackenhut Corporation](/organizations/wackenhut-corporation/) or the Fidelifax Company as having a good reputation in the trade."[^2][^3]

[^1]: U.S. Senate, Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities. *Final Report, Book III*. S. Rept. 94-755, 1976, pp. 578, 613, 626-627.
[^2]: U.S. Senate, Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities. *Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders: An Interim Report*. S. Rept. 94-465, 1975.
[^3]: Osborn, Howard J. Memorandum for the record, November 8, 1967, JFK record 104-10133-10076. National Archives, JFK Assassination Records Collection.