“DEC 11, 1959: J.C. King, head of the CIA’s Western Division, writes a memorandum for [CIA Official] Richard Bissell, and CIA Director, Allen Dulles stating that [Fidel] Castro has now established a dictatorship of the far left. The intelligence community estimates an increase in Cuban support for other revolutionary movements in Latin America, and ‘rapid nationalization of the banks, industry and commerce’ sectors. The memorandum states that ‘violent action’ is the only means of breaking Castro’s grip on power, listing as the U.S. objective ‘the overthrow of Castro within one year.’ King also recommends that ‘thorough consideration be given to the elimination of Fidel Castro,’ marking the first time that the idea of assassination is committed to paper.”
“The Bay of Pigs Invasion/Playa Giron: A Chronology of Events,” The National Security Archive, NSArchive2.gwu.edu