| Download Photo 1 | Homer A | Boynton | PA- Philadelphia; NY- New York | 1952 - 1980 | Watergate, COINTELPRO, ABSCAM, BRILAB, FOIA, TOPHAT, FEDORA | Watergate Papers, COINTELPRO, ABSCAM, BRILAB, Bob Porter, Judge Webster, FOIA, TOPHAT, FEDORA, Hoover | For the FBI Oral History Heritage Project sponsored by the Society of Former Special Agents of the FBI, Inc., which holds the copyright to the material.
Special Agent Homer A. Boynton served in the FBI from 1952 to 1980. This interview took place on March 2, 2006. Interviewed by David G. Binney.
SA Boynton was first assigned to the Philadelphia Field Office, followed by the New York Field Office, where he worked Soviet surveillance before being assigned to the non-Soviet intelligence squad covering Central America. One of his collateral duties was handling the visits of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and Clyde Tolson to New York.
At Acting Director L. Patrick Gray’s request, SA Boynton was transferred to FBIHQ as Chief of the Liaison Section which handled the Legal Attachés and liaisoned with other agencies in government. He followed this with an extended stint in the Office of Public Affairs.
He mentions many topics of interest including the transition from Director Hoover to Director Gray and, subsequently, to Director Clarence Kelley. Other topics mentioned include the Miller-Felt trial, the FBI’s organizational chart, and budgets.
SA Boynton, while Assistant Director of the Administrative Services Division, had the responsibility for Records, Technical Services, transfers and media relations. He comments on the Freedom of Information Act and Director Hoover, Watergate, and the selection of Judge William Webster as Director. He talks about Director Webster’s ability to speak with eloquence, especially at the funeral of slain Agents. SA Boynton remembers the early days in New York when he was involved in Top Hat and Fedora. He also mentions the damage that Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen did with regard to their espionage. He recounts a number of the New York Field Office stories and some of the weekend he filled in as Director Hoover’s chauffeur.
SA Boynton talks of the camaraderie of the FBI and some of the characters from his day. He recounts a number of anecdotes about various Directors and the media and expands on the growth of the training for Special Agents to deal with the media. | Download PDF 1 | | |