Immediately after the November 22, 1963, assassination of John F. Kennedy, it launched a campaign asserting that Lee Harvey Oswald had been acting on behalf of the Cuban government.

[1] The attack had been planned by the CIA's JMWAVEstation in Miami,[2] though the U.S. State Department maintained the attempt was independent of U.S. government knowledge or support.

[5] Joannides also provided non-financial support, reviewing military plans and briefing the DRE leadership on managing press relations.

[8] The day after the assassination of John F. Kennedy the DRE, defying orders from Joannides to await instructions, launched a public campaign asserting that Lee Harvey Oswald had been acting on behalf of the Cuban government.

Members communicated their claims to Paul Bethel, a former CIA employee active in Cuban exile politics, and Clare Boothe Luce.

In the intervening years, the DRE members had supported the CIA with its publishing and radio programs and by sending delegates to international student conferences.