Editing Graham Martin (section)

===Ambassador to Italy===
Martin was appointed on 30 October 1969 and left this post on 10 February 1973.<ref name="State Dept" />

During his time as ambassador Martin was instrumental in channelling funds to various entities believed to be sympathetic to American foreign policy goals, including organisations and individuals with dubious anti-democratic and [[neo-fascist]] connotations.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Willan |first1=Philip |title=Puppetmasters: The Use of Political Terrorism in Italy |date=1991 |publisher=Constable |location=London |pages=115-7}}</ref> In 1972, he gave over $800,000 to General [[Vito Miceli]], Italy's army intelligence chief, with the approval of the director of the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]], [[Henry Kissinger]], despite objections from the [[CIA]] Rome station chief about Miceli's ability to spend the money properly and his association with a prominent neo-fascist journalist (believed to be [[Pino Rauti]], the founder of ''[[Ordine Nuovo]]'').<ref name="Times">{{cite news | title = $800,000 for Italy's Intelligence Chief in spite of CIA objections | work = [[The Times]] | page = 3 | date = 1976-01-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title = The Pike Report (unauthorized copy) | author = Pike Committee | author-link = Pike Committee | publisher = Spokesman Books | location = Nottingham, England | year = 1977}}</ref><ref name="Willan">{{cite book |last1=Willan |first1=Philip |title=Puppetmasters: The Use of Political Terrorism in Italy |date=1991 |publisher=Constable |location=London |page=116}}</ref> Philip Willan, in his book ''Puppetmasters: The Political Use of Terrorism in Italy'' (1991), explains that Martin – described by the [[Pike Committee]] in 1976 as a "man of unusual force" – managed to seize control of this money through willpower alone, citing an argument that he had about the funds with the Rome station chief as evidence of his uncompromising nature:

{{blockquote|Chief of station expressed the view that ambassador [deleted] should first clarify this point in personal exchange with CIA... He [ambassador] thereupon accused chief of station of dragging his feet in contacting [foreign intelligence officer, presumably Miceli] and said if this continued beyond today he would "''Instruct Marine guards not to let you in this building and put you on the airplane''." Chief of station said he thought this a bit extreme and expressed view that ambassador [deleted] could hardly object to what appeared legitimate Headquarters decision. He [ambassador] did object and with vigour.<ref name="Willan"/>}}

Miceli, who was arrested on charges of subversive conspiracy in 1974,<ref name="Willan"/> subsequently became a [[Italian Social Movement|far-right]] member of the Italian parliament. It is unknown to this day how he spent the money.<ref name="Times"/>