Fascinating, a great effort. In the context of Carter's similar approach to the Soviets to discredit Reagan, we see that the Dems operated as a shadow government with a shadow State Department running back channels to the Soviets with whom they shared a common fear and loathing of Reagan. Just like the actual State Deparment, the shadow State Department had traitors. Does anyone know if Carter's approach was through Tunney? Did Kennedy know Tunney was working for the Commies?
IIRC, during the '76 campaign Carter used W. Averell Harriman as a back channel to the Soviets. I'd have to dig through my notes to find my references on that, but I believe it's discussed briefly in Rudy Abramson's Harriman biography.