• Mi p ~ 

Mr. l'filliam F. Friedm;m 

~--.-- i:- • RE~. I~: A72290 • CONFIDENTIAL 

/ 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL 

WASHINGTON 

June 23, 195'3 

tllflll8' llFIRllAllOll 

MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. S. D. Ellis 

Mr. William F. Friedman / 

SUBJECT: 

Major General H. M. McClelland, USAF _(Ret • .) 

Mr. Lee w. Parke 

Colonel George P. Sampson Mr. William D. Wright . Proposed NSC Directive on COMSEC 

. Enclosed is the draft proposed NSC directive 

on COMSEC as revised at th~ meetings on June 16 and 19, 1953~ 

The enclosure is scheduled for further consideration at a 

meeting on Fttday, July 3 at 10:00 a.m. 

J ~"IBS S • LAY, Jr. 

Executive Secre r 

CONFIDENTIAL 

iiiUlm llPIRMA1111 

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• REF ID:A72290 ~ 

"" CONFI1'!NTIA& 

S iC URITY INFOR:!fM'ION 

DRAFT 

NATIONAL SEPTJBITY COQNCIL 

COMMUNICATIONS . SJ;& QBITI DIRECTIVE NO.' 

June l~, 1953 

-~ ~+.+e.a... ~ ~ "'l,..\\ 

Pursuant to tneApr8visions ot Section lOlkor the National 

Security Act of 191+7, as amended, and to'lhe Presidential 

October 24-, l952i ww ee 

~· Stated that the security of Federal telecommunications (COMSFC) is a national responsibility, and that COMS~ 

policies and procedures must be integrated so as to enable 

the various departments and agencies of the Government 

to cooperate effectively in such matters and to satisfy 

legitimate requirements for the security of their messages; 

~. Designated the Secretaries ot State and Defense 

as a Special Committee on the National Security Council 

for COMSEC matters, to establish such policies relating 

to COMSEC as will achieve the maximum security of Federal 

telecommunications, and to keep the President advised or 

such policies through the Executive Secretary of the 

National Security Council*;· and 

*The President in approving this directive also directed that 

the Attorney General shall be a member of the Special Committee whenever mutters of interest to the Federal Bureau 

of Investigation are before that committee. In accordance 

with the President•s instructions regarding the normal opera- tion of the council, _the -5J er r the d the ) Chaiman, Atomic Energy_c.ommi.s · .iso participate 

as members..-o!-the-Spe.c1.a._l Committee when!_Vj!r matters or 

direct i~~s.t-t0-th~~gencT"es are before that C----

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B!C Uftf'fY INPOIMJ.!ION 

£• Directed the Special Committee of the NSC to 

prepare and issue in the COMS~ field directives which will: 

l. Rescind the Executive Order of 3 July 191+5 

entitled "Cryptographic Security with Respect to 

Certain Communications of the Government"*• 

2. Establish a United States Communications 

Security Board (USCSB) responsible for integrating 

policies and procedures affecting the security or 

Federal telecommunications. 

3. Provide for the establishmen~ or appropriate 

responsibilities and authorities to assure within 

the various departments and agencies of the Government, among other things: 

(a) High and uniform standards of communications security; 

(b) Effective cooperation in COMSEC aatters 

between departments and agencies concerned; 

(c) The adequacy of the cryptographic 

systems used; 

(d) Coordination of COMS~ probiems, par-

~icu1arly policies with respect to foreign 

governments; 

(e) Satisfaction of legitimate requirements 

for the security of telecommunications• 

*The Order was classified and was not published in the Federal 

Register. It was reseindri by the President on (date) • 

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e Olft'!!)!fft'IAL 

SBOl:JIU!Y INF'ORM:A'f I ON 

the Special Committee of the National Security Council for 

COMSEC hereby authorizes and directs that: 

l. The United States Communications Security Board (USCSB): I I I, • I 

~· There is hereby established the United States 

Communications se·curity Board (USCSB), hereinafter 

referred to as the Board, which shall be a body 

acting for and under the aforesaid Special Committee 

and shall operate in accordance with the provisions 

of this Directive and any other directives which may 

; be issued by the Special Committee. 

b. The Board shall be composed of one representative 

of each of the following: 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

(10 

The SecI'etary of State.,f 

The Secretary of Defense 

The Secretary of the Treasu?'Y 

The Director, Federal Bureau of 

Investigation 

The Secretary of the Azwmy The Secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Air Force 

The Director of Central Intelltgence The Director of the National Security Agency The Atomic Energy Commission 

~· The Board shall elect its own Chairman. 

d. The Board shall have a staff headed by an 

executive secretary who shall be appointed by the 

Chairman with the approval of a majority of the Board. 

~· The Bo~rd shall have the following 

responsibilities: 

(1) ·To integrate policies and procedures affect~ 

ing the security Qf F~deral teieconununtcations; 

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• 

(2) 

REF ID: A72290 • 

0 0Nfi'i1'Efftf:AL 

SECT:JRlfi Il'fti'OftMATION 

To establish, under authority of the 

' Special Committee, such communications security 

policies as will insure· high and uniform standards 

of communications secu~ity within the various 

departments and agencies of the Government and will 

~ achieve maximum practicable degree of security 

of Federal " telecommunications. For. this purpose 1 

the Board may study the standards and practices 

of any department or agency in the field of 

communications security; and the Board shall 

make such recommendations as may be necessary to 

assure compliance with its decisions in this field; 

(3) To establish broad policies necessary to: 

(a) Ins·titute and maintain effective 

cooperation in communications security matters 

among the departments and agencies concerned, and 

(b) Satisfy legitimate requirements for 

the security of the communications of the 

departments and agencies; 

(4) To approve the long-range plans for the 

communications security of the United States; 

(5) To establish policies affecting relations 

of the u. S. Government with foreign governments 

and international organizations in communications 

security matters; 

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CONP!:OEN'fIAL 

5!ClJft'.f'l'Y INPeRMA'fION 

(6) To advise the Special Committee with 

respect to communications security policy ma.tters 

decided by the Board and make recommendations as 

·' 

and ~ procedures /\ - . 

appropriate; and 

(7) To establish policies 

governing actions to be 

in COMSEC matters. 

taken by the Executive Agent 

,. 

f. The Board shall meet at the call or the Chairman 

or at the request of any member. and shall determine its 

own procedures subject to the provisions of this 

Directive. 

g. The Board shall reach its decisions by majority 

vote. In the event that the Board votes and reaches a 

decision, any dissenting member of the Board may appeal 

from such decision. Such appeal must be made within 

15 days to the Special Committee. In the event that the 

Board votes and fails to reach a decision, any member or 

the Board may appeal to the Special Co1D1r1ittee and such 

appeal must be made within 15 days of the inconclusive 

vote. In either event the Special Committee shall review 

the matter, and its determination thereon shall be final. 

Appeals by the Director of, NSA, or by the representative 

I 

of any of the Military Departments shall be filed only 

with the approval of the Secretary of Defense. 

h. No action shall be taken with respect to any 

matter forming the subject or an appeal until the appeal 

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.OPlFIBEN'fIAfJ 

&ECtJRI4l'Y IHF'eRM:A'fI6N 

is decided; provided that, if the Secretary of Defense 

determines, after consultation with the Secret&ry of 

State, (and the Attorney General as appropriate) that 

the subject matter presents a problem of an emergency 

nature and requires immediate action, his decision shall 

govern, pending the result of the appeal. In such an 

emergency situation the appeal may be taken directly to 

the President by the Special Committee. 

1. The Board shall invite the head ~f any department 

or agency not represented on the Board to designate a 

representative to participate with the Boa.rd in 

consideration of matters of direct interest to such a 

department or agency, to the end that the communications 

security needs of all such departments and agencies may 

be considered; and heads of departments or agencies not 

represented on the Board may present, through the 

Executive Secretary of the Board, communications 

security matters for consideration by the Board. 

l· Departments or agencies not represented on the 

Board may appeal from decisions of the Board in the 

manper prescribed for departments and agencies 

represented on the Board. 

~o·~~ 2. The se~retary or Defense: 

!:.· The~ Defense is hereby designated 

as .Executive Agent of the United States Communications 

Security ~oard for all COMSEC matters. 

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b. 

• REF ID:A7229-~ ~ . 

ONF'IDEit'f!:AL 

~ :r:S:~I'PY INP&RMtd'I0fl 

As Executive Agent 'the Se ~tary of Defense 

is empovered to take action within policies and 

procedures established by ~he Board, in all COMSEC 

matte~s affecting the departments and agencies or 

the Government provided, however, that where exception 

to his action is made by the Secretary of a department 

or by the Head or Director or an agency outside of the 

Department of Defense, such exceptions shall be 

referred to the Board. Pending Board review, if the 

Secretary of Defense determines that the subject matter 

presents a problem of an.emergency nature and requires 

immediate action he may refer the matter to the 

Special Committee for iminediate decision. 

c. Subject to the specific provisions of this - Directive and subsequent directives as may be issued, 

the Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) 

shall act for the Executive agent in COMSEC matters as 

set forth below and as may be specified by· the Special 

Committee or the Board. With respect to the Military 

Departments, the Director of NSA will perform his 

functions under the immediate direction of the Joint 

Chiefs of Starr. 

(l) Ctyptosecuri.t:y: 

(a) Subject to review by the Board in 

the event of di~agreement, review and approve 

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• REF ID:A72290 • 

e ONJi'!f)E!f'l'!AL 

BBetffiI'fY INP6RMA'fI ON 

the crypto-principles incorporated or to be 

incorporated in any telecommunications~ 

w. ~ ~-v· M· ~ ..... -1\'~'1_ .... a.-+-1 .. .b 

equipments and1\sys~ms used by the departments U ~ 

and agencies of the Government) 

(b) Subject to review by the Board in 

the event of disagreement review and approve 

cryptosec~rity rules, regulations and 

instructions applicable to the operation and 

use of any crypto-equipments and systems; 

(c) Perform technical analysis of Federal. 

telecommunications for purposes of determining 

the degree of cryptosecurity being provided by 

the crypto-principles, materials, and procedures 

utilized by the departments and agencies, as 

well as the effect thereon of communication 

procedures and practices; and make necessary 

arrangements, as appropriate, to obtain the 

material required for such analysis; {see 

paragraph 3-b) 

(d) Subject to the authority granted the 

Director of Central Intelligence under NSCID 

No. 5, coordinate and review~~fo~r~~l1c..U)~-;;:;;.,.t~~ 

conduct of foreign liaison in/\-~ y )'._l 

departments and agencies of the Government and 

conduct such liaison as directed by the Board; 

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SBCURI'l'Y INPORM-A!ION 

(e) In consonance with policies of the 

respective departments and agencies, provide 

technical guidance and support for 

cryptosecurity training conducted by them; 

(f) Obtain from the departments and 

agencies their requirements for cryptoequipments and materials, and formulate for 

consideration by the Board integrated programs 

for the production and procurement thereof; 

(g) In consonance with the policies of, 

and subject to approval bJ, the Board 1 provide 

for review and coordination of Cl'Y'ptosecurity 

research and development programs; and 

establish and conduct a research and development 

program consisting of projects of common concer~ 

which can be more efficiently accomplished 

centrally. Departments and agencies are not 

precluded from initiating and, subject to prior 

to notification to and coordination with the 

Director of NSA, from pursuing such research 

and development as may be necessary to support 

their cryptosecurity activities. 

J 

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SECURI'i'Y INi"ORMATIOll 

{h) In meeting operational requirements 

the Director of NSA will insure, insofar as 

practicable the compatability of crypto-

.equipments and material in order to promote 

maximum 

procurement, 

eff'iciency 

~;eia~ 

and econOJllY 

and maintenance. 

in thei'r ~ 

Determination or the acceptability of the 

physical embodiments of crypto-principles is a 

function of the various departments and agencies; 

(1) The Director of NSA will furnish 

services and materials for the COMSEC programs 

of the departments and agencies only on a 

reimbursable basis. 

(2) Transmission securitz: 

The Director of NSA shall be responsible 

for review and evaluation of communications procedures 

developed by the departments and agencies, to 

determine if such procedures will insure the maintenance of tre.nsmisst'on security, recommending 

revisions and additional rules and procedures as 

required. To accomplish this the Director of NSA 

may perform necessary technical analysis of Federal 

telecommunications, making arrangements, as 

appropriate, with departments and agencies to obtain 

the material required for such analysis. 

(See paragraph 3-,£). 

~ 10 - eeNPIJ9E:N'fIAL 
• REF ID:A72290. 

(3) Physical security: 

C ONIP!1'!N'l'iAL 

&ECYRI~Y INFQRMt.~IQN 

Subject to review by the Board in the 

event of disagreement, the Director of NSA will, in 

collaboration with ~~~~11J!~t.1:::8'nd agencies, as 

appropriate, formulate~J1;;1~~dards for physical 

security of cryptosystems and related cryptomaterial. 

(4) Cover and Deception: 

The Director of NSA will, in collaboration 

wi~h appropriate departments or agencies, assist in 

the preparation of, and review the communications 

portions of all strateg c 

and formulat~e~ic portions. 

~ and deception plans, 

g. The Director of NSA shall exercise his authority 

over communications security matters under his cognizance 

through the agency represe.ntatives on the Board or, in 

the case of agencies not represented on the Board, through 

the duly authorized representatives of the heads of such 

agencies. Where liaison with subordinate elements of a 

department or agency is considered necessary, the 

Director of NSA shall arrange with the authorized 

representatives of the departments or agencies concerned 

for such liaison. 

e. The Director of NSA is authorized to obtain from 

the departmentsand agencies such 'information as he may 

- 11 - COMFI:Qmol~IAJ,, 
REF ID:A722906 

~..,..ON~F-I,...Dw.EN•T,...I-A-~ 

~s1.,e~tmPe"'l'f?T~Y,......,I"'NP ... o~mutll'ft"T .... IHO"'*K 

require in performing his tunctiqns, as authorized 

tn this directive or any other directive subsequently . tssued. 

f. The Director or NSA shall have neither the 

responsibility· nor the authority to compel, within 

organiz•tions other tban his own, compliance with 

communications security instructions issued by any 

authority, but shall refer v.tolation.·s or 

such instl'tictions outside hi• e~"" to the chief 

or head of the organization concerned for such action 

as may be deemed necessary'.. If appropriate corrective 

action is not taken and violattons continue the Director, 

NSA~shall refer the subject to the Board. 

3. Departments and Agencies or the Government: 

.!· All decisions or the Board, or of the Special 

Committee, which are not in conflict with law shall be 

binding on all departments and agencies or the Federal 

Government. 

b. No department or agency of the Government shall 

be required to disclose to the Director or NSA, or to 

the Board, or to any or its committees, the contents or 

any official communication concerning its activities if, 

in the opinion of the head of such department or agency, 

, the disclosure would be contral'Y to the National interest, 

and nothing in th1$ Directive shall be construed to give 

the Board or any of its r.epre$entat1ves the right of 

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• REF ID:A72290 • 

0 Offii'IDmf'f'IAL 

S:!ClffiI'l'Y INF'O:mvb\'fION 

inspection of any department or agency without approval 

by the head thereof. 

£· Subject to the provisions of law, the directives 

of the President. the provisions of this Directive, and 

any other directives which may be issued by the Special 

Committee, the departments and agencies of the Government 

will organize and conduct their communications security 

activities as they see fit, and nothing in this 

Directive shall relieve the individual departments and 

agencies of their responsibilities for execut~ng all 

measures required to assure the secu~~wn /\ 

telecommunications. 

d. All rules and regula~ions in conflict with the 

provisions of this Directive shall be brought to the 

attention of the Board. 

4. Special Terms Used in this Directive are Defined 

as Follows: 

a. Telecommunications - Any transmission, emission 

or reception of signs, signals, writing, images and 

sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, 

visual, or other electromagnetic system. 

b. Federal Telecommunications - Those telecommunications which are of an official character dealing with 

governmental affairs and are originated by or intended 

for officials of the United States Government. 

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~..,..O""NJi'VI"'"f)~l!:!"q1N1Tlt"tl"1IA"T'L'."""" 

SEJGURI!Y IN¥9BK."&1ION 

Specifically exempted from this definition is that 

portion of the communication activities conducted by 

the Central Intelligence Agency in accordance with the 

authorities granted the Director, of Central Intelligence 

under NSCID No. 5 {see paragraph 2-£-(l)-(d) above). 

Communications Security - The protection I 

resulting from all measures designed to deny to 

unauthorized persons information of value which might 

be derived from the possession and study of telecommunications;f9'r to mislead unauthorized persons in 

their interpretation of the results of such a study} 

Communications security includes: {1) transmission 

security; (2) cryptosecurity, and (3) physical security 

of communications security materials and information, 

g. Transmission Security - Transmission security 

is that component of communications security which 

results from all measures designed to protect 

transmissions from unauthorized interception, traffic 

~nalysis, and imitative deception. 

~· Cryptosecurity - That component or communications 

security which results from the provision of technically 

sound cryptosystems and their proper use. 

f. Cryptoprinciple - The characteristics of the 

elements involved in, and the fundamental :rule or 

operation, motion, or activity inherent in a 

cryptosystem. 

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SEOGHI'l'Y Ufti'eRMA'fION 

g. Cryptosystem (Cryptographic System) - The 

associated items of CJ:'Y'Ptoma.terial which are used as a 

unit and which provide a single means or encryption 

and decryption. 

h. Cryptomaterial - All material, including 

documents, devices and/or equipment or apparatus 

employed in the encryption or decryption of 

telecommunications. 

1· Crypto~egutpment - The crypto-apparatus, 

mechanisms, machines or devices used in or associated 

with the encryption or decryption of 

telecommunications. 

j. Physica~ Security - That component of security 

which results from all physical measures necessary to 

safeguard classified equipment, material and documents 

from access thereto or observation thereof by 

unauthorized persons. 

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