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- ?-T.r. Wm. F. Friedman, NSA 

REF ID:A72215 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL 

WASHINGTON 

J'Uly 7, 1953 

lEHOP.ANDUH FOR: Mr. Robert R. Bowie 

N:r. Elbert P. Tuttle 

Mr. Thomas J. Donegan Mr. Frank c. Nash 

SUBJECT: 

Ha.jpr General John K. Gerhart 

1"'1r. Robert Amory, Jr. 

Mr •. Roy B. Snapp 

Communications Security 

The enclosed Draf't USC Directive on the subject, prepared l>y an ad hoc group consisting of representa~ 

tives of the Departments of State and Defense, the Federal 

Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelli£ence Agency, is transmitted herewith for consideration at an early meeting. 

S • EVERETT G mAS ON 

Acting Executive Secretary 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 01-31-2014 
DRAFT 

O&NFIOENT\ll .... ........... 

REF ID:A72215 

FOR NSC STAFF CONSIDERATION ONLY 

(Planning Board) July 3, 1953 

NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL DIRECTIVE I ' • 

on 

COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY 

The Presidential directive o! October 2~, 1952: 

_s. Stated that the security of Federal telecommunications (COMSEC) is a national responsibility, and that COMSEC 

policie~ and procedures must be integrated so as to enable 

the vario~s departments and agencies of the Government 

to cooperate effectively in such matters and to satisfy 

legitimate requirements for the security of their messages; 

b. Designated the Secretaries of State and Defense 

as a Special Committee of the National Security Council 

for COMSEC matters, to establish such policies relating 

to COMSEC as will achieve the maxiraum security of Federal 

telecoiillllunications, and to keep the President advised of 

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 raatters of interest to the Federal Bureau of Investi~ - gation are before that committee. Un accordance with the 

President's instructions regarding the norQal operation of the 1 

Council, the heads of departments and agencies not represented 

on the Special Committee, shall also participate as meobers 

of the Special Comcittee whenever matters of direct interest 

to their respective age~cies are before that Committee°}) 
REF ID:A72215 C ONP'IDENTIAL 

SEC UBI'PY INPORMk'fION 

DRAFT 

9.· Directed the Special Co:mm.1 ttee ot the NSC to 

prepare and issue in the COMSEC field directives which 

will: 

(l) Rescind the Executive Order ot July 3, 191+5 

entitled "Cryptographic Security with Respect to 

Certain Commun1cat1ons of the Government"*• 

(2) Establish a united States Communications 

Security Board (USCSB) responsible for integrating 

policies and procedures affecting the security of 

Federal telecommunications. 

(3) , Provide tor the establishment of appropriate 

responsibilities and authorities to assure within 

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

(a) High and uniform standards or communications security; 

(bl Effective cooperation in COMSB:: matters 

between departcents and agencies concerned; 

(c) The adequacy of the cryptographic 

systems used; 

(d) Coordination of COMS~ problems, particularly policies with respect to foreign 

goverill'.:lents; 

(e) Satisfaction of legitimate requirements 

for the security of telecomcunications. 

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

Register. It was rescinded by the President on (date) 

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REF ID:A72215 

coNF' IDEN'f lAL 

SECURI'fY INFORW..TI<»T 

Pursuant to the foregoing and to the provisions of 

Section 101 and Section 211 of the National Security Act of 

1947, as amended, the Special Committee of the National 

Security Council for COJ.£EC hereby authorizes and directs 

as !ollows1 

1. ~cMftf ;~d StJtis Commupications Segμrity Boafd 

S!.• There is hereby established the United States 

Communications Security 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 uith the provisions of this Directive and 

any other directives which may be issued by the Special 

Committee. 

h· The Board shall be composed of one representative 

of each of the following: 

(1) The Secretary of State 

(2) The Secretary of Defense 

(3) The Secretary of the Treasury {~) The Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation (5) The Secretary of the Army (6) The Secretary of the Navy 

(7) The Secretary of the Air Force 

(8) The Director of Central Intelligence (9) The Director of the National Security Agency 

(10) The Atomic Energy Commission 

£• The Board sh.all elect its own Chairman from among 

its membership. 

- 3 . C~mBN'i'IAL 
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REF ID:A72215 

DRAFT 

OONP l»EM I1LL 

SECtiRI!Y INPORMA:!'ION 

sl• 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 Board shall have the following responsibilities& 

(1) rTo integrate policies and procedures affecting the security of Federal telecommunications; 

(2) To establi$h, under authority of the Special 

Committee, such communications security policies as 

will insure high and uniform standards of communications security within the various departments and 

agencies of the Government and will achieve the maximum practicable degree of security of Federal telecommunications. For thl.s purpose, the Board shall 

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 to1 

(a) Institute and maintain effective cooperation in communications security matters among the 

departments and agencies concerned, and 

(b) Satisfy legitimate requirements for the 

security of the co.mmu..~ications o; the departments 

and at;encies; 

- 4 - OONF IBEU'~ y. t. 
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REF ID:A72215 

:g B A,F T 

Com' m!lft IAL 

SBCURI'f¥ INPOR11''f IO!l 

(~)_To approve the long-range plans tor the 

communications security of the United States; 

(5) To establish policies affecting relations 

of the u. s. Government with foreign governments and 

international organizations 1n communications security 

matterf$; 

(6) To advise the Special Committee with respect 

to communications security policy matters decided by 

the Board and make recommendations as appropriate; 

and 

(?) To establish policies and appropriate procedures governing actions to be taken by the Executi"V£l 

A&ent in COlBEC matters. 

l,. 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. 

&• 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 tails to reach a decision, any member or 

the Board may appeal to the Special committee and such 

- 5 - CeltF mE?ff IAL 
REF ID:A72215 

D R A F l: I SEOlJRifi INPORMl'PION 

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 o! NSA, or by the representative 

of any of the Military Departments shall be filed only 

with the approval or the Secretary of Defense. 

h· No action sh.all be taken with respect to any 

matter forming the subject of an appeal until the appeal 

is decided; provided that, if the Secretary of Defense 

determines, after consultation with the Secretary or 

Statr (and the Attorney General and the heads of other 

departments and agencies 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 vhall invite the head or any department 

or agency not represented on the Board to designate a 

representative to participate with the Board 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 

- 6 - OONPID!N!Y.:E. 
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REF ID:A72215 

DRAFT 

OONFH>EN'fIAL 

SEC'Ul\!TY INF6ftftfft!ION 

represented on the Board may present, through the 

Executive Secretary of the Board, communications security 

matters for consideration by the Board. 

i• Departments or agencies not repre~ented on the 

Board may appeal from decisions of the Board in the manner 

prescribed for departments and agencies represented on 

the Board. 

2. The Department gf Defep§e: 

!!.• The Department of Defense is hereby designated 

as Executive Agwnt of the Government. 

!.• As Erscut.t.ve Agency,, the :Qepartment o.t D&tense ia chaJ"g8d with 

mission oft 

(l) Providing tor the BoazU.1 can~, ~ran cognia'ance 

and 4iLUthor1tative su.pemSion of the ~ necessary to provide and 

assure the Meque.cy ot the OOMSEO tecbniqt.1$S and material.tf W!led by the 

govemmentJ 

(2) Fonlllating .tor the Boani :tntegratect technical and operating 

policise. p1-0grama, and long range plans ~ to maintain hi.gh and 

-te le <l t' ht \14 <J )t ~ l:l &:t "' M 5", tmitol111 ~ tit> ~ the secuiV of Fe4etel1 and 

i\ 

(3) Providj,ng ~ee and l'l6COJDmerdat1on8 on 81\V a.epeet h the 

fi.e1d of Cl01llllan-icationa eectll'i 1¥. 

the Special Committee for immediate decision. 

g. Subject to the specific provisions of this Direc• 

tive and subsequent directives as may be fssued, the 

... 7 - GONF IDBN'i' IPtL 
REF ID:A72215 

DRAFT 

C OMFif>:EM'.f'IAL 

SfCtfflI!Y IM"Oftl~A!IOM 

Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) shall act 

for the Executive agent in the COMSEC matters which are 

set forth in subparagraphs (1) through (4) below and 

which may be specified by the Special Committee or the 

Boardc. W:.tf1 respect to the Military Departments, the 

Director of NSA will perform his functions under the 

immediate direction of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. 

(1) Cryptosecurity 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--~-/the 

cry~to-pr1nc1ples incorporated or to be incorporated in any telecommunications equipments and 

systems and in any communications security equipments and systems used by the departments and 

~~~~~~~aE-encies_o£~the_GoY.exnment~,~~~~~~~~~~~~~1 

(b) Prescribe or renew and approve 

security rules, regulations and instructions 

applicable to the operation and use of any cryptoequipments and systems and of any commurucations 

security equipments and systems, 

(c) Perform technical analysis of Federal 

telecommunicetions for purposes of determining 

the degree of cryptosecurity being provided by 

the c~ypto·principles, materials, and procedures 

- 8 ... 0 ON¥IDEN'.t'IAL 
REF ID:A72215 

COM"IriEN'fIAL 

DR Ar T SD eun l'i'Y !Hf' OR 1 ffi:'f' I ON 

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-~) 

(d) Comue't J,ia1son GD technieal COM.SEC 

sm related matters With the crypt43.og1c 

authorities ot .toJ'&ign nations 8D1i in~ 

nat.tonal organleationa. 

(e) Provide technical gujdance and support 

for m')'ptosecunty training c:imclueted bJ1" the 

depariments 400. agenoles. 

(f) Obtain from the departments and agencies 

their requirements for crypto-equipments and 

materials, and formulate for consideration by the 

Board integrated programs for the production and 

procurement thereof;* 

*Insofar as the Department of Defense is concerned, these 

programs will include budgeting details which specify, among other items, the funding required by tbe military departments and agencies. 

- 9 - 00HFIDBW£IAL 
REF ID:A72215 

DR AF X 

eomrmEM!IAL 

SECtJF<ITY INlfottl~!IOM 

r--=--=::-=--~-~~---==~----------~-------~~--~~-=-

\ 

\ 

v 

(g) Provide for re'fiew and CQOidination 

ot cryptcsecarity research and developaent. 

programs1 and establish and. eomuct an adequate 

research and develo~t program. Departments 

and agenc~s ate not precluded fJ'9minit.iating 

and, subject to pl'ior notUication to and 

$PP~Val by the Director of NSA. ham. pursuing 

such J"eSearch and deTelopment as mq be 

necessary to support their cryptosecurity 

actl'ri.t1es•* 

,-------·---------::::-=-___:C~h:!)~In=--:m::.e::..:e:_t:_:::i=n~g~o:__p=er:.:a=-t=-::i=-::o=.n=--:_a~l~re:_q:_u=-:i:=r:__::e=m=e-=n~t-=--s-t~h~e=----­

Director o£ WSA will 1nsu:re the C'Ollpatibility am,. in&Gfar 

I I 

I 

I 

as practicable, the tltandaztliaation oZ er.ypt.o.equipllents 

and material in order to promote maximum ef"f'1clency 

and economy in their procurement, operation and 

maintenance. Determination of the acceptability 

of the physical embodiments of crypto-principles 

is a function of the various departments and 

agencies; 

*Insofar as the Department of Defense 2s concerned, these 

programs will include budgeting details which specify, among other itemst the £1.llld!ng required by tne military departments and agencies. 

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REF ID:A72215 

l{ ILA F T 

CONF 1DEN1'1AL 

S:SCUflI'±'Y HJFOfiHl\T ION 

(i) The Director of NSA will furnish services 

and materials for the C01SEC programs of the 

depa.rtmnt.s and agencies on a fiscal anangeunt as mutual.17 

~ with the depal'tmente and agencies. 

----------

( j) The DiNctor • NSA is responsible for insuring 

adequate capacity £or and providing technical. cri.terla for 

p!"Oducing eryptamaterial. to _.t legitinate reqtliremsnts. 

Nothing in this directive shall be construed as precluding tae 

ft.·..., 

Directr:1r 1 NSA ef 11 produeing, printing• procuring~ and lllOdif)1.ng 

Cl')'Ptaaaterials to meet the ~s ot the departmmts and 

agencies or f'?tom budgeting ror the conduct of" bis ac.tinties. 

necessary teclmical analysis of Federal telecommunications, makint, arrangements, as appropriate, with 

departments and agencies to obtain the material required for such analysis. (See paragraph 3-~). 

(3) Physical security: 

ihe Director of NSA will, in collaboration with the departments and agencies, as appropriate,. prescribe m.nimum staldems 

for physical security of cryptosystems and related 

er) ptomaterial. 

*Applicable only to departments and agencies outside the 

Department of Defense. 

- 11 - C Oit.P IDDH'f IA L 
REF ID:A72215 

CONE IDEH'ffAL 

p RAFT SECURlfi_Ilii'ORMA:i'lON 

(4) Cover and QeceptiOQI 

The Director or NSA will, in collaboration 

with appropriate departments or agencies, ~ssist in 

the preparation of, and review the communications 

portions of all strategic cover and deception plans, 

and formulate and promulgate the basic policies 

utilized in such portions. 

~&· The Director of NSA shall exercise his authority 

over communications security matters under his cognizance 

through the agency representatives on the Board or, in 

the case of agencies not represented on the Board, through 

the duly authorized representatives of the heads of such 

agenc~es.~~liaisea with subordin~te 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 • 

.f .I'.• The Director of NSA is authorized to obtain f'rom 

the departments and agencies such information as he may 

require in performing his !unctions, as authorized in 

this directive or any other directive subsequently issued. 

~.(.. The Director of NSA shall have neither the resp_onsibili ty nor the authority to compel, within organi- . ' 

zations other than his own, compliance with communications 

security instructions issued by any authority, but shall 

- 12 -
. . REF ID:A72215 

D B, A F T 

00NP IBEUf! IAfi 

SBGURiiY INFOBUl' .. TIQN 

refer violations of such instructions outside his Agency 

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 violations continue, 

the Director, ~A, shall refer the subject to the Board. 

3. p~p51rtmept; and Agepcies of the Goyerament 1 I 

a• All decisions of the Board, .or of the Special 

Committee, which are not in conflict with law shall be 

binding on all departments and agencies of the Federal 

Government • 

.12,. No department or agency of the Government shall 

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

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

any official communication concerning its activities if, 

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

the disclosure would be contrary to the National interest, 

and nothing in this Directive shall be construed to give 

the Board or any of its representatives the right of 

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 

.,. 13 - GOMF IBBN':eIAL 
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REF ID:A72215 

p R A_F :;t 

eOMF !1'!N'!I1lt 

SBCURHY INFORMl' .. TIQN 

will organize a~d 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 executing all measures required 

to assure the security and efficiency of their own telecommunications. 

sl.• All rules and regulations in conflict with the 

provisions of this Directive shall be brought to the 

attention of the Board. 

4. Special Terq1s Useg in this Directive a:re Defined as 

Folloys: 

a• ·~iecommunicatiOQ.S - Any transmission, emission 

or reception of sign, signals, writing, image~ and sounds 

or intelligence of any nature by wire, radio, visual, or 

other electromagnetic system. 

g. Fed§ral Iele~2wnypication§ ~ Those telecommunications which are of an official character dealing with 

bovernmental affairs and are originated by or intended 

for officials of the United States Government. Specifically exempted from this definition is that portion of 

~he communication activities conducted by the Central 

Intelligence Agency in accordance with the authorities 

granted the Director of Central Intelligence under 

NSCID No. 5. 

- 14 - OONF ID:SN'i' IA!I 
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e 

£• 

REF ID:A72215 

DR A f T 

OOliP H>EN!IAli 

SECtm:!tY IMF6RMA-'f ION 

Communications Sectari}I - The protection resulting ' ' 

from all measures designed to deny to unauthorized persons 

information of value which might be derived from the 

possession and study of telecommunications, or to mislead 

unauthorized persons in the:lr interpretation of the results of such a study. Communications security includes: 

(1) transmi~sion security; (2) cryptosecurity, ~nd (3) 

physical security of communications security materials 

and inf orma ti on. 

TransmisSiQ!l Se9uritY - Transmission security I • 

is that component of communication~ security which results 

from all measures designed to protect transmissions from 

unauthorized interception, traffic analysis, and~im1tative 

deception. 

!t• Cry~tosecurity - That component of communications 

security which re~ults from the provision of technically 

sound cryptosystems and their proper use. 

!• Cryptoprinciple • The characteristics of the 

elements involved in, and the fundamental rule or operation, motion, or activity inherent in a cryptosystem. 

&• Cryptosystem (Cryptographic System) - The associ-· 

ated items of cryptomaterial which are used as a unit and 

which provide a single means of encryption and decryption. 

- 15 - OONF'lBBNiIP:L 
REF ID:A72215 

CONrmENT!l\L 

p B A F T SECtJRI9]¥ IPW9HH\i1I0N 

h· CtYRtQmateria~ - All material, including documents, devices and/or equipment or apparatus employed 

in the encryption or decryption of telecommunications. 

- 1· Qrypto-eguipment - The crypto-apparatus, mechanisms, 

machines or devices used in the encryption or decryption 

of telecommunications. 

i· P}lysi9al Secyrity - That component of security 

which results from all p~ysical measures necessary to 

safeguard classified equipment, material and documents 

from access thereto or ~tservation thereof by unauthorized 

persons. 

- 16 - CONf' :flffltff IA L 

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