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pproved for Release by NSA on 10-25-2013 

ursuant to E.O. 13526 
REF ID:A66994 

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,. SCT~ 
REF ID :A66994 1 

~ I NEVER USE FOR APPROVALS, r~~PROV ALS, MEMO ROl~,~G SUP CONCURRENCES OR SIMILA '-.J TIONS n 

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• REF ID: A66994 • 

The name "lie detector" is a complete misnomer. The machine 

used is not a lie detector. It shows the variations of your blood pressure and 

of your emotions. The person who operates the machine is the lie detector by. 

reason of his interpretations. The machine technically is known as the polygraph. 

The man operating it must be ektremely skilled and m•st be conservative and 

objective. He must be able to properly interpret the recordin'gs made. However, 

whenever the human element enters into an interpretation of anything, there is 

always a variance. I would never accept the conclusion of a lie detector as proof 

$.! innocence or guilt. All that it can be called is a psychological aid. 

For instance, I have in mind defalcations in banks. There was a:._ -- ------ case where one or two defalcations had been reported. We never use the· Iie . detector except upon the agreement of the employees. Two employ&·es 

immediately admitted they had committed this defalcation and elevem others 

admitted other defalcations which the bank did not know of and which had not 

been reported. That was psychological. 

I saw the lie detector used in a kidnaping case some years ago in 

which a young man in his early twe.nties was picked up. He was quite a nerv011s 

and high-strung individual. The lie detector indicated he was guilty of kidnapiag 

and murdering a child. We were not satisfied to accept that. We tried it on 

another suspect. He proved to be as innocent as any man could be. Five days 

later I received a full confession from the second suspect whom the lie detector 

proved to be innocent and he went to the chair and paid the penalty. 

That is why I have said I do not have confidence in it as specifically 

proving anything. It is a psychological aid bu.t as you and I both know, there are 

many persons who are Jaighly excitable and highly emgtional, who get very nervou.s 

when they have committed no crime. There will be differences of opinion. I 

personally would not accept solely the evidence of what the operator of a lie 

detector says the lie detector shows in proving that a man was or was not a sex 

deviate. There would have to be additional supporting information available. 

AccusiRg a. person of sex deviation is a very serious charge to make against 

an imtivid11al and every step should be taken to insure against falsely charging 

any individual of such activity. In many cases, psychologically, the man might 

confess· because of a guilty conscience. There are other sex perverts who are 

rather calloused and who might not show such reaction. I would never want to 

convict or acquit a man solely on the evidence of the lie detector because the·re 

is so much of a variance in regard to the human element and interpretation.