104-10330-10084 416/87 WED 16:11 FAX 202 724 0457 ARRB Wy UU Assassination Records Review Board 600 E Street NW - 2nd Floor - Washington, DC 20530 (202) 724-0088 » Fax: (202) 724-0457 April 16, 1997 Mr. J. Barry Harrelson Historical Review Group Center for the Study of Intelligence Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D.C, 02505 Re: Status of CIA Responses to Assassination Records Review Board’s Compliance Program and Requests for Additional Information and Records Dear Barry: Iam writing to memorialize the Review Board’s understanding of the status of CIA’s responses to our formal and informal requests for additional information and records that have been requested pursuant to the Review Board’s authority under Section 7(j)(1)(C)(ii)of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992, 44 U.S.C. § 2107 (Supp. V 1994) JFK Act). It is important that everyone at the Agency who is responsible for providing answers to _ our requests for additional information and records understand that the answers will need to be incorporated by reference into the Agency’s Final Compliance Statement. Essentially, CIA will need to attest, under oath, that it has made all reasonable and diligent. searches and that its answers are true and correct to the extent of the best, reasonably available information. In this regard, is important to note that when the Review Board requests, for example, a 201 file, it is not asking that you identify relevant records within the Sequestered Collection. Rather, it is asking to review the original 201 file in its current and most complete version.’ 'The Review Board has no basis for assuming that.a 201 file as it appears in the Sequestered Collection today is necessarily complete. It is fully possible that a relevant document was not identified by CIA or the HSCA in 1978-79 and therefore is not included in the Sequestered Collection, or that a relevant document that was initially placed in the Sequestered Collection in 1978-79 may have been misplaced at some point during the subsequent twenty years. Therefore, in response to requests for files, it is not sufficient merely to point to places where responsive records appear in the Collection. Ona case-by-case basis, we are very willing to hear your explanations for the possible burdensomeness of any particular search or your analysis of why a search Boano Memsens: John A. Tunheim, Chair - Henry F. Graff > Kermit L. Hall - William L. Joyce + Anna K. Nelson Executive Dinecton: David G. Marwell
13-000QQ 4/16/97 WED 16:11 FAX 202 724 0457 ARRB . Zoos v Mr. J. Barry Harrelson April 16, 1997 © Page 2 As we have written in our formal requests and as we have said to you orally, you should interpret our requests in the broadest reasonable sense. However, to the extent that you believe that a request poses an unreasonable burden that we may not have anticipated, or to the extent that you have suggestions to modify or to amend our requests in such a way as to better reach our goals, you should not hesitate to make suggestions or seek clarification. However, unless we specifically hear from you to the contrary, it is our presumption that CIA will respond fully to the requests as posed. In response to your request, the ARRB staff has now identified six of our outstanding requests as high priority issues. We would appreciate your forwarding to us as much responsive material as you are reasonably able to assemble during the upcoming two weeks with regard to these six issues. We wish to obtain a reasonably complete _ response to these requests within one month. These six issues are identified in the text by double asterisks (**).? The remainder of this letter is divided into two parts involving first, the formal requests for information and records, and second, the informal requests for information and records. Please let me know if your understanding of any of the following points differs from ours so that we can resolve any potential discrepancies.’ I. Formal Requests. ganizational Material. CIA has collected information responsive to this request for Review Board action. The ARRB staff has identified records that it believes will enhance the will not be fruitful. *As identified more fully below, the six issues are: CLA-7 (Histories); CLA-16 (Oswald Pre-assassination files); personnel assigned to a designated post; QKENCHANT,; the electronic take from the Mexico City Station; and files on George Stanley Brown. *This memorialization follows-up, in large part, on your conversations of March 19 and 20, 1997 with Michelle Combs and on the DO and DS&T briefings to the ARRB staff on April 1, 1997.
1500894 16/97 WED 16:11 FAX 202 724 0457 ARRB i004 o . “a a” ® “ Mr. J. Barry Harrelson April 16, 1997 Page 3 historical understanding of the assassination by providing some background on CIA records. . CIA should now review the DO and DS&T organizational material and re-examine some of the proposed redactions. Several documents have been . cleared by the directorate IRO‘s for either release in full or release with minor redactions.* The ARRB staff will consult with CIA to determine whether these records should be designated “assassination records” or whether they could be made available publicly in a manner similar to the material from the 1996 Boston trip. HRG would like to discuss this issue before the materials are formally put before the Review Board. CIA-2 through ClA-5. These requests have been satisfied and no further action is needed by CIA. “These are: pDcI ~Organization of the Office of the Director 1963 —Mission Statements for 1959, 1962, 1965 and 1966 ~some Office of the Director notices —OGC and IG Mission Statements for 1964, 1966, 1969, 1975, and 1976 —OLC Mission Statement for 1975 and 1976 DI ~Organization and Functions of the DI pre-1961 —Organizational Charts for 1961, 1964, and 1969 ~Mission Statements for 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, and 1970 DA Mission Statements 1957, 1958, 1960, 1963, and 1974 —Organizational Chart 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, and 1966 —Office of Security Organizational Charts for 1956, 1958, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1969, and 1975 . _ ~Office of Security Mission Statements for 1958, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1969, and 1975.
13-0000Q4716/97 WED 16:12 FAX 202 724 0487  ARRB igoos | “a Mr. J. Barry Harrelson April 16, 1997 Page 4 CIA-6 Cables and Dispatches. The Review Board first made this request on September 11, 1995. On September 11, 1995, CIA agreed to make these materials available by December, 1995. On October 1, 1996, CLA agreed to make these materials available by November, 1996. . We are aware that many of the cables requested are already in the JFK files, but not all are included. Those that we have not been able to locate in the collection inchide: Mexico City Station to Headquarters (September 26-30, 1963); Headquarters to Mexico City Station (September 26-30, 1963); JMWAVE to Headquarters (September 26-November 21, 1963); Headquarters to JMWAVE (September 26-November 21, 1963); and all traffic between the Mexico City Station and JMWAVE for the periods September 26-October 20, 1963 and Nove 22-December 30, 1963. **CIA-7 Histories. view Board first requested access to several internal CIA histories and to indices of histories on November 8, 1995. On August 8, 1996, after reviewing a list of histories that you provided, the ARRB staff designated approximately sixty histories for which further review was sought. To date, the ARRB staff has reviewed the seven histories that CIA has made available and has made suggestions with respect to further processing of those seven histories. CIA should make the remaining sixty-plus histories available. CIA-8 Intelligence Community Staff records. The Review Board first requested information on the Intelligence Community Staff on March 1, 1996. On October 1, 1996, CIA agreed to report on the status of this request within two weeks. The Review Board has not yet received any substantive response to this request. CIA-9 Intelligence Community publications on Cuba or USSR (November 20-30, 1963). The LBJ Library has already identified several publications for mandatory
¥3-000Q@/16/97 WED 16:12 FAX 202 724 0457 ARRB gj 006 Mr. J. Barry Harrelson April 16, 1997 Page 5 review.’ Michelle Combs reviewed the materials and identified some that should probably become available to the public. The DI has been tasked to locate the additional publications that have been requested. CIA-10 Interagency Source Register. CIA has provided a full description of the ISR, which should now be submitted as a formal response to the Review Board’s request. Once the formal statement is provided, this request will be complete. (Under separate cover, the Review Board is sending to you an additional request for information and records, CIA- 17, which provides a list of names that we request you check against the Interagency Source Register.) CIA-11 Sylvia Duran materials. _ CTA reports that it has exhausted its reasonable leads for pursuing additional information. CIA has agreed to provide a formal letter for the record detailing what searches were done and confirming that the responsive document currently in the JFK collection is a true copy of the original letter. Once this formal statement is provided, this request will be complete. CIA-12 JMWAVE and David Sanchez Morales. On May 22, 1996, the Review Board requested access to “all 201 files, personnel files, Office of Security files, P-files, or any other files” relating to five persons allegedly connected to JMWAVE. It is our understanding that, in response to this request, several months ago CIA located and made available for our review many records responsive to this request. However, it is also our understanding ‘They include: Intelligence Report (11/22/63; 11/23/63; 11/24/63; 11/26/63; 11/27/63; 12/11/63; 12/13/63; 12/18/63; and 12/20/63). ° Intelligence Memorandum (11/23/63; 11/24/63; 11/25/63; 11/25/63; 4/20/64; and 10/16/64). President's Intelligence Checklist (11/23/63; 11/24/63; 11/25/63; 11/26/63; 11/27/63; 11/28/63; and 11/30/63).
13-00000 04/16/97 WED 16:13 FAX 202 724 0457 ARRB ; 21007 Mr. J. Barry Harrelson April 16, 1997 ; Page 6 ; . that all of the records provided were located in the Sequestered Collection. As stated in the second paragraph at the beginning of this letter, we seek to review the original files that we have requested. The DO provided no response and no time frame for a response. CIA-13 Mexico City Backchannel Communications. This request, dated November 1, 1996, was raised at the DO follow-up briefing on April 1, 1997. The DO provided no response and no time frame fora response. CIA-14 Mexico City Station Annual Reports. This request, dated December 23, 1996, was raised at the DO follow-up briefing on April 1, 1997. The DO provided no response and no time frame for a response. oo CIA-15 Win Scott files identified in Russ Holmes Files. CIA has completed its response and no further action is needed. ™CIA-16 Oswald Pre-Assassination Files. | The HRG reportedly received a lengthy answer from the Office of Security on the LHO files and a formal response to the Review Board’s request is in process. Oswald’s Office of Security file has been located and will be delivered to HRG for review in April. Access to other files will require a special request from HRG to the Office of Security and should be requested by HRG for ARRB staff review. II. Informal Requests. & informal requests have previously been made to CIA. For future reference, they will be referred to by the “Informal Request” (IR) number provided below.
13-0000), 756/97 WED 16:13 FAX 202 724 0457 ARRB | ig 008 + Mr. J. Barry Harrelson April 16, 1997 Page 7 4-IR-01 Personnel assigned to post from 1959-64 (see RIF 104-10065-10199). This request, originally made in November 1996, was raised at the DO follow-up briefing on April 1, 1997. It is our understanding that the DO believes that it is not able to answer this request. The ARRB staff does not find DO’s responseto  { )-—~ be credible. We believe that with all of the resources at the Agency’s disposal — | including ready contact with individuals who should be able to answer this question from memory ~ this question can be answered. The ARRB staff has provided suggestions as to how this information could be obtained, including suggesting the types of files and cables that could be searched. CIA-IR-02 Location of cable identified in JFK 1993.07.20.10.18:29:650630. The cable was delivered to the Review Board on March 20, 1997. No further action by CIA is needed. CIA-IR-03 Full computer search for list of documents in HTLINGUAL file. CIA should undertake a computer run for all HTLINGUAL documents. All computer searches for these documents should be documented in a formal letter for the record. | CIA-IR-04 Disposition of Angleton’s files. The Review Board seeks to ensure that it has taken all reasonable steps to account for any files that James Jesus Angleton possessed or controlled that related to the assassination and to Lee Harvey Oswald. Because of the perceived controversy surrounding the disposition of Angleton’s files, the Review Board believes it prudent to obtain a clear understanding of the types of files that he maintained and their ultimate disposition. (The Review Board does not seek to explore any subjects in Angleton’s files beyond those that may have pertained to the assassination.) To date, CIA has made available certain documents provided by the CIC and the case files for Mangold v. CIA. The Review Board requests any additional information in the possession of CIA that would explain the disposition of Angleton’s files. °The ARRB staff has spoken with a retired CIA official who claims to be able to “A answer this question from memory, but who refused to do so.
13-0000), 16/97 WED 16:13 FAX 202 724 0457 ARRB . 009 | Mr. J. Barry Harrelson April 16, 1997 Page 8 CIA-IR-05 Possible foreign source for records on Oswald. CIA was informally requested, more than two years ago, to use its contacts to pursue certain records related to Oswald that were orally described to CIA. The Review Board believed that, for reasons of security classification of information, it would be appropriate for CIA to make the initial inquiries rather than the Review Board. Under separate cover, we are providing documentation of the action the Review Board has taken to further this request. **CIA-IR-06 QKENCHANT. The Review Board seeks information regarding the purpose of OKENCHANT and its connection with Clay Shaw, Howard Hunt, and Monroe Sullivan. The Review Board was initially provided some information in regard to this a request that now appears to be incorrect. CIA is now seeking additional : information to correct or to clarify its previous answers. The Review Board seeks an immediate, full, and accurate response to this 5 request. CIA-IR-07 Claude Barnes Capehart. The ARRB staff has reviewed all records that CIA has been able to locate. to date. During the course of this review, additional questions were raised that you agreed to pursue. You also agreed to conduct additional searches to determine whether there may be additional retrievable records on Mr. Capehart. CIA-IR-08 Unredacted copy of the “Family Jewels” memoranda. HRG will locate this item. | CIA-IR-09 George Bush computer search. The Review Board provided CIA with a copy of an FBI document, dated November 29, 1963, prepared under the name of John Edgar Hoover, which states: “The substance of the foregoing information [on the assassination of President Kennedy] was orally furnished to Mr. George Bush of the Central Intelligence Agency ....” We have been informed that the DO has no record of a “George Bush” being in the employ of CIA in 1963 with the exception of Mr. George William Bush who has already given a sworn affidavit that he is not the
13-00009; 716/97 WED 16:14 FAX 202 724 0457 ARRB ig)010 * Mr. J. Barry Harrelson ; April 16, 1997 Page 9 “George Bush” in question. CIA is now checking whether the search query included George Herbert Walker Bush prior to 1970. CIA should determine whether George Herbert Walker Bush is the person to whom the memorandum refers and should provide a definitive statement regarding the scope of its search and the basis of its conclusion. CIA-IR-10 IG Reports. _ CIA will determine whether the IG’s office maintains an index or inventory of its reports and determine whether the IG’s office prepared a report on the handling of Oswald. CIA-IR-11 Warren Commission critics. We are asking that CIA determine whether it possesses any files or records on Warren Commission critics Edward J. Epstein, Josiah Thompson, Mark Lane, Harold Weisberg, or Sylvia Meagher. The Review. Board is not requesting information per se regarding any FOIA requests by these individuals or any Public Affairs news clippings.’ CIA-IR-12 Contacts with journalists or publishing houses. The Review Board seeks to determine to what extent, if any, CLA might have attempted to influence any journalists or publishers regarding public discussion of the assassination. This request, originally discussed in March 1997, was raised at the DO follow-up briefing on April 1, 1997. The DO had no response and no time frame for a response. CIA-IR-13 Office or person dealing with organized crime and Cuba. The Review Board requested that CIA make a particular personnel file available. The file was made available by CIA for review. The Review Board will discuss with you whether any further steps need to be taken. "To the extent that CLA possesses FOIA files or records on any of these individuals, and to the extent that those records contain information that was not filed ‘with the courts, such records are being requested for review by the Review Board.
13-00009 4/16/97 WED 16:14 FAX 202 7240487 == ARRB | aunt * Mr. J. Barry Harrelson April 16, 1997 Page 10 CIA-IR-14 Breckinridge files. CIA (OGC) will determine the disposition of the files of Scott D. Breckinridge. **CIA-IR-15 Electronic “take” from Mexico City Station. The Review Board has for some time been attempting to determine whether it has had access to all of CIA’s surveillance “take” from the Cuban and Soviet facilities in Mexico City at the time of the Oswald visit and in the immediate wake of the assassination. On numerous occasions, the Review Board has asked whether there was any surveillance take in addition to what is currently in the collection. On March 18, 1997, the Review Board provided additional leads to CIA to assist it in answering these questions. The DO has agreed to check Headquarters records for the file referenced in HMMW 12454, to search for the crypts cited in this document, and to search for HMMA 20307 and other cables or dispatches cited in this document. The DS&T will query its offices for possible records on Mexico City and Cuba and for the present location of Staff D records. Regardless of the outcome of these particular searches, the Review Board continues to seek a full accounting for all surveillance conducted during the relevant time periods. CIA-IR-16 U-2 files. DS&T will provide a folder title print out of U-2 materials for Review Board examination, check for records filed under Richard Bissell’s name, and search for OSP files. DS&T has also contacted Lockheed for assistance. CIA-IR-17 DS&T Records on Castro assassination plots. HRG will furnish the 1967 IG Report to provide possible search query suggestions for DS&T follow-up. CIA-IR-18 DO Office. The Review Board has requested orally information about a particular DO office. We understand that you are collecting the relevant information.
13-0000 0 04/16/97 WED 16:15 FAX 202 724 0457 ARRB ! i i Mr. J. Barry Harrelson April 16, 1997 Page 11 CIA-IR-19 Computer searches, The Review Board has requested that full computer searches be conducted on all of the following people and organizations. The results of the searches should be documented. sd 1. Spas Raikin 2. Leo Cherne 3. Hunter Leake 4. Marilyn Dutz Murret 5. John McVickar ARRB awaits documentation. No OP file. No OMS file. DO | is checking. . 6. Andy Anderson 7. Byron B. Morton, Jr. 8. Marie Cheatham ARRB awaits documentation. OP file. OMS file. HRG has requested personnel file. . ARRB awaits documentation. No OP file. ARRB awaits documentation. ARRD awaits documentation, HIG wil check for Fes AIH awaits documentation, HRG wil check for Ges. ARRB awaits documentation. HRG will check for files. 15. INCA (information ARRB awaits documentation. FIRG will check for files. Council of the Americas) ARRB awaits documentation. HRG will check for files. Mold
13-00000*’ AOS GB! HOM 20.40 FAM 4UH bet Uhus Ou 7 + v “& oe * eo oe ® “Koy April 16, 1997 Page 12 | | Mr. J. Barry Harrelson | | | Conclusion Please let me know if you have any supplements or corrections. We would very much like to ensure that these matters are handled expeditiously. As always, we appreciate your cooperation and assistance. r for Research and Analysis ce: Esq. ‘ . ° . |