a / j “Doc ID: 6598365 Date: 10/08/98 PaGe:1 JFK ASSASSINATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY INFORMATION AGENCY : NSA RECORD NUMBER : 144-10001-10288 RECORDS SERIES : | AGENCY FILE NUMBER : DOCUMENT INFORMATION ORIGINATOR : FROM : NCIPAL DEUTY ASST SECDEF (INTEL) | TITLE : SENATE SELECT COMMITTEE QUIERIES TO NSA CONCERNING THE WARREN COMMISSI DATE : 01/26/76 PAGES : 10 JECTS : VESTIGATIONS E E : PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT F Vis R S : 1A, 1B T S$: X T W: 07/24/98 PENING CR ORIGINATING COMMENTS : . : RELATED DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED-PARTIAL DPULICATON OF 144-10001-10127, -10195, -10211,-10212, ano -10025 -- THIS COMPLIATION OF RECORDS WAS LOCATED IN DR. Lours ToRDELLA'S (FORMER DEPUTY Drrector,NSA) RECORD COLLECTION. CR] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED Released on 11-01-2017 under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 USC 2017 Note)
/ 0986 “Doc ID: 6598365 NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY _ CENTRAL SECURITY SERVICE FORT GEORGE G, MEADE, MARYLAND 20755 Serial: NO0O078 26 January 1976 —OR—SECRE MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRINCIPAL DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (INTELLIGENCE) ~ SUBJECT: Senate Select Committee Queries to NSA Concerning the Warren Commission Reference your letter dated 14 January 1976 transmitting a request from Mr. Alton Quanbeck of the Senate Select Committee Staff. The following information is provided in response to Mr. Quanbeck's letter, keyed by paragraph to his letter (inclosed - see underlined portions). Most. of the information was made available to the SSC Staff, Mr. Jim Johnson, during an interview with Dr. Louis Tordella ‘on 20 January’ 1976. Para. 1. - NSA requested permission to retain photocopies of those reports on which we had worked merely as record copies of our efforts on behalf of the Commission. It was felt that if a question should arise at that time concerning what analytic efforts had been involved and the number of manhours expended, a record copy would prove useful. No operational use was made of these documents except to hold them on file for a period of time which cannot now be determined. To the best of our present knowledge, the photo- copies have now been destroyed. Absolutely no results relevant to the assassination were obtained through NSA's analytic look at the exhibits. The Commission, in the person of Mr. Allan Dulles, had asked Dr. Tordella, informally, to. review the exhibits for any secret writing or codes which might have been contained in the documents. Dr. Tordella, after causing a careful review of the documents by NSA crypt- analysts, reported verbally to Mr. Dulles and other Commission members that nothing whatsoever had been achieved by the analytic effort. No written reply was submitted. Classified by DIRUSA/OQUna4 A/CSEM ABER) Exempt from ClS, ; id Beclassify Upon Se Released on 11-01-2017 under the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 (44 U USC 2017 Note
Toe Doc ID: 6598365 /CABY Serial: NO0O078 Para. 2. - NSA is uncertain as to what is precisely meant by these comments, but we assume that the comments on names refer to our biographic files which are maintained on _foreign personalities of potential intelligence significance. As the Committee knows, these biographic files are maintained (now at CIA incidentally) as analytic support. It is also possible that the Commission was referring to the fact that names are frequently seen in traffic collected for foreign intelligence purposes and therefore NSA might have access to foreign names not otherwise available to the Intelligence Community. Para. 3. - It may well be that CIA did obtain such transmissions and pass them to NSA for analysis, but no one presently working that analytic area recalls such a request. Discussions with Dr. Tordella also failed to shed any light on this subject. There are no files or records which we have been able to locate from that time frame which would sub- stantiate such a claim. In fact, the only file the responsible analytic group has been able to locate concerning a request from the Warren Commission deals with a file compiled from open sources citing major dates in the last months of Oswald's life. Presumably the date file was to be compared with NSA product on/about the key dates in the hope that something could be deduced. The file does not contain any "hits." The analysts who performed this effort have since retired. Para. 4. - The informal request from Mr. Dulles is the known total extent of NSA's role in assisting in the investigation. The: file discussed in Paragraph 3 is the only file thus far recovered. There is no information which can now be identified which was developed from Cuban or Soviet transmissions relating to the assassination. Para. 5. - We have no inifiommatcion on this subject at all. However, pursuant to the subject raised during the - Tordella interview, we have searched our files manually, and as Mr. Lowman agreed during the Tordella interview, we have recovered three product reports (Inclosures 2 through 4) which show that Cuban military forces did go on alert immediately after the assassination. There is no SIGINT evidence, however, that the Cuban forces were alerted prior to the assassination, thereby suggesting that they had prior knowledge of the event.
" Doc ID: 6598365 sth oles, oom cece /oast Serial: NOO78 Para. 6. - No hard copy material of any kind was provided to the Commission (see Para. 1). DAVID D. LOWMA Special Assistant to the Director for Congressional Reviews 4 Incls: a/s
a - Doc ID: 6598365 cc: M/R: Inclasures 2 through, 4’ are product reports numberéd 2/of__|R66-63, 2/0/[___R196-63 and 2/0/[___R58~-63,. Serial: DIR (Less Incls) D/DIR a ESS " ESS/R ESS, Mr. Lowman G, Mr. Peksa _e NCRDEF .e8e™ A, Miss Caracristi (Less Inéls L221 a sf hie vad : NO078 ag Mose ‘ee 1026 44USC2107(5)(g)(2)(D) (iii) 44USC2107(5)(g)(2)(D) b(v) jf, Frank Foster/0O/ESS/3161s/26 Jan 76/kjb
“ ” Doc ID: 6598365 /oag?t if T t OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON, D. C. 20301 14 January 1976 MEMORANDUM FOR The Director, National Security Agency The attached letter from Alton Quanbeck, Senate Select Committee staff, dated 13 January 1976, is forwarded for your action. Please provide this office with a response to Mr. Quan- beck's questions as soon as possible, but not later than 22 January 1976. Your response should include a proposed date the Committee staff may have access to files mentioned in paragraph 4. , nak Lhe Thomas K. Latimer Attachment _ t } - UPON REMOVAL OF ATTACHMENTS THIS DOCUMENT BECOMES UNCLASSIFIED
a /02e CPOPPLPLALLALAS EL ALLL TELL ET? SEL PP PAPO OOOO a ° " CONTROL. NO. 208 —_—_ F213 | REFERRED TO : RECEIVED cert eT OFFICE ~ SIGNATURE 4 4 NNANANANS SS NSN NAN SA . Handle Via Indicated Controls COMINT EN NS COSHH HEE TEHEHEDEREOEHEOELOO®R COOCHHHEH SOOO HOHE DEDOOD EHO - COP OOOH OSHOOHE OHO HOO HED EDD O®D = me. Access to this document will be restricted to those persons cleared for the specific projects; —_ eee  . WAASAsasanas haar OHO H Hee EeVoneenoee Co eooeseneereeneeroes SOKO OOH O OHS OLE EYELS SeeHeoeroeoereneecare Coe nee eotenocovocecase Coeeecorreveressuesne ~ ew sek WARNING This document contains information affecting the nationol security of the United-States within the meaning of the espionage laws U.S, Code Title 18, Sections 793, 794 and 798. The law prohibits its transmission or the revelation ofits contents in any monner to an unauthorized person,as well os its use in ony manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detriment of. the United States. [tis to be seen only by personne! especially indoctrinated and authorized to receive in- formation in the designated control channels, Its security must be maintained in accordance with regulations pertoining to the BYEMAN and Communications Intelligence Controls. No oction is to be token on ony com- munications intelligence which moy be contained herein, regardless of the advantage to be gained, if such action might hove the effect of revealing the existence and nature of the source, unless such oction is first MMMM opproved by the appropriate authority. SANNA cee) Ceelided bom aytnmore doorareding ond de stevetcarion PPD DDD DDD DDD DD DDD DODDDDDO DDD ODODE D SO OS SSC CS SC COC CCCU CCGG Witt thiiitiiiiiiiiiiiliiiiiiitittiiti N
Doc ID: 6598365 4 x « . we “FRANK CHURCH, IDAHO, CHAIRMAN mop Bay yaad, : ‘, JORN G, TOWER, TEXAS, VICE CHAIRMAN | AS ia Sets i. ‘ my ey \ Lik Ria “3 i! on. re 4 noe fee. 4 - PHILIP A. HART, MICH, HOWAHD H. BAKER, JR., TENN, Niele Le | See = . WALTERS » MONOALE, MINN, BARRY GOLOWATER, ARIZ. ‘ . : - . WALTER DO. HUDDLESTON, KY. CHAMNLES MCC. MATHIAS, JR., MD, i “ . gf a < ~ RORERT MORGAN, N.C, RICHARD S. SCHWEIKER, PA, “ ‘ ry seats Sarna Wnited Slates Senaf WILLIAM GC. MILLER, STAFF DIRECTOR t e CS e e PREDERICK A. 0. SCHWARTZ, JR., CHIEF COUNSEL CURTIS R. SMOTHERS, MINORITY COUNSEL, SELECT COMMITTEE TO STUDY GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS WITH RESPECT TO INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES (PUNSUANT TO S. RES. 21, HATH CONGRESS) WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510 January 13, 1976 Mr. Thomas K. Latimer Special Assistant to the Secretary U. S. Department of Defense Washington, D. C. 20301 Dear Tom: In connection with the Select Committee's investigation of the assassination of President Kennedy, we earlier received answers to certain questions put to NSA. Since then we have examined other material pertaining. to NSA's contribution to the Warren Commission's investigation and we desire further in-- formation from NSA. By way of background for this request, we note the Warren Commission provided NSA various documents and asked NSA to re- view them for any cryptological significance. NSA found no cryptological significance and its report of this fact was pub- lished by the Commission. 1, By letter of July 10, 1964, (a copy of which is attached) Mr. Rankin provided General Blake a copy of certain documents requested by Dr. Tordella for NSA's files. Since NSA's analysis of the documents was apparently completed at the time of Rankin's letter , we wish to know why NSA wanted to keep these documents for its file. Further, we wish to know what use, if any, was ‘made of these documents and what results relevant to the assassina- tion were obtained from such use. 2. In a Commission staff internal memorandum, discussing the documents provided NSA, it is reported that NSA is "primarily interested in names,"' and NSA claims it has "information on names which the CIA does not have." Assuming these statements are ac- curate, we wish to know what significance such names would have AUTOM A Tae AULY obey LE SSE: ‘kD ON foaicws tiupussdle, insert date of event) ae me 02% | exsiseagye. me 95C dnlelf,. act. FNUNED 3 mayne WIAAL DECLASSICA LA TN PSCHEULE ET FO bins ese EN OUP eke. § Sata: OE whl ayy Cis ited) Wine ue sere? fe teenie eee Tne pees eine teen oe om egg I ee ee ree ee met eee eee nue oe Sorpedsvitete. ADR Ey ane.
Doc ID: 6598365 vt - Ly . Mr. Thomas K. Latimer January 13, 1976 Page Two - to NSA and what information on names NSA had that CIA did not. If names had significance, what names did NSA use in its analysis? 3. We are informed that CIA obtained transmissions from the Soviet Embassy in Mexico City for November or December 1963 and that it may have passed these to NSA for analysis. Did NSA re-. ceive these transmissions or any transmissions relevant to the assassination inquiry? Did it analyze them? What were the re- sults of its analysis? ° 4, We are interested in learning the extent of NSA's role in assisting in the investigation of the assassination. In that connection, please inform the Committee the extent of NSA files relating to the assassination. Please provide the staff of the Committee access to those files. Please provide the staff with a summary of all information NSA developed from Cuban or Soviet transmissions relating: to the assassination. 5. We have been informed that after the assassination the Cuban government instructed its embassies and consulates to re- turn all files on Oswald to Cuba. What information does NSA have on whether such instructions were issued? 6. In connection with the answers to questions 4 and 5, please indicate whether such material was provided the Warren Commission and provide copies of all documents evidencing that fact. We would appreciate receiving a response to these questions as soon as possible and to expedite this inquiry we are sending | _a copy of this letter to Mr. Foster of NSA. Sincerely, Alton H. Quanbeck CLASSPEUES 83 1 SSC. Dntecl, eva Ih EST PRGA TE Mt ge: iL ASSIFICATION jx _ CUE Glos FES) Re rion UAE GY: i "ea BEE et Cae pe ortde une or mare) ec: Frank Foster nd f\ i i , t eon baa DEOL ASSIFIED ON vole ( Seung et “eat Hate aries vents Janet IN 4 able Ao Bb Taven YR ee re ree wee en
1. 8508 ; 02-88 ” Doe ID: 6598365 sys . YY Ms ‘r Lome: RM /bjc 7 — Lieutenant, General Gordon A, Blake, U. oe A. P. - ain bicector, ffatlonal Security Aceney Me te fi a eye matte Fort GeorgéU, Meade, Maryland os es : : en an Dear General Blake: — oe . : | - . ‘pos In regard to Dr. Tordello's request, the Hattonal | S curity Asency {9 authorized to keep for dts file the fslloving _ photegraphic copies of item3 Which have been used by the Se Comate sion in dts investigation; .. De, ao eT 7 QQ) Connicaion ‘Exhiptt 31° ™ (2) Compieston Exhibit 15 NF . (3) Comalssion Exhibit 104 (4) . Commission Exhibit 16 eat get 5) " Gypeuritten versicn of Commission Exhibit 24 - vee | (6) F. B. I, items A-2, A-6— (7) FL BL. I. items 137, 152 Thank you for the cooperation and assLatance Fou have rencered the Canmission. Sincerely, SIGHED J. Lee Rankin ‘ General Cuunsel a Wy NU cc: Mr. Renkin . ‘ oh: “ “Mr. Willens Mr. Mosk
REMARKS: DIA SSO : Aye u CONTROL. NO. w o rcs igroved or Special intehinence, Seale ty Sensitive Intelligence Sources and Methods Involved NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION Unauthorized Disclosure Subject to Criminal Sanctions ae san — DIA FORM 567 (10--74) S$} COVER SHEET more CbSulule: Previous editions of this £