104-10334-10176 oO SECRET CL BY{0563747 . EL REASOM: Section 1.5 € pect om: X1 pav Fra: HUM 4-82 From the Desk. o| I; SAICICIC, X74606_ NOTE FOR: William H. McNair @ 00 Fredrick C. Wickham @ DO J. Barry Harrelson . FROM: f fe po - OFFICE: . SAICIC DATE: 08/01/98 12:57:43 PM SUBJECT: IMMEDIATE - Questions re JFK Assassination Search CIC has received the tasking memo from Lee Strickland to conduct the new search on information relating to the JFK Assassination. | see that LA and CE divisions have received it as well. Before the CIC Focal Point ( Ficiexoy gets started on the search for us on Manday (I'll be on A/L), 1 have some questions: , . 1. Will we be receiving any additional guidance from the D0 (either the 000 or IMS or someone else}? 2. Will we be required to submit a "search strategy" and a “written final response"? (As instructed in.the memo entitled “Document Search Procedure” issued by the DDO in Feb 1997, #DD/0 97-0420) 3. Inete that the tasking memo says if any information i is found it should “be brought immediately to the attention of the Historical Review Program, O1M Barry Harrelson." I'm not comfortable with doing that (see item "B" below) and think our findings, if any, should go through someene in.the DO first. (No offense Barry; it's just that we might find something that's sensitive/compartmented.) According to the memo above: - which f think was very helpful when we were going through a.number of searches early last year - certain things are called for. For example, it states: A. The DDO will “a. Appoint a DO focal point officer to manage each search activity and provide policy quidance.” “b. The DO focal point officer will be responsible for obtaining the external request in writing and for working with the requester to determine the level of search expected and the desired end product." “e. The component focal point officers will coord their search plans with the DO focal point to ensure there is consistency with...... the searches done by other components. Communication and coordination between the DO focal point and the component shail continue during the course of the search to eliminate duplication of effort and to ensure that no relevant holdings are overlooked." B. “Upon completion of the search, the component's final written response to the DO focal point should detail the search methodology, describe the review process, list the material provided and note any caveats for the provision of the documents to the fequester.” SECRET
oo - SECRET Any advice and guidance you can give us re the above, would be helpful. As you know, this is a very important search for the DO, in general, and CIC in particular. Erroneous- -and unfair- -accusations have been aimed.recently at CIC, causing members of the JFK board to _ demand to see C/CIC immediately for an explanation of why new documents are being uncovered. We've been able to defuse these Situations and explain them.te everyone's (quasi-jsatisfaction and we want this last search to eliminate once and for all the idea that CIC is either harboring relevant documents or not doing a thorough enough search. Right now we're feeling left to our own devices in conducting this search (although | DC/IRMB, has generously agreed to help us because our [MO is away on emergency leave). | think CIC would feel alot better if we had the active (at least articulated) support and guidance of the DO on this one. Thanks. ce: Sent on SECRET