104-10331-10346 © ~ JUN-@3-1997 89: 46 JFK TASK FORCE, . (Rey: 2-16-95) . Co ym " rn "292 324 3489 P.aidis FBI FACSIMILE COVERSHEET a PRECEDENCE CLASSIFICATION (1 iminediate C1 Top Secret . Time Transmitted: EZ 3S _C) Priority Cl secret Sender’s Initials: *~.. C] Routine [1 Confidential Number of Pages: ©, OC sensitive (including covers) ~ ("Unclassified Att: From: Name of Office Special Handling Instructions: -_ . : Originators Name: Catal heche reephore: (242) 2°/- Originator's Facsimile Nymber: Q- —~SC Approved; Zn __. ; Brief Description of Communication Faxed:
JUN-@3-1997 go: 46 omK TASK FORCE. a : ton a . : see : 202 324 3409 P.a245 - THe 02-1997, 12:35 T0:61 - r AUSTICE . FROM:GAYMOK, v.- bs ar av a , © i | Toral Pages: LAM ID: MJG94_— | EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESICERT OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET a Washington, 0.C. 20503.0001 Monday. June 2. 1997 LEGISLATIVE REFERRAL MEMORANDUM | To: Legistative Lisizon Officer - See Dietibution below FROM: James. J. Jukes (for) Assistant Diractor for Legisiative Roforence. Au OMB CONTACT: —M. Jill Gibbons . - : : PHONE: (2021395-7593 FAX; (202)395-3109 | - = SUBJECT: | SKF Assassination Records Review Board Testimony-on HRISS3 Extericion of the Authorization tor the Asxecsioation Records Review Board BQ. , DEADLINE: '  §6:00 Tuneday, June 3, 1997 in aecordance with OMB Circuler A-19, OMB requests the viaws of your agency on the abova subject befere advising on iis relationship to the program of the President. Please advice us fi this tem wif affect direct sponding or receipts for purposes of the “Pay-As-Vou-Go” provisions of Title Xt of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1890, COMMENTS: : , DISTRIBUTION ust | ste SO meme cere oe eemtpeenene AGENCIES: 21-Centeal intelligence Agency - - Daniel Krute - (703) 482-6126 29-DEFENSE - Samuol T. Brick Jr. - (703) 697-1305 §1-General Services Adminictratian - William R. Ratehford - (2023 501-0663 61-JUSTICE - Andrew Foig - (202) $14-2141 68-National Archives and Records Administration - John &. Constance - (301) 713-7240 83-Netional Sacurity Council - Glyn T. Davies ~ (202) 45/6-3221 114-STATE - Jufa C. Norton - (262) 647-4463 . EOP: flebert W. Schroeder Kon Schwariz. Louisa Kech Kim Newmen Maye Gernstein © dulie L. Heas dlen Mure Sreven 0. Aitken
13-00000 * @ + OeMOCRERTGED mae MEER Ss a + _ 7 SUN-834-1997 aar46 | : | 7 NORSOP ASST 42°59 IVUSBi = avetan FORCE RAN WeRauemarg da 202 S24 S403 P.@3715 s y DRAFT "Dates fune2, 1997 Time U4Sam DRAFT. Judge John R. Tunheim. Assassination Records Review Board. Toamend the President fou F. Kennedy Asraacention Revards Cillection act of 1992 to extend the authorization of the Assassination Records Review Board until September 30, 1998. . National Security, Incemational Affairs and Criminal justice Subcommittee, ° Te ee House Goverment Reform and Oversight Commnlites homed em 5 me cat aster emesis “soe Neen ted we aan wawe  aTey A FEAR wh UerOeR ECU . ei SSS RUCK ce ems wttmemD oxo + sme sean Mr. Chairman and Meabecs uf the Subcommittee, I would lie to thank you for the op testify on behalf of the Assassination Records Review Board in suppart™ "~~ - of HE. , wthich would extend the authorization of the Review Board for one year. a This additianal timo will alow us to complete our work, including the review asid-- public release of critical FBI and CIA records, submita comprehensive and complete Oe meh alate ten cereale on Ge coeiahetinnat Pucdet eek | public as much inforenation as possible on the arsaneination of Passidant Joh F. - ae 1 would also like to take this opportunity to thank Chaitman Burton for introducing - oo ELR. 1553, and Congressmen Waxman afd Stokes for cosponsoring this bill,.These Members have exhibited an ad:misable bipartisan spirit and an understanding that we a5. a government, and as a nation, must do what wecen to bringclonuretoasad chapter of our Nistory, and that we must seize this oppertunity to do it now. In acidition, we _ (1
13-00000 * JUN-@3-1997 83:46 JFK TASK FORCE. 202 324 34g | | : © AUATUCM LS 26.903 1U.UL ~ Wuusaem sanwnse weamerery 8 ? P.B415 DRAFT Date: June 2,1997 - Time: 11:45 ans. DRAFT would like to express our a) iation to Chairman Hastert for chairing this hearing taday and providing this farum|to explain what the Review Board has accomplished to . date and discuss what we wo sesoenplish in Bacal Year 1996, ifgiventhe opportunity, . w Please allow me to introduce thy other members of the Review Board with whom I have | Profan gris fry ! oa eee Oe kent wa tt Firet, | would Like to describe br professional staff that we are fortunate to have ; i ris Dr. David G. Marwel), a professional historian. _ who gained vast experience with large numbers of important historical documents with the Office of Investigations at the Department of Justice and later as the Dixector of the Berlin|Document Center. Me leads a staff of 28 full-time employees, who have varied backgrounds as historians, lawyers, analysts, — investigators, and administcalor The menber ofthe have approached their Ghowsansis of Redenel Govensumett socotia, end tha enquletdon of roses in-private hands and local governments that were not previously available to the American public, I believe that we assembled exactly the type of professional and diversified staff that Congress envisioned would ne necensary to accomnplich this difficult job. 0. Ascunplishments te Rats . _ As know you are aware, the Review Board was created by The President John F. Kermesdy Assassination Records ¢ Act of 1992 (PK Act) ac an independent Federal agency to oversee the Identification and release of records relatad to the . aeyansination of President y. T know that certain members of this subcommittee 2 a ee ey
13-00000 ° - Aan FR JUN-23-1997 @9:47 = JFK TASK FORCE. | 202 324 3403 P.es45 " GUE UL dd bee UY 2a Hew DRAFT Date: sune2,1997 Time 14Sem = SCRA _ played a role in crafting and pasping the JFK Act—a unique piece of legislation tnemawe dase ocd speculation bust th content of goversment ress mare Guan 14,000 docement Bo tine Pristdent John 3.7 million pages and was used 4 extensively by “researchers from all over the Uni States. By the end of Fiscal Year 1997, tie Review Buard will have reviewed and processed Nearly al] of the assassination resards that have been identified by the approximately 30 different government offices believed to be in possession of relevant records, with the t exception of the FBI and the CIA. I will elaborate ont. the status of records held by these two agencies later. Tey the Reve Honey. Previously resiacted” oe ~ information will have been made publicby the Review Board. Before discussing what we will lich with an additional year, I would like to highlight for the Members of the ubcommitise some of the important records that the Board has made public. They © Thousands uf CIA decam nt ry one and te sein  ,? the assassination; * Thousands of once-vecret ecards from the investigation by the House Select . Committee on Agsassinatipns, chaiced by Cangressman Stokes, including the controversial Staff Report pn Qawald’s trip to Mexico City; ; . a ee
13-00000 Lo . ae _ + JUN-@3-1997 99:47 JFK TASK FORCE, oo 282 324 3409 P.ogis + SUN202-1997 12:35 TO:61 - JUSTICE: 7 FRUMSGAIMUN, U. dew aw we DRAFT Date: June2,1997 Time: M4Sam. = DRAPE ¢ Thousands af records io the FBI's core and related aseagsination files that - docursient the PEI’s ints in Qeweld from 195863, ufter he had defected eo the: Soviet Urdan, three rome re the essassination; and | ‘ The extensive Ful files its investigation of tha sssnseination. wing you the “before” nnd “afer” versione'el cone to which I just referred and that the Board has. Collection Rosead Ne Petar to De tee nthe ie ant ORK a “Paris letter 9/27/60." The of the text was blacked out. Obviously, dis werner of the document left room for a deal of speculation among historians and th the black ink on this document with the assuscination. Alter protected White Eiouse in en effort to keep|the document secret, and « direct apes! to the Sovise government, we were able to release the information. The unredacted memorandum al Police had been enlisted by the FDI to icy (o lovate Oswald otihe had enrolled at a echool in Switzerland. Now the. 3 in full end judge its importance. In ite redacted state, ‘ anything that e researcher's imagination and One af the pact important, most difficult, and most time-consuming rcoponsibilities of the Review Board is to identify and locate additional records that are relevant to the assassination. This is a task that to some degree murst logically come later in the | 4 :
13-00000 . : BO oe Se ne ~ 7 JUN-@3-1997 89:51 JFK TASK FORCE 202 324 3483) P.15715 * TOR-02-1997 22:35 TO:61 - JUSTICE PRuatntens we - + 8 & - L premature a within the general public abo tthe commitment c : _ that relates to the assaasinati about the conduct of our gave, closure ig not reached now, identical issues i y have tn be addressed again in the futuse—at even greater The additional yew that we recommend will allow for & confident concluaion of this important task. Nir. and Members if the Subeo. mittee, 6: Assassination Records Revie Board, I thank you discuss our work and our TOTAL P.15
7 GUN-O3-1997 a948 JFK TASK FORCE 202 324 3409 P.evis Jf AON a2- 1987 12:35 TO:61 - duUoTiUS FRUMCUAINUN, L, wee | | 7 . . vr DRAFT Date: June 2, 1997 ‘Time: 11:45 ayy. DRAFT proces, after the Review Board has gained a fall understanding of the records that have already been identified. Although the Review Board has aude significant number of... requests for additional records and information, some of which I would like to outline, Se re oan becondident that thas completed tie responsibility. | woud hey highlight some fou effort deny wn loa adtor *® Modical Raconds Inquiry” ‘The Review Board has several ongoing effure to identify and locate assassination records involving medical issues. As with any orale, the medical resonds als among the moet important pieces of evidence. As part of its attempt to ensure that the medical records are aa possible, the Review Board staff has deposed the principal pathologists involved in President Kennedy’s eutupsy, au welles other individuals whohad = inowiedge ofthe aoopy en reed photogs eon, Review Boerd has continued fs efforts to locate additionel FE anaaseination records by making several requests for records and information. The FBI has - assisted in this effort by giving the Review Roard members access to requested files. Dae eee ane eee ane corPerauve and helphal to che: Board and has provided Sue mequested information. . Raviow Board hag inated a umber ef roqucats to Ghe ClA for adaiucesl information and records. The Review Board expects that these requests willbe st Promptiy and fully satisfied during the upcoming yest Infeumation- ‘iene conovaning and carciul review of Secret Service acttvicies by 7 the Review Board producéd a series of requests for additional records and information that, in tum, led to the identification af edditional relevant assaenination records. For example, in respones to the Raview Board's firet eight requests for additional information, the Secret Service has submitted more then 1,300 pages of matetial
13-00000 een " JUN-@3-1997 89: 48 JFK TASK FORCE. 7 282 324 3409 Pais. : aa “yUNe02- 1987 12: 35 T0:61 - wstics ; FROM:GAYMON, U.- ; dae ow | | i tp | { | DRAFT oeakeeas The: 11:45 am. a acai services) (collectively “DOD") iceatiled few antoanination records on ize own initiative. DOD has nevertheless been cooperative with the efforts of the Review Board to Incete: aasascinetion records. Se EE ne DOD has been willing to belease the records with few redactions. . . Additional work would Ye required in ow lst year to enaine thar at a assacsination records in the military archives have been made a part of the JFK - Collection. Forremately, the diligent efforts of tke ARRD staff have set the stage — for this task to be accomplished. , v. Release of Private and Local Reconds ‘ fn addition to tha selon of secubds tn the Rodent Govecoment’s-tastflee-and—_ 2. comereoco ts plecrerteny sesemininer wiripet er art otent jan rr isan — _...-gomplete as possible, ore have been aggressive iniidentifytcig and leing signiieant = assaceination-related records in the passcasion ofiprivate citizens and local ~~ governments, including: i .- The original personal paplrs of Warren Cmmnlasion Chief Counocl. Lee Rankin that give further insight into the operations of the Commission; — ° Cops of tof ans of New Oe Di teen Case’ - * ‘Long lost films taken in sm Never 22196, athe publichad never , seen and that shed new f on the events of that day; ‘ * Copics of eons from th Metropolitan Cime Commission of New Oren, including records on Disticl Attucney Gartison’s investigation and prosecution Of Clay Shave and records regarding New Ovicons organiee ome fenesene (Ae ee A ST IO Ce NNNeD emits Re ene: 1% son rd . including attorney Wesley Lictler, xia Devid Lifton, FBLSpebAgentiosty- Attorney Prank Ragano, as well as thers; | é a:
13-00000 . oo, " JUN-@3-1997  @9:49 FK TASK FORCE. “e ‘WUWr02~1987 12:35 0:62 - wusties ERunuaimey os (202 324 3489 Peis mae 7 DRAFT _ Date: June 2,1997 Time: 1:45am. DRAFT ‘ Tae original papers of New Octeans attorney Bdwand Wegmann, fram his Work as a member of the legal team that successfully defended Clay Shaw in 1969” ageinst a charge of conspiracy to kill President Kennedy. Tam also pleesed to announce today that the Review Board hae just acquired the original personal papers of Clay Shaw, the late New Orleans businessman who is the only person ever tried in connection with the assassination of President Kennadly.” ‘Shaw was acquitted by a jury in 1969 after being cherped as part of District Attomey . Garrison's investigution. The Shaw papers will surely add sswtinn dimension to this particular chapter of the sssassination story. ‘Allofthese records will enrich the histocieal record of the assasoination for fatuce generations of Americans. Once these records are processed and described by the National Archives; they will be available far research Vi. TheNesd Bor additional Time Despite our best efforts and significant accomplishments, some of which I have outlined, the Review Board will not be able to complete its work within the original three-year timetable set by Cangress for the following reasons: ° First, the authors of ue utigjnal legislation elleved that our task would take three years. That estimate was based.on the best available information atthe time, but the legislation established an unprecedented process. Therewesno way of knowing the problems of scale and complexity that the Board would. . encounter, nor was there any way to factor in the comprehensive approach we — So have taken in fulfilling our mandate. ; « Second, the Board was not appelnted until 18 menths after the legislation was signed into law. Apa result, without the guidance of the Board, Federal agencies _ initially defined for themselves the univere of records thatshould be processed under The Act and to speculate about the kind of evidence that would be needed to sustain the redaction of assassination-related information. Once the Board — — infact, — ¥ aoe cen eee | ER | SD Eten CoS SEREEES SONNY SEEENER  Sosnnnw SHEEN?
13-00000 " JUN-@3-1997 99:49 JFK TASK FORCE 7 “INSO2*1997 123d LUtpL ~ auories » 202 324 3409 Puigis Bewaae awen e ©) atameg moe mw Ramee on oe DRAFT Date: une 3, 1987 nas an DRAFT many agencies have yet to complete i review and the Board is still seeking. could not hire or detail experi butratherhadtohire new why had toundergo investigations and be cleared at. the Top Secret level. Locating and renovating space that was suitable for the | id. Asa result, the Board could not): bogin an effective review of rccards until the third quarter of our frst yeur. ” We are pleased and proud that the Review Boar}! and staff have been sble to overcome review of eecords. We do not went to cease now before the job is done and with a — reasonable conclusion within our ight, We to finish the job we began. The additional year of operations will permit the Review Bard to finish its mek by identifiable projects that are critical to enauring at the JFK Collection is as complete as possible, that relevant Federal agencies have been held accountable, and that all that we have done is documented in our final cepurt. The major areas of focus in our Gnal year assassination. The Review Board is now faced with the task of reviewing the ’ af tered Collection,” the latge callectian af filen that was. assembled by the CIA in to requests made by the House Select Comumitice on Assassinations, chaired by Cunyresstnen Stokes, in the late 1970's. These records find their relevance to the essacsination defined in part by the course of the HSCA investigation questerad Collection consists of €3 Unfostunately, these recordd are in a conffwsed order, poorly described, and axe & ‘ i . ‘ Lj CF ¢. demumane, ‘ttt eaegp nee SEO CITE ee EE, | ty aay Ae SRNR SR etiam, SN SSE
13-00000 a * ‘ JUN-@3-1997 go: Si JFK TASK FORCE, ; . 22 324 3489 P. recognized that it nscded to develop ¢ different approach, une that Would take into ~~ account the varied degree of relevance of individual records to the assassination. Only in this way could the Board engure that it would appropriately expend its resources in ite last year. Ax a first step, thaBoard carefully analyzed each collectian in order to determine what priority should be ssaigned to the category of records. In addition, the Board develuped a set of guidelines for the review of these records which recignized . that some es of records ‘did not require the intensive word-by-word review that had been the rule for the core collections that have been the subject of the Board’s attention to date. The development of these guidelines began with the August 6, 1996 | Board public hearing and culminated in their adoption at the October 16, 1996 Board “meeting. The ARRB staff will distinguish between records whose relevance to the assassination is clear and those net helieved to be relevant (or “NBR“). Applying these new standards will pert the ARRS ctaff to idenuify und review the most wignificant retaining records in under of pploricy. | TON-02-1999 12:35 TO:61 - - JUSTICE, FROM:GAYMON, se Awe ew ee? " | DRAFT Dats: June 2,1997 Time: 11:45am. _ DRAFT These detailed grldelines will ecuce he loss of valuable Review Board and ARRB staff time expended to review, on a Word-by word basis, those documents tlut huve a _ remote selationship, at best, the Kennedy asstssinatian. Those documents that are identified as relevant to the assassinstion will continue to be reviewed word-by-word. These standards of relevance are derigned to ensure that the greatest number of truc assassination records is propeny identified, reviewed, and made public in the JFK Collection at tre Nacghenal Archives. The fruits of our labor from the Hirt three years would be realized in our last year, one in which we would be reviewing some of the most difficult records, end putentiaily most important records, but wi pe be efit cf our invaluable lam happy. to ceport that we have received.empittt ses from the FBI and CIA that they will work with ua in a final year tox m8 Ezeure that tha necosanty resources area 60 | Rats task canbe completed |~ { ta mating ar secommendato fr une-yer eension we, the members of the Review Board, are fully cognizant of the difficulties inherent in extending a tempor: con umissivit. We are aware of tie concemn that temporary bodies may have a self- u | : |
13-00000 2@2 324 3449 = P.14/15 | ' JUN-@3-1997 a9:51 , JFK TASK FORCE, - phon giiN-02-2997 12:35 70:61.- JUSTICE FROM:GAYMON, 0, | dasa | , : . ; . | . - * q _ DRAFT Date: Jone2,1997 Time: UMS am DRAFT preserving and self-perpet instinct, and want to assure you in the dearestand - most unambiguous manner that our recommendation is motivated strictly by our desire to complete the job, My and I were appointed as ate citizens and have many competing claims on our time and energy. It is our conviction that the additional time is necessary Gur sincerest commitment that we will complete ox task by the end of Fiscal Year 998, if given the means. : me 1 would like to note that, as: may be aware, the Administration is supportive af the one-year extension for the Board and has submitted an FY 1998 budget amendment to allow un to ¢ plete our work, close out our operation, ans] wubmit our Since the Review Board begen|thts effort three years agn, we have witnecsed the. ee aes —— widespread and passionate in that the American public has.in the assagaination of... — President Kenzedy. We have teceived thousams uf letters, telephone calls, faxes and . '- eamaib eéssages from individgals who care deeply ‘about cur Hibtaty:~ They came asia -——all-waiks of-life; trom all over the country; and-ace of all ages: Their interest is of ——_—__ -—--——__ varying degrees and they do all agres an what happened in Dallas on Novesibec 22, 1968. inion 7 20 sureefiet he pellicle he ah eee he Blas on te soem te assassination. I believe that what the Review rd is all about can be summed up ina letter we scene received from a man from in just last week. The wathor is not a professional fg on a paper for a history class, but simply a private this tragic historical event. He wrote the following: oe ce ft areas Pa a wes ono memes me 6 EPS Oo “In my humble opinion, it appears that the ARRB is having a healing effect__ upon the Ameriqun pub , who may be coming to reafize that there may be-- weet ae dosure in sight (in our ) With tegard to the JFK assassination.” These words capture why tha Revi Boord was created by the Cungress and why we _ hope that the Review Board have the additional year tp complete Gut tapk The Assassination Records Review Board waa conceived as a means of eliminati Se ne uncertainty and speculation abput the contents of government files relating to the - acgagsination of President . We, Give members of the Board, believe that 8 12
13-00000 re RB Bure 8 C/HRG The following suggested response to OMB's request for - comments on a one year extension of ony JFK Board was sent via E-mail tol__——s—C‘i‘(Ls«€OCCs«s(T.':sU!#*4Vtoou and Brian) : ; “The Agency is committed to continuing to cooperate * with the Assassination Records Review Board as long as it:. exists. We agree that there is considerable work to done beyond the current expiration date of 30 September 1997.” Attached are the OMB request and Tilley's and Tunheim's prepared testimonies. Tilley's looks fine. Carol..Keeley and I had a problem with Tunheim's statement on page=11 (see clip) re “assurances from the FBI and CIA”. .We both’ fEalked _with Marwell and he has agreed to drop the word “explicit” and to change “the” to “our” task. I told him it was important that the impression not be left that the entire project would be completed by the end of Fy98. I remained him that we had had several discussions of postponing processing documents (especially duplicates and material of marginal interest), for NARA so that we can focus on the more important documents and substantive issues. As we have discussed, the extension will have a budgetary impact. We will need to fund the JFK project for — FY 98 and FY 99. There will be substantial work to be done in preparing. documents for National Archives after the Board's mandate has expired. The completion of the entire project in FY 98 would require significant increase in resources including indexing and ADP support. &
13-00000 o JUINTERIT LODE rae te re : > 248 (Rev: 2-16-95) . ; — , “ oes ~ FBI FACSIMILE COVERSHEET a PRECEDENCE CLASSIFICATION Climmediate: Dep Secret . Time Transmitted: A385 C) Priority Cl Secret oo Sender's Initials: «7 C1) Routine (J Confidential - Number of Pages: a O Sensitive (including coversheet) .. \ ~ Clunctassified Special Handling Instructions: Originator’s Name: fepyof Apele Telephone: nd a ~ OO? Originators Facsimile Nymber: e 2 Approved: Brief Description of Communication Faxed:
13-00000 C/HRG The following suggested response to OMB's request for comments ona Sion of the JFK Board. was sent via E-mail to OCA (I CC®you and Brian): +’ “The Agency is committed to continuing to cooperate. with the Assassination Records Review Board as long as it. exists. We agree that there is considerable work to done beyond the current expiration date of 30 September 1997.” Attached are the OMB request and Tilley's and Tunheim's prepared testimonies. Tilley's looks fine. Carol Keeley and I had a -problem with Tunheim's statement on page 11 (see clip) re “assurances from the FBI and CIA” We both talked with Marwell and he has agreed to drop the ward “explicit” and to change “the” to “our” task. I told him it was important that the impression not be left that the’ entire project would be completed by the end of FY98. I remained him that we had had several discussions of postponing processing documents (especially duplicates and material of marginal interest), for NARA so that we can focus on the more important documents and substantive issues. As we have discussed, the extension will have a budgetary impact. We will need to fund the JFK project for FY 98 and FY 99. There will be substantial work to be done in preparing documents for National Archives after the Board's mandate has expired. The completion of the entire project in FY 98 would require significant increase in resources including indexing and ADP support. >