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104-10330-10100.

2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECO 97-46020F 1992

Assassination Records Review Board

600 E Street NW • 2nd Floor • Washington, DC 20530

(202) 724-0088 • Fax: (202) 724-0457

EW

80

October 28, 1997

Mr. David W. Carey

Executive Director

Central Intelligence Agency

Washington, DC 20505

Re: Completing the Review of JFK Assassination Records

Dear Vir. Carey:

I would like to congratulate you on your new appointment at the Agency and wish you

the very best of success in the difficult challenges that lie ahead.

As you probably are aware, the Assassination Records Review Board has been

mandated by Congress and the President to oversee the declassification and transfer to

the National Archives of all records related to the assassination of President Kennedy.

During the past three years we have received excellent cooperation from CIA in regard

to the processing of the relevant Agency records. From our perspective, this is due in

significant part to the work of John Pereira, Chief of the Historical Review Group, and

J. Barry Harrelson, who has shouldered the extremely complicated, burdensome, and

frequently thankless task of overseeing the project. Both of them have proved to be

superb representatives of the Agency. We also very much appreciated receiving a

strong message of support from your predecessor, Nora Slatkin, who advised us in a

meeting on October 16, 1996, of her full support for the project and her willingness to

commit the necessary Agency resources to complete the project.

Because the Review Board is now in the final twelve months of its statutory tenure, I

thought it would be appropriate to advise you of our goals for the upcoming year. It is

our wish to be able to state in our Final Report to the President and to Congress that

CLA has made all reasonable attempts to locate, review, and declassify all available

records on the Kennedy assassination. We would like the Review Board to be able to

assure the American people that the Agency has been fully cooperative in this

enormous and difficult task, and that the Agency no longer retains any "secret" files on

the assassination. In addition, we are obligated to keep Congress informed, on a

monthly basis, of the status of our work and any difficulties that would interfere with

our ability to achieve our objective.

Although many important strides have been made to further our goals, we nevertheless®

perceive that the pace of review and declassification of Agency records will need to be

BOARD MEMBERS: John R. Tunheim, Chair • Henry F. Graff - Kermit L. Hall - William L. Joyce • Anna K. NelsoniDEC

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: David G: Marwell

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Mr. David W. Carey

October 28, 1997

Page 2

accelerated in order for us to succeed. We must keep in mind that the goal includes

reviewing, processing, and transferring to the custody of the National Archives all

identified assassination records by September 1, 1998. (We do not perceive that

duplicate copies of such records need be transferred by September 1.) Many time-

consuming difficulties inherent in this project have been overcome, and we perceive

that the pace of review is accelerating. Nevertheless, we wanted to signal to you our

concern that, unless the pace of review increases further, we may not be on target to

satisfy what I hope to be our common objective.

It is our firm intention to complete our task within the congressionally mandated time

limit. If CIA is unable to pre-review and process its records consistent with completion

of this task, the Review Board will vote to release-in-full all relevant CIA records and

mandate that custody be transferred to the National Archives in a timely way. We

sincerely hope that it will not be necessary for the Board to make wholesale decisions on

unreviewed records and we will be pleased to work with the Agency to see that such a

step is unnecessary. But we are prepared to make such decisions to the extent they are

required to fulfill our own responsibilities. Although it is our perception that CIA may

wish to devote additional human resources to this project, we of course leave such

decisions to the sound judgment of knowledgeable CIA officials.

We therefore strongly urge the Agency to take all appropriate steps to complete its

review of records in an orderly and systematic manner. To the extent that the Agency is

able to satisfy appropriate deadlines, there will be no need for us to resort to any

unfortunate - but potentially necessary - measures to complete our own obligations to

Congress, the President, and the American people.

If you would find it helpful, the Review Board members and I would be pleased to

discuss these issues with you or others at the Agency.

Sincerely,

T. Jeremy G

Executive Direc

CC:

Assassination Records Review Board

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

21 November 1997

CSI 97-536

Dr. T. Jeremy. Gunn

Executive Director

Assassination Records

Review Board

600 E Street, NW

Washington, DC 20530

CIA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

RELEASE AS SANITIZED

2000

• Dear Dr. Gunn:

Thank you for your letter of 28 October in which you

outline the Assassination Records Review Board's goals for

the coming year. I appreciate the complimentary remarks you

made about the "excellent cooperation" that CIA has been

providing to the Board.

You raised a concern that the Agency may not be able to

increase

sufficiently the pace of the review process to meet

the 1 September 1998 deadline for completing the transfer of

dead race

records to the National Archives. You also expressed the

view that if any records are not reviewed by the deadline,

the Board will vote to release them in full and mandate that

custody be transferred to the National Archives.

important that a proper review of all relevant records be

done.

This will

allow us to recommend to the Board what

information warrants continued protection.

We appreciate the great responsibility that Congress

and the President have given to the Board to inform the

American people about the assassination.

We share the

Board's goal of declassifying and releasing the relevant

records to the fullest extent possible.

Please convey my regards to Chairman Tunheim and the

other Board members, and assure them of our continued

cooperation.

Sincerely,

Drind Wu. Cara

David W. Carey

DCI

EXEC

REG

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SECRET

Dave CSI asiers to you greetin

on JFK project.

CL BV:0185904)

CL REASON: Section 1.5 C

DECL ON: X1

DRV FRM: COL 1-82

I torwarded them to Comptroller, too.

Comptroller provided additioned background, also attached..

NOTE FOR:

Rebecca V. Strode

FROM:

John F. Pereira

CC: Gira

OFFICE:

CSI/HRG

DATE:

11/06/97 11:38:33 AM

SUBJECT: CSI Resource Request regarding JFK

In Brian Latell's absence, I am providing the following response to the Exit's questions regarding the

request for additional resources for review of JFK documents:

1. What is the size of the JFK declassification problem? How much work remains to be done ?

- An additional 40-50,000 pages of CIA records remain to be reviewed by 30 September

1998.

- A large volume of documents are being referred to CIA by other agencies for review,

including the FBI, State, and Presidential Libraries. The documents are either CIA-originated

or contain CIA information. No figures are available, but we estimate at least 40,000 pages.

- The JFK Board has also asked CIA to re-review approximately 130,000 pages of material that

we released earlier to the National Archives. The reason is to determine whether

information deleted earlier can now be released.

2. How many people do you have working on the JFK project now?

- Following are dedicated to the JFK project:

- - One staff officer (Project leader Barry Harrelson)

- - 13 independent contractors (work 3/4 days per week)

- The DO unit detailed to CSI to coordinate the review of JFK records recently added two

contractors and may add more.

3. What difference would X more make ?

- The additional resources requested would allow us to increase the pace of the review of

CIA documents and third agency referrals. Unless the pace is increased, it is highly unlikely

that the Board's requirement to complete the review and declassification of all JFK-related

records by 30 September 1998 could be met.

SECRET

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SECRET

CC:

Brian S. Latell (Patricia F. Duryee, Rodney A. Snyder:(Rex H. Latham-C-, (Robert E.

(Leggett, J. Barry Harrelson

Sent on 6 November 1997 at 11:38:33 AM

SECRET

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SECRET

CL BY:{0693020

CL REASON: Section 1.5 C

DECL ON: 6 November 2007

DRV FRM: FIN 7-82

TO:

FROM:

OFFICE:

DATE:

Rebecca V. Strode

Cynthia R. Bower

COMPT

11/06/97 12:09:41 PM

SUBJECT: BaRe: CSI Resource Request regarding JFK

Some background information for you:

(S) First, although Congress authorized and appropriated $5.5 million for classification management, it is

unlikely_that.C.SI will receive the full $5.5 million. Why? Congress levied a tax on DoD procurement that

will have a significant impact on ClA's program because of the fact that our entire budget is incorporated in

› DoD's budget as Other Procurement Air Force! As a result of that tax, CIA has to take about a $49 million

reduction across all programs (per SAC direction). This will impact on all activities - including new adds.

Each activity can expect to lose about 1% of its resources. We will identify specifically how to take this cut

at Friday's offsite.

(C) In addition, CIA has a large FY98 unfunded bill (about $143 million). On Friday, we will determine how

to reduce and/or pay that bill. One of the proposals on the table for paying that bill is to use some of the

Congressional add money_-- obviously, we would have to work this with the Hill, but the bottom line is that

some of the declass money may be redirected to other priorities.

(C) Finally, we may decide to use some of the adds to prepay some FY99 shortfalls. We are already

{aware of a shortfall in FY99 of about $180 million:

(U) So, the bottom line is that no one should count on getting the full amount of their add until we have

finalized our decisions on FY98 and FY99 unfundeds.

(C) All that said, if CSI does receive some or all of the money added by Congress, they do have the

flexibility to allocate that money to other priorities. However, they should attempt to meet the spirit of the

language in the Authorization Act. Specifically, the language reads, "The Senate bill added $5.5 million to

enhance declassification efforts, with a particular emphasis on those documents relating to

Guatemala and Honduras. The House amendment added $8 million for classification management. the

conferees agree to provide $5.5 million for declassification and classification management and request

that the Director of CSI report to the Congressional Intelligence Committees on progress in declassifying

documents of historical significance, the volume of documents involved, the mechanism for review, the

anticipated date of completion of this effort, and how the process can be improved."

(U) Hope this helps. CRB

CC:

Mary K. Sturtevant

SECRET

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P.1 :

NOV. 07 197

10:31AM,

AIUO

Classification of Material Transmitted

EXDIR

D/EXDIR

Comptroller

D'C/ Plans

HISTORICAL REVIEW GROUP.

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF INTELLIGENCE

Phone # 703-613-1806

PLEASE DELIVER IMMEDIATELY

7 NOV 974-9:82

CLASSIFIED FAX

SUBJECT:

JFK

FROM:

John Pereira X31805-

SENDING FAX NO. 703-613-3060

DELIVER TO:

Becky Strode,, Ex Dif

OFFICE

RECEIVING FAX NO. 703-734-1819

DATE TRANSMITTED: 11/7

PAGES TRANSMITTED: 5

(including cover sheet)

TRANSMITTED BY: Barbara

MESSAGE:

Зеску.

"this is info you

requested on JE

AIUO

Classification of Material Transmilled

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NOV

197

10:31AM

P.2

31 October 1997

Roquent for additional tuady for. the JiK AssassinatiOn

Records Review Projact, through 31 September 1998.

Refereace: Itx. to Executive Director form J. Jeremy Gunn,

Executive Director, Assassination Records Review Board

(ARRE), copy attached.

Backozgune.

• .

1. The ARRB will go out of business on 31 September

complete for that of i econd tate a de tation to

Government which relate to the assassination of President:

Kennedy, determine those which are relevant to the

assassination story and ensure that the same are transferred

to the National Archives.

As the board begins its final

year, it has become increasingly concerned about the pace of

the review and transfer proceas. Referent letter is the

latest of a number of exchanges dealing with that concern.

2. CSI/HRG has carefully reviewed its current position

with respect to its ability to meet the deadlines imposed

and has concluded that it cannot fully do so without

additional resources, at least through 30 September.

1998.

This conclusion is based in large measure on three changed

cixcumatances:

A.

The ARRE has recently exercised its statutory

authority and designated additional CIA records to be within

the JFK collection

or 40,000 pages).

the ARB staff continues its review of Agency files.

B. Over the past three months we have received an

increase in the number of "Assassination Records" referred

from third agencies which include both Agency documents held

by another agency or third agency documents which must be

reviewed because they contain CIA Information; and

C. The ARRB itself has established a deadline which was

not anticipated.

All agencies had understood that the

review process| and ARRB action would have to be completed by

30 September, but it was widely assumed that final

•processing and transfer of the documents to the National

Archives could occur after that date. However, the Board has

now mandated that all relevant recorda which are not

duplicates must be transferred to custody of the National

Archives before it goes out of business.

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NOV 07 '97 10:32AM.

P.3

Additional Resounces Reguested.

3. The following estimate is based on our understanding

of the ARRa requirements at this time.

A. Review of records: equivalent of 2 man-years (3

contractors - average daily contractor cost

$270) ;

B. Preparation of documents for National Archives:

equivalent of 1.5 man-years (2 contractorg --

average daily contractor cost $180) ;

C. Indexing: approximately one-man year of overtime®

($25 hourly rate) :

D.

Reproduction: approximately one-man year of

overtime (525 hourly rate.

Estimated cost FY98: $300,000

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07 '97 10:33AM

P.4

Roguast for Funde fox Declaralfication of Korear Documents

•1. Background. In December 1995, the Director of.

Central Intelligence drafted a Policy Directiva calling for

the implementation of a community-wide systematic

declassification program under the leadership of the Center

for the Study of Intelligence (CSI). The Coumunity

Historical Raview Advisory Committee (CHRAC). Chaired by the

Dixector of CSI, was formed last year to implement the DCI's

directive and to select and prioritize topics for

historical declassification review by the Intelligence

Community.

At the October meeting of the CrAC, the agency

representatives approved the review of materials related to

the Korean war as the first topic for historical

declassification to be done collectively by the Intelligence

Community.

?. The ketean projecte Funde are requested for the

Agency to fully participate in this project.

With funding,

CsI, in cooperation with the Agency's automatic

declassification program (OIN/IRG/ADD), will revlew for

possible declassification intelligence records related to

the Korean War period (1 January 1950 through 27 July 1953).

The raview would be done concurrently with the rest of the

Intelligence Community. The joint effort will be

coordinated by CSI.

The Protect's Costu Preliminary research done by

CIA's History staff indicates there are approximately 100

boxes, about 150,000 pages, of material that will have to be

reviewed from archival material belonging to several Agency

directorates.

The following costs would be incurzed during

such a review:

• Document Preparation (select pertinent documents for

copying and organize

for 50 days (5i3,000g bem for revlewers) - One contractor

• Copying Expenses - One copier, at 75 pages per hour for

2000 hours ($50,000)

• Document Review (contractor document review to make

declassification determinations with guidance supplied by

staff supervisor) - One contractor doing 2 reviews of

each document at a rate of 200 pages per day ($390,000)

"Contractor is approximataly $270 per day.

" Copiers are approximately $25 per hour.

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NOV 07."97

10:34AM

P.5

• Document Massaging (input of staff supervisor, time to.

utside coordination, and preparation of final copies fo

NARA) - Approximately 1/3 of a staff officer's time for

1 year and 2 contractors for a total of 384 days

(9135.000)ª

TOTAL COST

$588,000'

"The total 1o a conservative estimate that could escalate depending

coordination

eguipment maintenance,

expenses of

other directoratos,

other teached de taste le doc mence deto dot personnel and cost os

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