ARRB REQUEST: CIA-IR-27: SECURITY FILES ON FIVE INDIVIDUALS
Originator: ARRB
From: ARRB
To: CIA/HRG
Document date: 12/18/1997
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

## Page 1

1104-10336-10026 4

2022 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

re CIA IR-27

110M

Assassination Records Review Board

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

(202) 724-0088 Fax: (202). 724-0457

December 18, 1997

CIA HAS NO OBJECTION TO

DECLASSIFICATION AND/OR

Mr. John Pereira

RELEASE OF CIA INFORMATION

Chief

IN THIS DOCUMENT

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 Requests for

Additional Information and Records

Dear John:

I am writing to follow-up on our telephone call earlier today and to convey my serious

concern about the status of CIA's responses to the Review Board's requests for

additional information and records. Although CIA has completed its responses to

several requests, and many others have been answered in part, a significant number of

requests have not been answered - including some that were made more than two

years ago. On many occasions we have been assured that responses would be

forthcoming, only to have promised dates come and go without answers. It is now

extremely important that these requests be answered promptly so that we may conduct

a proper follow-up if necessary. The issues that we can now identify as being of the

highest priority are identified in the text below by double asterisks (**)' and we request

that they be answered within the next month.. We request that the remaining requests

be answered by April 1, 1998.

The remainder of this letter is divided into two parts: first, a listing of the formal

requests for information and records, and second, a listing of 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.

'As identified more fully below, the issues are: CIA-1 Organizational Material,

CIA-6 Cables and Dispatches, CIA-13 Backchannel Communications, CIA-IR-03

HTLINGUAL Documents, CLA-IR-04 Disposition of Angleton Files, CIA-IR-07 Claude

Barnes Capehart, CIA-IR-15 Electronic "take" from Mexico City, CIA-IR-21 DRE

Monthly Operational Reports, CIA-IR-22 "A" Files on Clay Shaw and Jim Garrison.

BOARD MEMBERS: John R. Tunheim, Chair • Henry F. Graff • Kermir 1. Hall • William L. Joyce • Anna K. Nelson

---

## Page 2

13-00000

Mr. John Pereira

December 18, 1997

Page 13

request. Once the formal statement documenting this search and its results is

provided, this request will be complete.

CIA-IR-27 Security Files for Five Individuals.

The ARRB staff has reviewed Office of Security files for Richard Case Nagel,

Gordon Novel, Jack Ruby, Harold Weisburg, and Walter Sheridan. The entire

files for Gordon Novel, Jack Ruby, and Richard Case Nagel have been designated

assassination records. Portions of the files for Harold Weisberg and Walter

Sheridan will be designated assassination records. The Novel, Ruby, and Nagel

files should be sent to HRG for processing. The Weisberg and Sheridan files

should be sent to HIRG for ARRB review.

CIA-IR-28 McCone Files.

In August 1997, the ARRB staff reviewed an index for the files of former DCI

John McCone and identified some files to be reviewed for assassination records.

A meeting should be set up to examine these files.

CIA-IR-29 Oswald Lewinter.

In November 1997, CLA provided a preliminary oral response to whether it has

files on Mr. Oswald Lewinter. CIA should document its findings in writing.

Once formal documentation of the completed searches has been provided, the

request is complete.

CIA-IR-30 Cherepanov Papers.

In the fall of 1963, Paul Garbler, Chief of Station Moscow, copied a series of KGB

papers from the American Department of the KGB's Second Directorate which

had arrived at the embassy from Aleksandr Cherepanov. The Review Board

requests to review these papers.

CIA-IR-31 Dulles Calendar.

In testimony before the Church Committee on May 4, 1977, Richard Bissell made

reference to the existence of a calendar for former DCI Allen Dulles which would

reflect all of Dulles' meetings. The Review Board requests the Dulles calendar

for January 1959 through his resignation as DCI on November 29, 1961.

---

## Page 3

13-00000

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

ПR.27

26 September 1997

MEMORANDUM FOR:

J. Barry Harrelson

"DCI/CSI/HRG

VIA:

Becky Rant

DDA/ IRO

FROM:

(Janet A. Ecklund)

Chief,

Information Management Branch

Office of Personnel Security

SUBJECT:

Records Search Request for the

Assassination Records Review Board

REFERENCE:

Lotus Note dated 26 September 1997

1.

In response to the referenced request, the Office

of Personnel Security's Management Data

Program/Personnel

Security (MDP/PS) database was searched.

2.

The searches undertaken were

reasonably calculated

to retrieve all responsive documents.

Based upon the

information provided, the following security records were

located.

These security records are available for review by

your office after prior written notification.

NAGELL, Richard C.

AIN 0 264 170

NOVEL, Gordon D.

AIN 0 526 113

RUBY, Jack L.

AIN 0 261 219

SHERIDAN, Walter J.

AIN 0 101 572

3.

This memorandum is provided for your information

and appropriate disposition. Please direct any further

inquiries

regarding this matter to W. Curtis Chaloner at

(40552

(secure) .

W. Curtis Chaloner

for

(Janet A. Ecklund)

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

---

## Page 4

13-00000

ADMINISTRATIVE - INTERNAL USE ONLY

2 February 1998

MEMORANDUM FOR:

Fredrick C. Wickham @ DO

Lee S. Strickland @ DA

Mary Lou Cummings)

John F. Pereira

FROM:

J. Barry Harrelson

JFK Project Officer

OFFICE:

SUBJECT:

REFERENCE:

OIM/HRP

ARRB Requests - Priorities

ARRB letter did 18 Dec 1997, Status of ARRB Request for Additional

Information

I have been advised by the ARRB staff that an updated "Status of Requests" letter will be sent to

the Agency early next week The following requests will be listed as priorities to be completed in

February:

CIA-14

Mexico City Station Annual Reports (DO)

CIA-IR-06 QKENCHANT

(DO)

CIA-IR-08 "Family Jewels"

(DCI/IRO and DO)

CIA-IR-09 George Bush

CIA-IR-11 Warren Commission Critics

CIA-IR-27 Security Files for Five Individuals

CIA-IR-32 AMWORLD

(DO, DA, DCI/IRO)

(DA, DO)

(DA)

(DO).

I have partial responses to some of these requests; call me if you have questions or need the status of

your response.

CC:

(Eileen M. Wukitch) @ DO

Becky L. Rant @ DA

Kathryn I. Dyer @ DA (bcc: Bonnie K. Hunter-Y-)

Sent on 2 February 1998 at 01:26:47 PM

ADMINISTRATIVE - INTERNAL USE ONLY

---

## Page 5

13-00000

AOMINISTRATIVE - INTERNAL USE ONLY

Exom the Desk of Frieda P. Omasta

NOTE FOR:

FROM:

OFFICE:

DATE:

SUBJECT:

W. Curtis Chaloner@ DA

Frieda P. Omasta

ADA/IRO

02/06/98 05:26:24 AM

PRIORITY - CIA-IR-27 - ARRB Request for Security Files on 5 Individuals (DA/IRO No. 14)

Curt:

In response to CIA-IR-27, on 26 September 1997 OPS advised Barry Harrelson (JFK Project Officer) that security records are available

for review by his office on the following individuals:

NAGELL, Richard C.

NOVEL, Gordon D.

RUBY, Jack L.

SHERIDAN, Walter J.

WEISBERG, Harold

Barry has just advised that the files on Nagell, Novel and Ruby have been identified as Assassination Records. Accordingly, they have

requested that OPS transfer these files to DCI/CS|/HRG (J. Barry Harrelson) for inclusion in these records. Barry has further advised that

a copy of the documents from each file would be acceptable if OPS prefers.

This is with respect to the files on Walter J. SHERIDAN and Harold WEISBERG. Barry has asked that arrangements be made for these

iles to be reviewed by the ARRB to determine which documents in each of these files are Assassination Records. In light of a shor

Jeadline, it is requested that the arrangements be made early in February. Once documents have been selected, Barry will need copies o

those documents as well.

Please keep Becky and me posted with respect to these requests. Thanks in advance for your assistance. Frieda

CC:

Becky L. Rant @ DA

J. Barry Harrelson @ DCI

(Katie Nakai)

Sent on 6 February 1998 at 05:26:24 AM

ADMINISTRATIVE - INTERNAL USE ONLY

---

## Page 6

13-00000

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

06 February

1998

MEMORANDUM FOR:

J. Barry Harrelson

DCI / HRG

FROM:

Linda J

Stevens)

Chief,

Clearance Division

Office of Personnel Security

SUBJECT:

Records Search Request

Warren Commission Critics

REFERENCE:

CIA-IR-11

1. In response to the referenced request, the Office

of Personnel Security's Management Data Program/Personnel

Security (MDP/PS) database was searched.

2.

The searches undertaken were reasonably calculated

to retrieve all responsive documents.

Based upon the

information provided, the Office of Personnel Security has

located one (1) possible individual who may or may not meet

your requirements outlined in your referenced request.

Epstein, Edward J.

AIN {0 488 768/

3.

There was an impersonal folder regarding a Sylvia

Meagher and a 1968 Ramparts magazine article.

This

information was destroyed under the Records Control Schedule

on 01 January 1994. Based upon the limited biographic

information,

security records were not located for the

remaining individuals.

4.

This memorandum is provided for your information

and appropriate disposition. Please direct any further

inquiries regarding this matter to w. Curtis Chaloner at

(40552 )(secure) .

W. Curtis Chaloner

for

Linda J.

Stevens)

FOR

OFFICIAL USE ONLY

---

## Page 7

13-00000

MEMORANDUM FOR:

FROM:

SUBJECT:

16 February 1998

(Janet A. Ecklund

Chief, Information Management Branch

Office of Personnel Security

J. Barry Harrelson

Senior Reviewer

Requested "Mission Statement" re

HRP / ARRB

This is in response to your request asking that HRP

provide onto in the senato see esten tate

concerning HRP and

It flows from the fact that the ARRB staff has declared the

OPS files of Nagell, Novel and Ruby to "assassination

records" and our subsequent request that the files or copies

thereof be forwarded to HRP.

Also, certain portions of the

files of Walter

Sheridan and Harold Weisberg have or will be

declared assassination records.

2.

The Historical Review Project (formerly the

Historical Review Group, CSI, DCI) has among its several

projects the responsibility to deal with the presidentially

appointed Assassination Records Review Board and its legal

mandate to find and transfer to the National Archives all

U.S. Government records relating to the Assassination of

President Kennedy.

broad and includes:

the authority to designate

files/documents "assassination records," to determine if a

particular record or

certain information within it must be

released to the Archives or postponed until 2007, and, the

power to issue subpoenas in the pursuit of its assigned

activities.

3. In the instant case, the Board staff has designated

the Nagell, Novel and Ruby security files assassination

records. Copies of them must now be processed by HRP

according to its current guidelines for release/protectior.

f information and the files released to the Archives.

with

respect to the files

on Sheridan and Weisberg, further

review by the Board is necessary to designate which, if any,

portions of them are assassination records.

4.

I hope that the above fulfills your requirement in

this matter and I look forward to receipt of the files.

J. Barry Harrelson

---

## Page 8

13-00000

...

CONFIDENTIAL

IR 27

CL BY-CT04288

EL REASON: Section 1.5 C

DECL ON: X1

DRV FRM: COV 1-82

NOTE FOR:

FROM:

OFFICE:

DATE:

SUBJECT:

Rasp Me Call DA ® DA

Richard Rees @ DA

Robert F. Bodroghy Y-

OPS/CD/IMB

02/19/98 11:11:47 AM

1.(AIUO) Six volumes of the Oswald files were released to HRG/CSI for review and

eventual release to the AARB. Volume V, the missing volume was never found and the conclusion

was that it either never existed and there was a numbering error or that the material from that

volume was incorporated into the other volumes.

2. (AIUO) If we send copies of the files on Nagell, Novel and Ruby to J. Barry Harrelson,

Barry's office will be responsible for determining what may be released to the AARB, and as

appropriate referring third party documents to the originating agency. He will coordinate with us

prior to releasing the files to the AARB.

3. (U) We are waiting for C/OPS concurrence prior to reproducing the files.

Linda J. Stevens-C- @ DA, Frieda P. Omasta @ DA

Sent on 19 February 1998 at 11:11:47 AM

CONFIDENTIAL

---

## Page 9

13-00000

. *

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

10 April

1998

MEMORANDUM FOR:J. Barry Harrelson

CSI/HRG, JFK Project Officer

FROM:

Robert F. Bodroghy 011

DA/OPS / IMB

DATE:

SUBJECT:

10 April 1998

Files of Richard C Nagell (0264170) and Jack L.

Rubenstein (0261219)

Based on a telephone conversation with Gary Breneman this

date, forwarded herewith is a complete copy of the Nagell file and a

copy of the Rubenstein file minus the newspaper clippings.

2.

The original newspaper clippings from the Rubenstein file

are also forwarded herewith with the understanding that your office will

have the clippings copied and either the originals or a copy of the

originals will be returned to this office.

3.

This should complete all action on our part relative to the

turnover of files to your office for the AARB and all action relative to

the forwarding of copies of specific documents requested by Michelle

Coombs.

FOR

OFFICIAL USE

ONLY

---

## Page 10

13-00000

.all.ee.en0.....

CIA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

RELEASE DISTILL

2000

18 June 1998

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

FROM:

Gary M. Breneman, IC

SUBJECT:

Files

Completion of ARRB Review of Certain Security

1.

The ARRB requested access to certain security files

• and the same was granted.

made a part of the JFK assassination records.

Further, that

the materials be review for release as soon as possible.

This request has been completed and copies of the

selected portions of the security files on the following

individuals have been place in the queue to be processed:

A. Ted Shackley

B. William M. Kent

C. Harold Weisberg

D. Walter J. Sheridan

E. Gordon Novel

Jack L. Rubenstein (aka Jack Ruby)

4. Questions concerning this process should be made to

Barry

• Harrelson or

Gary Breneman.

---

## Page 11

13-00000

MEMORANDUM FOR:

FROM:

SUBJECT:

CIA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

RELBASE IN FULL

2000

14 August 1998

Laura Denk

Executive Director, ARRB

J. Barry Harrelson

JFK Project Officer, HRP/OIM

CIA-IR-27, Security Files for Five

Individuals

1. This is in response to referent request.

This request asked for review of the Office of

Security files on five individuals -- Richard Case Nagell,

Gordon Novel, Jack Ruby, Walter Sheridan and Harold

The entire files on all five individuals were

made available for ARRB staff review.

The files of Nagell,

Novel and Ruby ,and portions of the files on Sheridan ano

Weisberg were designated assassination records and put into

the review process for release to the National Archives.

3. This concludes the Agency's action on this request.

If you have any questions, please advise.

J. Barry Harrels

---