Skip to content

10.00000 104-10337-10001 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 Central Intelligence Agency Washington DC 20505

April 1992

The Honorable John Conyers, Jr. Chairman Committee on Government Operations House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

The Director has asked me to respond to your letter of April 6, 1992 requesting certain information regarding CIA holdings of records related to the assassination of President Kennedy. We do have a significant number of records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, although many of these records were originated by the FBI or by investigating committees of the Congress. We believe that a significant portion of our records could be released if H.J. Resolution 454 were enacted into law.

I should also point out that the Central Intelligence Agency is currently embarking on its own review of assassination records. I would expect that this review will result in the public release of a significant body of information.

To help the committee understand the nature and number of CIA records pertaining to the assassination, I am enclosing the answers to the specific questions you raised in your letter.

Sincerely,

Stanley M. Moskowitz Director of Congressional Affairs

Enclosure

13-00000

The Honorable John Conyers, Jr. SUBJECT: Agency Records on the JFK Assassination

OCA/LEG/DMPearline:rw 23 April 1992 (OCA 1123-92) (OCA 1123-92/1) (OCA 1123-92/2)

Original - Addressee (w/enclos) 1 - DCI 1 - DDCI 1 - ExDir 1 - ER 1 - D/OCA (w/enclos) 1 - DMPearline Signer (w/enclos) 1 - OCA/LEG Subject File (w/enclos) 1 - OCA Record (w/enclos) 1 - D/Center for the Study of Intelligence (w/enclos)

13-00000

OCA 1123-92

  1. Did the CIA retain possession of records requested by or developed on behalf of the House Select Committee on Assassinations? If so, how many pages of such records does the Agency have in its possession? What is the nature of these records?

Yes, the CIA retained possession of records requested by or developed on behalf of the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA). The Agency has approximately 300,000 pages of such records which include microfilm of CIA's Oswald file (originally collected in response to the Warren Commission's inquiry, then added to) as well as records collected in response to specific requests from the HSCA. Although these records cover a wide variety of topics, they principally focus on CIA operations against Cuba and Castro, Lee Harvey Oswald's sojourn in the USSR, and Oswald's activities in Mexico City and New Orleans. The vast majority of documents pertaining to Oswald were created in response to specific inquiries from the Warren Commission and HSCA. They also include a large number of name traces requested by the HSCA staff, as well as materials relating to the Garrison investigation, Watergate, Cuban exile activities, and copies of FBI reports relating to Oswald. Because the HSCA was also investigating the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., there is also some material on the Black Panthers and the civil rights movement.

  1. Does the CIA have records outside of those related to the HSCA that may be considered relevant to the assassination of President Kennedy? If so, please describe such records and the approximate number of pages.

The CIA responded to requests from the Warren Commission and the HSCA (approximately 300,000 pages, see above). The CIA has never, however, attempted to locate every document bearing on every conceivable angle or theory relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. If the Agency were asked to explore newly advanced theories the search for documents could be a rather large undertaking involving the review of thousands of additional documents. To conduct any further search, CIA would require specific guidelines describing the kinds of records sought.

  1. Did any of the records described in questions 1 and 2 originate with the FBI? If so, approximately how many?

We believe that between 40 percent and 50-percent of the records described in questions 1 and 2 originated with the FBI.

1

13-00000

  1. Did any of these records originate with any other Federal, foreign, state, or local agency? If so, please describe which agencies and the approximate numbers.

A small number of CIA's records pertaining to the assassination of JFK, probably less than 5%, originated with the State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Another small number of records, also less than 5%, are original HSCA records stating Committee requests to CIA.

  1. How many of these records have been reviewed for release under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)? How many of these records have been released pursuant to such requests?

CIA has released 7,432 pages of records pertaining to the assassination of JFK, representing 1,969 documents, under the FOIA. There is no documentation of how many JFK assassination records CIA has reviewed under FOIA.

  1. In the estimation of the CIA, approximately how many records would be released under the standards contained in House Joint Resolution 454?

It is very difficult to estimate the number of documents that would be released if the Joint Resolution passed because consideration for protection of classified information and other sensitive categories of information would be required on a document by document basis. We would review our holdings carefully to ensure that the maximum amount of information is released, consistent with the DCI's responsibility to protect intelligence sources and methods and with privacy interests of individuals involved.

2

13-00000 HPR 21 6 11.

UNCLASSIFIED

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY DCI History Staff 316 Ames Building Washington, D.C. 20505 Phone (703) 351-2621

FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION COVER SHEET

TRANSMITTED DATE: 4/21/92 PAGES TRANSMITTED 8 (cover sheet included)

TRANSMITTED TO:

NAME: JOHN PEREIRA ORGANIZATION: OGC BLDG, ROOM TELE/EXT: 76160 (FAX 874 3208) SUBJECT: OCA LETTER (W/ENCL) & INR MEMO (W/O ATT.) & CIANS DRAFT MOU WITH STATE

TRANSMITTED FROM:

NAME: KEN MCDONALD BLDG, ROOM: 316 AMES TELE/EXT: 30147 (FAX 522 9280)

MESSAGE:

Folm - The OCA letter (which Doved Pearlice sent us yesterday) has muggested changes on it. I think I sent you an earliөт draft of our proposed access memo of under- standing with state, to which the Wilcox memo refers

Ken

UNCLASSIFIED

13-00000

Central Intelligence Agency Washingon D. C. 30505

The Honorable John Conyers, Jr. Chairman Committee on Government Operations United States House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

The Director has asked me to respond to your letter of 6 April requesting certain information regarding CIA holdings of records related to the assassination of President Kennedy. We do have a significant number of records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, although many of these records were originated by the FBI or by investigating committees of the Congress. We believe that a significant portion of our records could be released if H.J. Resolutin 454 were enacted into law.

I should also point out that the Central Intelligence Agency is currently embarking on its own review of assassination records. I would expect that this review will result in the public release of a significant body of information.

To help the committee understand the nature and number of CIA records pertaining to the assassination, I am enclosing the answers to the specific questions you raised in your letter.

Sincerely,

Stanley M. Moskowitz Director of Congressional Affairs

Enclosure

13-00000

CL

  1. Did the CIA retain possession of records requested by or developed on behalf of the House Select Committee on Assassinations? If so, how many pages of such records does the Agency have in its possession? What is the nature of these records?

Yes, the CIA retained possession of records requested by or developed on behalf of the House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA). The Agency has approximately 300,000 pages of such records which consist of microfilm of CIA'S Oswald file (originally collected in response to the Warren Commission's inquiry, then added to) as well as recorda collected in response to specific requests from the House Select Committee on Assassinations. Although these records cover a wide variety of topics, they principally focus on CIA operations against Cuba and Castro, Lee Harvey Oswald's sojourn in the USSR, and Oswald's activities in Mexico City and New Orleans. They also include a large number of names traces requested by the HSCA staff, as well as materials relating to the Garrison investigation, Watergate, Cuban exile activities, and copies of FBI reports relating to Oswald. Because the HSCA was also investigating the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., there is also some material on the Black Panthers and the civil rights movement.

  1. Does the CIA have records outside of those related to the House Assassinations Committee that may be considered relevant to the assassination of President Kennedy? If so, please describe such records and the approximate number of pages.

The CIA responded to requests from the warren Commission and the House Select Committee on Assassinations (approximately 300,000 pages, see above). The CIA has never, however, attempted to locate every document bearing on every conceivable angle or theory relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. To conduct any further search, CIA would require specific guidelines of the kinds of records sought.

  1. Did any of the records described in questions 1 and 2 originate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation? If so, approximately how many?

We believe that between 40% and 50% of the records described in questions 1 and 2 originated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

1

13-00000

  1. Did any of these records originate with any other Federal, foreign, state, or local agency? If so, please describe which agencies and the approximate numbers.

A small number of CIA'S JFK assassination records, probably less than 5%, originated with the State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. Another small number of records, also less than 5%, are original HSCA records stating Committee requests to CIA.

  1. How many of these records have been reviewed for release under the Freedom of Information Act? How many of these records have been released pursuant to such requests?

CIA has released 7,432 pages of JFK assassination records, representing 1,969 documents, under the Freedom of Information Act. There is no documentation of how many JFK assassination records CIA has reviewed under FOIA.

  1. In the estimation of the CIA, approximately how many records would he released under the standards contained in House Joint Resolution 454?

It is very difficult to estimate the number of documents that would be released if the Joint Resolution passed. We would review our holdings carefully to ensure that the maximum amount of information is released, consistent with the DCI'B responsibility to protect intelligence sources and methods.

2

13-00000

SAM NUNH, GEORGIA CARLEVEN, MIHIGAN JIM SASGER, TENNESSEE DAVIO PRYOR ARKANSAS HERBERT KOHL WISCONSIN GHN GLENN OHIC CHAIRMAN JOSEPH & LIEBERMAN, CONNECTICUY DANIEL & AKAKA, HAWAII : WILLIAM OF DELAWARE TED SEVENS, ALASKA WILLIAM & COMCH. WANE WARREN & RUOMAN, NIW HAMPSHIRE JOHN SEYMOUR CALIFORNIA LEONARO WEISS, STAFF DIAЕСТОЛ FRANKLIN C. POLK, MINGRITY STAAF DIRECTOR AND CHIEF COUNEEL

United States Senate

The Honorable Robert M. Gates Director Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D.C. 20505

Dear Director Gates:

COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS WASHINGTON, DC 20510-6250

April 14, 1992

CIA HAS NO CEJECTION TO DECLASSIFICADOR F.4 RELESS RIMATION IN THIS LICU、こす 20 APR 1992 I am please to learn that you will be testifying before ER 92-1316 the Committee on Governmental Affairs on Tuesday, May 12, 1992. The hearing will begin at 9:00 a.m. and be held in Room 342 of the Dirksen Senate Building. The subject of the hearing will be the "Assassination Materials Disclosure Act of 1992." The legislation proposes to create an independent review board to govern and coordinate the release of government information relevant to the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy. As required by Commmittee rules, please have 100 copies of your written testimony delivered to the Committee by close of business, Friday, May 8, 1992. While your written testimony may be as long as you wish, please plan to limit your spoken testimony to five to seven minutes in length.

Your testimony will be extremely helpful to the Committee and to the Congress as it considers this important legislation. While you may discuss whatever aspects of the legislation you desire, particularly how it relates to the records and resources of your agency, the Committee would appreciate learning your views on several specific subjects:

What are the reasons which the Central Intelligence Agency has records related to the assassination of President Kennedy?

What have the methods been to date for the identification and definition of Central Intelligence Agency records as material related to the assassination of President Kennedy?

What steps has the Central Intelligence Agency made to assess the scope of relevant documents outside of materials requested by earlier investigative or other official committees or commissions, or through the Freedom of Information Act?

What is the volume of material which you might recommend be released to the public without concern for further postponement?

13-00000 :

P.5

The Honorable Robe: M. Cates Page 2

Would you be opposed to a provision requesting agencies, whenever possible, to self-certify materials which may released without agency objection?

What recommendations can you make with regard to the need for interagency working groups to identify third-agency records in agency files, to avoid duplication, and to assist in the efficient disclosure of information to the public?

What are the logistical, manpower, and resource concerns that you have with regard to the review and release of assassination material?

Thank you for your assistance and consideration. I look forward to seeing you on May 12th. In the event that you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Your staff has already been very helpful to the Committee in its preparation for the hearing. They may also contact Dr. Leonard Weiss, Staff Director, or Steven Katz, Counsel, at 202-224-4751.

Geun

Sincerely John Glenn Chairman

JHG/sk

13-00000

HEARING before the SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS on S.J. Res. 282: THE ASSASSINATION MATERIALS DISCLOSURE ACT OF 1992

Tuesday, May 12, 1992 9:00 a.m. Room 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building

WITNESS LIST


Panel 1: The Honorable David L. Boren United States Senator (D-OK)

The Honorable Arlen Specter United States Senator (R-PA)

The Honorable Louis Stokes United States Representative (D-OH) *

RELEASE OF ON INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT

Panel 2: The Honorable Robert M. Gates Director Central Intelligence Agency

The Honorable Williams Sessions Director Federal Bureau of Investigation

Panel 3: *

James Lesar President Assassination Archives and Research Center Washington, D. C.

Professor Ernest May Kennedy School of Government Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts

Professor Athan Theoharis Department of History Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin

13-00000 :

HEARING before the SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS on S.J. Res. 282: THE ASSASSINATION MATERIALS DISCLOSURE ACT OF 1992

Tuesday, May 12, 1992 9:00 a.m. Room 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building

WITNESS LIST


Panel 1: The Honorable David L. Boren United States Senator (D-OK)

The Honorable Arlen Specter United States Senator (R-PA)

The Honorable Louis Stokes United States Representative (D-OH) Co DECLAS RELEAS OF GALL INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT

Panel 2:


The Honorable Robert M.-Gates... Director Central Intelligence Agency

The Honorable Williams Sessions Director Federal Bureau of Investigation

Panel 3: James Lesar President Assassination Archives and Research Center Washington, D. C.

Professor Ernest May Kennedy School of Government Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts

Professor Athan Theoharis Department of History Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin *

13-00000 APR 2 92 20 1.

P.2

CIA SPECIAL COLECTIONS RELEASE IN FULL 2000

4/22/92 !

OUTLINE OF TESTIMONY ON JFK RESOLUTION

A. Agreement with Principles of Legislation.

B. :

  1. Favor disclosure of as much material on JFK as is consistent with protection of intelligence sources and methods.

  2. Established own declassification program. Presumption will be in favor of disclosure.

  3. Pledge to cooperate with any reasonable mechanism to declassify documents.

Describe Nature and Amount of Records.

  1. Reasons for having records.

2. to. Volume of existing material and who it belongs

  1. How we have identified material related to JFK assassination.

C. How Much Material Can be Released?

  1. Give estimate of amount of material to be released under CIA program or resolution.

  2. Describe material that could not be disclosed.

a. Example of Intelligence Sources and Methods that would require withholding.

b. Example of material the release of which would invade privacy. :

  1. Describe resources--manpower and funds--to achieve results.

D. Concerns with Resolutions. i

  1. Address only Intelligence Community Concerns. Will defer to DoJ on Constitutional objections. :

13-00000 APR 22 '92 08:47

P.3

  1. CIA or other agencies that originate documents should conduct initial review of material to determine whether it can be released. Material withheld from public release could then be made available to Review Board.

  2. Agencies that originate information should be allowed to review it for release even if that information is contained in a document prepared by another agency or Congress. Suggest interagency working group to handle coordination issues likely to arise with disclosure of third agency documents.

  3. Will cooperate with any request by the Board for additional material that has a reasonable relationship to the assassination.

  4. Would hope that the Board will consult with DCI before using subpoena power to compel production of material that involves sensitive intelligence sources and methods.

  5. Exemptions need to be clarified so as to ensure that deliberative process information and identities of covert employees are protected.

E. Conclusion: Pledge to cooperate with whatever mechanism is established to declassify material. Hope that this effort will help to dispel myths regarding JFK assassination. .

13-00000

ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY

OCA 2034-92 1 May 1992

MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

SUBJECT: House Government Operations Committee Hearing on H.J. Res. 454 (JFK Materials Resolution)

  1. On 28 April, the undersigned attended a public hearing on the proposed Assassination Materials Disclosure Act conducted by the House Government Operations Legislation and National Security Subcommittee. Majority Committee/Subcommittee Chairman Conyers and Ranking Minority Member Horton were present for the entire hearing; majority Subcommittee members English, Neal, Peterson, and Thornton and minority members Shays and Schiff and full Committee member Martinez attended at least part of the hearing. The Committee's Press release, which criticizes the government and particularly CIA as releasing JFK-related documents "at a snail's pace", and witness statements are attached.

  2. The hearing was well attended by the public and attracted much media coverage. Eight witnesses testified in four groups: Congressmen Louis Stokes (assisted by Robert Blakey, former counsel to the House Select Committee on Assassinations) and former HPSCI Chairman Lee Hamilton testified first. The congressmen were followed by the movie "JFK"'s director Oliver Stone, who was followed by Howard Willens, Counsel to the Warren Commission, and James Johnston, Counsel to the Church Committee. The session closed with a panel comprised of Ms. Leslie Harris, Chief Legislative Counsel for the Washington office of the ACLU; Dr. Herbert Parmet, Professor of History, Queensborough Community College and Graduate School of the City University of New York, and Dr. Harold Rellyea, American National Government Specialist at the Congressional Research Service.

  3. Chairman Conyers advised in his opening remarks that the Committee wanted to hear from the Executive branch and thus would hold another hearing session. He noted that "after much negotiation," the Director of Central Intelligence would be testifying in mid-May. He further noted that the Committee also hoped to hear from the Attorney General, but negotiations with the Justice Department were still ongoing. Conyers was criticized of the DoJ at the outset, noting that the Committee had

ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY

13-00000

ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY

Subject: House Government Operations Committee Hearing on H.J. Res. 454 (JFK Materials Resolution)

received a long, single-spaced letter from Justice detailing numerous "legalistic" objections to the resolution, which he characterized as not reflecting a real willingness to work together to release the documents to the American people.

  1. The general tone of the session was strongly in favor of the resolution and disclosure of the vast majority of the material. Most witnesses conceded that there might be some materials that required postponement of disclosure, but the bias was clearly toward disclosure. Even Oliver Stone, in response to a comment from Congressman Shays that he (Shays) found it hard to imagine what national security or privacy issues would persist after 30 years, conceded that there might be some exceptions, but Stone thought 98 percent of the material could be released. Several witnesses, including Congressman Stokes and Church Committee counsel, suggested that most national security information should be released under the resolution, but that privacy interests posed greater concerns. Congressman Hamilton warned that the Congress should be careful that nondisclosure "loopholes" do not "swallow up the bill," which is why he said that review by an independent board was so important.

  2. Stone's testimony had quite an impact on the hearing. Several congressman and witnesses credited his movie "JFK" as "the reason we are all here today." Chairman Conyers appeared particularly impressed with Stone, describing his testimony in exchanges with later witnesses as "persuasive" and "compelling." A few potentially tough questions were thrown at Stone--did he not over-lionize Garrison; how much research did he do for the movie and did he seek to talk to or obtain information from the government as part of his research process? However, there was no aggressive follow-up to Stone's answers. Discerning observers may have picked up on the fact that Stone's "research" seemed tailored to and limited by pre-conceived conspiracy theories. (For example, when asked if he had talked to President Ford, a member of the Warren Commission and advocate of disclosure of the JFK documents, Stone answered no--that it was pretty obvious where Ford stood as a proponent of the lone gunman theory.)

  3. When asked about his personal views, Stone said he believed that there were two conspiracies. The murder conspiracy was small and covert--perhaps involving no more that five to ten people--and was led by the "intelligence agencies." Stone did not mention CIA by name at this point.

2

ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY

13-00000

ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY

Subject: House Government Operations Committee Hearing on H.J. Res. 454 (JFK Materials Resolution)

He mentioned Oswald's alleged ties to naval intelligence, and also said that a closer look should be taken at an operation "MONGOOSE" and a Colonel Landsdale. He also posited a bigger "cover-up" conspiracy after the fact, spearheaded by President Johnson (who Stone alleged told Earl Warren he would be responsible for World War III if the Commission tied the Cubans into a conspiracy). Stone theorized that a much broader "Establishment", while not directly involved in the assassination, was not sorry to see Kennedy go because he was an agent of profound change embarking upon several courses that disturbed that "Establishment", including pulling out of Vietnam. In response to a later question about various theories, Stone called the Mafia theory a "red-herring." Stone said "as you know, the CIA has always used the Mafia for plausible deniability" and that it was important to look behind the Mafia at "who pulls the strings."

  1. Other matters of Agency interest discussed include that both the Warren Commission attorney and particularly the Church Committee attorney castigated CIA for "lying" to the Warren Commission. The particular example offered had to do with "AMLASH." This individual came up in connection with traces the Agency apparently conducted for the Warren Commission. CIA purportedly had a relationship with AMLASH in connection with a Castro assassination plot, but did not make this fact known to the Warren Commission. The witnesses characterized this as pertinent information CIA consciously withheld from the Warren Commission. Also, when the final panel engaged in a broader discussion of government disclosure and FOIA with the subcommittee, the ACLU held up the CIA Openness Task Force report as an example of why FOIA was a "dismal failure" as the mechanism to "vindicate t public's right to know." (On 18 March Conyers rigorously questioned Gary Foster on the task force report when his subcommittee held a hearing on "Government Secrecy After the Cold War.")

  2. A major recurring theme was concern that, despite the need to make the documents publicly available, the Administration would not support the resolution and it could be vetoed. Congressman Hamilton stated that, if the resolution were vetoed, he hoped that at minimum the House would pass a resolution to release its own records. (Such an action would be problematic for the Administration, because much Executive branch information is contained in House records, and the House also probably considers documents obtained from Executive agencies as part of its

3

ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY

13-00000

ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY

Subject: House Government Operations Committee Hearing on H.J. Res. 454 (JFK Materials Resolution)

records.) Most witnesses thought the Congress should try to avoid a constitutional confrontation with the Administration, however, and a few practical suggestions to help work around problems were made. For example, the ACLU suggested that the Review Board might be modeled after the Advisory Committee established in connection with the State Department's preparation of the Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series, with which CIA's historical staff is familiar. This body was established by a provision included in last year's Foreign Relations Authorization Act.

  1. In conclusion, the hearing did not get into much detail on provisions of the resolution. Much time was spent on general propositions like the fact that the documents ought to be released and why, and matters tangential to core issues raised by H.R. 454.

Victoria L. Pepper Assistant General Counsel Office of Congressional Affairs

4

ADMINISTRATIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY

13-00000

OCA 2050-92 6 May 1992

MEMORANDUM FOR: We Director of Central Intelligence FROM: Stanley M. Moskowitz Director of Congressional Affairs SUBJECT: JFK Testimony

  1. Attached is a copy of your opening statement for the 12 May hearing before Senate Governmental Affairs Committee on the JFK Joint Resolution. Because we are commenting on legislation, Executive Branch guidelines require us to submit the testimony in advance to OMB for Administration clearance. We also intend to provide your opening statement in advance to the DoJ and FBI. As you know, Director Sessions will be joining you for a panel presentation before the Committee.

  2. Please let me know whether you have any objections to release of your statement to OMB, DoJ, and the FBI. The Committee has requested that an advance copy of your statement be provided to them by 8 May.

Attachment: as stated Stanley M. Moskowitz

13-00000

Draft 5/6/92

CIA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS RELEASE IN FULL 2000

STATEMENT OF ROBERT M. GATES DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS :

UNITED STATES SENATE

12 MAY 1992

13-00000

Mr. Chairman, I am here today at your request to provide my views on Senate Joint Resolution 282, "The Assassination Materials Disclosure Act of 1992," and to describe the nature of documents held by the CIA that relate to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. I very much appreciate the opportunity to speak on this important matter.

Let me begin by stating that I am in complete agreement with the purpose underlying the joint resolution--that efforts should be made to declassify and make available to the public as quickly as possible government documents relating to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. We hope that opening up and giving journalists, historians and, most importantly, the public access to governmental files will help to resolve questions that still linger even 28 years after the assassination. Further, I believe over that maximum disclosure will discredit the theory that the CIA had anyther participated in the murder of John F. Kennedy. ת

Even before introduction of this joint resolution, I recognized the need for greater public access to CIA documents of historical importance. Two months ago, I announced the establishment of a new unit within CIA that will be responsible for declassifying as many historical documents as possible consistent with the protection of intelligence sources and to do with

13-00000

methods. This new unit, the Historical Review Group, in the Agency's Center for the Study of Intelligence, will review for declassification documents 30 years old or older, and national intelligence estimates on the former Soviet Union that are 10 years old or older. In addition to the systematic review of 30- year- old documents, I have directed the History Staff in the Center for the Study of Intelligence to assemble CIA records focusing on particular events of historical importance, including Весиии of high intessent in the JPK not waiting for the assassination of President Kennedy. The Historical Review apers, I am Group will then examine the documents for the purpose of declassifying the records. As we speak this Group has already legislation or other agencies to start begun its review of the documents related to the assassination of Legislation or President Kennedy, and I am glad to report that the first group of Sine Som these records, which includes all CIA documents on Lee Harvey Can me Idea of

?

Is it declassifying documents wassination documents, we will use a presumption in favor of Limited only to the 37 which CHA has Legislation or includin Oswald prior to the assassination, has been declassified and transferred to the National Archives for release to the public.

As we carry out our program to declassify Kennedy releasing as many documents as possible. In fact, I recently approved new CIA declassification guidelines for our Historical on the next page. good Ken said there wou be (specifically direct) enou