[1]DARAAN
[2]\104-10330-10700), | 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 |
[3]- : ER 97-4602
[5]Assassination: Records Review Board
[6]600 E Street NW - 2nd Floor - Washington, DC 20530
[7](202) 724-0088 « Fax: (202) 724-0457
[9]October 28, 1997
[11]Mr. David W. Carey
[13]Executive Director
[15]Central Intelligence Agency
[16]’ Washington, DC 20505
[18]Re: Completing the Review of JFK Assassination Records
[19]Dear Mr. Carey:
[21]I would like to congratulate you on your new appointment at the Agency and wish you
[22]the very best of success in the difficult challenges that lie ahead.
[24]As you probably are aware, the Assassination Records Review Board has been
[25]mandated by Congress and the President to oversee the declassification and transfer to
[27]. the National Archives of all records related to the assassination of President Kennedy.
[28]During the past three years we have received excellent cooperation from CIA in regard
[29]to the processing of the relevant Agency records. From our perspective, this is due in
[30]significant part to the work of John Pereira, Chief of the Historical Review Group, and
[31]J. Barry Harrelson, who has shouldered the extremely complicated, burdensome, and
[33]. frequently thankless task of overseeing the project. Both of them have proved to be
[34]superb representatives of the Agency. We also very much appreciated receiving a
[35]strong message of support from your predecessor, Nora Slatkin, who advised us ina
[36]meeting on October 16, 1996, of her full support for the project and her willingness to
[37]commit the necessary Agency resources to complete the project.
[39]Because the Review Board is now in the final twelve months of its statutory tenure, I
[40]thought it would be appropriate to advise you of our goals for the upcoming year. It is
[41]our wish to be able to state in our Final Report to the President and to Congress that
[42]CIA has made all reasonable attempts to locate, review, and declassify all available
[43]records on the Kennedy assassination. We would like the Review Board to be able to
[44]assure the American people that the Agency has been fully cooperative in this
[46]~ enormous and difficult task, and that the Agency no longer retains any “secret” files on
[47]the assassination. In addition, we are obligated to keep Congress informed, on a
[48]monthly basis, of the status of our work and any difficulties that would interfere with
[49]our ability to achieve our objective. -
[51]Although many important strides have been made to further our goals, we nevertheless
[52]perceive that the pace of review and declassification of Agency records will need’ to be
[54]Boaro Memeens: Johan R. Tunheim, Chair * Henry F. Graff + Kermit lL. Hall « William L. Joyce + Anna K. Nelson
[55]Executive Director: David G: Marwell
[58]13-00000
[60]Mr. David W. Carey
[61]October 28, 1997
[62]Page 2
[64]accelerated in order for us to succeed. We must keep in mind that the goal includes
[65]reviewing, processing, and transferring to the custody of the National Archives all
[66]identified assassination records by September 1, 1998. (We do not perceive that
[67]duplicate copies of such records need be transferred by September 1.) Many time-
[68]consuming difficulties inherent in this project have been overcome, and we perceive
[69]that the pace of review is accelerating. Nevertheless, we wanted to signal to you our
[70]concern that, unless the pace of review increases further, we may not be on target to
[71]satisfy what I hope to be our common objective.
[73]It is our firm intention to complete our task within the congressionally mandated time
[74]limit. If CLA is unable to pre-review and process its records consistent with completion
[75]of this task, the Review Board will vote to release-in-full all relevant CIA records and
[76]mandate that custody be transferred to the National Archives in a timely way. We
[77]sincerely hope that it will not be necessary for the Board to make wholesale decisions on
[78]unreviewed records and we will be pleased to work with the Agency to see that such a
[80]_ step is unnecessary. But we are prepared to make such decisions to the extent they are
[81]required to fulfill our own responsibilities. Although it is our perception that CLA may
[83]wish to devote additional human resources to this project, we of course leave such
[84]decisions to the sound judgment of knowledgeable CIA officials.
[86]We therefore strongly urge the Agency to take all appropriate steps to complete its .
[87]review of records in an orderly and systematic manner. To the extent:that the Agency is
[88]able to satisfy appropriate deadlines, there will be no need for us to resort to any
[89]unfortunate — but potentially necessary — measures to complete our own obligations to
[90]Congress, the President, and the American people.
[92]If you would find it helpful, the Review Board members and I would be pleased to -
[93]discuss these issues with you or others at the Agency.
[95]cc: Assassination Records Review Board
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[99]CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
[100]WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
[102]EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
[104]21 November 1997
[105]CSI 97-536
[107]Dr. T. Jeremy Gunn
[109]‘Assassination Records CIA SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
[111]Review Board RELEASE AS SANITIZED
[113]°600 E Street, NW
[114]. Washington, DC 20530 2000
[116]Dear Dr. Gunn:
[118]Thank you for your letter of 28 October in which you
[119]outline the Assassination Records Review Board‘s goals for
[120]the coming year. I appreciate the complimentary remarks you
[121]made about the “excellent cooperation” that CIA has been
[122]providing to the Board.
[124]You raised a concern that the Agency may not be able to
[125]increase sufficiently the pace of the review process to meet
[126]the 1 September 1998 deadline for completing the transfer of
[127]records to the National Archives. You also expressed the
[128]view that if any records are not reviewed by the deadline,
[129]the Board will vote to release them in full and mandate that
[130]custody be transferred to the National Archives.
[132]. You can be assured that we are committed to taking all
[133]necessary steps to meet our statutory obligation to review
[134]all of the Agency’s assassination-related materials. It is
[135]important that a proper review of all relevant records be
[136]done. This will allow us to recommend to the Board what
[137]information warrants continued protection.
[139]We appreciate the great responsibility that Congress
[140]and the President have given to the Board to inform the
[141]American people about the assassination. We share the
[142]Board's goal of declassifying and releasing the relevant
[143]records to the fullest extent possible.
[145]Please convey my regards to Chairman Tunheim and the
[146]other Board members, and assure them of our continued
[147]cooperation.
[149]“ : Sincerely,
[151]of Bwible Co
[153]David W. Carey
[155]6
[157]13-00000
[161]‘ SECRET
[163]ave - CSL arwers Ao yet foto ccna bee ne
[164]. . , D x1
[165]on ISFK r7es ech. ov er COL 1-82
[167]OE forwarded hire fo Compt relies, fev.
[168]Com 70 ler provide’ abtdr.f! deck qerl chine lathe
[169]NOTE FOR: CO! Clan.
[171]FROM: John F. Pereira
[172]OFFICE: . CSIHRG
[173]DATE: 11/06/97 11:38:33 AM:
[175]SUBJECT: CSI Resource Request regarding JFK
[177]in Brian Latell’s absence, | am providing the following response to the Exdir's questions regarding the
[178]request for additional resources for review of JFK documents:
[180]’ 1. What is the size of the JFK declassification problem ? How much work remains to be done ?
[182]- An additional 40-50,000 pages of CIA records remain to be reviewed by 30 September
[183]1998.
[185]- Alarge volume of documents are being referred to CIA by other agencies for review,
[186]including the FBI, State, and Presidential Libraries. The documents are either ClA-originated
[187]or contain CIA information. No figures are available, but we estimate at least 40,000 pages.
[189]- The JFK Board has also asked CIA to re-review approximately 130,000 pages of material that
[190]we released earlier to the National Archives. The reason is to determine whether
[191]information deleted earlier can now be released.
[193]2. How many people do you have working on the JFK project now ?
[194]- Following are dedicated to the JFK project:
[196]-- One staff officer (Project leader Barry Harrelson)
[197]-- 13 independent contractors (work 3/4 days per week)
[199]- The DO unit detailed to CSI to coordinate the review of JFK records recently added two
[200]contractors and may add more.
[202]3. What difference would X more make ?
[203]- The additional resources requested would allow us to increase the pace of the review of
[205]CIA documents and third agency referrals. Unless the pace is increased, it is highly unlikely
[206]that the Board’s requirement to complete the review and declassification of all JFK-related
[208]records by 30 September 1998 could be met.
[210]SECRET
[212]13-00000
[213]~ SECRET
[215]ce: Brian S. Latell,(Patricia F. DuryeexRodney A. SnydetkRex H. Lathant-C-,{Robert Ey
[216](Ceggett,U. Barry Harretson
[217]Sent on 6 November 1997 at 11:38:33 AM
[219]SECRET
[222]13-00000
[224]- SECRET
[226]CL BY:(0693020 >
[228]CL REASON: Section 1.5 C
[229]DECL ON: 6 November 2007
[232]TO: Rebecca V. Strode }
[233]FROM: ) Gonttak. Bower,
[234]OFFICE: COMPT
[236]DATE: 11/06/97 12:09:41 PM
[238]SUBJECT: &)Re: CSI Resource Request regarding JFK
[239]Some background information for you:
[241](S) First, although Congress authorized and appropriated $5.5 million for classification management, _it is
[242]unlikely that-CSL will receive the full.$5.5 million. Why? Congress levied a tax on DoD procurement that
[244]will have a significant impact on CIA’s program because of the fact that our entire budget is incorporated in
[245]\ DoD’s budget as Other Procurement Air Force! Asa result Of that tax/CIA has to take about a $49 million 5
[247]¢ reduction across all programs (per SAC direction). This will impact on all activities -- including new adds.”
[248]Each activity can expect to lose‘about 1% of its resources. We will identify specifically how to take this cut
[249]at Friday’s offsite.
[251](C)n addition, CIA has a large FY98 unfunded bill (about $143 million)) On Friday, we will determine how
[252]to reduce and/or pay that bill” One of the proposals on the table for paying that bill is to use/Some of the )
[254]‘(Congressional add money >- obviously, we would have to work thisAwith the Hills but the bottom line is that
[255]some of the declass money may be redirected to other priorities.
[257]{O)iFinally, we may decide to use some of the adds to prepay some FY99 shortfalls. We are already )
[258]/ aware of a shortfall in FY99 of about $180 million: ~ a
[260]Me —
[262](U) So, the bottom line is that no one should count on. getting the full amount of their add until we have
[263]finalized our decisions on FY98 and FY99 unfundeds.
[265](C) All that said, if CSI does receive some or all of the money added by Congress, they do have the
[266]flexibility to allocate that money to other priorities. However, they should attempt to meet the spirit of the
[267]language in the Authorization Act. Specifically, the language reads, “The Senate bill added $5.5 million to
[268]enhance declassification efforts, with a particular emphasis on those documents relating to
[269]Guatemala and Honduras. The House amendment added $8 million for classification management. the
[270]conferees agree to provide $5.5 miflion for declassification and classification management and request
[271]that the Director of CSI report to the Congressional Intelligence Committees on progress in declassifying
[272]documents of historical significance, the volume of documents involved, the mechanism for review, the
[273]anticipated date of completion of this effort, and how the process can be improved."
[275](U) Hope this helps. CRB
[277]ce: (Mary K. Sturtevant
[279]SECRET
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[284]en or
[285]- NOV. G7 °97 10:31AM, = _ ,
[286]Classification of Material Transmitted , EX DIR.
[287]; oe DEIR
[288]HISTORICAL REVIEW GROUP. be
[289]CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF INTELLIGENCE oe
[290]Phone # 703-613-1806
[291]PLEASE DELIVER IMMEDIATELY 0), sen, coon
[293]WEEE AE a a AE a a a a 1 a AR A EE EE AE aE a a HE WE OE AE AE AE EE EE EE
[295]CLASSIFIED FAX
[296]SUBJECT: J FK | _
[297]FROM: ae ho fares na X3IFO
[298]_ SENDING FAX NO. 703-613-
[300]DELIVER TO: Beek S* trode, Cis. Ex DCE |
[301]RECEIVING FAXNO. 7O3- 734- / #/9
[303]DATE TRANSMITTED: a’ 4] PAGES TRANSMITTED: 2.
[304]| " (including cover sheet) .
[306]_ TRANSMITTED BY: Barbera
[308]SeeerereneeeteTCennenntcer teeter etree etter i teeresnctrentrcr iran
[310]' Bucky » he ” “ite et —
[312]_ Arve...
[314]Classification of Material Transmitted
[316]somone
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[321]_NOV @7 97 10:31AM an : P.2
[323]31 October 1997
[325]Request for Additional Funds for. the JFK Assassination
[326]Records Review Project, through 31 September 1998.
[328]Reference: Ltr. to Executive Director form J. Jeremy Gunn,
[329]Executive Director, Assassination Records Review Board
[330](ARRB), copy attached.
[332]Background.
[334]. 1. The ARRB will go out of business on 31 September
[335]1998. Before that date, it has a statutory obligation to
[336]complete ite review of all records held by the U.8.
[337]Government which relate to the assassination of President *
[338]Kennedy, determine those which are relevant to the
[339]assassination story and ensure that the same are transferred
[340]to the National Archives. As the board begins its final
[341]year, it has become increasingly concerned about the pace of
[342]the review and transfer proceas. Referent letter is the
[343]latest of a number of exchanges dealing with that concern.
[345]2. CSI/HRG has carefully reviewed its current position
[346]with respect to its ability to meet the deadlines imposed
[347]and has concluded that it cannot fully do so without
[348]additional resources, at least through 30 September 1998.
[349]This conclusion ig based in large measure on three changed
[350]circumstances:
[352]A. The ARRB hag recently exercised ita statutory
[353]authority and designated additional CIA records to be within.
[354]the JFK collection (to date approximately twenty cubic feet
[355]or 40,000 pages). Additional records may he identified as.
[356]the ARRB staff continues its review of Agency files.
[358]B. Over the past three months we have received an
[359]increase in the number of “Assassination Records” referred
[360]from third agencies which include both Agency documents held
[361]by another agency or third agenay documents which must be
[362]reviewed because they contain CIA information; and ;
[364]C. The ARRS itself has established a deadline which was
[365]not anticipated. All agencies had understood that the
[366]xeview processiand ARRB action would have to be completed by
[367]30 September, but it was widely assumed that final
[369]‘processing and transfer of the documents to the National
[371]Archives could occur after that date. However, the Board has
[372]now mandated that all relevant records which are not
[373]duplicates must be transferred to custody of the National
[374]Archives before it goes out of business,
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[377]ot NOV G7 "97 10:32AM.” a P.3
[379]‘ .F
[382]Additional Resonrces Requested.
[384]. 3. The following estimate is based on our understanding
[385]of the ARRA requirements at this time.
[387]A. Review of records: aquivalent of 2 man-years (3
[388]sole ~~ average daily contractor cost
[389]270):
[391]RB. Preparation of documenta for National Archives:
[392]equivalent of 1.5 man-years (2 contractors --
[393]average daily contractor cost $180);
[395]C. Indexing: approximately one-man year of overtime*
[396]($28 hourly rate);
[398]D. Reproduction: approximately one-man year of
[399]overtime ($25 hourly rate).
[401]Estimated cost FY98: $300,000
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[405]NOV @7 °S7? 10:33AM SC P.4
[407]Request for Funds for Declasaification of Korean Documents
[409]‘1. Background. In December 1995, the Director of.
[410]Central Intelligence drafted a Policy Directive calling for
[411]the implementation of a community-wide systematic
[412]Geclassification program under the leadership of the Center
[413]for the Study of Intelligence (CSI) . The Co ty
[415]' Historical Review Advisory Committee (CHRAC), chaired by the
[416]Director of CSI, was formed last year to implement the DCI‘s
[417]directive and to select and prioritize topics for
[418]historical declassification review by the Intelligence
[419]Community. At the October meeting of the CHRAC, the agency
[420]xepresentatives approved the review of materials related to
[421]the Korean War as the first topic for historical
[422]declassification to be done collectively by the Intelligence
[423]Community.
[425]The Kerean Project, Funds are requested for the
[426]Agency to fully’ participate in this project. With funding,
[427]CSI, in cooperation with the Agency’s automatic
[428]declassification program (OIM/IRG/ADD), will review for’
[429]possible declassification intelligence records related to
[430]the Korean War period (1 January 1950 through 27 July 1953).
[431]The review would be done concurrently with the rest of the
[432]Intelligence Community. The joint effort will be
[433]coordinated by CSI.
[435]3. The Projects Cost. Preliminary research done by
[436]CIA‘s History staff indicates thexe are approximately 100
[437]boxes, about 150,000 pages, of material that will have to be
[438]reviewed from archival material belonging to several Agency
[439]directorates. The following costs would be incurred during
[440]such a review:
[442]We
[443]>.
[445]¢ Document Preparation (select pertinent documents for
[446]copying and organize them for reviewers) - One contractor
[447]for 50 days ($13, 000)* * .
[449]¢ Co pying Expenses - One copier, at 75 pages per ‘hour for
[450]2000 hours ($50,000)*
[452]s Document Review (contractor document review to make
[453]declassification determinations with guidance supplied by
[454]staf£ supervisor) - One contractor doing 2 reviews of
[455]each document at a rate of 200 pages per day ($390,000)
[457]* Contractor is approximately $270 per day.
[458]* Copiers are approximately $25 per hour.
[460]a cow -
[462]13-00000
[463]_* NOV @7 "87 1@:340N
[466].,
[469]¢ Document Massaging (input of staff supervisor, time for
[470]outside coordination, and preparation of final copies for
[471]NARA) - Approximately 1/3 of a staff officer’s time for
[473]iL year and. 2 contractors for a total of 384 days
[474]($135, 000)"
[476]TOTAL COST . ; $588,000?
[478]* whe total is a conservative estimate that could escalate depending
[479]upon the complexity of the project and the need for outside -
[480]coordination. Costs not included in this total are paper, cost of
[481]equipment maintenance, ADP support, . document tion expenses of
[482]other directorates, share of cost of CSI support personnel and cost of
[483]putting finished declassified documenta into MORI. .
[485]P.S