AUTHORITY FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF FREEDOM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP59-00882R000200330049-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 49
• Publication Date: May 16, 1955
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2002/01/02 : CIA-RDP59-00882R000200330049-8
16 May 1955
M ANUJM FOR: General Counsel
SUBJECT: Authority for Award of the Medal of Freedom
1. This will confirm a recent discussion with
concerning the desirability of delegating to the Director au r ty
to award the Medal of Freedom. The Honor Awards Board has suggested
that this authority be delegated to the Director on several occasions
in the past, but agreed with your office that, before recommending
additional steps, one or two test cases involving recommendations for
the Medal of Freedom would be presented to the Office of the Secretary
of Defense .
2. On 10 September 1954, two cases were transmitted to OSD and
were followed rather closely during the time they were in process there.
Both were approved by Mr. Wilson, Secretary of Defense, and sent by
him to the Director on 6 December 19511. In the routine calls that
were made to follow the progress of these recommendations, it became
evident that they had been handled by a rather large number of people
and were in fact brought to Mr. Wilson's personal attention. While
we do not believe any security lapse occurred, we do believe that the
routing followed by the OSD, which includes presentation to the Amy's
Decorations Board, brings an unnecessarily large number of individuals
into the scene, and consumes more processing time than is ideal.
3. The Honor Awards Board will appreciate your reconsideration of
the matter of delegation of authority to award the Medal of Free& n with
a view toward securing an amendment to Executive Order 10336 so that
the Director will be included among those who are authorized to award
the Medal of Freedcan.
25X1A9A
Chairman, CIA Honor Awards Board
Approved For Release 2002/01/02 : CIA-RDP59-00882R000200330049-8