Dear

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04007A000500020011-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 11, 1998
• Sequence Number: 11
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP78-04007A000500020011-3
1%W *4W
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
2430 E STREET NW.
WASHINGTON 25, D. C.
As a member of the Central Intelligence Agency you have assumed
a unique responsibility which affects both your private and official life.
You will find yourself a trusted custodian of information which would be
of great value to foreign countries. Foreign espionage agents are interested
in this information; first, to learn factual information contained in
classified documents, reports, etc.; second, to learn the sources used
by CIA in assembling information; third, to learn as much as possible of
the organization of CIA, its strength in various fields and its methods
of operation.
The combined and individual effort to protect "classified in-
formation" is called "Security". You will find that Security in In-
telligence makes certain personal demands upon you which at first may
seem to conflict with your private liberties.
However, the subject of security must be faced frankly. Security
does mean restrictions. None of us could possibly object to a "No Smoking"
rule in a, powder plant even though the rule may cause personal inconvenience.
Security practices and policies have gradually grown through practical
experience. Foremost, you will not be alloyed to disclose intelligence
information which you learn in connection with your new duties, except
to those persons who are officially authorized such information. You
cannot discuss your office problems or the work in which you are engaged.
You may have to take trips and not tell your wife or husband what you
are going to do, nor in some instances, where you are going. In each
instance you will be briefed as to what to tell your friends and associates
when travel is involved, including permanent changes of station.
The selection of your friends and associates, and your personal
conversations with them will be influenced considerably by the intelligence
duties you are called upon to perform. Your public conversations on current
topics and international events must be carefully weighed so that you will
not express an opinion based on intelligence data. Casual remarks on
these subjects by you can be given much significance by outsiders if you
are speaking on the basis of official informat.ooi. Your good sense and
discretion will be the best guides. Obviously," any air of "hush-hush" or
"cloak and dagger business" is anathema to real security, besides being
rather ridiculous. Nine-tenths of the material you will handle is open
knowledge. The danger lies in stressing, pointing up, or giving ill-timed
emphasis to those matters which are being correlated and analyzed with
this Agency; or in disclosing actual classified information.
Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP78-04007A000500020011-3
 ~- Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP78-04007A000500020011-3
Another sacrifice which you may have to make as you enter
upon an intelligence career is the adoption of a certain amount of
professional anonymity. If you are a member of a profession, your
value to this organization is based largely on the special knowledge
you have acquired. In gaining this knowledge you have in your previous
career talked freely with your colleagues and associates concerning
your work. Also, you may have written papers and delivered talks on
your specialty. However, now that you are with CIA, you will not be
permitted to engage freely in these activities. All such communications
will be subject to security review. It is obvious, therefore, that
a means by which you may have previously acquired status within
your specialty will not now be freely available to you.
I believe as your career develops in the intelligence field
the sacrifices I have mentioned will be more than recompensed by the
satisfaction of contributing to an operation which is so essential to
the welfare of the nation. I know of no opportunity to better serve
your country than to join Central Intelligence Agency, to which
I welcome you as our newest member.
Sincerely,
R. H. Hillenkoetter
Rear Admiral, USN
Director of Central Intelligence
Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : CIA-RDP78-04007A000500020011-3