GUIDELINES FOR HISTORICAL WRITING IN THE CLANDESTINE SERVICES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-06202A000100100017-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 10, 2000
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: October 14, 1964
• Content Type: MFR

Approved. for Rel~ea~-2000~
8-062024000100100017-3
14 October 1964
MEMORANDUIi~ FOR THE RECORD
iddines for jilSLOTlC: d.t~j ni-t t,i a+5 ial Vll ~r
Clandestine Services ti
There~is need for a more systematic effort to record
historically the development o~ the Agency, its contri-
butions toynational policy and:natlonal strength, its
experiences with organizational and methodological inno-
vations, and its relations with pal.icy authorities, other
agencies, '.and other intelligence services. Any writing
at all along these lines-that can be done in the divisions
and .staffs', from available administrative and operational
papers, tolundocumented individual'.memoirs, and even to a
tracing of'T/0 changes, will be of,value to Agency histori-
ans of~this and future generationsa The following sug-
gestions,~however, are offered as a guide toward the most
useful contributions per effort expended.
1. ~~ubject Matter ,~
i, ~~ F
ii
:Functional development: how did we get -- as an
.agency, off'-.its program in some particular country -- to
the present point from the low of .19467 What were the
biggest steps, and how did they etn~erge one from another or
from external prompting? Have we sometimes been diverted
from our proper function (over- praygrams) ?
Operations: What have t$e major programs been?
-How successful-was each? How much,a contribution to ful-
fillment of the Agency's job? To national objectives?
What went)vrong in the failures? What individual opera-
tions have been particularly significant, or instructive?:
,organization: How have mrganizational problems.
(OSO-OpC;~overt-covert support functions; the play between
geographical and functional units)~been solved, or not
solved? What experiments failed tb work, and why?
DUB C /f2-- REV ONTf Q~_ _- $Y V1A
[+P:
' ~_!L ?Y" _ ~
_
Q!!IG COMP-
.
__
--
~ ORIG CL S.~`' PAGES 'REV CL-ASS _-Lt-
J1t32 ~T NEXt REV ~ RlitH: HR 16-2
~'."'~
~,~ i.
App-roved For Release 2000/08/30 :CIA-RDP78-06202A000100100017-3
`,~ I
 .Approved For Relea000/O~J,(,~~E'~6-0620200100100017-3
Problems and methods:~,What innovations have been
made in methods (agent communications, proprietary enter-
prises, the extension of deep cover)? What problems were
they intended to solve? How well have they worked, or why
didn't they work? What administra~bive or support problems
have been particularly significant?
relationships of all kinds: What effect have ups
and downs of policy guidance (NSC,/White House, OCB/Special
Group) had? What have been the relations with State and
Defense atnHeadquarters? With ambassadors, armed service
commanders, and other U.S. agencies in-the field? With
"friendly " foreign services? How did the closer working
relationships with DDI components evolve?
2. .Matters of Form and Method
I~resentation: Normally these facets of subject
matter should be woven into a chronological narrative, not
separated dut in analytical f ashioM, though sometimes it
is desirable to interrupt the narrative to trace. the history
of a particular problem. A table summarizing the chronology
is useful for quick reference. Style: the simpler and
less pretentious the better. ,
Audience: The history i~~for ourselves, that is
DDP/Agency:! The more unglassed and unabridged it is the
more useful it will be. But matters of particular sensitivity
from the v~~'ewpoint of the security ,;of current operations
can be treated by reference to closely held annexes, and the
cryptonym/pseudonym cloak may be imposed when necessary.
Actors: It should not be impersonal; it is people
that make history. But it should riot be cluttered with.
names that are ,just names. Bring the main characters to
life if yoti can without fictionaliz,'ing.
L?ocumentation: Assemble,~copies of the most
important documents in an appendix. Cite other documentary
authority ~n footnotes,.indicating,in whose files and under
what heading the papers can be found.
;,
Sources: The historian usually begins by getting
all he caniout of documentary records and then tries to go
behind the~idocuments, as well as full in between them, with
carefully chosen questions posed to witnesses. Such inter-
.Approved -For Release 2000~0~~1~1~78~-06202A000100100017-3
 Approved For Relea~2000/08
-06202-x@00100100017-3
views shou~.d be recorded and cited like other documents.
The historian of recent events-can reverse this procedure,
getting the story from eye-witnesses first and then checking
and supple#nenting it with docun~nt~, if he hae~ too little
first-hand. knowledge of the subject to get started or if
the people-.are better available than the papers. Sometimes
periodic reports Ito the NSC, the President's Board,-the DCI,
or others)r,are useful as summar es~~pointing to other sources.
Contact
far further information.
Historical Staff,. O/DCI
Room 1D27
Phone 5963
25X1A
Approved For Releajse 2000 ~~~~8=06202A000100100017-3