IMMUNIZATION OF KEY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AGAINST BIOLOGICAL WARFARE (BW) AGENTS

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80B01676R001000120039-8
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
4
Document Creation Date: 
December 19, 2016
Document Release Date: 
April 11, 2005
Sequence Number: 
39
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 21, 1953
Content Type: 
MF
File: 
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80B01676R001000120039-8.pdf188.78 KB
Body: 
SECR Approved For Release 006/02/10: CIA-RDP8 01676R00 Q.?,93,%8 21 September 1953 MEMORANDUM FOR: The Director of Central Intelligence THROUGH : Deputy Director, Intelligence SUBJECT : Immunization of Key Government Officials Against. Biological Warfare (BW) Agents 1. Attached as Tab A is a letter from the Chairman, Inter- departmental Committee on Internal Security (ICIS) which: as Indicates that the ICIS has asked the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Federal Civil Defense Administration to assume the continuing responsi- bility of advising the President and the Cabinet on the desirability of immunizing key government officials against BW agents in the event of a threatened BW attack against the United States. (The list of key officials includes the DCI nand Principal Assistants.') b. Requests that CIA establish close liaison with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Federal Civil Defense Administration for the purpose of keeping these agencies fully informed of intelligence on Soviet capabilities and intentions for employing BW against this country, 2. It is recommended that you approve the request of the ICIS and sign the attached letters to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (Tab B), the Federal Civil Defense Administration (Tab C) and the Interdepartmental Committee on Internal Security (Tab D). Acting Assistant Director for Scientific Intelligence Attachments (3) NSC review(s) completed. 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2006/02/10 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R00100012003 8, %1W -MO X ~i4, SECRET Approved For Release 2006/02/10: ClA-RDP80B01676RO01000120039-8 ,3n terbrVartntcntat (Ionuui#ee an lnternal ,CIS-Y-5/lo" Q2. 2212 Department of Justice, Xasiiingtou 25, P. September 8, 1953 Honorable Allen W. Dulles Director, Central Intelligence Agency Washington 25, D. C. My dear Mr. Dulles: At its meeting of August 25, 1953, the Interdepartmental Cow ttee on Internal Security considered the report of its Subcommittee on Defense Against Unconventional Attack, entitled "Protection of key government officials against biological warfare agents by im.unizaafion." It was recommended to the ICIS that the following key government officials be immunized against smallpox, tetanus, typhoid and parat yphc'iA A and B: President and Principal White House Assistants Vice President Speaker of the House Cabinet Officers and their Principal Assistants Director, Office of Defense Mobilization and Principal Aesiste.nts Surgeon General, United States Public Health Service and. Principal Assistants Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Principal Assistants Director, Central Intelligence Agency and Principal Assistants Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Principal Assistants Administrator, Federal Civil Defense Administration and Principal Assistants f It is the view of the ICIS that the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Federal Cfvtl Defense Administration should jointly (1) review current information on Wssible BW agent developments in this country and abroad to determine the nature of BW agents that night be employed against key government officials and the likelihood that such agents would be so employed, and (2) when suc}i review indicates a need therefor, recommend to the President and Cabinet., such immunization of key government officials as may be required for protection against the threat. The representatives of the-Department of-Health,-F1ucatioa, and Welfare who attended the ICIS meeting indicated that-the Surgeon General does not believe that his Department has sufficient access to foreign intelligence information to enable it adequately to appraise the-risk of BW attack. Approved For Release 2006102/10 : CIA-RDP80B01676R001000120039-8 Approved For Release 200'/02/1;Q~. CI PDI 80B01676R001000120039-8 Accordingly, it is requested that your agency establish close liaison with the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and the Federal Civil Defense Administration in order that those agencies may be fully informed of intelligence indicating a BW attack upon this country and will be in a position to advise the President and the Cabinet with regard to the advisability of implementing the above recomendavion. Your acceptance of this responsibility and cooperation in this matter would be appreciated. Sincerely yours, a Thomas Aonegan Chairman, Interdepartmental Committee on Internal Security Approved For Release, 2006/02/10,-: -CIA-RDP80 BO 1676 R001000120039-8 -MW - 2 Approved For Release 2006/02/10 : CIA-RDP80B01676RO01000120039-8 'SECRET 25X1 SEP 2 5 190 - 1 - JW/SI g- ty Director, Intel, J ige .-e si CSI/JBR:kpr (21 September 1953) 2 !_CKt_ Approved For Release 2006/02/10 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R001000120039-8 1W -40 et SW eel4j 096peftuaft am 01.8: SINfD 1 - DD/I Robert Amory-, Jr. Distributions trig & 1 - forward 2-IOCI" 25X1