MSAG SUGGESTIONS TO EXPAND CIA DISPLAYS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00261R000700030080-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 10, 2000
• Sequence Number: 80
• Publication Date: March 25, 1974
• Content Type: MF

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25 March 1974
SUBJECT :
MSAG Suggestion to Expand CIA Displays
REFERENCES :
a.
b.
c.
MSAG's 7 November 1973 memorandum
C/FAC's 22 January 1974 memorandum Jb*~
Assistant to the Director's 28 January ~Vi,=t5>4-0303)
1974 memorandum
1. You may already have responded to the MSAG's suggestion.
on expanding CIA displays after receipt of references b. and c. If
not, I offer the following additional comments.
2. The Smithsonian Institution has facilities for temporary
shows (lasting 1-3 months) and for permanent display. While most
of the exhibition areas are too large, it is very likely the Institution
would be pleased to set aside a small exhibit area for CIA, and this
facility would seem to be the most suitable for providing CIA visibility
to visitors to the Capital area.
3. Most of the FAC-sponsored displays at Headquarters Building
are gathered either from commercial exhibition sources or consist
of an aggragate of items belonging to employees, and for this reason
would not be suitable. The late 1973 display on the history of spying
involved primarily personal belongings of Mr. Walter Pforzheimer
and a few selected items on loan from New York State and therefore,
from a practical standpoint, would also be unsuitable for inclusion.
4. There are certain "canned" exhibits which could be displayed
in a small area, specifically the Cuban Missile Crisis display, the
Berlin Tunnel display, and OMS' award-winning drug display. These
(which can be recreated), together with a continuous side showing of
the Need to Know film and a display of certain selected CIA publications,
to include the Middle East Atlas and the China Atlas (both published
and sold to the public by GPO), would be suitable for a composite
showing of "What Intelligence Can Do. " (NOTE: The DDM&S' 10
January 1974 memorandum to the DCI, "Dissemination of CIA Product
to the Public"- -apparently not yet acted upon by the Director--lists
CIA publications currently disseminated to the public, a collection of
which could be displayed. )
-DDM&S 74-0016
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5. The Chief of the CIA History Staff, having taken over the
responsibility for the Intelligence Museum Commission program, is
at this time calling for identification of items suitable for inclusion
in an "intelligence museum" should one ever be established. On his
inventory may be unclassified items of interest to the public which
might be included in a composite display.
6. If Agency management wished to pursue this, perhaps the
Smithsonian could be contacted about a "trial" 3-month exhibit (for
the summer of 1974, for instance). If public interest warranted, the
exhibit could then be made permanent, with alterations as circum-
stances dictate.
7. Any exhibit of this nature would be strictly an Agency
public relations matter, however, and the FAC by its charter would
not become involved. The FAC in fact simply does not have the
resources to undertake such a project, all members of the Committee
doing FAC work in addition to their regular duties.
8. It should be emphasized that any exhibit- -particularly one
of this importance, despite the size--is a time consuming task,
requiring extensive planning time as well as installation time. Re-
creating the displays mentioned herein would require support from
NPIC, OMS, OBGI, OS and OL at a minimum. With our present day
manpower and resource restrictions, would the various offices involved
have the required resources? I have the impression that most offices
are absorbing additional duties with fewer people, and a project such
as this could be a "luxury" we cannot at this time afford. In addition
to the Agency manpower resource problems, consideration would have
to be given as to payment of shipping costs, cost of equipment for
showing film, display equipment, etc. , and printing and visual aids
costs.
9. I should add that I was advised by Mr. Pforzheimer that the
Smithsonian approached Mr, Colby (informally and prior to the time
he became Director, I gathered) about obtaining and displaying the
Cuban Missile Crisis display. According to Mr. Pforzheimer, Mr.
Colby's deliberate decision at that time was negative.
10. Insofar as "traveling" exhibits are concerned, the logistics
aspects of crating, shipment, insurance, etc. , generally involves more
cost than warranted, with the problems outweighing the benefits. (At
the time Admiral Raborn was Director, I am told a traveling exhibit to
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universities of various NPIC products was examined, with the deter-
mination that the cost would far exceed the "value" of the exhibit. )
The award-winning drug display has been shown to various local high
schools and to NSA, and it could be re-created. While it would seem
appropriate to be included in a semi-permanent or permanent display
on "what intelligence can do", I agree with Mr. Thuermer about not
expanding it as a "traveling exhibit" given today's less critical drug
problem on the campus.
11. Mr. Thuermer's comments are certainly very thoughtful,
positive and constructive. He does not, however, address himself
to the resource problem of who will have the time to plan and coordinate
any such expansion of CIA displays, or even a small composite display
at the Smithsonian. This would appear to be a very large and real
problem in connection with MSAG's suggestion as well. Should the
Smithsonian Institution be interested, a one-site display there would
provide the most visibility to the general public with the least logistical
complications.
12. One note of caution: If Mr. Colby as DCI were to "sponsor"
any exhibit at the Smithsonian, care would have to be taken about CIA
as one part of the Intelligence Community. The IC Staff might wish
to have input from other intelligence organizations included in any
"What Intelligence Can Do" type of display.
With DDM&S concurrence, the MSAG suggestion merits
getting the Director's reaction to it.
a. Should the Director feel the time is right for CIA's
public image, and should the Smithsonian Institution be approached
regarding the possibility of a composite intelligence exhibit (with,
I suspect, positive interest on its part), Mr. Thue rme r, in his
position as Assistant to the Director and with his existing contacts
at the Smithsonian, would be the most appropriate representative
of the Agency to approach it.
b. If an intelligence display were to be exhibited at the
Smithsonian, I would recommend that manpower resources be
made available on a full time basis for the time required to collect
and install the display, with the Institution's professional staff
being used to the maximum extent possible for advice on exhibit
space and design.
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c. Should the Director feel the time is no right for
such a public relations effort on the part of CIA, I recom-
mend the suggestion and the comments thereon be forwarded
to Chief, History Staff for consideration at a later, more
propitious date.
DDM&S Plans Staff
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