MEETING WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-COMPTROLLER 23 MARCH 1972, 1430-1500 HOURS, CONCERNING THE HISTORICAL PROGRAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030021-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 5, 2000
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: March 27, 1972
• Content Type: MFR

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27 March 1972
Ml:MOItAND1JM I'OR THE 12ECORD
5U]3JLCT Atceting with Lhe I:xecuti.ve Director-Comptroller
?.3 March 19 72 , 1ra30-1504 hourr~ , Concerning tlic
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PA1tTICIPANTS: Chief, Operational Services and
Executive Secretary, CS Historical
oar
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1. rir.~ who had requested the meeting, explained
that the DDP was continuing to receive requests from divisions and
staffs to rehire annuitants on contract to write CS histories. Iti
considering these the DLP needed some indication of Agency plans
and policy for the historical program and policy with regard to
rehiring annuitants for this program.
2. Mr. Colby explained that the future Agency and C5
historical programs would of necessity be much smaller and more
selective. Emphasis would be placed on recozding major programs,
operations, accomplishments, and functions of the Agency. Some of
these, where they were of major dimensions and involved various
elements and offices of the Agency, would be '~repared at the-
Agency level. He cited the Agency role in Vietnam as a type of
subject-that would be handled at the Agency, rather than at the CS
level.. These papers, as well as those written within the CS, should
be true histories, prepared in a professional manner. Mr. Colby
had little interest in office, station. or organizational.histories.
A bare bones chronicle. of major events and changes in these elements
would suffiee and this type, of record could be assembled in a few
weeks by a competent researcher. He env3sa~;ed that this type of
record could be-kept current by annual reports to be:'_ncorporated
in the program call. He hoped that the various Agency and C5
elements would be able to assemble these chronicles and annual
reports without addieianal personnel.
3. Hiring ofrannuitants was not excluded by Mr. Colby..
This should be precededy~however, by agreement as to what historical
papers should be prepared. An annuitant might be employed if it
could be demonstrated t4~at he was singularly qualified to-write a
specific 'paper and ifhere ware no currently employed personnel
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2
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8. In response to Mr. query as to who would be
re lacin Professor Ehrmann as C/~r. Colby advised that
25X1A9a would be Caking over. Professor Ehrmann will stay
an for a month ar two to do some editing, writing and re-writing.
~. Mr. Colby noted that he had not yet re' jived a
~ ~~ response from the DDP to his memo on "Archives, History, and
%~ Records." He gave the impression that the program was not final and
that he would consider- recarnmendatians.
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available to undertake tl~e ;task. There should be no mare hiring
of annuitants "as a favor to old Joe."
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4.` Mr. ~ m~ntioncd the CS .reserve program to
maintain .contact wit11 experienced retired officers who would be
available in time of emerfency need. Sume of these officers
usay be peculiarly qualifijed for a particular history. These
officers could be engage(} on contract or a WAE basis. Mr. Colby
saw no problem with rehiring such annuitants far a specific Agency
need. lIe did not condone rehiring of annuitants solely for personal
or compassionate reasons.
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5: Mr. ~ noted-that Mr. Colby in his recent memo
had not excluded organizational or station histories and inquired
whether in some instances such histories might be considere Ie
oned as an exam le the ossibility of engaging Mrs. 25X1A9a
to write the history. Mr. Colby said he would
have no objectian o wr ng up the ,-not as a chronicle
of station developments but as an example of a certain type of field
activity, such as the station's support of other area operations
and programs.
6. Mr. Colby agreed that the practice of accommodating
Burplus personnel in the historical program, regardless of-their
comT~ietence, should be avoided. -With ceiling cuts there will be less
surplus and management should be forded to find other solutions to
placement problems. In the future there should be fewer histories
and fewer. but more competent writers. Mr. Colby did not specify
how many historical projects should be planned except that it would
be a considerably reduced number. 25X1A9a
7. It was agreed that Mr. _ would consult the
uivisions and staffs and elicit their recommendations for historical
jprojects under the new guidelines25X1A9a
Execut ve ecretary
CS Historical Board
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