INFORMAL REVIEW OF SELECTED CHAPTERS OF THE OVERVIEW VOLUME OF SECURITY PROGRAM OF CIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00022R000100030009-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 24, 2012
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: September 24, 1970
• Content Type: MF

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/24: CIA-RDP84-00022R000100030009-2
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24.September 1970
25X1
MEMORANDUM FOR: Office of Security
FROM . Support Services Historical Officer (SSHO)
SUBJECT Informal review of selected chapters of.the
Overview volume of Security Program of CIA
1. Per your request, I, have completed a review of
Chapters I, II, and that portion of Chapter III of the
Overview volume of the Security historical series. In
general you are doing a creditable job of meeting the
objectives which you set for yourself -- presenting in one
volume the broad scope of developments which were encompassed
in the security program designed specifically to meet the
needs of this Agency. The reader should have some apprecia-
tion of the major problems faced in the attempt to operate
a secure intelligence service and an appreciation of the
backing, filling, and movement (of both personnel and
organization) to meet those needs. Wisely, (although I
will take some exception to this in a later paragraph)
the specific aspects of the security program -- personnel
security, physical security, technical countermeasures,
and the other special activities -- are only being high-
lighted in this volume; and you make clear reference to the
fact that details on the given topics will be handled in the
subsequent selective volumes.
2. I also think that your introductory remarks are
quite appropriate to the volume in question. Even though
I have suggested several deletions, additions, or clarifica-
tions, I think that the philosophical flavor of your message
is important for the reader.
3. As you will note 'in going through the copy, I have
liberally applied the blue pencil as I thought necessary.
Where the information appeared incomplete, out of context,
repetitious, or unclear, I have not hesitated to suggest
deletion (or clarification). I also have raised numerous
questions about what has been said, or the way in which
it has been said; but most of these questions will be
relatively easy to resolve.
K F
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SECRET
4. One or two points which are of a more serious nature
did turn up:
a. You will note that I have repeatedly asked for
the inclusion of examples of some of the general points which
you are making. I realize that the specific volumes on the
particular subjects should provide adequate illustration, but
even the general overview needs a few more case histories
or other details that you have provided.
b. The end-of-chapter bibliographies are not
going to be satisfactory. As you mentioned, some of your
source references are given in full as a normal part of
the text; and these present no problem. I would ask, however,
that rather than continue the bibliographic system, the
materials which you are using as basis for comments in the
text be cited as individual source references. From the,
look of the bibliographic entries for Chapters I and II,
I suspect that they might pretty well fall into order as
source references.
5. I am also enclosing a copy of the memorandum which
I received from the Deputy Chief, Historical Staff,
his queries duplicate mine, he has posed a number of additional
.worthwhile questions and suggestions which you should consider.
regarding my review of your paper. Although some of
6. When you have had time to digest the two reviews,
I'll be happy to have another discussion session with you.
25X1
1 - Ch/HS
1 - DCh /uS
Distribution:
Orig. and 1 - Addressee
1 -'C n
1 - JBP
HS/DCI:
(24 September 1970)
SECRET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/24: CIA-RDP84-00022R000100030009-2
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24 September 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR: SS/HO
SUBJECT Informal review of draft of early chapters
of the History of the Office of Security
1. These chapters nicely define the scope of the
security problem, describe many of its ramifications, and
trace the emergence of a centralized security service in
the Agency. The introduction discusses the current aspects
of these problems in a comprehensive and effective manner.
Attention then shifts to the historical development of CIA
security activities and organizations. In this discussion
the organizational genealogy and mission are on the whole
adequately traced. The transition from OSS to CIA is
summarized succinctly and conditions are appropriately
characterized as war-time, transitional, or in similar
terms.
2. In many ways the draft is inquiring and analytical
as well as descriptive. In other respects the history could
be greatly strengthened, if the author answered the questions
not only of when, where, and what happened, but if he pushed
his inquiry further to explain more often why decisions were
taken and changes were made. What, for example, was the
story behind the backing and filling of the FBI in accepting
responsibility for the investigation of prospective CIA
personnel (pp. 65-66, 68)? At other times the question
what is answered, but in too general a manner. What, for
example, was the contribution which I&SO is said to have
made to the drafting of EO 10501, for the safeguarding of
official information (pp. 80-81)?
3. Although the history covers some very useful
ground it leaves unanswered a number of important questions,
such as the following:
(1) What kind of security information was regarded
as most useful during OSS, SSU, and CIG period
in making personnel investigations?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/04/24: CIA-RDP84-00022R000100030009-2
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(2) Were the contract agencies used to conduct
investigations in the early period used primarily
to collect information or did they also evaluate
individual cases?
(3) How were decisions made in individual investigations?
What rule of thumb or other tests were employed in
such decisions? Can the changes in standards for
CIA security checks be traced? Are present standards
much different from early ones? In what respect?
(4) Reference is made to assistance from British
experience in WW II. What kind of help did we get
from the British? How much exchange of bona fides
was there?
4. An important problem in writing this history as-
outlined will be to develop an appropriate division of labor
between the overall volume and the functional histories that
are to follow it. The advantage of preparing the overall
sum-nary first as a guide to the writers of the later volumes
is apparent, but it might be more efficient to regard the
summary as something which can best be written after the
detailed volumes have been produced.
Depu , l Staff
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