REQUEST FROM HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE TO STORE RECORDS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86-00895R000100010017-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 4, 2002
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: February 23, 1977
• Content Type: MF

Approv Release 2002/08/15 : CIA-RDP8 5R000100010017-5
2 3 FEB 7977
MEMORANDUM FOR: Acting Director of Central Intelligence
THRU Legislative Counsel
FROM John F. Blake
Deputy Director for Administration
SUBJECT Request from House Armed Services
Committee to Store Records
1. Attached is a copy of a letter received from the
Honorable Melvin Price, Chairman of the House Committee on
Armed Services, in which he requests that CIA store records
relating to the Committee's Watergate investigation. As
stated, this material is both classified and unclassified,
and I have been advised that it has been delivered to the
Agency in five sealed records storage boxes.
2. The Office of Legislative Counsel has advised us
that the Committee feels that storage by the Agency would
provide the best physical and procedural protection of this
material, some of which relates to Agency activities and
information. Prior to accepting the material for storage
STATIN~Lt our I facility, I feel obliged to receive your
specific authorization to do so. I believe there are certain
risks involved which should be taken into consideration be-
fore such authorization is granted. The first of these risks
is that since we are receiving only sealed boxes and are not
knowledgeable of the contents, we may well be held responsible
for "shortages," lost documents, etc., that may develop at
some future date. You will recall that in the case of the
Pike Committee such a problem did indeed develop. A second
concern of mine relates to the Archivist of the United States.
By charter the responsibility for storage and safekeeping of
such materials is his, not ours. To an increasing degree,
personnel of the National Archives and Records Service are
working with us in various records matters and certain spe-
cially cleared personnel of that organization do have access
to our records center. Should it become known to the Archivist
that we were storing this material at least partly to keep it
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 Approved *Release 2002/08/15 : CIA-RDP86-0*R000100010017-5
out of normal channels, we could be subject to criticism and
the resultant circumstances would probably negatively impact
on our most cordial relationships with the Archivist.
3. For the reasons stated above, it is my recommenda-
tion that we advise Chairman Price that we regret we cannot
accept the material for storage and that the five boxes in
our possession be returned promptly to the House of
Representatives.
7s7JoRn P. Blalcq
John F. Blake
Attachment: a/s
RECOMMENDATION IN PARAGRAPH 3: APPROVED ( )
DISAPPROVED ( )
E. H. Knoche
Acting Director o:: Central Intelligence
STATINTp14:/DDA:IIydc (18 Feb 77)
Original - Addressee (& return to DDA)
1 -- Acting Dr_~ - w/att.
1 -- Executive Registry
1 - IC w/att.
- C/ISPS w/att.
1 - DDA Subject w/att.
1 - DDA Chrono w/o att.
1 -- HGB Chrono w/o att.
Distribution :
Approve. For Release 2002/d8/15 : CIA-RDP86-00895R000100010017-5
 ApproQer Release 2002/08/15: CIA-RDP86= 5R0004}Aa
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY -2'? - ~L'l,
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
OLC: 77-0532/ a
2 2 FEB 1377
Honorable yielvirr Price, Chairman
Comm tt e on Arx:.ed Services
h a.7e of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The five bo;ces of Committee material, including Agency
documents which the Agency provided, forwarded for our custody
by your letter of 11 February 1977, have been received and will
be stored in strict accordance with your instructions. Maximum
security protection will be provided and no one will be permitted
access unless authorized in writing by t1-,c Committee, action by
the House of Representatives, or the Speaker of the House.
The three additional boxes of t c~ ,l. ]i i e material, which
were picked up at the same time as the ahove material, have been
scheduled for destruction in accoa dance with your separate instructions.
'7e are pleased to be of assistance in this roat,er.
Sincerely,
`J7 t2. 1. ~nacii
III. H. Knoche
Acting Director
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
1 - e1/DCI
1-ER
1 - OLC Subj.
1 - OLC Chrona
OLC: PLC: mg (Typed 17 Feb 77)
Approved For Release 2002/08/15 CIA-RDP86-00895R000100010 1
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COMM:ITrE ON ARMED SERVICES
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February 11 , 1_977
Mr. D. K. Knoche
Acting Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Pear Mr. Knoche:
F.;,.?!FT C. CA')!IAM. CA'_I.=.
There is transnrittecl herewith cert.tin mater.-13, both classified
and nonclassified, concern-in g the Co;:::i_ttec's brat .,. investigation .
This material is the prop rt} of the [house Armed 5c ice s Comsni ttee,
and i?,c request that it be kept in app ~nr i.^ ~:c store facilities.
It is also requested that the in ; i c ri .tl he p,i?t-en -,ax, :-.um security
protection and no one is to be perin:itte.l z,,.cess unless app-cifically
authorized by the I-louse Armed Services CoT aittee, action by the House
of Representatives, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Your cooperation in this matter is most appreciated.
Sincerely,
,'iCl \ ] I'r i ce
C!
ca-i 5',:'. :J':.
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Approved For Release 2002/08/15 : CIA-RDP86-00895R000100010017-5