ORGANIZATION AND LOCATION OF THE DCI HISTORY STAFF

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CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001-7
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RIPPUB
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C
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16
Document Creation Date: 
December 27, 2016
Document Release Date: 
July 12, 2012
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1
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Publication Date: 
May 16, 1988
Content Type: 
MEMO
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001 r3-7a WNFTDENTInt MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director THROUGH: FROM: SUBJECT: Executive secretary J. Kenneth McDonald Chief, DCI History Staff 16 May 1988 Organization and Location of the DCI History Staff 1. I (mentioned to me last Monday that he had talked to you and to the DDCI about the possibility of placing the DCI History Staff with the Center for the Study of Intelligence in the Office of Training and Education, Directorate of Administration. He noted that some members of the Board of Studies thought that the History Staff would give CSI focus, and serve as a catalyst for CSI's role in the Agency. 2. I'm not sure how far discussions have gone, but I would like to explain why I am convinced that the History Staff must remain independent and in the Office of the Director of Central Intelligence. 3. A similar suggestion surfaced in an October 1983 proposal to merge CSI, the Historical Intelligence Collection, and the DCI History Staff, which Chuck Briggs, who was then Executive Director, turned down. As I wrote then, there are the two principal questions involved in any proposal to change the DCI History Staff's present organization or location: A. Whether the History Staff properly belongs in the Office of the DCI, or whether it should be placed within one of the four directorates. B. Whether the History Staff should be somehow combined with CIA offices that have other functions, such as DDA's Center for the Study of Intelligence, DCI's Public Affairs Office, or DDI's Historical Intelligence Collection. 4. In fact, the DCI's History Advisory Committee and top Agency management considered both of these questions carefully in 1980 when they examined the proposed resurrection of a CIA History Staff. For clarity, I'll treat each of these two questions separately. 5. Since General Walter Bedell Smith first created it in 1951, the CIA's History Staff has always been in the Office of the DCI, except for a sojourn in the Directorate of Administration from 1974 through 1979. In the DA the History Staff withered away from a staff of 23 in 1973 to one ZOQ ,/, Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90GO1353RO01300130001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90GO1353RO01300130001-7 CONFIDENTIAL historian--Jack Pfeiffer--in 1975, and on to extinction at the end of 1979. In November 1980, when the History Staff was re-established, it returned to the Office of the DCI, as the all-Agency History Advisory Committee, chaired by Q had recommended in its report to the DCI of 15 July 1980 (Attachment 1). 6. In recommending that the Office of CIA Historian be established "as an independent office under the Director of Central Intelligence," with the historian position an upper-level SIS slot, the Committee quoted generously from a 15 June 1980 study (Attachment 2) prepared for them by the distinguished historian, who wrote: "Certain characteristics of the Agency, both structural and procedural, militate against the establishment and performance of an Historical Activity, and they should be clearly recognized and hardly minimized. Among them are the decentralized nature of the Agency's operational framework; the virtual independence of the major components; compartmentation control; the extreme sensitivity of much of the Agency's production; and the understandable reluctance, particularly on the part of the Directorate of Operations, to record actions and events." To overcome these and other difficulties, concluded that the Agency's Historical Activity should be "organizationally located at the top, as a separate entity directly under the Director." He found this essential "to indicate to the Agency that the Activity enjoys the fullest support and confidence at the highest level." 7. On 25 August 1980, in approving all of the Committee's recommendations, the DCI wrote to the DDCI: "Specifically, I think we should put the Historian in the Executive Secretariat....On the one hand, I think we'll need that proximity to the front office to attract a good Historian; on the other, it makes sense for the Executive Secretary to feel responsible for keeping the Historian posted on what is going on....I'd like to make the Historian an SIS position up to SIS-4...." 8. The Chief Historian was established as an SIS position, and nationally advertised in professional journals as reporting "directly to the Director of Central Intelligence." I accepted the appointment on the assurance from the Search Committee (chaired by Ben Evans) that the History Staff was in the Office of the DCI, and that I would report to the DDCI and DCI; this was confirmed when I met with Mr. Casey in April 1981, before entering on duty in August 1981. I can now observe that the History Staff's location with the Executive Secretary in the Office of the Director, Office of the DCI, has in fact supported its independent role and access to the documentation and support needed for its work. 9. My own experience since I joined CIA as Chief of the History Staff in August 1981, along with the History Staff's previous history from 1951 to 1979, fully confirm the wisdom of the CIA History Advisory Committee, and top Agency managment in opting in 1980 for an independent CONFIDENTIAL Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90GO1353RO01300130001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90GO1353RO01300130001-7 CUNT 1UENTIAL History Staff in the Office of the DCI. To write comprehensive and objective history, and to carry out its records advisory role (as in the DCI's commitment to Congress in the Historical Review Program), the History Staff must not be identified with, or subordinate to any of the four directorates, and it must have DCI-level access to documents and people across directorate and compartmentation lines. The History Staff can only do its job if it has, and can clearly be seen to have, the full support and confidence of the DCI. 10. On the second question, whether the History Staff should be combined with other CIA offices, I find little to recommend such mergers if the History Staff's proper location is in the Office of the DCI. I should nevertheless explain why I am convinced that in any event a transfer of the History Staff to join CSI in OTE would not be a sound move. 11. As part of the Office of Training and Education, the Center for the Study of Intelligence organizes and sponsors conferences, seminars and lectures, and offers research facilities to intelligence officers, other Federal employees, and outside academics interested in various aspects of intelligence. Its staff arranges and supports these activities, and edits Studies in Intelligence. 12. Although useful for the Agency, CSI's work has little relevance to the History Staff's three principal objectives, "to help preserve the Agency's historical records and institutional memory, to provide a specialized reference service, and to research and write the history of the CIA" (Attachment 3). We have six Ph.D. professional historians to carry out these objectives. In short, CSI's internal training and sponsored research programs have virtually nothing in common with our historical work, in purpose, focus, organization or staffing. 13. The public, the professional historical community, and the Congress, have all made it clear that they expect CIA to maintain an independent and clearly identified history office. It would not make sense to merge the existing well-defined DCI History Staff into the smaller Center for the Study of Intelligence in OTE, where it would lose its identity, and find it difficult to carry out its history writing, records, and reference functions. Moreover, since the History Staff is not a training office, I can find no reason for it to be assigned separately to the Office of Training and Education. 14. In light of all these factors, I am convinced that the History Staff can best--and probably only--do its job by maintaining its independent role in the Office of the Director of Central Intelligence. Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90GO1353RO01300130001-7 i?; ~ ~4-c~rt?~~-~vr 1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 . 0 15 July 1980 MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence VIA: 25X1 FROM: airman, History Advisory Commits.. Deputy Director for Administration S BJECT: 25X1 REFERENCE: Report (TAB A) of the History Advisory Committee 'CIA History Program" 1. Since its appointment in January of this year, the History Advisory Committee has met almost weekly to investigate and discuss the past and present state of the Agency's history program with the objective of determinin a proper role and scope for a future histor g have interviewed officers associated with th y epprogram inethe past and held meetings with representatives of concerned. components. We have benefited from the investigations and advice of an eminent historian, Throughout, we have taken a deliberate and open approach to the question of what the Agency needs and should have in the way of a history program. 2. As recorded in our interim status report, we found that the history program which flourished in the 1960s and early 1970s is essentially dormant, if not dead. The two clerical employees remaining from the original staff manage to answer the most pressing requirements for historical data on a catch-as catch-can basis; nothing else is being done either to identify and capture historical documents or 25X1is o exploit exisrttingwhimaterial. s t he performanceAofuproper3, historical functions and grants the historical staff access to the records, but it is a dead letter. e onward the historical program progressivelyndeclinedotolits present moribund state. 25X1 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 - io - 0 SUBJECT: Report of the History Advisory Committee 3. We found that past efforts to create and maintain historical records proceeded from a general misunderstanding of the value to the Agency of an effective historical program. As a result, the program suffered from peaks and valleys of executive and organizational interest, from competition for space, funds and personnel, from conflicting perceptions of its benefits and costs, and from precipitate and short-term actions. Even during its most productive period, the program yielded results ranging from good to horrid; component support has varied from grudging tolerance to lethal opposition. 4. Yet we find at the beginning of 1980 wide support within the Agency for a program which will provide an accessible record of Agency activity, a teaching resource, a means of more easily and reliably providing data to the Congress and the public, and a way to respond to the requirements of other agencies involved in the maintaining and recording of Government histories. Although there is no strictly legal requirement for the Agency to write histories or even to maintain records purely for the preparation of histories, there is a strongly felt demand from the Congress, from academia, from the Departments of State and Defense, and from the press that the Agency be able to produce authoritative accounts of its activities, particularly those undertaken as part of larger Government programs. We found a keen awareness of this demand among all the component represen- tatives we interviewed, and a desire that the Agency put itself in. a better position to respond to external demands and internal requirements consistent with the DCI's responsibilities under the law-to protect intelligence sources and-methods. 5. This change in perception can be accounted for by the Agency's having been required to "go public" since the mid-70s as a result of new Congressional and Executive Branch oversight requirements. In the course of responding to these demands for accounting of past Agency activities, our managers and employees have had to devote enormous time and effort to not-always-successful attempts to recapture knowledge of facts and events from the past -- not to mention documents. At the same time, with the passing into retirement of the Agency's founding generation, much of a quarter century of institutional memory has faded away and should be recaptured. A new generation of operators, analysts, and managers finds itself reinventing wheels, systems, techniques, and paper- clips simply because lessons of the past have not been recorded and passed on. 6. in his report to the Committee has stated succinctly why the Agency should, and indeed must, embark on a respectable program of historical accounting: Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001-7 L M-Jr- 9QIIl3S. SUBJECT: Report of the History Advisory Committee "An the totalitytoflanlhistorical e I use the term to denote and activities -- is not a luxury but ratherraolegi, matgram, tool that can and should facilitate the Agency's ework. Certain characteristics of the A enc and procedural, militate against the establishmenttandtural performance of an Historical Activity., clearly recognized and hardly minimize Among and they ld e they them are the decentralized nature of he lAgency' p oal framework; the virtual independence ofthemajor com one compartmentation control; the extreme sensitivit p much of the Agency's production; and the understandableoreluc particularly on the part of the Directorate of Operations, too, record actions and events. t Despite these conditions, a competent Historical Activity, if properly supported, and should contribute to the Agency's missilons, roles, functions. ros, The Agency should significantly expand its Historical Activity to enable it to serve the Agency and to help it discharge its obligations."" p it - 77 7. In consideration of our own findings and of ~] advice (a as Tab B the Histor copy of his full report is attached the following: Y Advisory Committee therefore recommends a. Establish an Office of the CIA Historian as an independent office under the Director of Central Intelligence. The CIA Historian, occu inn SIS slot, will in effect sit at the Directoras left hand (so that he may record history upper level to programs and documents (so thatdhenmay determine the requirements'of an historical program). he b. Recruit an historian of professional stature to head up the program and oversee its organization and development. The professional officers staffing the office can come from a variety people will be professional or practicalshistiorians;tsome few may be officers detailed or contracted to the office to write up historical data for rewriting into professiona histories, assembling reference materials and conducti 1 oral histories. These include: n g LWeij ,-JLiITIAL Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001-7 225X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001-7 SUBJECT: Report of the History Advisory Committee (1) Professional historians hired permanently, temporarily, or part-time to turn existing data into finished histories. (2) On-duty Agency personnel who are qualified historians assigned rotationally to the office to complete specific historical projects (possibly as "Historical Fellows" similar to the present DCI Fellows at the Center for the Study of Intelligence). (3) Annuitants hired to record historical data or write finished histories of programs or components. c. Transfer the existing ~ positions and the 25X1 25X1 incumbent clerks to the new staff. In addition to the slots, clerical personnel, and holdings of the existing historical program, the new office should eventually absorb the Historical Intelligence Collection and its personnel. from the Office of Central Reference to assure the continued functioning of that collection and the services it now provides. Likewise, any collection of historical artifacts should, in time, be housed within the new office, and the records of the various "museum committees" of the past should be reviewed to this end. d. Provide as a deputy to the historian a career operational or analytical intelligence officer selected primarily for his/her knowledge of the Agency, preferably chosen in consultation with the Historian. e. Provide a seasoned executive officer to help the Historian preserve current documents for historical purposes and provide the practical administrative support required for the exploitation of existing records. Even more important, 25X1 according to is the assignment to our Records Management Program of a full-time, in-house Archivist to help the Historian identify and preserve records of potential historical value which, according to present criteria, will otherwise be destroyed. 25X1 f. Reinvoke the provisions of as a charter for the program. 8. Nothing in these recommendations should be considered as binding on the CIA Historian to be hired, except that some initial organizational steps might be taken if the search f or a qualified historian from outside is protracted. 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 SUBJECT: Report of the History Advisory Committee has recommended a number andidates and of qualified historians as the cs, he is available for further consultatioss onlble To a considerable extent parallel those of our recommendations have had from the man and the reflect the advice CIA Historian to be a Y Agency officers consulted, the advice Director the Director and the De ppointed, in consultati a on with the in how the office p y Directors, should have the is staffed and how it functions, key role Attachments: Tabs A & B Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 25X1 1 A .6/ !!A .44Th /- '7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 1 15 June 1980 WHY THE AGENCY NEEDS AN EXPANDED HISTORICAL ACTIVITY AND HOW TO GET IT: SOME OBSERVATIONS, THOUGHTS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS General Statements An historical program or activity is valid and can be justified only if it is useful to the organization that shelters and nourishes it. So too at CIA. A strong and competent Historical Activity, if revived and supported, will indeed by useful and prove to be valuable. An--Historical Activity -- I use the term to denote the totality of an historical effort, its personnel, program, and activities -- is not a luxury but rather a legitimate tool that can and should facilitate the Agency's work. An Historical Activity performs a staff function. It serves the Agency's line officers. Certain characteristics of the Agency, both structural and procedural, militate against the establishment and performance of an Historical Activity, and they should be clearly recognized and hardly minimized. Among them are the decentralized nature of the Agency's operational framework; the virtual independence of the major components; compartmen- tation control; the extreme sensitivity of much of the. Agency's production; and the understandable reluctance, particularly on the part of the Directorate of Operations, to record actions and events. Despite these conditions, a competent Historical Activity, if properly supported, directed, and managed can and should contribute to the Agency's missions, roles, and functions. 25X1 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90GO1353R001300130001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 Background v L About a decade a o th e e A enc sponsored an historical effort of some magnitud e, and entitled "CIA Historical ProgramdatdirecteduthelHistorical Activity to fulfill three major functions: 1) record of the Agency's activities; 2) write histories of a past events; and 3) monitor the records to insure the preser- vation of important documents relating to the history of the Agency. To fulfill these responsibilities the Historical Activity access to all the recor thouted regard to compartmentation co nt l ro The missions thus outlined and the permission thus granted established the basis of an adequate and satisfactory historical program that could be successfully executed. Unfortunately, I suspect, misunderstanding at higher Agency levels of the legitimate historical functions led to a misdirection of the effort and to mismanagement of the historical resources. Lessening interest in and support of, perhaps mounting opposition to, an Historical Activity prompted the Agency to move the Historical Activity organiza- tionally from the Office of the Director, specifically the Office of the Comptroller, to the Directorate of Administration. As a consequence of these developments the Historical Activity began to wither away, to decline and erode to 'virtual atrophy, About D persons were engaged in the Historical Activity around 197 0; today there are the personnel reduct onsrobviously1'makeeitzimpossiblecfor the historians to fulfill the responsibilities outlined in the program of 1973, The Present 'Situation presently comprise the entire Historical Activity at. CIA., early this year, they worked under the direction and supervision of an Historian whose time was mainly devoted to writing a long-range and, I have no doubt, scholarly and sound history of the Bay of Pigs. Since about January 1980, when the Historian was removed from the Historical Activity, and reassigned, the have faithfully ende avored to sustain and to 25X1 25X1 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 fulfill a single facet of the historical functions. They are responding, as best they can, and with informal guidance from the former Historian, to requests for historical informa- tion. These come for the most part from other governmental agencies, for example, the Departments of State and Defense. A few come from inside the Agency itself. The requests for information number about ten to fifteen per month; responding to them requires identifying, retrieving, and dispatching appropriate records and making certain that these documents are returned to the Agency. In addition, the ladies respond to about ten or fifteen requests per month by answering them over the telephone. The historical holdings the ladies use to identify sources of information into their work consists of: 1. About 360 "histories" written approximately between 1953 and 1968. These are documented texts, and sometimes the supporting papers are filed with the "history." Some are held in the historical vault, others in the Archives appear to be, in reali These "histories" s sometimes little more seventudsie. Thd maregrare or_less ambitious in scope, and their individualyvaare r luemas historical sources ranges from poor to excellent. (Not long ago -- a year or so perhaps -- a Congressional committee or sub-committee asked to see one or more histories, and the Agency complied and was subsequently embarrassed; had these works been labeled "preliminary studies: instead of being dignified by the term "histories," they would no doubt have been recognized for what they are, actually reference materials,) 2. Miscellaneous "histories,' for the most part unfinished studies, and miscellaneous documentary collections. The Historical Activity obtained them because the authors and collectors offered them out of the goodness of their hearts in order to prevent their destruction. 3. About 35 oral "histories" obtained in the same manner as above. Some of the tapes have been transcribed. 4. The most important: an impressive and excellent card index (36 cubic feet of 5" x 8" cards) referenced and cross-referenced in detail to records that can be retrieved from files and in the Agency. Unfortunately, the work o Keeping the reference cards up-to-date with the records came to an end about ten years ago because of reductions in historical personnel. Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 Minimum Action Action order to maintai Y, the follow i n even this rudi ng actions should ba taken entHistorical and the monographs and write - graphs to cover the addition-l shor Years subsequent eAge nd o nc f t studies to the e f tac hist1 i 2, the histories during events 1968 k andpdateye Personnel reference aids Index cards, lists work ceased; etc, of 3. Monitor beyond of the Agenni rt entecords to keep abreast and informed cYrs This and current acti and vities, additio renal personnelAgency. support, histori pe But t cal leadership, holding hisp I believe, would be dignity, and n, essentially a minimal effort and accepted pof thunworthy of the j, a Place in the Agency and status, governmental structurell-reco at Should be recognized f Done and p~h The Activit Agency should si discY to enable gnificantl Yexa its obligations S. the Agencyanasto Historical A well-defined help it Historical Activity should: for the ACreate and Agency. A Preserve an ins titutio Activity would be Properly functioning Histormemory requires from within respond to re )cal insight ian Historical Ache Agency and withoutfor nto channg organ Past Operations y with kno met This gi c might calizational structure Cesses , evensf and this the Reference s' names function events etc. 2? Present to and credible narrativthe es Public from ti ments. All agenv of the time to time agencies of Agenct- accurate the American the governmenare work and plish-untabl the the expenple, and the CIA should be acnocO exce except emt s? Denying that sensitivit ? or deliber Y of mission and materials .,qi1 . _ k 'this obligation Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90GO1353R001300130001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001-7 . 1 -11 M. leaves it to be fulfilled b individuals outside the y groups, organizations disgruntled ex-emPloyees CIA establishment -- the and in a more or etc. Their descriptions rresult ina i turn less disttheorted Picture of what the achievements and also underminesublic reconition Agency does. activities. public confidencedinlits public image. CIA histories can and should correct the (Some writing We might call this the Writin will be done for the Purpose Records o" reference.) ---Reference order for the Historical and Writing functions Activity to research. fulfill both Historical research ' it must be Writing, whether able to perform is impossible without recordsursued for Reference Although records collection historical responsibility is not a the historical , it is closely allied to b reasonably hihistorical The Historical tiv t o th certain that the records being mute t and preserved are indeed to proper historical research will continue tobelectd germane Activity should take no Although the Historical is shave active part in records wi ma should l roedsome ad tsn ry connection or ciaagement, 1973, indicated and directed Process, as assocation 8 August Collecting and Preserving records are responsibilities of records managers are ndnarchivists. If I ma pepors, mhnl archivist are primaril y oversimngify, preserving more closely concerned disposing historical papers. Y concerned with In view of the tremendous the Agency, it is no wonder or roduction of P and senior archivit w accident that paper at ods ag- and Ben On the other presently employed b y the err records the records hand, it is only c shedels managers, through their recrdslr to state that the rNatiool l ow closely and scrupulously the guidant preserve. Archives on what historicl trecordstoe Archives reThis guidance comes from p gulations and directives, clarified National specifically specifically for the Agency ~ clarified and interpreted tive makes by a National Archives representa- occasional or periodic visits to the Agency. Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001-7 0 The Historical Activity must be bound by the same rules and regulations imposed on all components of the Agenc With one exception: compartmentation control If is indeed still in effect, there is no problem. Bu per aps permission of access to Agency-wide records (and officials) should be restated. Organizational Placement The Historical Activity should be organizational located at the top, as a separate entity directly under the Director. This is necessary for two reasons: 1) to break down the compartmentation control; and 2) to the Agency that the Activity enjoys the fullest sudporte and confidence at the highest level. Port (The Activity should not be structurally co'-located with the Public Affairs. Office, which performs an altogether different function. The-Historical Activity should respond to Public Affairs requests for information, and Public Affairs should be represented on any review board deciding whether or not to publish a particular open historical work. should the Activity be placed in the Directorate of Administration, has interests and concerns wholly different from those of historians.) ?n~ erected Results A strong and professional Historical Activity, enjoyin 'the support of the Director, if it performs properly and g effectively, will relieve Agency components in large art from having, as at present, to act as their own historians. In addition to providing helpful reference guides and materials it can produce historical case studies and other instructional materials for use in Training. It will b enhance the public image of the Agency.' y its publications, Personnel and Duties There should be a Chief Historian. He or she should be a senior person who is vigorous, competent, and likable. He/she should have stature and reputation in the academic world and probably should have written several good books. He should have proved his prior success to manage programs and people. He should be acquainted, even familiar, government, preferably the Washington scene and its bureaucracy. Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001-7 25X1 i I Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 This person will be difficult to identify, and it will be difficult to persuade him to join the Agency. Two things will have to challenge him: the opportunity to create and direct a meaningful historical program; and the opportunity to write history for the public. He should have access to whatever documents and officials (for interview) that he deems necessary in order to perform his duties. He should be invited to attend as an observer the regular and important meetings and conferences at the highest Agency levels. He should have knowledge of all the activities engaged in by the Agency so that he can record decisions, events, personalities, processes, organizational shifts, and the like. He should be exempt from rotational assignments. He and his professional staff should have a special career track to insure promotions, commendations, and the like. There should be a Deputy Chief Historian to run the shop and to act in the absence of the Chief Historian. He could come from within the Agency, and if so, should be well-known and well-liked, but he too should have proper historical credentials, probably have written a book or two, and have what is called the historical temperament and outlook. Beyond that, the staff should grow as the program develops. -To set forth specific personnel requirements at this stage seems premature. The Chief Historian, with the help of his Deputy, should fashion a program and lay out his requirements for personnel, space, clerical assistance, etc. His office and at least some of his staff should probably be located at Headquarters. Desirable Actions It would be helpful to have an Historical Advisory Committee formed somewhat later of three to five members. They should visit the Historical Activity annually, meet with the historical staff, discuss historical problems, and the like. This can be done without compromising sensitivity and classification. I would be glad to help establish an expanded Historical Activity, but I suggesti 1 as being better qualified. For many years until his recent retirement, he was the Chief Historian of He created and managed 7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353RO01300130001-7 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001-7 25X1 an historical program that might well be a model for the Agency. Operating in a sensitive area, he performed the various historical functions, including publishing several excellent volumes of official history. I do not know him personally, but I recommend that he be requested, under contract, to help set up the detailed guidelines, procedures, methods, and relationships necessary to establish and maintain a strong Historical Activity at CIA. Conclusion Such an Activity will, above all, serve the Agency by providing an institutional memory for internal use, being a point of contact with other governmental agencies and departments, and eventually enhancing'the stature of the Agency in the public awareness. Recommendations To recapitulate, I recommend that: 1. A decision be made to strengthen the Historical Activity and to place it directly under the Director; 2. A Chief Historian be appointed; 3. A Deputy Chief Historian be appointed; 4? be asked to help establish the Historical Activity; S. The Chief Historian and his Deputy formulate a charter to establish and govern an historical program might be enough); 6. An Historical Advisory Committee eventually be appointed. I venture to guess that, in the best of circumstances, it will take at least a year or two for the Historical Activity to gain the confidence and cooperation of the Agency at large. Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/07/17: CIA-RDP90G01353R001300130001-7