LETTER TO J. EDGAR HOOVER FROM HENRY A. KISSINGER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-448-4-10-9
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 21, 2011
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: August 11, 1970
• Content Type: LETTER

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/02/15: LOC-HAK-448-4-10-9
32 _S Es G_ RE T
FBI, NSS Reviews
Completed.
Dear Mr. Hoover
August 11, 1970
I appreciate very much your letter of August 7, 1970, advising
of the interest on the part of Soviet Embassy representatives in
acquiring the Highview' Towers apartment building located in
Washington,. D. C.
Your timely action in providing this information has made it
possible to take the steps described in a memorandum for the
record which I am enclosing herewith for your retention.
Effective coverage of this development by the FBI under your
direction is a most important. contribution, and I am deeply
grateful for your continued support in matters of vital con-
cern to the national security.
Honorable J. Edgar Hoover
Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Washington, D. C.
Warm regards,
Henr A, Kissinger
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/02/15: LOC-HAK-448-4-10-9
 MEMORANDUM '
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/02/15: LOC-HAK-448-4-10-9
THE WHITE HOUSE
Based on the attached and after clearing with Henry, I instructed
o make the $1. 5 million available to the FBI for a 25X1
pre-empt i.ve purchase of the Hi. hview Towers. I also instructed '
Bill Sullivan to coordinate with in the morning 25X1
(August 11, 1970) and to arrange for a pre-emptive purchase of
the building. Finally, I told Mr. Schlesinger, Deputy Director,
Bureau of the Budget, to the tune of $1. 5 million 25X1../
or slightly more if required to close the, deal.
Before proceeding with the foregoing, I coordinated with the
Department of State to insure that they concur in this solution.
They agreed that this was the best course of action in view of the
brief period of time available to us to preclude Soviet acquisition
_nf_th.e facility. In taking this action, ' it is understood that the
Federal Bureau of investigation will continue its ongoing efforts
to obtain a private purchaser for the site under conditions which
would permit its exploitation.
- Would you please formalize the foregoing action by preparing a
response to Mr. Hoover's letter for Dr. Kissinger's signature
and by means of a memorandum for record, copies of which should
be furnished to Mr. Schlesinger Mr. Hoover 25X1
- and Tom Huston of the White House Staf .
Attachment
TOP SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/02/15: LOC-HAK-448-4-10-9
Al Haig
New Soviet Embassy in Washington, D. C.
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/02/15: LOC-HAK-448-4-10-9
MEMORANDUM'
THE WHITE HOUSE
TOP SECRET
WASHINGTON
August 10, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Acquisition of Highview Towers~Apartment Building,
Washington, D. C.
Washington, D. C., were negotiating the purchase of the Highview
Investigation reported that representatives of the Soviet.Embassy,
Under date of August 7, 1970, the Director of the Federal Bureau of
price is said to be $1,500,000 and the Soviets are seeking to close
in memorandum dated August 4, 1970, attached hereto.) The asking
Washington, D. C. (The property and present ownership are described
Towers Apartment Building located at 2700 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.,?
The, following aspects of this development are of immediate national
- The apartment building-is located at the corner of, and
immnediately adjacent to, the former Mt.--Alto .Veterans
Hospital property which has.been made available to the
Soviet Union as the site for construction of a new Soviet
Embassy.
- It Is the judgment of member agencies of the U.S. intelligence
comsmunity that if they are denied access to the apartment
building, which is the highest structure in the immediate area,
it will not be possible to conduct essential U.S. intelligence
operations against the new Soviet Embassy.
From the standpoint of national security it is in the interest of the
United States Government to preclude Soviet acquisition of the apartment
building. To this end it is authorized and directed r
of the Bureau of the Budge ta125X1
pre-emptive purchase of the apartment building--with the understanding
25X1
the sum of '$1,500,000 (or slightly more'if needed) for use in the
.-steps to transfer to the Federal Bureau of nvestigatio 25X1
TOP SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/02/15: LOC-HAK-448-4-10-9
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/02/15 LOC-HAK-448-4-10-9
efforts to obtain a private purchaser for the building under conditions
Further, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is requested to pursue
which will permit its exploitation for intelligence purposes.
among those having an absolute need to know.
The sensitivity of the subject matter requires that it be closely held
11enry/A. Kissinger
Attachment
Mr. J. Edgar Hoover
Director, Federal Bureau
.of Investigation (w/att)
25X1
Mr. James R. Schlesinger
Deputy Director, Bureau of the Budget (w/att)
Mr. Tom C. Huston
1
~lcGa.rr~ G~.I'tJ
flip
TOP SECRET
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/02/15: LOC-HAK-448-4-10-9
 o Objection
August 4, 1970
HIGHVIEI'1 TOWERS APARTMENTS
2700 Wisconsin Avenue, N. Vt.
Washington, D. C.
The Highview Towers apartment building is located
at 2700 WWisconsin Avenue, N. , Vt., Washington, D. C. The
location is describedin Volume XII of "Baists's Surveys of
Washington" as being located on Square 1932 and consisting
of two lots, lot No. 1 containing 6,892 square feet with an
on the land are assessed at $280,000.00 for a. total assess-
square feet at an assessment of $73,360.00. Improvements
assessment of $110,272.00, and lot No. 801 containing, 4,55,5
is $14s372.59. The area is zoned R--5C (medium density).
meat for land and improvements of $463,632.00. Annual tax
- --FthxS corporation is owned by John C. Pyles, Jr., General
Peter Calomiris. The remaining 50,per cent of the stock.of
The building is presently owned. by. a corporation
:entitled Highview Towers, Inc., 50 percent of the stock of
which corporation is owned by'Willlam, Donald, James and
?.--pending transaction.
Columbia Real Estate Title. Insurance Company,
1422 H.Street, N. W., Washington, D'. C., is handling the
rfor this?bu.ilding is $1,500,000.00,
Vice-President of the.Riggs National Bank. The asking price.
'the total annual rental income is 149,202,00 for .the 94
eleven one-bedroom apartments and three two--bedroom. apartments.
566,000 cubic feet. The'94 apartments include 70 unfurnished
efficiency apartments, ten furnished efficiency apartments,
The building includes eight stories plus basement,
and contains a total of 94 apartment units. It is constructed
of brick and reinforced concrete, and has a total volume of
units.
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.. Vacancy rate is negligible and the turn-over rate
S :e3 traiao ;y low.