</s>204-10330-10044 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 SECRET OCC-95-149 07 DEC 1995 MEMORANDUM FOR: JFK Assassination Records Review Board VIA: Associate Deputy Director for Operations Associate Deptuty Director for Operation/Human Resources and Programs FROM: Eric L. Quakenbush/ Chief, Office of Central Cover SUBJECT: Proposed CIA Name Release 1. The Agency strongly objects to the release of names of individuals presently under cover, whether active employees or separated employees. As described below, this action would breach Agency commitments to these individuals who agreed to work under cover in addition to breaking our obligations to the cover providers. Employees sign a secrecy agreement (Attachment A) upon entering on duty with the Agency. This agreement pledges (upon employee's secrecy to information which is classified and the been publicly acknowledged by the Agency and requires the employee to protect such information which are unauthorized disclosure. This secrecy agreement, as long as it remains in force by mutual agreement, obligations CIA to protect the identities of Agency employees, our cover providers and covert activities. 3. Because this secrecy agreement creates a moral as well as legal bond between the Agency as the employees, it is Agency policy to protect these names of Agency employees who have mutually separate to protect them from the names of Agent Employees who have, mutually agree to remove the cover. Identifying as CIA those employees who are mandated by the agency to use a cover story. Department of State or the "ABC" Corporation/for their entire Agency career as well as into their years after separation from the Agency, Jeopardizes: the personal safety of former employees; WARNING NOTICE CL: (0499392- INTELLIGENCE SOURCES CL REASON: 1.5 (c) INTELEGENCE SOURICS DECL ON: X1 OR METHODS INVOLVED DRV FROM: COV 2-87 SECRET

Summary  
This memo from Eric L. Quakenbush, Chief, Office of Central Cover, to the JFK Assassination Records Review Board outlines the CIA’s objection to releasing names of individuals who operated under cover for the Agency. The document emphasizes that disclosure would breach secrecy agreements signed by employees and compromise their personal safety, cover providers, and intelligence operations. It cites examples of former employees like Walter McCabe (retired under Department of State cover) and John Whitten (retired in 1970), noting potential risks to their private work and relationships. The memo references CIA regulations (HR 240-1 and HR 240-2) governing cover during and after employment, stressing that releasing names would jeopardize ongoing covert activities and national security. It also highlights legal liabilities and the need for continued secrecy to protect sources and methods.  

Key People  
- Walter McCabe: Retired under Department of State cover; works in Russia and Eastern Europe.  
- John Whitten: Retired under cover in 1970; resides in Austria.  
- Morton M. Palmer: Former CIA employee; resides in Mexico.  
- Eric L. Quakenbush: Chief, Office of Central Cover, author of the memo.  

Key Locations  
- Russia  
- Eastern Europe  
- Austria  
- Mexico  

Key Events  
- Proposed release of names of CIA employees who operated under cover.  
- Risks to personal safety and professional relationships of former employees.  
- Legal liabilities and damage to covert operations if identities are disclosed.  
- Reference to CIA regulations HR 240-1 and HR 240-2 governing cover during and after employment.  

Key Organizations  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Department of State  
- Private sector cover providers (nonofficial cover providers)  
- JFK Assassination Records Review Board

JFK Declassified Files

104-10330-10044.pdf

Document Summary

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