</s>104-10337-100001 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 1 Central Intelligence Agency Wolgden D.C. 2065 April 1972 The Honorable John Conyers, Jr. Chairman Committee on Government Operations House of Representatives Washington, D. C. 20515 Dear Mr. Chairman: The Director has asked me to respond to your letter of April 6, 1992 having certain information regarding CIA holdings of records related to the assassination of of records holding of records relating to the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy, of relating to the assassination of the President John f. Kennedy. although many of these records were originated by the FBI or by investigating the assassination and the Congress. We believe that a sinister portion of the records could be released if H.J. Resolution 454 were enacted into law. I should also point out that the Central Intelligence Agency is currently embarking on its own review of assassination records. I would expect that this review will result in the public release of a significant body of information. To help the committee understand the nature and number of CIA records pertaining to the assessment, I am enclosing the answers to the specific questions you raised in your letter. Sincerely, -97- Stanley M. Moskowitz Director of Congressional Affairs Enclosure

Summary  
The document details the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) declassification efforts related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, including its holdings of approximately 250,000–300,000 pages of records from the Warren Commission, House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA), and other agencies. The CIA retained materials such as microfilm of Lee Harvey Oswald’s file, FBI reports, and internal agency documents. Most records were compiled in response to inquiries by the Warren Commission or HSCA. Post-assassination records include 33,000 pages primarily sourced from other agencies. The CIA established a Historical Review Group to systematically review and declassify documents older than 30 years, with over 200,000 pages released by 1998. Challenges such as Privacy Act restrictions, inter-agency coordination, and protection of intelligence sources/methods limited disclosure. Legislative proposals like House Joint Resolution 454 (Assassination Materials Disclosure Act of 1992) were discussed, with concerns over review processes, security clearances, and definitions of "assassination material." The CIA emphasized a presumption in favor of release but acknowledged legal and national security constraints.  

Key People  
- **Robert M. Gates**: Director of Central Intelligence (CIA), testified on declassification policies and held records related to JFK’s assassination.  
- **Lee Harvey Oswald**: Subject of CIA and FBI investigations, with pre-assassination files containing 34 documents (124 pages) from multiple agencies.  
- **J. Edgar Hoover**: Former FBI Director, referenced in discussions about surveillance and electronic monitoring activities.  
- **David Prelease**: Director of the Center for the Study of Intelligence, provided insights on declassified materials.  
- **James H. Lesar**: President of the Assassination Archives and Research Center (AARC), highlighted legal challenges in accessing records.  
- **Harold Weisberg**: Researcher involved in FOIA litigation to obtain JFK assassination records.  

Key Locations  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Headquarters for CIA, FBI, and congressional committees; location of legislative hearings and declassification reviews.  
- **National Archives**: Repository for released records and custodian of sealed materials until 2029.  
- **Mexico City**: Mentioned in CIA operational reports related to Oswald’s activities.  
- **New Orleans**: Linked to the Clay Shaw trial referenced in CIA documents.  

Key Events  
- **Assassination of John F. Kennedy (November 22, 1963)**: Central event under investigation by multiple agencies.  
- **Formation of the Warren Commission (1963)**: Established to investigate JFK’s assassination and provided materials to the CIA.  
- **House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) investigations (1975–1979)**: Reviewed records and compiled files for declassification.  
- **1992 Congressional Hearing**: Testimony by CIA Director Robert Gates on declassification policies and record management.  
- **Release of the Abraham Zapander film**: Specific document released by the Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB).  
- **Legislative debates over S.J. Res. 282 (1992)**: Proposed to establish a review board for JFK assassination records, with delays in implementation until 1998.  

Key Organizations  
- **Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)**: Custodian of records related to JFK’s assassination; responsible for declassification and classification decisions.  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Provided records as part of HSCA files and faced legal challenges in releasing materials.  
- **Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB)**: Government body tasked with reviewing and releasing classified materials related to JFK’s assassination; extended its deadline until 1998.  
- **National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)**: Custodian of sealed records, including 848 boxes of House Assassination Committee materials until 2029.  
- **Interagency Security Classification Appeals Panel (ISCAP)**: Reviewed declassification appeals, with a reported 70% approval rate for releasing documents.  
- **Information Security Oversight Office (ISCO)**: Addressed classification policies and statutory frameworks for secrecy reform.

Summary  
The Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB) faced significant challenges in accessing and releasing assassination records related to President John F. Kennedy, including resistance from federal agencies like the FBI and CIA, legal restrictions under FOIA amendments, and delays in completing its mandate. The ARRB acquired critical records such as films from Dallas on November 22, 1963, and personal papers of Clay Shaw, a New Orleans businessman linked to the assassination. Efforts to declassify over 3.75 million pages of documents were complicated by redaction concerns, agency compliance issues, and public demand for transparency. Legislative actions, including the 1992 legislation (PL 102-526) establishing the ARRB and subsequent reauthorization proposals like HR 1553, aimed to address these challenges. The board released over 14,000 pages of federal records by 1997, including CIA and FBI files, while ongoing disputes with agencies like the Secret Service highlighted persistent obstacles. Congressional hearings in 1997 discussed extending ARRB’s authorization to finalize its work, emphasizing public accountability and historical research interests. The Zapruder film was noted as a significant assassination record, though its donation status remained uncertain.  

Key People  
- **Clay Shaw**: New Orleans businessman whose personal papers were acquired by the ARRB; tried in 1969 for involvement in JFK’s assassination.  
- **Rep. Louis Stokes (D-OH)**: Former chairman of the House Select Committee on Assassinations (1976–1979); testified about ARRB’s role and legislative reauthorization efforts.  
- **Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL)**: Chairman of the subcommittee overseeing ARRB reauthorization; emphasized transparency and public access to government records.  
- **Rep. Thomas M. Barrett (D-WI)**: Advocated for ARRB’s work, criticizing delays in releasing documents.  
- **G. Robert Blakey**: Staff director of the House Assassinations Committee who published a book on its findings despite secrecy oaths.  
- **Regis T. Blahut**: CIA liaison officer accused of tampering with Kennedy assassination evidence by accessing sensitive materials.  
- **Bruce Hitchcock**: History teacher whose students engaged in research projects involving the Warren Commission Report and JFK assassination records.  

Key Locations  
- **Dallas, Texas**: Site of JFK’s assassination on November 22, 1963; location of recovered films.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Headquarters of federal agencies (FBI, CIA, Secret Service) and site of congressional hearings and the National Archives.  
- **Rayburn House Office Building**: Location of the 1997 congressional hearing on ARRB reauthorization.  
- **National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)**: Repository for JFK assassination records, including the JFK Assassination Records Collection.  

Key Events  
- **Acquisition of Records**: The ARRB obtained films from Dallas and Clay Shaw’s personal papers to expand historical documentation.  
- **1992 Legislation (PL 102-526)**: Established the ARRB to review and release assassination-related records, with an initial deadline of September 30, 1996.  
- **1997 Congressional Hearing**: Discussed reauthorizing the ARRB under HR 1553 to complete its work, addressing public demand for transparency.  
- **Release of Documents**: The ARRB released over 14,000 pages of FBI and CIA records by 1997, including previously sealed materials.  
- **Zapruder Film Discussion**: Highlighted as a significant assassination record, though its donation to the public remained uncertain.  
- **Legal Battles Over FOIA Compliance**: Criticized for restricting access to CIA and law enforcement records, with ongoing disputes over document disclosure.  

Key Organizations  
- **Assassination Records Review Board (ARRB)**: Federal agency tasked with reviewing and releasing assassination-related records; requested an additional year to complete its work.  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Maintained secret files on Lee Harvey Oswald and resisted disclosure until compelled by litigation.  
- **Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)**: Held the "Sequesterated Collection," a large set of files reviewed by the ARRB, and faced ongoing requests for release.  
- **House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA)**: Conducted an investigation into JFK’s assassination, producing a 1979 staff report and sealed records under Rule 36.  
- **National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)**: Managed the JFK Assassination Records Collection and facilitated public access to declassified documents.  
- **Secret Service**: Initially resistant to cooperating with ARRB but became cooperative over time, though challenges in understanding obligations persisted.

JFK Declassified Files

104-10337-10001.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search