</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

The CIA retained possession of approximately 300,000 pages of JFK assassination records requested by or developed on behalf of the House Select Committee on Assassinations. The majority of these records were created in response to specific requests from the HSCA and include microfiche of CIA's Oswald file, as well as materials relating to the Garrison investigation, Watergate, Cuban exile activities, and copies investigating the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Between 40% and 50% of the records described originated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), while a small number, probably less than 5%, originated with the State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The CIA has released 7,432 pages of JFK assassination records, representing 1,969 documents, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The CIA's goal is to release as many documents as possible, and new guidelines have been approved for the Historical Review Program which specifically direct a presumption in favor of declassification. The review process is expected to be challenging due to the large volume of material and lack of indexing, cataloging, or organization.

Approximately 40% of the documents on Oswald originated with the FBI, and about 20% originated from the State Department or elsewhere. The CIA has a substantial collection of CIA documents that will require a considerable effort to review for declassification.

Senate Joint Resolution 282, "The Assassination Materials Disclosure Act of 1992," proposes to provide for a comprehensive process leading to the release of all materials held by the United States Government regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The proposed legislation would provide for a comprehensive, government-wide review of the Kennedy assassination records conducted under the auspices of an impartial, independent board.

The Review Board would be responsible for reviewing all records related to the Kennedy assassination, including those held by the FBI, CIA, Secret Service, military intelligence, and other Executive branch agencies. The Review Board would also have access to the records of the Warren commission, the Rockefeller commission, the Church committee, and the House Select Committee on Assassinations.

The bill aims to clear doubts about President Kennedy's murder by releasing relevant documentation, but its effectiveness is uncertain due to the complexity and sensitivity of the issue. A five-person Review Board would be established to oversee the release of documents, with members appointed by a court-appointed panel.

John F. Kennedy, assassination, investigations, related individuals and events: Names - James H. Lesar, President Assassination Archives and Research Center; Harold Weisberg, leading Warren Commission critic; J. Edgar Hoover, FBI Director; Regis T. Blahut, CIA liaison officer.

Dates and locations - May 12, 1992, United States Senate; 1969, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1984, various locations.

Significant events or activities - Assassination of President John F. Kennedy; Investigation by the Warren Commission; Requests for documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA); Litigation against the FBI and CIA; Release of documents related to the assassination.

Connections to JFK, the assassination, or related investigations - Assassination of President John F. Kennedy; Investigation by the Warren Commission; Requests for documents under the FOIA; Litigation against the FBI and CIA; Release of documents related to the assassination.

Evidence, testimony, or findings mentioned - Spectrographic tests on bullets and evidence; Neutron activation testing on evidentiary items; CIA operational files; Intelligence sources and methods; Autopsy materials donated by the Kennedy family.

The John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Review Board (JFKRRB) was established in 1994 to review and release previously withheld documents related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The board, led by Chairman John R. Tunheim, had a mandate to review approximately 3.75 million pages of records from various federal agencies, including the CIA and FBI.

The JFKRRB encountered significant challenges in obtaining cooperation from some agencies, particularly the FBI, which initially opposed the release of certain documents. However, through the process, agencies came to realize that releasing these records would not harm national security and could be trusted with access to important information about their government.

Chairman Tunheim stated that while the board's work had been time-consuming, it had worked well for this set of records. He also mentioned that there were still some difficulties in obtaining records from certain agencies, but overall, cooperation was improving.

The JFKRRB made significant progress in releasing previously withheld documents, and Chairman Tunheim reported that the board had released over 95% of the documents it reviewed. The board's work was seen as a crucial step towards transparency and accountability in government.

Chairman Tunheim stated that the review process would continue to be an ongoing problem, but he believed that through this effort, the federal government could prove to the American people that they were no longer keeping secrets from them relative to the Kennedy assassination.

The JFKRRB's work was also seen as a significant development for historians in the future. Chairman Tunheim stated that the review board had put some pieces of the puzzle together, but there were still many missing pieces, and it would be up to historians to make their determinations.

Congressman Louis Stokes testified about his experience with the House Select Committee on Assassinations and the legislation he introduced in 1992 to create the review board. He emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in government and expressed hope that future tragedies will be handled differently.

The witnesses also discussed the impact of the "JFK" movie on public perception and the need for accurate information to be released in a timely manner. They noted that the Assassination Records Review Board has provided a model for how agencies can work together to release information in a timely manner.

Congressman Stokes stated that he believes it was necessary to wait 34 years to make these documents available, citing concerns about national security and the need to allay fears and suspicions among the American people.

The JFKRRB's greatest contribution is its ability to pierce the veil of secrecy surrounding intelligence sources and methods. The board has released documents that were previously classified, including information derived from intelligence sources and methods.

The review board's work serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of striking a better balance between secrecy and disclosure in the government. It highlights the heavy wages of doubt, suspicion, and public cynicism expected by secrecy.

As of June 1997, the review board had released over 14,000 cubic feet of records, containing more than 3.7 million pages of material. These documents include records from executive agencies, congressional committees, court cases, and private entities.

The review board has also established a database of assassination-related records that can be accessed through the internet. Since March 1996, this database has been accessed over 100,000 times by the public.

The board's work has resulted in many new documents being released that will eventually remove the stigma attached to the Warren Commission. These records paint a sobering portrait of the federal government during a traumatic time and show how it struggled to do the right thing despite bureaucratic instincts and elevated national concerns.

JFK Declassified Files

104-10337-10001.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search