</s>File #: 682-116898 Serial Scope: 231 THRELL 2385 236 THReLL 1ST NR 237 1ST NR 283, 239 1STNR 283,239 2241,242 2244,245 8447 8449, 1ST NC.249 - 253 THReL 254 255 THReUL 260 262 THReEL 265 NW 88614 Docd: 3289606 Page 1

Summary  
The documents detail FBI surveillance activities targeting Martin Luther King Jr., the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), and associated figures during the 1960s, including investigations into potential communist ties. Surveillance of King’s residence and SCLC headquarters was authorized but discontinued after his assassination in 1968 due to lack of authorization for relocation. The FBI also conducted technical operations on individuals like Stanley Levison, with agents such as Alden Miller and Charles Harding involved. Discussions included Bureau policies on surreptitious entries, COINTELPRO programs, and administrative procedures for handling classified information. Separate documents reference the disappearance of Thomas Rhea (1969) and Thomas Riha (1958–1960), leading to tensions between FBI and CIA over information sharing and inter-agency protocols. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSC) requested documents related to COINTELPRO, the Houston Plan, and other intelligence practices, with testimonies from former agents like Alan G. Sentinella. The Black Panther Party’s activities, including its founding in 1966 and conflicts with law enforcement, were also investigated under FBI counterintelligence programs.  

Key People  
- **Alan G. Sentinella**: Testified before the Senate Select Committee on FBI surveillance of MLK and SCLC.  
- **J. Edgar Hoover**: Former FBI Director referenced in discussions about Bureau policies and COINTELPRO.  
- **Richard Helms**: CIA Director who addressed inter-agency protocol violations with the FBI.  
- **Michael Todorovovich**: CIA representative involved in communications regarding Thomas Rhea’s disappearance.  
- **Huey Newton, Bobby Seale, Leroy Eldridge Cleaver**: Founders and leaders of the Black Panther Party.  
- **James McKevitt**: Denver District Attorney who led an investigation into Thomas Riha’s disappearance.  
- **Dr. Joseph Smiley**: University president involved in communications with FBI and CIA regarding Thomas Rhea.  

Key Locations  
- **Atlanta, Georgia**: FBI field office and site of MLK surveillance.  
- **Denver, Colorado**: Site of FBI-CIA liaison issues involving Thomas Rhea’s disappearance.  
- **Moscow, USSR**: Riha’s residence during 1958–1959 linked to Soviet intelligence contacts.  
- **Oakland, California**: Headquarters of the Black Panther Party.  
- **Washington, D.C.**: FBI and CIA headquarters; site of inter-agency meetings and administrative procedures.  

Key Events  
- **Discontinuation of surveillance on MLK’s residence and SCLC after 1968** due to lack of authorization for relocation.  
- **COINTELPRO operations targeting the Black Panther Party** in the late 1960s–early 1970s, including field office reports and legal reviews.  
- **Tensions between FBI and CIA over information sharing** regarding Thomas Rhea’s disappearance (1969) and Thomas Riha’s case (1958–1960).  
- **Senate Select Committee requests for documents** on FBI surveillance techniques, COINTELPRO, and IRS intelligence functions.  
- **Founding of the Black Panther Party in 1966** and its expansion to national chapters by 1968.  
- **Armed confrontations between Panthers and law enforcement**, including the 1970 courtroom hostage incident in San Rafael.  

Key Organizations  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Conducted surveillance on MLK, SCLC, Black Panther Party, and Thomas Riha/Rhea cases.  
- **Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSC)**: Requested documents on COINTELPRO, FBI operations, and IRS intelligence functions.  
- **Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)**: Involved in inter-agency disputes with the FBI over information sharing.  
- **Black Panther Party (BPP)**: Investigated under FBI counterintelligence programs for its militant activities and organizational structure.  
- **Internal Revenue Service (IRS)**: Managed intelligence systems like the Intelligence Gathering and Retrieval System (IGRS) and provided data to federal agencies.

Summary:  
The document details interagency coordination between federal law enforcement agencies and congressional intelligence committees to establish standardized protocols for background investigations, security clearances, and handling sensitive information. Key elements include discussions on procedures for determining eligibility to access classified materials, involving background checks by the FBI and consultations with the CIA. A memorandum references former Chief Postal Inspector Henry B. Montague’s scheduled testimony before a Senate Select Committee on June 7, 1975, noting his intention to appear without personal counsel. Additionally, the FBI responded to Congressman Ronald V. Delums’ inquiry about operations in Berkeley, California, clarifying its focus on espionage and sabotage rather than political investigations. The text also outlines proposed guidelines for managing interviews with witnesses, including security clearance management and handling of sensitive information during investigative processes.  

Key People:  
- Henry B. Montague (former Chief Postal Inspector)  
- Ron J. Jackson (FBI Assistant Chief Inspector)  
- Ronald V. Delums (Congressman, 8th District, California)  
- Charles W. Bates (Special Agent in Charge, FBI)  
- Clarence M. Kelley (FBI Director)  
- Stanley Rawson Sloan (former CIA employee)  
- Senator Church (Senate Committee)  
- Congressman Nedzi (House Committee)  
- Mr. J. B. Adams (legal counsel)  
- Mr. Bill Miller (staff director)  
- Mr. Mintz (committee staff)  

Key Locations:  
- San Francisco Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Berkeley, California (FBI Resident Agency)  
- Washington, D.C. (Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities; House Select Committee on Intelligence Activities; FBI/CIA headquarters)  

Key Events:  
- Scheduled testimony of Henry B. Montague before a Senate Select Committee (June 7, 1975).  
- FBI response to Congressman Delums’ inquiry about operations in Berkeley, California.  
- Development of procedures for determining eligibility to access classified information by Senate and House Intelligence Committees.  
- Review of security clearance processes for committee staff and witnesses.  
- Proposals for guidelines on handling sensitive information during interviews.  
- Addressing the case of Stanley Rawson Sloan regarding his revoked clearance.  

Key Organizations:  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities  
- House Select Committee on Intelligence Activities  
- Office of Legal Analysis (within CIA)

JFK Declassified Files

124-10273-10022_multirif.pdf

Document Summary

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