</s>157-10011-10078 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 Date: 10/06/93 Page: 1 JFK ASSASSINTATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY INFORMATION AGENCY : SSCIA AGENCY NUMBER : 157-1001-1008 RECORD NUMBER: 157-1001-10079 RECORDS SERIES : AGENCY FILE NUMBER # AGENCY FILLE NUMBER . DOCUMENT INFORMATION ORIGINATOR : UNKNOWN FROM : TO : TITLE : TESTIMONY OF OSBORN, HOWARD J. DATE : 02/17/75 PAGES : 22 SUBJECTS : MAJOR SUBJECS TO BE COVERED IN TESTIMONY of OSBORN, HOWARO DOCUMent TYPE : PAPER, TEXTUAL DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION : T RESTRICTIONS : REFERRED CURRENT STATUS : P : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 09/29/93 OPENING CRITERIA : Send to CIA 32/1994 COMMENTS : SSCI Box 288, Folder 9 COMMENTS: Classified annerp [R] - ITEM IS RESTRICTED NW 50955 Docid: 32203846 Page 1

Summary  
The documents detail CIA operations during the 1960s–1970s, focusing on covert surveillance, taping systems, informant management, and interactions with U.S. government entities such as the FBI and Senate committees. Key activities include the installation of taping systems in CIA offices for monitoring internal meetings, covert physical surveillance of employees and contractors suspected of leaking classified information, and the use of informants like Lee Pennington and Cecil Pennington (a substitute name). The testimony references Watergate-related matters, including the McCord Letters (alleged attempts to implicate the CIA in the break-in) and the Pennington Matter (informant interactions with the Nixon administration). Additional topics include surveillance of dissident groups, mail interception programs in New York City (1952–1973), wiretapping of media outlets such as syndicated columns (1962–1963), and covert operations involving local police departments. The Huston Plan is noted as a separate domestic security initiative unrelated to the CIA’s Office of Security.  

Key People  
- **Howard J. Osborn**: Former Director of Security for the CIA (1964–1974), testified about internal operations, surveillance practices, and interactions with federal agencies.  
- **Richard Helms**: Former Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), authorized taping systems and reviewed covert activities.  
- **E. Howard Hunt**: Linked to the Ellsberg break-in and associated with CIA operations during the 1960s.  
- **Daniel Ellsberg**: Subject of psychological profiling by White House officials; central figure in the Pentagon Papers case.  
- **James McCord**: Former CIA employee arrested in connection with the Watergate break-in; referenced in "McCord Letters."  
- **Lee Pennington**: Retired FBI agent retained as a CIA informant; involved in the Pennington Matter.  
- **Cecil Pennington**: Retired CIA employee used as a substitute name for surveillance purposes.  

Key Locations  
- **Washington, D.C.**: Sites of CIA offices and taping systems installation.  
- **New York City**: Center of mail interception programs (1952–1973) and physical surveillance activities.  
- **San Francisco**: Mentioned in context of surveillance operations.  
- **Detroit, Miami, New York City**: Locations where contacts of a CIA agent were monitored.  
- **Fairfax County, Virginia**: Site of police cover arrangements for covert operations.  

Key Events  
- **Installation of taping systems** in CIA offices (DCI, Deputy DCI, Director of Security) for covert recording of meetings.  
- **Covert surveillance** of employees and contractors suspected of leaking classified information.  
- **Physical surveillance** of individuals, including a female CIA employee linked to dissidents and former FBI agents.  
- **Ellsberg break-in**: Covert operation at Dr. Fielding’s office (1971), involving assistance from E. Howard Hunt.  
- **Mail interception program** in New York City (1952–1973) targeting anti-war activists and dissidents.  
- **Wiretapping of syndicated columns** by the CIA (1962–1963).  
- **Watergate-related activities**: McCord Letters (alleged attempts to implicate the CIA in the break-in) and Pennington Matter (informant interactions with the Nixon administration).  
- **Termination of informants** (e.g., Lee Pennington, Charles Wyle) by the CIA in 1973–1974.  
- **Covert use of local police departments** for CIA surveillance operations.  

Key Organizations  
- **Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)**: Central to all described operations, including taping systems, surveillance, and informant management.  
- **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)**: Collaborated with the CIA on surveillance activities, particularly in the Pennington Matter.  
- **White House**: Requested intelligence on Daniel Ellsberg and coordinated psychological profiling efforts.  
- **Anderson Security Associates**: CIA-linked firm involved in covert operations.  
- **Directorate of Operations (CIA)**: Overseen covert activities and informant management.  
- **Office of Security (CIA)**: Responsible for internal surveillance and taping systems.  
- **National Security Act of 1947**: Legal framework enabling CIA activities, including domestic surveillance.

JFK Declassified Files

157-10011-10078.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search