</s>176-10033-10145 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 JFK ASSASSINTATION SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION FORM AGENCY : NARA RECORD NUMBER : 176-100333-10115 RECORD SERIES : Church Committee AGENCY FILE NUMBER: ORIGINATOR : WH FROM : WH TO : Schlessinger, Jr. TO : Kennedy, John F. TITLE : C: Kennedy, Johnston F. DATE : 6/30/1991 PAGES : 15 SUBJECT : 15 DOCUMENT TYPE : Paper, Textual CLASSIFICATION : Declassified RESTRICTIONS : CURRENT STATUS : DATE OF LAST REVIEW : 2/14/2001 OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS :

Summary:  
This document is a memorandum dated June 30, 1961, addressed to President John F. Kennedy, critiquing the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) structure and operations. It highlights concerns over CIA autonomy leading to inefficiencies and risks to U.S. foreign policy, citing historical instances of covert operations in Guatemala and Iran where excessive publicity undermined effectiveness. The memo emphasizes tensions between clandestine activities and maintaining an open society, noting conflicts between CIA and the State Department over operational control. It advocates for reorganizing the CIA to align with U.S. foreign policy through greater coordination with the State Department and reducing its independence. The text also addresses the political implications of Controlled American Sources (CAS) and paramilitary activities, urging careful oversight. A second document outlines proposed structural changes to U.S. intelligence agencies, suggesting an independent oversight body, a Deputy Undersecretary of State for Intelligence, and new entities like the National Information Service and Foreign Research Agency to handle clandestine operations and interagency coordination.  

Key People:  
- John F. Kennedy (President of the United States)  
- Allen Dulles (CIA Director, referenced in historical context)  
- Richard and Glady Harkness (authors of articles cited as examples of excessive CIA publicity)  
- William J. Donovan (referenced in historical context as a former OSS leader)  
- Deputy Undersecretary of State for Intelligence (proposed role)  
- Arthur Schles, Jr. (Attorney General)  
- Mr. Bundy and Mr. Dungan (recipients of the memorandum)  

Key Locations:  
- Guatemala  
- Iran  
- Singapore  
- Pakistan  
- Japan  
- Cuba  
- Vietnam  
- Malaya  
- Algeria  
- United Nations  
- Washington, D.C.  
- CIA building in McLean, Virginia  

Key Events:  
- CIA’s involvement in covert operations in Guatemala and Iran (1950s)  
- The Cuban Missile Crisis (implied through references to CIA activities in Cuba)  
- Proposed restructuring of U.S. intelligence agencies, including establishment of the National Information Service and Foreign Research Agency  
- Creation of a Joint Intelligence Board with interagency coordination  
- Historical tensions between CIA and the State Department over operational control  
- Use of Controlled American Sources (CAS) in foreign intelligence operations  

Key Organizations:  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- United States Department of State  
- British Secret Intelligence Service (SIS)  
- Joint Intelligence Committee (UK)  
- Office of National Estimates (CIA)  
- Controlled American Sources (CAS) program  
- National Information Service (proposed)  
- Foreign Research Agency (proposed)  
- Joint Intelligence Board (proposed)

JFK Declassified Files

176-10033-10145.pdf

Document Summary

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