HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM

Created: 8/29/2002

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

DCI HfSrORYST4fF

MEMORANDUM FOR ALL EMPLOYEES SUBJECT: Historical Review Program

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a recent visit to the National Archives, IArchivist of the United States, Dr. Don W. Wilson, withversion of The Central Intelligence Agency: of Government,D. y CIA's first Chief Historian,

Dr. Arthur B. Darling, is the first CIA document to beand transferred to the National Archives for release to the public under the Agency's Historical Review Program. After our meeting at the National Archives, Dr. Wilsonointlyopy of this history to President Bush, who has described Dr. Darling, under whom he studied at Phillips Academy, Andover, as his favorite teacher. ave also sent copies of this history to the chairmen of the two congressional intelligence committees.

records will follow this transfer, and Ithe Archivist of the United states of ray ownfor CIA's commitment to the Historical Reviewprogram resulted from the passage by Congress of theActhich relieved the Agency fromof searching certain designated operational filesto Freedom of Information Act requests. Atof Congress, and with our earlier declassificationOffice of Strategic Services records as precedent,agreed to undertake new efforts to declassifyhistorically significant CIA records to the

3. The Historical Review Program has been established in the Office of Information Technology irectorate of Administration. Balancing the Agency's statutory duty to protect intelligence sources and methods with legitimate public interest in CIA records, this program is designed to make significant historical information available without risking damage to national security. As our first transfer indicates, the program has begun with the review of the Agency's oldest records. The Classification Review Branch in OIT, with the'

BrrROVlO FOR RELEASE

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advice and support of the History Staff in the Office of the DCI, coordinates closely with Agency components to declassify suitable documents while assuring the security of those documents that still require protection.

4. Although thishallenging program to carrym gratified by the way that all parts of the Agency, and especially the Directorates of Operations and Intelligence, have cooperated in getting the program under way. As part of our accountability to the American people, the Historical Review Program will makeore accurate record and fuller understanding of CIA's role in our nation'ssk all of you to give this program your fullest measure of support.

William H. Webster Director of Central Intelligence

DISTRIBUTION: ALL EMPLOYEES

N.B. "ALL" signifies that one copy of an issuance is available for circulation for each six employeespecific component. (See

APPROVED FOR RELEASE DATL7

Original document.

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