MKULTRA SUBPROJECT 127 (14 DOCUMENTS WITH PUBDATES FROM 600811 TO 62030 6)
Document Type:
Keywords:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
00017385
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
U
Document Page Count:
20
Document Creation Date:
August 23, 2024
Document Release Date:
September 8, 1976
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Case Number:
Publication Date:
August 11, 1960
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-461111111111111�IM
EKULTRA Seb-oroject
At
Date of Or1&JM1 rioi nclad _.41,4otre Amount of-
Authorization over To - NtIn Ozligation
A-AL /Are, elf-re�f-eliat ;elle. 010
Authorizations Coverea. To _--Etm-L,!;:r
-
Palmt
Obliption
- r
_
invoice Le
or
�
_
11.;14.6
P.7,17unt
ezi
I. Dat of Obli
2. Purpo of Project:...TAX3i4I-20.11�..
registered
-0.111Wesa-01.611111.
year period.
- �
over-
+.4...4�1.W.061CirIiiaMarata,,,,pqraaa.....162[101�14_041,13111.11M1.9HIP
3.ProgreS3 tO Date:-.2V20.1.
-
�
. - ___FINCV-W,naftaptalonfilEMSIOM)
Expiration
5. Project Montt
FROM: _TSS/CD
Object Cuss
Date
27 acjo
31 i39cob
_
icE and. Refenees
Obligations - Obligations LinliqutdaWd
Incurred Liquidated Balant
/fLt22
163401MOU CRIEF, nom =non
VIA jTITZ/Budget Officer
MUM PrO,)ftt 'MATRA, Subproject, 127
Invoice No 1, 141.10tabAt 3.25.1009#1902
1._ Invoice No. 1 is attached covering taboye subpro �t�
Payment should be code e,s follows:
t of
�2 _The check should be forwarded tO tfj T8Di1esearc3 Brancb.
through roD/Budget *Ulcer, no later than thursdayi10-Norertber *60,
3, This is a final invoice. Bower, *We It is anticipated
that edtlitiOnal_ftinds_will be obligated for this_project, the files
should not be closed.
TBD/Research Branch
cc,
- /46
Attached:
inveice & Certifications
Distribution:
Cris la 2- Addressee
7:7'1 A7,7: AVA1ASLE4
-
- -
- CBE. 0 F-:
40041.0414PWW0,- 04141.0.0.41.40 0041.
MAI*411WINVIWO
WM/MATIONS
(1) here'by certified that this is Involce No. 1 appl,ying to
atbproject No. 127 Ot NUM, that perform= to satisfactory;
that servieea are being accomlished in acesArdance vith mutual
acreesents; that a detelled monde a the parents and receipts is ore
tile in WORN; that this bill is just and correct_andithat payment
thereof has not yet been made.
Date
WT6DAesearA_Branch
(2) It is hereby certified that this illY0i60 applies tk Subprojeet
No. 127 of WITLVIA Ilhich was duly approved; and that_the project is
being carried cut in_accordance vith the meacrandumof 13 April 1953
trim the DO/Wthe DOA,- and the extension of this authority in
subsequent nesoranda.
Date* :
Bala
SO ref
March 6, 3.6
Accounting o
6 5
T. Salaries Of Coding-Assistants
It. Travel
III. I. B. M. (25.000 cards)
IT. Office Suppliesi paperi-postage etc.
Total_Expenditures
'Total _Grant
5,707.13
26.75
1,194.61t
7,520.37
_ 7,490.00
( 30.37)
3 statement of the_accounting of
shown by tWUniVerait .
I-Eave exaninea anti ar.:7)rvo! the 3 bmitts
expenaittlre2.
Ditecr
/ v,
,
Receipt is hereby acknowledged of-the-falowing check:
Treasurers_Cheek Noi-1,6223, d eve
t of $7,490.00, drawniwthe
able to th
-
/CI)
I
mittu
e '
17 OctO
mEMORANDUMFOR;_THE_RECORD
SUBJECT : Conference with Chie
Regardin
A
net a enta
the
been
lye
thi e mmi_ ganlUtin
operationaLthat_wouldue
-this
researc
erest in the
and its
3
.27 07
1960
f
net with Chief
to brief im u n support o
proposal. , who had only
ro s was �. ous1yntrigued by _
mpreseme-,as a creative
in a nUmber:o ible _
xpressed the desire ;to write up-someLofLhis
ideas in .e-_orm_of_pivjects. _ I-o_ffe_red _the _counter,suggestion
that once he
for him tome
ntal_ducks_in a row, t � t prove useful
and others fr. .ere-i
esearc
ran
MEMORARE04 R: _THE RECORD
SUBJECT :�ProjeCt van.,TRAI Subproject 127
1._Iti1s_reque_s�ted that Subproject 127 be approved to
support the research work-of
o study the open voting records o
voters over-a fifty year�period.
2�Thie-study of-voting is an attempt to do la _ _ _
dinal study of_the_factors that_aftet�throting of_people_over_a_
considerableperiodiofftime. Tbe re eults of the study_couldon,-
------- tribute t
In addition the data representS a unique gold mine
of information_to:study soce 1of1tbe fundamental behavioralicharacter-i
'sties oLpeople.
3b&seejtbroug1ith
for security and. cover
purposes. TheTaccounting-for fUnds nded sVall conform to the
procedures of that-organizati on . Title to any perma-
nent equipment shall re:min with the
lieu of overhead charges.
4.- The_total-cost of=this project for a period of one
year is estimated to be-S*90.00 as-Incli-cated-in the attached
Chief
TSDifterch Branch
_concerned.Itith the
budget. CMr4 should be made against Allotment r 1
1009-1902.
5. No-cleared or witting person
a
conduct ofLthi 13_ project. _
APPROVED FORO8LIGATIQNIOF FUNDS:
Date:_____________
(IT 1.0AQ
Attachment:� _ -
Proposal
Distribution:
Original only
____-------r-
Gentlemen.
Enclosed please find 10 copies-of the outline for our project "Voting" for
which we ask you for_a_support to the amount of dollars 7,490. If you find it
possible to finAnce this researeh-it-will-ba executed by my research assistant
principaI-investigator under my-supervision as head of th
The present arch project-is different from, although related to, the
one presented briefly to_yov earlier. Tha reason is that we have in the mean-
time discovered the existence-of this unique-documentary material, which is de-
scribed in the 'outline, and-we-think-that an-snalysis_therecf should-proceed and hence-
benefit a study of contemporary political changes. I nay note that we have not
asked any other foundation-to-sunport this project. So far our experience with
foundations has_been_that they react unfavorably to research in the field
of political sotiology.
I remain at your-disposal for any further informaticn you might desire re-
garding the present project. _
Sincerely yoIrs,-
CCIVITIOLIZS
AMAMI I-Finance Division
SUMECT LASCULTRA, Subproject 127
Wider:the authority granted in the memorandum dated 13 April:
1953 from the_ECI to the-DOA, adl the extension_of_this authority
in subseivent teemorandai Stbwojeet 127�has 'beep approval end
$7,49o.do7of the over-al1-14,MM project iNanda has been tog
to cover the subproject-it asesi Ibis oblisation iViela should
be ehareed to Allotment 1541009A92
APPDOOD IVE_OBLIOATICe-OF ms
Da
Distribution:
Orig & 2 --Adat4
�))._ TM:I/PASS
intilesearoh Breitoh
I CERPFY TT P'tk:115 7,7,S AvAIIA!!'
OLioATicr deez _
GIARCi AL." �Tim, --
jZ C;i:CP
28. 8eptembez 1
RANDUM TRA3 RECORD
Tff -Approval -of FUnds to
- Voting Behavior_
ATTE 'E
Mess
12
2.-1This-study of-voting is an attempt_to do_a_lon--
11
gitudinal_sWly_of_the factors that affect thevotingioUpeople-:-_,-
over=a-considerahle riod of Tbc result ,:-tbet
n d on he data-represente___
old mi o -information to study _some of the _fundamental
ioralcharacteristics_of people,
,will-te-aff7eted through the
, mechanism._
rticlpants .74117remain-lawitting of true sponsor.
DistributiOn:
Orig &2 - TSD/RB
TS
research. I recommend that it be funded.
September 15, 1960
MEMORANDUM TOSid G.
SUBJECT: Project Proposal, Category B.
Attached is a proposal from
during our visit therelasi Ociober._You wi not in the comment from
that caution is recommended, principally for security reasons and only seco �ari y for
meth i Q1 easons.HispoTnt is well taken as are the detailed criticisms by
My predisposition to support this category B proposal rests
on t ree cons erattons:_a) methodological questions do not outweigh the basic potential
this project has, b) lengthy correspondence with the investigator has us partially
committed to some kind oUsupport, and c)_the small amount of money re uested is a
ent in international reseorch
hich we encoura�
I do not believe we can be damaged institutionally- by supporting this kind of
�
MEI
AU2ust-19-1907'
To begin-with, let me exeress my onstinting and_unqualified enthusiesm: �
for the general_condept-behind_the_projeot.Thoogh we know very well_that_there"
is little hooe-Ahat we willever_be able_to_conduct_a real-longitulinal_study,
covering severalAecsdes,-wahave often spoken about the need for suoh t
this proposal'fills_a gap; it does so by util1th data-already in existence.
The costs sem& minimal, the oPoortunity unique, and the promise reat. The
data ourht to be exploited.
To exeroit�fUllYLthe_unioue_data_Teouires, however, amore_complete
stattment of what the_analysis of-"th_e_individual at of voting" contributes
over and above-what 000ld be inferred_from_an_lalysiciofvOting'itatistiot'
by election districts, differentiated accordingktheirecology. UsuallY the -
imoact of lit":"P011tical-situation" on_varlooa_ctetegoriesofroters is inferred
Cron aggregrateAata.rSuch-inferenoe_can be made only on the assumption that
the factors revtaled:on_the-aggregate_level operate on7thev(holS:and as a rule
on the individUaillevelif_weli. The proposed Projeot offers_an:oppottunity_to__ _
test this assumption by exaMinga series_of_election. It -is_capable_of_loosting
the individuals(i.e�the-irsocial-statUs) Who acoount-for-heightened-or-elacketed
interest and for-thanges-la-th-e7slignmente
1 shouP-like to urgtm that set out explicitly to
teat this oothf; are deductions mie from a'rma e_dete (election statistics)
throurh correlational mallYsis_confirmed_by the data froaLtipthel_where the voting
hictory of individual_voter-uandjof_homogeneous categories can be traced. Whatever,
his answAr, the-st.0y would be an iwortant methodological_oontribution_to_the �
etudy of 1r behavior, whose -implications would be:practically_Onlimited. r
Researchers lackinr=otnel data_of:the_kind_available_in would then have
SOM4 measure of the-confidene_e_tI_ey-could-rolatein-analyses7 based on correlations
-hen the.pooulationestudiecinover_time-are not necessarily identical.
In thie-stmeiwAin, I Should like to see a somewhat clearer indication of
:lust hoe the pantflidataLiill_baployed.- For_examplei-the proposal(page 4)
m-n-ione thm influence-ot early=cothAtments_on later behavior as d factor contribu-
tin/ to stability or instability.- I doubt that_we need to reiterate the finding
that the voting-history of am-Ant-livid:lel more often exhibits an underlying
stability than erratio-changes._ Whut-we_need_to_examine-incgreater detail-- ---
is the fact that political_chamgaiis_alwaya_the result of two factors which
have not as vet been-sufficientlyextr'oated: individual turnover_and_oopulation
soccession. I-would be intprgsttd-in kno*ing how-important chan7es in the voting
population ;dut-tnaginK and_mortalitV,MIgration, abtivation_of non.voters, etc.)
114#60mrarA4 with individual switches.
Pirth-rmore, I-!.*ouId be lemenselv interested:in a comparison of stable
voters whosA narty lovalties-show-d no chanre and floaters who switched_one or
-lore time. Yow-important-re_even!rs and cerqonalities-is_opposed to status
'Kuwait-ors moilityi hints at this,:but-there-is a tendency
to c,-,n0ise oorcItions-,. a - ors iltyin thep*rty system-vrith fatitors -
thAt makm for stabilitv in the-inlividual.- TheAmportanee of keeping the two
stoarate is inelicated by a-crocosition,that recently has found wide. acceptance,
namely the tht floaters are an element that accounts for stability .in the system
127
beoaus they sot as �mediators" and beoeuse_oafty 5ppe41s are addressed to the
tenuously committed "center."
The hybothesised relationlhip
hand, and the importance_ofidtfterent
other, fasoinates me, espeoi ally when
alities, eto. olVdifferett:ottegOries
betNeen turnout and cons=nsue, OCI the one
kinds of issues and personalities, on the
the differentiAl impact of issuse,oerson-
of sooica status is oonsidevad.
I have the following reserrationg.The proposal falls to indicate -
fully how the panel; design is wits& to be applied to the problem of generations
and political changei__The_ouestione given as ooints 1 and 2
on page 4) tend-_tb_embhasige_ statio and _cross-sectional -aMalysis of aggregate
data. I would like to see & clearer indioation of how data about individual
voters will be employed,
-
Nor does it strike me that_a_teohnically_refinedamalysis of the press
and other politioal_rsoordg, �hioh is of neoessity deals only with a _highly_
select sample ! would _f ive a mors_relieble a s se ea meht nt_the -1'0Oliti411-4ituation"
that dominated an election than the use3competent histories, The energies and -
resources could be_better_employed in 4�more complete 'statistical analysis_
of the voting behavior, which- Might- in turn ohrify the forces_ whioh_moved_the_
eleotorate.
I am altdgeth�r at a loss tworimag at the meOion_orreoords_of_ personal__
political discussion." The desoription of the data givevno7hiht_of _how suoh
& record is to b4-6btained.
Similarly, I fail to see hoe the, "emergence of leadorship-;f011owership
traits" is to be exo1ore4. what-IS-the reference to the records_of_epproxintatelY- -
S0000 persons?; TithinICthatiViiiiikind of longAtrm panel - design should not be -
used to gage what happens during a single campaign. The-Lagarefeld-type of panel,
based on interviews, is & much better tool for this. i
The samol-S-IfigUt&_of-?-5,000 seems entirely rgagonable in view of
population mortalitYLand_thInUmber of variables to7iXolored._ But 1�oonfused
about the 3,000_ figure -Mentioned on paee 4 (bottom)7 Also,_/_take_ it that -
Individual voting records ire to collated with individualOAIIWAS-datIT. Yet,
refers to the 'voting records of all Tilffibir-veters but mentions _
census records: for-__*otSral-Only.
4 rather7minor:pointrelato6 to the statement on the bottom or_Dage_3.
Do the criteria- really�eliminatS-only 5 to 10 oef cent of th= Male amt p-ofdloltion.
Elimination of. the PI to 30_year_ege group would, in view-ToiLthe_then prev41ing
life egrectancY, out the figure much higher.
Let me summerd s ethat, notwithsteniing the mary cue sti one-. I have, the
study fascinates me. tboio major innovetion wouldVhe use of individual data_
in a long-rum longttudinal study. I should like the hypothearainh�relateLd 4
t o the outoome' or 40ecifie_eleetions_and_to major political trends se.0044-0.0"4 ur4AAA
the panel design to be spelled: out in grester_det1141 It would then be possible
to teat them both on the ihdi*idual data and on
atati atioa for various _districts And regions in ' the elucidation
of findings obtatned_by_the more conventional -iii Oda -:po it -Cal eoOlogy &AA
panel data would, in my minds_lake a major contribution to wledges,
This is a most Interesting proposal by --one that has great
potential for contributing to knowledge of voting be ovior bacouse of the unique, to
my knowledge, and thitherto available data. it would appear to give somewhat more
comprehensive information concerning the "individual act of voting." That would be
possible in Although the project would appear very promising,- contribute to
our present krvnytedge, as with any proposal, there are certain reservotionsielt_by
myself.
1. Being of a cautious notu wd be lets optimistic than the investigator
concerning the completeness of th
to the invastIga7oes statement, but rot er a susplcion that such records are not always
kept as completely as one_wouldi4e._This is reflected somewhat in his comments on page 3
In relation to the "eligible voter." He states the qualifications of voting is that the voter
mist be "male, 30 years or over, own his place of residencei ond live In the district one
year." On poge-2, he states that in the period these districts have a total
population of 150,000. The population for the present study will be_approximately
25,000 voters in this unLverso.* The restrictions of the eligible voter, according to the
Investigator, woul4o_nly eliminate 5 to 10% of the mole oclult population. If the entire
population were which I assume means men, women, and children, then I wonder
If percentage of 1.5'tt YCP%-k not somewhat low; and, also, that he may not hove trouble
obtaining his 25,000 voters. This Is a guess on my part but I would think worth asking for
fu-rthar guidance.
records. This in no-senseis-a challenge
2. Investigator states on page 1, "the availability of these records means that the
political history of every voter in a given district can be followed objectively and in detail
for a period of up tollyears.* We really should remember that to be eligible to vote,
the male trust be 30 Veers and own a house. The question that immediately hit me was how
many elections could such an individual_particiivte in? If 30 is the minimum age, we
obviously will not_hove too many who have lived to the age of�pland are still active voters,
yty and this is the only way we can get an individual record over a period of ears. He must
own a home at the age of 30 which certainly would depend on the OCCKIOM c situation in
during the years indicated. Thus, we must be concerned with the percentage of
population that would meet_the qualifications at 30; how many elections would occur, how
long does the overage-voter live during this period. All such questions certainly bear on
size and type of sample that one can obtain from the data available and should be known
before the study progresses too for, or rather before the becomes too deeply involved.
In my mind, these questions must have been satisfied to t e investigator but unfortunately
they are not too well reflectedhere tn the proposal. It would seem reosonable to have these
questions answered first, tither the first phase of the study or in a revised research proposal.
3. On page 2, under Popul ud the investigator mentions selecting
eight political subdivisions from He points out
,.., ,
that these political districts repres tics, spec rum � .ay, ranging from conser-
vative to Communist. He then proposes to use these districts for the clatalkears old.
However, in the rest of the proposal, he does not state, at toast clearly to me, techniques
by which one would analyze the data in relation to present political activities or voter
behavior. There would be approximately years intervening which would not be taken
�
� -4Lie
on Promol submitted b
Into consideration accord
the detailed dajo from
to th proposal, thus, if conclusions were to be drawn upon
It would have to be based otvihe assumption that flu,
intervening rs e ect on present day behavior. The investigator undoubtedly
has some rational here that has escaped me.
4. Section D. questions the study. Present research, according to the investigator,
will be concerned with social status, ecological patterning, and political situations and
how they are correlated wi_th increased political involvement which he states symbolizes
the growth of democracy. Sc7c1al status, he says will he definedin farms of occupation, oge,
marital conditions, family size and condition of residence. This I believe, is to he drawn
from the census data--ogoin without having seen the data. I wonder whether such things
as condition of residence will be recorded, or if so, how meaningful it will be. In addition,
social status term, here, evidently is not used in the sense that one might use it in this
country. The population he s studying is already pretty well defined, particularly with
the recutrernent that the voter own his place of residence. Another point In relation to the
status structure otsoctely is raised as a result of the investioatoe's statement on page 4. He
indicates that the relation of_the changing status structure and development of political
parties will also be examined. That, as the gap between the top and the bottom of status
structure of a society narrows, this society becomes more homogeneous In term of social
class. The political struotuct becomes more differentiated and MOC41 political choices become
possible. That the eligibility requirements have already narrowed status structure to quite a
homogeneous sample is stated before and I am not sure that a great deal could be expected �
from this particutoritypothesis, although it might be interesting to see what comes out of it.
5. The political situation mentioned in the same purograph in section D. is to be
defined by content_analysts of .:ws' rs. Again, the reader sincerely hopes that a) the
material is available frorn and that such an arxilysis Is meaningful. News-
papers would, at that time, port cu or y, be directed to a relatively small population, their
Influence might well be questioned. This factor would, of course, be dependent on the
literacy rate during that period and the circulation of the newspapers. In addition, some
understanding would be necessary to determine the oblectivity of newspapers reflecting
the characteristics of the candidates or even their interpretation of the statement of the
iS.V.M4. Even today, we doubt thalall newspapers reflect in an equally obleetive fashion.
Certainly, other sources might supplement this Information.
6. The investigator hopes to discover factors contributing to voter'sltability and
instability,"as well as the infleente of "early commitments on later behavior" and the
"emergence of leadership-fellowship traits." it appears that this study may add some
information, although it is doubted that much con be Found On ibis. records. Also, it is
doubtful that We can loons much by our concept of leodership-fellowship traits from such
data. This particular section is very vague and gives vs very little information about how
these factors would be explored. The inveatibator intimates that a partial answer to this
question is availability of records, of personal political discussions. This is the first time
these records have been mentioned and the references not at all clear. Evidently, such
7 records are available for 3,000 peopl t one wonders what sort of record onewoJkl have
of personal political discussions over ears ago.
The above portion of this memorandum may seem relatively condemnatory of the
study. This is not the impression that I wish to leave. We have there, 01 stated before,
an opportunity to examine records hitherto not available. They appear to be sufficiently
unique and oornplete that they may hold promise in contributing to the general field
concerning voting behaviors. It is recommended that very sertout_consIderation be given
to either requesting revision of this proposal answering the questiora raised above, or to
grant money foro more comprehensive examination of the voting records to determine
exactly what can be feasibly accomplished with the date.
I arrt_sure_that Lwould_be_very glad to follow_the
decision reached by your other advisor in connection
with the proposal I�
My own reaction to the project is that it might
possibly be_considered a little inappropriate for_an
American foundation_to_participate in a study of voting
in a friendly foreign nation. If some of the results of
the study turned out to be surprising and politically
important, it is conceivable to me that a question
might be raised concerning the support of the study
by funds coming from outside the country. I arn not
absolutely certain either_what techniques would be
employed in completing the study although I would
presume�that these have been worked out with some
care.
In surnmary,_my personal feeling is that I would
move rather slowly in authorizing this request.
Sincerely yours,