CIA AND TAPES

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01474434
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 7, 2017
• Case Number: F-2007-00094
• Publication Date: January 31, 1974

Approved for Release: 2017/01/18 C01474434
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ADMI I T- TIVE INTERNAL USE ONLY
(b)(3)
31 January 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR: Al? Employees
SUBJECT : CIA and Tapes
Execu Rer-!
1. CBS, on the night of 29 January 19740 carried a story
that CIA was providing to a Senator a tape of a conversation
between General Cushman, then DDCI, and Howard Hunt. It went
on to say that the Agency had possessed other tapes, including
possible tapes of conversations with President Nixon, but had
destroyed them.
2. The facts are the following: For many years since
1961, several Agency offices and phone lines had the capability
of taping conversations. These recordings were primarily used
as memory joggers and note-taking substitutes. Office conversa-
tions were handled by the Office of Security, with tapes retained
there and transcripts provided to the interested office. Taping
of incoming telephone conversations was handled by secretaries in
the offices involved, and the tapes were normally destroyed shortly
after use. Upon occasion a transcript was made, which also was
normally destroyed shortly after use. There is nothing illegal
about taping telephone or other conversations when one party is
aware that it is being taped, although telephone company rules
require that a buzzer be attached.
3. We do not know whether a Presidential conversation may
have been taped, although it is possible. General Cushman did
tape his conversation with Howard Hunt on 22 July 1971, in which
arrangements were made for him to receive certain technical sup-
port items. A full transcript of this tape was made available
some time ago to CIA oversight subcommittees, the Watergate
Committee, and the Speci 1 Prosecutor. The actual tape in this
instance is still in CIA's possession and on request is being
made available to a Senator.
ADIINIS T V - INTERNAL USE ONLY
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4. These tapes were destroyed either shortly after their
use or when the collection became larger than convenient
(specifically in 1964 and 1971). All known remaining tapes
and transcripts (except for the Cushman/Hunt conversation above)
were destroyed in January 1973. (We are trying to determine the
exact date and circumstances of this destruction and will report
these to the Senator.) The capability of recording telephone
calls or office conversations in the Office of the Director,
Office of the Deputy Director, and Office of the Executive
Director-Comptroller was terminated at about the same time and
we do not plan to restore this capability.
rs/
W E. Colby
Director
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ADMINISTRATI E INTERNAL USE ONLY
Approved for Release: 2017/01/18 C01474434