LETTER TO JOHN J. SIRICA FROM W.E. COLBY RE REQUEST FOR ELECTRONIC AND TAPE RECORDING EXPERTS APPOINTED BY YOU TO EXAMINE CERTAIN TAPE RECORDING SUBPOENAED BY WATERGATE GRAND JURY FOR AN INSTRUMENT KNOW AS A "COHERENT SPECTRUM SHAPER"

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01474445
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 7, 2017
• Case Number: F-2007-00094
• Publication Date: December 5, 1973

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
5 December 1973
The Honorable John J. Sirica
Chief Judge, United States District
Court for the District of Columbia
Room 2428
3rd and Constitution Avenue, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20001
Dear Judge Sirica:
We have your letter of 4 December setting forth the request of
the electronics and tape recording experts appointed by you to examine
certain tape recordings subpoenaed by the Watergate Grand Jury for
an instrument known as a "Coherent Spectrum Shaper." There is
such a machine in the possession of this Agency and so far as we are
aware, it is the only one of its type in existence. Accordingly, we
will make it available in accordance with the requests set forth in
your letter.
It is our understanding that Mr. Mark Weiss is fully familiar
with this machine, having participated in its design, and that the
operation of it in this connection will be his responsibility and that
of his associated experts appointed by you; CIA will in no way be
connected with this procedure. We are not able to guarantee that
the machine will produce the desired results nor can we insure
that it will not damage the analyzed tapes.
In view of the fragility of this equipment, we will arrange
for its proper packing and for its delivery to the experts at the
Federal Scientific Corporation, 615 West 131st Street, New York
City. Our best estimate is that the machine cannot be made
available for use by the experts before the morning of Thursday,
6 December. In any case, we will advise the Federal Scientific
Corporation of the time of arrival so that a Deputy. United States
Marshal can be present at the time of its delivery and at all times
during the testing.
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In view of our Agency requirements and work for which this
machine is programmed, we would hope that the panel would
conclude its use to enable our technicians to pick up the machine
on Saturday, 8 December, to return it to our Headquarters.
Sincerely,
W. E. Colby
Director
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Honorable William C. Colby
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Colby:
December 4, 1973
The panel of electronics and tape recording experts
appointed by this Court to examine certain tape recordings
subpoenaed by the Watergate Grand Jury has this date requested
my assistance in obtaining for their use, a "Coherent Spectrum
Shaper," an instrument in the possession of the Central Intelli-
gence Agency. Accordingly, I am writing to ask for your cooperation
in making such a machine available, under appropriate security,
to the experts at Federal Scientific Corporation, 615 West 131st
Street, New York City. One member of the panel of experts is
Mr. Mark Weiss. It is my understanding that the machine would
be needed for approximately two days, and that they would like
to begin additional testing with the machine beginning December
4 or 5, 1973.
If your Agency is agreeable to the loan and transfer
of this instrument for the limited purpose described, I will
gladly arrange for the delivery and return of the instrument by
the United States Marshal's office, or you may wish to deliver
the machine directly. In addition, a Deputy United States Marshal
would be present at all times during the testing to provide security
for the instrument.
I would appreciate an early response to this request and
any assistance which you might render on this matter.
Sincerely
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