CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS EXHIBIT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05167A001900110001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 13, 2014
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: February 22, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/13: CIA-RDP78B05167A001900110001-2
LEG-56/73
22 February 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT : Cuban Missile Crisis Exhibit
1. The concept of a CIA Intelligence Museum origi-
nated with the Executive Director, Mr. William F. Colby,
in the Spring of 1972. In May 1972, the concept was
approved and Mr. James Reber, the 'Chairmanof the Fine
Arts Committee, was directed to.implement it. On 1 June
1972, Mr. Reber convened a group of senior Agency officials
to discuss the details of implementation. At that meeting,
it was decided that the National Photographic Interpreta-
tion Center would prepare an exhibit commemorating the
tenth anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Mr. Arthur
Lundahl, Director National Photographic Interpretation
Center, approved the project on 2 June 1972 and appointed
me the project coordinator.
2. The research and design of the exhibit was co-
ordinated and accomplished by the Imagery Exploitation
Group, NPIC, and approved in a series of presentations
to the Director NPIC, the Fine Arts Committee, the DD/I,
and the Executive Director CIA. The Office of Special
Activities, DDS&T, provided the U-2 camera and flight
gear for the static display. Mr. Walter Pforzheimer,
Curator, Historical Intelligence Collection, provided
valuable advice and documentation.
Assistant for Information Control, Office of the Execu-
tive Director, arranged for the downgrading of classi-
fied material and served as a focal point in coordinating
the exhibit at the DCI level. Mr. Walter Elder, Special
Assistant to Mr. John McCone during the crisis, provided
valuable insight and advice on the McCone years as DCI.
^ The Chief of the Historical Staff, Mr. Bernie Drell,
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SUBJECT : Cuban Missile Crisis Exhibit
provided effective guidance in coordinating the exhibit
with various Agency components and offices.
and members of the Fine Arts Committee and the
Ad Hoc Committee for the CIA Intelligence Museum also
provided advice and encouragement. Mr. Ramsey Forbush,
Deputy Director ONE, reviewed the entire display for con-
sistancy .and textual accuracy and Execu-
tive Director DD/P, provided covert documentation. The
approved exhibit was executed by the Production Services
Group, NPIC. This execution required the development and
application of a number of original graphics art skills.
The total cost of the project was $32,039, with approxi-
mately $1,200 for materials and the balance for labor.
The Office of Logistics provided excellent support for
the lighting, power, transport, and physical arrangement
of the exhibit.
3. The display opened on October 9, 1972. and closed
on February 16, 1973. During that period it is estimated
that over 20,000 people viewed the exhibit. In addition
to being available daily to Headquarters employees, the
Agency sponsored five family days tor all Directorates.
The exhibit was also used by the Office of Personnel for
recruiting purposes, and for special briefings by the
Office of Training.
4. The Director, Deputy Director, and Executive Di-
rector CIA were given conducted tours of the display, as
were Mr. John McCone and General Maxwell Taylor. The
Office of Legislative..Coupse,1 arrangpd..special.tours for
Senators Stuart Symington and Birch Ba-yh, Congressmen
George Mahon, Jamie Whitten, Lucian Nedzi, Edward Biester,
and William Bray-, and staff members of the House Appro-
priations, House Armed Services, Senate Armed Services,
Senate Appropriations, and Senate Foreign Relations Commit-
tees. Individual members of USIB and PFIAB also toured
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SUBJECT : Cuban Missile Crisis Exhibit
the exhibit. The chiefs of many of the agencies and di-
rectorates of the Intelligence Community expressed their
interest by arranging tours for their people.
5. The concepts and graphic techniques used in the
exhibit generated considerable interest among historical
officers in other governmental agencies and departments.
Mr. Randolph R. Winnacker, Historian, Department of De-
fense; Thomas Belden, Chief Historian, USAF; William
McHenry Franklin, Director, Historical Office, Department
of State; Fredrick Aandahl, Chief, Foreign Relations Di-
vision, Department of State; Capt. Roger Peineau, Curator,
Navy Museum; Melvin Jackson, Curator, Maritime Branch,
Smithsonian Institution, and Dan Borsten, Curator, History
and Technology Museum, Smithsonian Institution, and mem-
bers of their staffs visited the display. Each of these
visitors were especially complimentary on the presentation
techniques employed.
6. Classes from the Department of State Senior Semi-
nar in Foreign Policy, the JCS-DIA Orientation Program,
NSA Senior Cryptological Course, Army War College, Defense
Sensor Interpretation and Applicatiops Training Program,
Brookings Conference for Business Executives, Military
Assistance Officers Command and Staff School, NSA Research
Interns, and various CIA training programs toured the dis-
play.
? e
The experience gained from preparing...and_executing
the CI.A. Historical Museum Commission at their next meeting,
with a view to applying it to subsequent exhibits.
?
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, Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/13: CIA-RDP78B05167A001900110001-2
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/13: CIA-RDP78B05167A001900110001-2
IEG -56/73
SUBJECT : Cuban Missile Crisis Exhibit
8. The exhibit was commended by the DCI, and the Di-
rector, NPIC, in turn, commended each individual with a
certificate citing his particular contribution.
9. The success of the exhibit resulted in large
measure from the splendid support and cooperation we re-
ceived at-Headquarters and OSA. The talent, conceptual
skills, and production capabilitie available at NPIC--
along with the magnificient "can do" spirit at the Center--
made the project a reality.
10. The panels, U-2 camera and flight gear are being
packed and will be stored locally in an Agency warehouse.
The models, medals, books etc. from the display cases
have been returned to the respective contributors.
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DINO A. BRUGIONI
Executive Officer
Imagery Exploitation Group, NPIC
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JEC,F.-71- ??? -
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/13: CIA-RDP78B05167A001900110001-2