STAFF STUDY 'CLASSIFICATION OF NATIONAL SECURITY MEDAL'

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01826R000500190010-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 16, 2000
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: December 24, 1953
• Content Type: MF

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2.Uscr 1953
TO t Chaff s s CIA, Gareor Services Board
4,: += ; ~ riff n CIA Honor Awards ward
:Glaesirieatiaaat of National Saauri4 Modal"
TO cyetea"I,hie if CIA?s responsi.'b 1ity for a.c uni.ster'ing awards of
Natiio tal Security Medal should be unclassified o sjc d bear .-2
ific,%tion of "Confidential'" or higher,
2 "~ Rcts j arr n:t c the Preb1m
c 19 January 1953 ?reei t Truman in at let??tr -to the Honorable
=x lter 3, Sn i.thp DCIi c1.~assified "nestriated Security inform .acne
Lt cK' t A) tauthoa1.sed n to wke awards of the 'm tionat Security Medal?
F .ti 3.0501 lmSai'eguar Sing Official Inform .ation. in the
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w x~ s of the united States" g, aboUshes the ae xr"ity cleaeif3 cats oca of
:sa?e~~+~ted~' a
ece CIA 1 oti.ce No'- of 27 November I953 "Cl"$ific ition Of
cum ts" nmkes it necessary to review material presently classified
ugestri.cted Security Inforr tton" for the purpose of downgrading or
upgrnding ten such -t.& ria1. is to be transmitted outside the Agenago
da Prior to the effective date of. the Executive Order' other
Government deptrtwits have asked for information concerning the National
Security Medal and it is expected that further requcate will be received,
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3. Discussion
The Fresident4s letter of 19 January 1953 appears to impose the
classification "Restricted - Security Information" on correspondence
pertinent to CIA's responsibility for the National Security Medal.
This responsibility, however, has became rather widely known to other
elements of government through normal inquiry and the transmittal of
recommendations for the National Security Xedal. The fact of CIA?s
interu:st in and responsibility for the National Security Miec al can be
compared to the interest of the Departments of Defense, State, Arrr,
Navy and Air Force in thy, Medal of Freedom, which is not classified.
The 3ational Security Medal, the senior award for distinguished achieve-
ment or outstanding contribution in the field of intelligence relating
to national security is logically administered by the nation's top-
ranking intelligence officers who occupies the same position in respect
to the National Security Medal as do the Secretaries of Defense, State,
Any, Navy and Air Force in respect to the Medal of Freedom.
4. Conclusions
a. Declassification of the Director's authority to awara the
National Security Medal woula be consistent with unclassified delega-
tions of authority to award National Decorations granted other govern-
ment officials.
b.. Such action would have no effect on the classification of recom-
mendations, supporting data, or citations, for the, , award of the National.
Security i edals as these will continue to bear the classification re-
quired by the content of the material.
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a c r*AIVF 'n'YKPT _
5 Action Recomunded
The CIA. Classification Control Officer ask the White Howe
Classification Control officer to review the correspondence conveying
U ority to the Director to make awards of the National Security Modal
for the purpose of downgrading it.
Future :orrespcnc ce relating to the Directorva authority
for the Nationa.3 Security Medal, be tanciassified?
/5
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