THE CLANDESTINE SERVICE HISTORICAL PROGRAM, STATUS AND PLANNING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 4, 2003
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: January 13, 1972
• Content Type: MF

Approved?For,ease 2003 DP83-0076400400030003-3 WV
13 January 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director for Plans
. Chairman, CS Historical Board
SUBJECT : The Clandestine Service Historical
Program, Status and Planning
1. Background: The CS historical. program was formu-
lated in 1964-65 by the CS Historical Board in consultation
with CS components. A list of several hundred titles was
drawn up covering CS organizational units at Headquarters
and in the field as well as specific operations and programs.
Additionally, the CS files were searched for existing papers
prepared independently'of the program which might properly
be incorporated into the Clandestine Service Historical
Paper (CSHP) series. In early 1969 the CS historical pro-
gram, which up until then had proceeded on its own initia-
tive with relative autonomy, was brought under the central
direction and control of the CIA Historical Staff. On 8
December 1969 the Executive Director-Comptroller directed
"that all histories comprising the 'catching up' phase -
the period before 1965 - be completed no later than 31 Decem-
ber 1971." At that point there were 347 histories in the
CS historical program of which 132 had been completed and
published. The task confronting the CS during 1970-1971
was, therefore,.the completion of 215 additional histories.
2. Status as of 31 December 1971: In 1970-1971 38
additional papers were published in the CSHP series to bring
the total published to 170. In the course of these two
years the size of the program was reduced by 46 titles from
347 to 301. Titles deleted represented subjects that did
not fit into the 1945-65 time frame, those incorporated
into other papers, subjects of marginal significance, etc..
The unfinished portion of the program thus stands at 131.
It should be noted, however, that 21 completed drafts sub-
mitted to the Historical Staff are undergoing final review,
editing and typing. A few of these will probably need to
Approved For Release 200 - DP83-00764R000400030003-3
 Approved For_ Release 20031?kDP83-00764W00400030003-3
be returned to the components for revision, correction or
amplification. Other drafts are nearing completion or are
being reviewed in the components and will probably be
received within the next few weeks. While accurate and
reliable figures are difficult to arrive at, we estimate
that about 30 drafts will be ready for publication within
the next two months leaving approximately 100 papers still
to be done. Listings of the 170 CSHP histories published
as of 31 December 1971 are attached: A. numerically and
B. by component.
3. Evaluation: The CS histories vary with regard to
length and quality. Some contain fewer than 10 pages of
text; others run to over 1500 pages. Generally the papers
are well researched and well written but some are superficial
or cover subjects of relatively minor significance. Few
if any of the papers qualify as "histories" in a strict,
sense. In general, however, they are useful compilations
which serve the needs of the operating elements and will
greatly facilitate future historical research.
4. The Continuing Program: Since we have now passed
the deadline for the catching up phase of the historical
program a re-examination of its objectives and problems and
formulation of plans for the future would serve to place
the program into proper context within the CS, particularly
for those with direct responsibility and involvement. In
the ensuing paragraphs various aspects of the program are
discussed and policy recommendations are offered for DDP
approval. The Executive Director-Comptroller and'the Chief
of the CIA Historical Staff have not yet provided guide-
lines for the continuing, combined Agency historical program.
Any contribution we might have in their formulation would
be along the lines of this discussion.
5. Objectives: The most recently approved formulation
of objectives for the CS program is contained in
1 February 1966, Handbook for the Writing of Clandestine
Services History.
"...a systematic record of the operations of
the Clandestine Services... should include the develop-
ment of the operational arm of the Agency, its con-
tributions to the development of national policy, its
experiences with operational and methodological in-
novations, and its relations with policy authorities,
other agencies, and other intelligence services."
25X1
Approved For Release 2003/ .CtRCDP83-00764R000400030003-3
 Approved For! ease 2003/'j,D~-lfA'2DP83-00764WO0400030003-3
Specifically, the CS histories servo the following purposes:.
a. As background information for Agency, CS
and component management personnel to assist in the
formulation of policy.
b. As briefing, training and reference material
for CS operations personnel.
c. To consolidate and preserve source material
(including official documents as well as individual.
experience records), which might otherwise be lost,.
for future histories and studies.
In our view the last item is not the least important.
6. Content: In the CS program as now constituted there
is a primary emphasis, particularly in the area divisions, on
organizational histories covering field stations and.Head-
quarters components. It has been the belief of members of the
CS Historical Board that such histories, particularly station
histories, present unduly fragmented accounts of the CS role
in world developments and that more attention should be given
to detailed studies of CS involvement in crisis areas and
of programs cutting across station and division lines. On
the other hand, the area divisions have found the station
histories of most immediate interest for reference purposes
and for briefing Headquarters and field personnel.
7. Attachment C is a list containing titles of un=
published histories from the catching up program. Those we
expect to publish within the next two months have been deleted
and new titles proposed by the divisions have been added.
Writers, where presently assigned, are identified in paren-
theses. Most component chiefs have expressed a desire to
continue work on their portions of this program to the extent
other priorities and manpower and budget restrictions permit.
8. Writers: If the CS historical program is to con-
tinue in any orderly or meaningful fashion after FY 1972,
it will be necessary to acquire a cadre of qualified his-
torical writers. These, it would seem, would have to be
drawn (a) from the current Clandestine Service T/0, (b) from
available annuitants or (c) from outside the Agency. In
view of the straitened circumstances facing the CS it is
Approved For Release 2003/ W kw DP83-00764R000400030003-3
 Approved For Release 2003/ iRDP83-00764 00400030003-3
evident that only rarely will capable staff employees
become available for periods of sufficient duration for
them to prepare units'of historical papers. The practice
in the past of assigning individuals who have become sur-
plus to other CS programs to write history, regardless of
their competence, is wasteful and inefficient and should
be avoided.
9. The engagement of qualified annuitants on contract
to prepare historical papers has much to recommend it
The cost would be relatively low, from 25X1
each per annum, over their annuities. In the 0 Project 25X1A2G
the CS historical program has an existing mechanism to
cover their funding and employment. Where the components
have funds available they could continue their present prac-
tice of contracting the services of annuitants themselves.
Annuitants, or any others assigned to prepare histories,
should be selected primarily on the basis of their ability
to write and organize material. Obviously other factors,
such as direct knowledge. of and experience in the subject
matter, may also be considered but these should be secondary.
There have been several instances of otherwise capable CS
operations officers who have not been able to prepare lucid
and coherent accounts of developments in which they have
been directly involved.
10. Historians or historical writers drawn from out-
side the Agency would require extended indoctrination and
orientation. In view of the recent Pentagon problems
security factors involved in engaging them would need to
be carefully considered. For the long range, however,
some thought should be given to engaging several profes-
sional historians, who could be expected to remain 10 or
20 years with the program, to serve as writers and con-
sultants. The JCS apparently has such a group which has
functioned effectively over a period of several years. The
quality of our histories cannot greatly exceed the talents
of the writers and there are few individuals in the CS
with the talent and interest to qualify as genuine histori-
ans.
11. Recommendations:
a. The content and scheduling of the continuing
CS historical program should be flexible and subject to
revision by the Board in close consultation with CS com-
ponents. More attention should be given to the preparation
of monographs covering significant operations, programs and
episodes.
Approved For Release 2003/1S2/ CI -BDP83-00764R000400030003-3
 Approved For (ease 2003/ ; DP83-00764 00400030003-3
b. The program should be open ended. It need
not be completed this year or the next but as rapidly
as capable, diligent writers can progress and still
produce sound, readable papers. Hard and fast dead-
lines should be avoided; target dates should serve to
keep the program moving and to assess the progress of
individual writers.
c. A cadre'of about 10 full-time writers should
be engaged to prepare CS historical papers. This
group should be composed of qualified annuitants on
contract but might be augmented by staff employees
and by professional historians from outside the Agency.
In addition to contract writers engaged by the com-
ponents, the Board should also engage historical
writers to make up the authorized contract writing
strength of the program.
d. The Board. should be consulted by the CS com-
ponents in their engagement or assignment of writers.
Substantive guidance and administrative, clerical and
research support should be provided by the component
primarily concerned with the history. The Board should
continue, to provide editorial guidance and assistance
and determine publication standards.
25X1A9A
Executive Secretary
CS Historical Board
Attachments:
Tabs A, B, and C, as stated
5 -
Approved For Release 209E/0 J-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
 25X1 Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
Next 11 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
 Approved --or Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP831!764R000400030003-3
Approved For Release 2003/12/09.: CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
 Approved rio Release 20q;QA-RDP83-0(64R000400030003-3
ATTACHMENT B
CLANDESTINE SERVICE HISTORICAL PAPERS
PUBLISHED AS OF 31 DECEMBER 1971
CSHP NO. Title
OFFICE OF THE DDP
The Inspection and Review
Staff, DDP, October 1952-
April 1959
25X1X4
25X1X4
CI STAFF
CA STAFF
Covert Action Project
Funds FY 64 and FY 65,
Dec 47-Jan 64 (TS)
Funding Covert Opera-
tions, 60-64 (TS)
Book Projects (Survey
for DDP) 50-Sep 62
017 25X1X4
018 25X1X4
25X1A
Published
Feb 68
25X1A9A
Jan 69
Nov 66
Mar 67
Nov 66
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
SECRET
 CSHP NO.
Approved For Release 2Qoy,,42/.UtrCIA-RDP83-064R000400030003-3
25X1 C
CA STAFF (Cont'd)
Published
CA Staff Nov 66
25X1A
25X1 C
Establishment & Early
Development of the
Office of Policy
Coordination, 48-49
The Unknown Political
Prisoner, A Psychological
Warfare Case Study,
51-53
The 1967 Crisis in
Covert Action Operations
The 1967 Reappraisal and
Readjustment in Covert
Action Operations; the
Katzenbach Committee
Report
FI STAFF
The Foreign Intelligence
Operations Group, 1945-
1965
FI Staff Handling of
Relations with Departmen
Jun 67
Jun 67
Dec 70
Jan 71
of State & with Ambassadors,
57-67, (TS)
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
SECRET
 25X1X4
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
 Approved_S r Release 2000/ 9`[,CJA-RDP83-0j4R000400030003-3
CSHP NO. Title Author Published
INFORMATION SERVICES DIVISION (Cont'd)
The Correspondence (CE)
Branch, RID, 1949-66
History of the RID, the
Development of -the
Registry Concept, 45-65
A Chronology. of Events in
the Records Integration
Division & Its Predecessor
25X1A9A
45-65
The Development of a
Clandestine Services
Records Division in the
CIA, 45-65
The Automation of RID,
Mar 69
55-65
History of the Reference
Nov 69
Branch, RID, 45-65
The Processing Branch,
Jul 70
RID, 45-65
The Central Cover Staff,
Apr 71
1946-1970
25X1X4 AF DIVISION
Apr 71
Oct 68
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
SECRET
 25X1X4
L Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
Next 12 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
 Approved For
%Nor Release 2003/12 ~f P83-00760 14Q 3fiQ02a3
The Ongoing CS Historical Program
A. Overall CS Histories
2.229 History of OSO (Draft not complete; no writer)
2.230 History of DDP - DullesT----~ 5X1A 25X1A9A
2.231 History of DDP - ~.
2.232 History of DDP - Helms
B. Staff Histories
2.255 History of CI Staff (Draft by
reviewed in CI Staff)
2.242 History of 10 Division (Draft by
being reviewed by ADDP)
25X1A9A
25X1A9A
being
Added History of PP and CA Staffs, 1952 to 1967
2.149 History of FI Staff (Draft by
not complete)
. 2.040 History of FI/D
2.319 History of OPSE1
C. Division Histories
25X1A9A
25X1A9A
25X1A9A
2.266 History of EUR Division
2.318 History of NE Division
25X1A9A
2.324 History of WH Division
2.256 History of DO Division
25X1A9A
2.145 History of TSD incomplete draft)
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
SECRET
 25X1A6A
L Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
 Approved Forelease 2003/1 ZM~i;fIDP83-00764Q,Q0400030003-3
D. Station Histories (cont.)
NII 2.330
2.331
2.332
2.366
2.367
2.368
2.375
2.376
2.282
E. Monographs, Functional and Miscellaneous Histories
25X1X4
2.220
2.245
2.246
2.248
25X1A6A
Approved For Release 2003/W80f DP83-00764R000400030003-3
 Approved For Release 2003/1?!91 ,.-ICl pr-fDP83-00760400030003-3
E. Atono21
raphs, Functional and Miscellaneous Histories (cont.)
FI 2.108 PI Staff Coordination under NSCID No. 5.
(Draft rejected by C/CIA/IIS. In suspense)
2.289 FI Special Ops Group (Partially complete)
2.290 FI Scientific Intel Group 25X1A9A
25X1X4
2.291 FI Intelligence Group nearing completion)
Added PI Plans
SOD 2.104
FE 2.279 1 led)
FI/D 2.124
2. 132
2.297
DO 2.257
CCS 2.?260
2.262
2.264
AF 2.389
2.338
2.339
2.341
2.342
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
SECRET
 25X1X4
L Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3
Approved For Release 2003/12/09 : CIA-RDP83-00764R000400030003-3