DISCLOSURES OF CLASSIFIED INFORMATION AND COORDINATION AND CLEARANCE OF OFFICIAL STATEMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-01022R000100040006-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 16, 2000
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: December 21, 1970
• Content Type: MF

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THE WHITE HOUSE
i?:nrurr(iwr ~. ;igft f
December 21, 1970
MEMORANDUM FOR: The Secretary of State
The Secretary of Defense
The Attorney General
The Director, U. S. Arms Control and
Disarmament Agency
The Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Director of Central Intelligence
The Administrator, National Acronauticf
and Space Administration
Disclosures of Classified Information
and Coordination and Clearance -of.
Official Statements
I am becoming increasingly concerned about the disclosure in
public media of classified information bearing upon important
aspects of national security, particularly that which tends to
jeopardize intelligence sources and 'methods. Such disclosures
present a serious threat to our national interests and I am
determined that the practice of releasing such information without
proper authorization will be brought to an end.
Executive Order 10501, of December 15, 1953, as amended,
established regulations and procedures for safeguardin
classifi
d
g
e
information, while especially sensitive data are protected by
special systems of clearances.
I direct that immediate steps be taken within the jurisdiction of
each addressee to ensure that existing regulations and procedures
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designed to safeguard cla.Lssified information be reviewed and strength-
ened where, necessary. Tlies'e regulations and'proccduros should
assure that only those individuals with a demonstrated "nee d-to-know"
receive classified information and that all recipients are constantly
aware of the necessity to protect it from public disclosure. They
should provide for an adequate security review of all statements and
documents made public on subjects with important security connota-
tions. Further, I wish responsible officials to take firm disciplinary
action against individuals under their jurisdiction found responsible
for careless or doliberate mishandling of classified information.
The Director of Central Intelligence has the statutory responsibility
Cor the protection of inte].l.igcncc sources and methods. Accordingly,
I shall look to him to provide guidance in this field, especially through
the machinery of the intelligence community. I shall expect him to
keep me informed of developments and I wish department and agency
heads to cooperate fully with him.
I `o reaffirm the following instructions which I issued on September 1,
4-9-Wconcerning coordination and clearance of public statements and
press releases and the necessity for White Mouse clearance of allM
official communications having policy implications:
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..-'cPublic statements and press releases: Prior to release,
all public commmnications on matters of known or
potential Presidential interest must be carefully cleared
by the White I-louse (Assistant to the President for National
Security) for consistency with Presidential policy and for
coordination with the departments and agencies who share
overlapping interests and responsibilities. Should there
be any uncertainty as to Presidential or interdepartmental
interest, it will be resolved in favor of clearance."
-_"Official communications: All official communications with
policy implications must be cleared bye the
be slouseared.
When in doubt, the rule is that messab
This procedure requires close and confidential staff rela-
tionships at all levels between the White I-louse and your
department as well as among departments."