MAIL INTERCEPT PROGRAM

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 01482449
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2022
• Document Release Date: August 7, 2017
• Case Number: F-2007-00094
• Publication Date: February 14, 1973

Approved for -Release:-2-61-7/01218 601482449
�.1d
14 February 1973
TALKING PAPER
'SUBJECT: Mail Intercept Program
1. A program of intercepting mail between the United States and.
the USSR has been. in. existence in. New York since 1952. This program
has provided. information of interest to the FBI, as we understand. it
with Soviet activities vis-a-vis tT",:-. 'United States and .\--vith. respect
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to Americans who maintain actiTe=3.tacts with Soviet and other Com-
munist area's. The program was most recently briefed to then Attorney
General Mitchell and. Postmaster General Blount in June 1971.
2. Considerable efforts are made to conduct this operation on a.
totally secure basis, but it is of course possible that it leak. While the-
recording of the addresses and return addresses is totally legal, the
opening of first-class mail is in conflict with 39 U.S. Code, Section 4057.
A contention can. bp made that the ciPeration is nonethe.-leSs within the
constitutional powers of the President to obtain foreign intelligence in-�
formation or to protect against foreign intelligence activities (powers
statutorily recognized in 18 U.S. C., Section 119, With respect to bugging
and wiretapping.
� 3. The political risk of revelation of CIA's involvement in_this
. project is in any case substantial. In. my view, this political risk is not
justified by the operation's contribution to foreign intelligence and.
counterintelligence collection. It may well be justified by the contribu-
tion it makes to the FBI's responsibilities for internal security., a matter
best judged by the FBI.. If this is viewed as sufficient, I recommend
strongly that the project be assumed by the FBI rather than running the
extra risk of possible public revelation of its association with CIA. CIA
would naturally provide any support desired by the FBI and. would hope to
receive such material as might be of value to CIA from the FBI.
4. Pending resolution of the above, the protect is suspended.
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Scr,J-.C.ES
(b)(3)
Approved for Release: 2017/01/18 C01482449