CIA SEAL

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02834009
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: January 10, 2022
• Case Number: F-2019-02358
• Publication Date: March 25, 1948

Approved for Release: 2022/01/10 CO2834009
linveilt;
STANDARD FOrmr.O. 64
pidr
Office Memorandum � UNITED STA rriS GOVERNMENT
TO Deputy Assistant Director for Operations
FROM Executive Officer, 00/b
SUBJECT: CIA Seal.
DATE: 25 March 1948
0.1 Pit"
Per your verbal request, the following facts are submitted as justifi-
cations for the need of Congressionally-approved seal of organization for CIA.
The recently issued identification credentials for 00/C Contact Spec-
ialists bear an engraved CIA seal. However, it is my understanding that this
seal has not received the formal Congressional approval necessary to establish
its legality. Therefore, it is conceivable that any of our contacts in the field
may make inquiries to the proper Government office of record to ascertain whether
the seal is legal, which would establish the legality of the credentials. The
Government office of record at the moment would have to make a negative reply
which might conceivably cause considerable embarrassment to all concerned. Along
the same lines, it should be noted that the original letters of introduction
issued by the Director to our Contact Specialists in lieu of credentials bore
gg embossed seal. Because of the lack of an approved seal it would be a compar-
atively easy task to prepare fraudulent letters of introduction of this type.
On 11 March 1948, this office received an inquiry from a contact in the New
England area making reference to these letters of introduction signed by the
Director and requesting advice, first, as tO the authenticity of the letter, and
secondly, as to whether the bearer himself was entitled to this letter. It is
our opinion that if the letter had borne an embossed seal, the question of =then-
ticity'would not have arisen.
4
It has been suggested to us that a legal seal might well be embossed
on CIA travel orders issued to those people performing temporary duty missions.
The embossed travel order would again establish the legality and authenticity of
the issuing agency and the travel order for administrative personnel would perhaps
suffice as identification credentials and letters of identification.
As a last suggestion, it is believed a legal seal would be quite
valuable when issued in conjunction with letters of introduction. With the
knowledge and consent of the Executive for Inspection and Security, this Branch
has, at times, requested the Assistant Director for Operations to give letters
of introduction to several of our personnel when contacting individuals known to
the Assistant Director. The seal again would establish the legality and authen-
ticity of the letters of introduction. (b)(6)
F. BLAKE
RESTRICTED
Approved for Release: 2022/01/10 CO2834009