Foreign Relations of the United States, 1945–1950, Emergence of the Intelligence Establishment
The National Security Act of 1947: Document List
Document 196: Memorandum From the General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Group (Houston) to the Director of Central Intelligence (Vandenberg)
Washington, June 13, 1946.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC-803, Item 13. No classification marking. The source text was a transcript prepared for the CIA Historian on June 6, 1952.
Document 197: Memorandum for the File
Washington, July 17, 1946.
Source: Truman Library, Papers of Clark M. Clifford, National Military Establishment: CIA. No classification marking.
Document 198: Minutes of the Fourth Meeting of the National Intelligence Authority
Washington, July 17, 1946, 10:30 a.m.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC-245. Top Secret. The meeting was held at the State Department.
Document 199: Memorandum From the Director of Central Intelligence (Vandenberg) to the National Intelligence Authority
Washington, July 30, 1946.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC-804, Item 2, Job 84-B00443R, Box 7. Confidential. The source text is a transcript prepared for the CIA Historian on September 4, 1952.
Document 200: Memorandum From the Director of Central Intelligence (Vandenberg) to the National Intelligence Authority
Washington, August 21, 1946.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC-804, Item 2, Job 84-B00442R, Box 7. Confidential. The source text is a transcript made for the CIA Historian on September 4, 1952.
Document 201: Memorandum From the Director of Central Intelligence (Vandenberg) to the President's Special Counsel (Clifford)
Washington, December 2, 1946.
Source: Truman Library, Papers of Clark M. Clifford, National Military Establishment: CIA. No classification marking.
Document 202: Draft Central Intelligence Group Memorandum
Washington, undated.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 3. Secret. The source text, attached to a copy of Document 201, may be the document referred to in Vandenberg's office diary for December 9, 1946, which notes: “went to see Mr. Clifford at the White House with the article for the President's ‘State of the Union’ speech to find out if he approved our project of advocating immediate legislation.” (Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 80-01731R, Box 31, Folder 1) Vandenberg also alluded to the possible inclusion of a recommendation for intelligence legislation in the State of the Union message in his January 8 conversation with Clifford; see Document 203.
Document 203: Memorandum of Conversation
Washington, January 8, 1947.
Source: Truman Library, Papers of George M. Elsey, Central Intelligence. No classification marking. Drafted on January 9 by Elsey.
Document 204: Memorandum From the Chief of the Legislative Liaison Division of the Central Intelligence Group (Pforzheimer) to the Director of Central Intelligence (Vandenberg)
Washington, January 23, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 263, Records of the Central Intelligence Agency, Troy Papers, CIG and NSA of '47. No classification marking.
Document 205: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, undated.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 263, Records of the Central Intelligence Agency, Troy Papers, Legislation 1947. Confidential. The source text is undated; the date is from a handwritten date on the copy reproduced in CIA Cold War Records: The CIA under Harry Truman , pp. 105-109.
Document 206: Letter From the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (Wright) to the President's Administrative Assistant (Murphy)
Washington, January 27, 1947.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 3. No classification marking.
Document 207: Memorandum From the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (Wright) to the President's Special Counsel (Clifford)
Washington, January 28, 1947.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 3. No classification marking. The memorandum bears no signature but appears to be from Wright.
Document 208: Memorandum From the Chief of the Legislative Liaison Division, Central Intelligence Group (Pforzheimer) to the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (Wright)
Washington, March 5, 1947.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 3, CIG Enabling Act, 1947. No classification marking. Attached to the source text is a handwritten note addressed to Pforzheimer which reads, “Noted. Concur. Wright.”
Document 209: Memorandum of Conversation
Washington, March 10, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Decimal File 1945-49, 101.61/3-1047. No classification marking. Drafted by Sandifer.
Document 210: Memorandum From George M. Elsey to the President's Special Counsel (Clifford)
Washington, March 14, 1947.
Source: Truman Library, Papers of George M. Elsey, Central Intelligence. No classification marking. Elsey was Clifford's assistant. Also reproduced in CIA Cold War Records: The CIA under Harry Truman, p. 127.
Document 211: Memorandum From the Secretary of State's Special Assistant for Research and Intelligence (Eddy) to Acting Secretary of State Acheson
Washington, April 17, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Decimal File 1945-49, 101.5/5-547. Confidential. Drafted by Eddy.
Document 212: Letter From Secretary of State Marshall to Senator Chan Gurney
Washington, May 5, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Decimal File 1945-49, 101.5/5-547. No classification marking. Drafted by Marshall. A note on the source text reads: “Delivered by hand 5/6/47.”
Document 213: Memorandum From the Chief of the Legislative Liaison Division, Central Intelligence Group (Pforzheimer) to the Director of Central Intelligence (Hillenkoetter)
Washington, May 9, 1947.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 2. No classification marking. Attached to this memorandum is an undated draft (see the Supplement) of Document 214. It omits one sentence that is in the signed version. Also in the Supplement is a second May 9 memorandum from Pforzheimer to Hillenkoetter, transmitting a draft of the memorandum to Hillenkoetter, which is identical to the signed copy. (Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 2) Rear Admiral Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter was sworn in as Director of Central Intelligence on May 1.
Document 214: Memorandum From the National Intelligence Authority to the Director of Central Intelligence (Hillenkoetter)
Washington, May 14, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Decimal File 1945-49, 101.5/5-1947. Confidential. The source text was an information copy sent by the NIA secretary to Eddy and the other members of the Intelligence Advisory Board. These instructions apparently were drafted in CIG for the signature of the principals. For a similar but more detailed memorandum, which probably is the forerunner of the text printed, see the memorandum from Pforzheimer to Hillenkoetter, May 9, in the Supplement. (Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 2)
Document 215: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, May 26, 1947.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 2. Confidential. The memorandum is unsigned but appears to have been drafted by Pforzheimer.
Document 216: Memorandum From the Chief of the Legislative Liaison Division, Central Intelligence Group (Pforzheimer) to the Director of Central Intelligence (Hillenkoetter)
Washington, May 29, 1947.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 2. Confidential.
Document 217: Letter From the Director of Central Intelligence (Hillenkoetter) to the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (Gurney)
Washington, June 3, 1947.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Historical Files, HS/HC-805, Item 10. Secret. The source text is a transcript prepared for the CIA Historian on September 11, 1952.
Document 218: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, June 19, 1947.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 2. No classification marking.
Document 219: Central Intelligence Group Memorandum
Washington, July 21, 1947.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 5. No classification marking. The source text is neither addressed nor signed and contains no drafting information. It appears that it was drafted in the office of the CIG's General Counsel. At the time that this memorandum was written, the differing House and Senate versions of the national security legislation had gone to conference.
Document 220: Memorandum From the Director of Central Intelligence (Hillenkoetter) to the National Intelligence Authority
Washington, September 11, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 218, Records of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Leahy Papers, No. 129. Confidential. The source text carries a handwritten annotation “Approved by Adm Leahy 20 Sept 1947.” Another copy of this memorandum is in CIA Cold War Records: The CIA under Harry Truman , pp. 137-138.
Document 221: Memorandum From the Director of Central Intelligence (Hillenkoetter) to the Intelligence Advisory Board
Washington, September 18, 1947.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC-806, Item 6. Confidential. Addressed to Eddy, Chamberlin, Inglis, McDonald, and Gingrich. The source text was transcribed on October 1, 1952, for the CIA Historian.
Document 222: Memorandum From the Director of Central Intelligence (Hillenkoetter) to the National Security Council
Washington, September 19, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Records of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research: Lot 62 D 42, IAC. Confidential.
Document 223: Memorandum From the Director of Central Intelligence (Hillenkoetter) to the National Security Council
Washington, September 19, 1947.
Source: Truman Library, Papers of Harry S. Truman, President's Secretary's Files, Intelligence File. Confidential.
Document 224: Memorandum From Acting Secretary of State Lovett to Director of Central Intelligence Hillenkoetter
Washington, September 23, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Decimal File 1945-49, 101.61/9-1147. Confidential. Drafted by William A. Eddy on September 18. Attached was a vote slip form, signed by Lovett and addressed to the secretary of the NIA, indicating Department of State approval of the September 11 memorandum subject to Lovett's comments. Under the provisions of the National Security Act of 1947, the Central Intelligence Group became the Central Intelligence Agency on September 19, and Hillenkoetter became the Agency's first Director of Central Intelligence on September 20.
Document 225: Minutes of the First Meeting of the National Security Council
Washington, September 26, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 273, Records of the National Security Council, NSC Minutes, 1st Meeting. Secret. The meeting was held at the White House.
Document 226: Memorandum From the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Souers) to the National Security Council
Washington, October 10, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Records of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research: Lot 62 D 42, IAC. Confidential. Addressed to the Secretaries of State, Defense, Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the Chairman of the National Security Resources Board.
Document 227: Memorandum From Director of Central Intelligence Hillenkoetter to the Intelligence Advisory Board
Washington, October 10, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Records of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research: Lot 62 D 42, IAC. Confidential. Addressed to Armstrong, Chamberlin, Inglis, McDonald, and Gingrich.
Document 228: Memorandum From the Secretary of State's Acting Special Assistant for Research and Intelligence (Armstrong) to Acting Secretary of State Lovett
Washington, October 16, 1947.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Records of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research: Lot 62 D 42, IAC. Confidential.
Document 229: Memorandum for Director of Central Intelligence Hillenkoetter
Washington, October 22, 1947.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 9. Confidential. No drafting information appears on the source text. From the context, however, it appears that it may have been written by Pforzheimer.
Document 230: Memorandum From the Secretary of the Army (Royall) to the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (Souers)
Washington, November 26, 1947.
Source: Truman Library, Papers of Harry S. Truman, Records of the National Security Council. Confidential. Sent through the Secretary of Defense. Attached to the source text is a November 28 note on the stationery of the Office of the Secretary of Defense addressed to Souers from John H. Ohly, indicating that Forrestal had not seen Royall's memorandum but that a copy was being held for him.
Document 231: Memorandum From the General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency (Houston) to Director of Central Intelligence Hillenkoetter
Washington, April 7, 1948.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 17. Secret.
Document 232: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, April 8, 1948.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 7. No classification marking.
Document 233: Memorandum From the President's Assistant (Steelman) to President Truman
Washington, April 24, 1948.
Source: Truman Library, Papers of Harry S. Truman, President's Secretary's Files. No classification marking.
Document 234: Memorandum From the General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency (Houston) to Director of Central Intelligence Hillenkoetter
Washington, May 7, 1948.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC-808, Item 10. No classification marking. The source text is a copy transcribed for the CIA Historian on September 10, 1952.
Document 235: Memorandum From the General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency (Houston) to Director of Central Intelligence Hillenkoetter
Washington, September 2, 1948.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC-208, Item 31. No classification marking.
Document 236: Letter From Director of Central Intelligence Hillenkoetter to the Director of the Bureau of the Budget (Webb)
Washington, December 15, 1948.
Source: Truman Library, Papers of Harry S. Truman, Records of the National Security Council, File CIA, Memos for Director, 1948. No classification marking.
Document 237: Memorandum From the Assistant General Counsel, Central Intelligence Agency (Pforzheimer) to Director of Central Intelligence Hillenkoetter
Washington, January 6, 1949.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 17. Confidential.
Document 238: Memorandum From the Secretary of State's Special Assistant for Research and Intelligence (Armstrong) to Acting Secretary of State Lovett
Washington, January 11, 1949.
Source: National Archives and Records Administration, RG 59, Records of the Department of State, Decimal File 1945-49, 101.5/12-2948. No classification marking. Drafted by Fisher Howe and approved by EUR, OFS, CON, ODA, ORP, L/A, and C/L.
Document 239: Letter From Director of Central Intelligence Hillenkoetter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Rayburn)
Washington, February 11, 1949.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Records, Job 90-00610R, Box 1, Folder 17. No classification marking. A similar letter was sent to Senator Millard Tydings, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on the same date. (Ibid.) See the Supplement.
Document 240: Memorandum From the General Counsel (Houston) and the Legislative Liaison Officer of the Central Intelligence Agency (Pforzheimer) to the Executive of the Central Intelligence Agency (Shannon)
Washington, September 27, 1949.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency Historical Files, HS/HC-84, Item 3. Confidential. The source text is a transcript prepared for the CIA Historian on September 9, 1952.