</s>104-10128-10376 Crunelite OLLC476-3471 APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1999 Cia Historical REVIEW PROGRAM 29 November 1976 HSCA MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr. William W. Wells Deputy Director for Operations HSCAA Mr. Theodore G. Shackley 77-0019/1/ Associate Deputy Director for Operations FROM John Walker O/S/A/D/O/O SUBJECT Visit to DDOD's Office by Mr. Richard A. Spague, Chief Counsel for the House Committee on Investigations of Assassination 1. On 24 November 1976, Mr. Richardson A. Chief Council for the Committee appointed to investigate the assassination of the House of Representatives to John F. Kennedy and Civil Rights Leader Martin Luther King, visited the Headquarters building. Sprague Martin Accompanyed by Mr Donovan Gay and was richard Feeney, members of his staff. Spague's tour was conducted by Mr./Lyle Miller of the Office of legislative Counsel. 2. During the course of his visit, Sprague received a briefing on the Registry conducted by MR. Bruce Johnson. He also met briefly with those members of the CI Staff responsible for the Oswald files and with the LA Division representatives in connection with the Cuban operations JFK ACT files. JFKACT 3. Sprage was disarming in manner. He constantly 1-35-94 emphasized that he did not wish to discuss any classified materials until such as he and his staff members. RELEASE received security clearances. He sympathized with the materials under the burden of work that various investigations had brought the burden to work that he would not have to count on Agency personnel to assist him in analysis of the material provided. He hoped that he could not have materials that he hoped that the Headquarters building- he indicated a professional documents from the Headquarters building. in which his investigators could review the documents on the preemies, that such documents would be kept readily avail- able in a secure location for scrutiny by his staff -- 4. Sprague wanted assurance that he kept documents of interaction. The investigation would no destroy, the questioned the Old Investigators would no be destroyed, the stating that it was his responsibility to decide, point by questions were "relevant" to his investigations and not the documents were "relevant" to make this investigations and which the responsibility of the Agency to make these determination. <loc_921><loc_164><loc_918>2047 E2 IMPEDT

Summary  
This document is a memorandum dated 29 November 1976 from the CIA Historical Review Program, detailing a visit by Richard A. Sprague, Chief Counsel for the House Committee on Investigations of Assassination (which investigated the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.), to the Department of Defense Office (DDOD). Sprague was accompanied by Donovan Gay and Richard Feeney, members of his staff. The visit included a briefing conducted by Bruce Johnson on the Registry, meetings with CIA staff handling the Oswald files, and discussions with LA Division representatives regarding Cuban operations related to JFK assassination materials (JFKACT). Sprague emphasized the need for secure access to documents but expressed concerns about classified information and the Agency’s ability to assist his investigation. The document notes that Sprague sought clarification on specific inquiries, including telephone records from Oswald’s 1963 Mexico City visit, but was informed such materials were not available due to security restrictions. It also mentions discussions about the CIA’s handling of Cuban operations and the Warren Commission’s findings.  

Key People  
- Richard A. Sprague: Chief Counsel for the House Committee on Investigations of Assassination  
- Donovan Gay: Member of Sprague’s staff  
- Richard Feeney: Member of Sprague’s staff  
- Lyle Miller: Office of Legislative Counsel representative  
- Bruce Johnson: Conducted briefing on the Registry  
- Mr. Romney: CIA official discussing Oswald holdings and Cuban operations  

Key Locations  
- Department of Defense Office (DDOD) Headquarters building  
- LA Division (Los Angeles, likely referring to a CIA division)  
- Registry (likely a database or record-keeping system)  

Key Events  
- Sprague’s visit to DDOD in November 1976 to discuss assassination investigations  
- Briefing on the Registry and CIA’s Oswald files  
- Discussions about document access, classification, and security clearances  
- Inquiry into telephone records related to Lee Harvey Oswald’s Mexico City activities (late September–early October 1963)  
- Conversations regarding the CIA’s handling of Cuban operations and Warren Commission findings  

Key Organizations  
- House Committee on Investigations of Assassination (investigated JFK and MLK assassinations)  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), including its Office of Legislative Counsel, LA Division, and Registry system  
- Warren Commission (investigated JFK assassination)

MLK Declassified Files

00300231_memovisit_to_ddos_office_104-10126-10376.pdf

Document Summary

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