</s>104-10408-10018 A HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASE IN FULL 1993 . Informationsl Copy for: Dr. James Roads, Archivist of the United States OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE WASHINGTON, D. C. 30301 Received NA:N: 18 MAY. 1978. Received N:N :- MAY 23 1978 18 MAY, 1978. MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS MEMORDUM FOR SECTARIES DEFINITE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY MEMORY (RATION) MAY 25 1978 SUBJECT: Director, DEFENSE INTELEGENCE AGENCY Preservation of Records Related to Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Reverend Martin Luther King The Chairman of the House Select Committee on Assassinations has requested the Department of Defense to remind its com- possible release to the investigation of the breach have possible relevance to the Investigation of the have initations of President Kennedy and Reverend King. 1. Department has assured the Select Committee staff that 1. May is of the Department to ensure that the SECRETary of the National Security Council (NCI-530-76-1, tied May of its specifically enjoins holders of Defense. staggered Program records to preserve all files deter- staggers and personnel records to ensure all files filed before lidic of congressional interest, or those of other major lide or congressional interest, to those of others major amer either 15 or 25 years to them to the National Archives. Because of the pending Select Committee investigation into. the several assassinations referred to above, please instruct to prevent the destruction of any investigative or intelligence to prevent any possible relevance or conflict or violation- files which have any possible relevance or conflict- titles which have possible relevance of or conflict. categories of files which conceivably would relate to these categories which are not necessarily related to these cealing with Soviet-American and Cuban-American relations. during the time frame 1959-1969. this period of special alert to prevent destruction of files this period is believed to prevent tions shall extend to be delivered to these assassina- D. C Cooka D. O. Cooka Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense 9-17-98- RELEASE CIA HISTORTICAL REVIEV PROGRAM RELEASE in FULL

Summary  
This document is a memorandum from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense dated May 25, 1978, addressing the preservation of records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. It outlines instructions for the Department of Defense to ensure that files with potential relevance to these investigations are not destroyed. The memorandum references a request from the Chairman of the House Select Committee on Assassinations, which sought to prevent the destruction of investigative or intelligence records that could pertain to the assassinations. The directive emphasizes preserving files related to the time frame 1959–1969, including those involving Soviet-American and Cuban-American relations during this period. The Department of Defense is instructed to ensure that all such records are transferred to the National Archives if they fall within specified retention periods (15 or 25 years).  

Key People  
- Chairman of the House Select Committee on Assassinations  
- Secretaries of Military Departments  
- Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (D. C. Cooka)  
- Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense  

Key Locations  
- Washington, D.C.  

Key Events  
- Request by the House Select Committee for preservation of assassination-related records  
- Directive to prevent destruction of files with potential relevance to JFK and MLK assassinations  
- Instruction to transfer eligible records to the National Archives  

Key Organizations  
- Department of Defense  
- Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense  
- House Select Committee on Assassinations  
- National Archives

MLK Declassified Files

00354166_memorandum_for_preservati_104-10408-10018.pdf

Document Summary

Try AI Search