</s>104-10146-10020 APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1903 ACT CA HISTORICAL REVIEW MORDEN 4 December 1978 JFK RELEAS 78 Mr. Chairman & Members of the Committee, RELEA Mr. Chairman & Members to appear before you in these hearings. I believe, as I think you do, that exhaustive and objective investigations of the tragic assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and the Reverend Martin Luther King can make a contribution to history and resolve the nagging doubts that have been created and kept alive over the past fifteen years. You have asked me to speak to the future, and how the government should act in the event of a future assassination of a major public figure. For CIA's role in such an eventu- ality, I should speak against the background of what CIA is, and what its responsibilities against the capabilities are. This seems appropriate, for despite all the publicity over the past few years, the public still has something less than a perfect picture of the Agency. So I would like to speak briefly about the Agency . I have learned much about it in the nearly two years I have been there. Prior to my present appointment, I dealt with the Agency and its representatives as a Foreign Service Officer, so my acquaintance extends beyond this period. My own expert- ence has been one of continually growing appreciation for the remarkable professional qualities of its employees and their high standards of personal and public integrity. 22433

Summary  
The document discusses the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) role in potential future assassinations of major public figures, focusing on legal restrictions, operational procedures, and historical context. It references past events such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald but does not contain specific information about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., investigations into it, or related individuals. The text outlines CIA’s jurisdiction in foreign intelligence matters, its limitations within U.S. law enforcement activities, and challenges in conducting inquiries post-assassination. It emphasizes secrecy, source protection, and the complexities of balancing national security with public transparency.  

Key People  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) personnel  
- Lee Harvey Oswald (mentioned as a historical reference)  
- President John F. Kennedy (referenced in context of past assassination)  
- Congressional Oversight Committees (implied through discussion of legal frameworks)  

Key Locations  
- United States (discussed in relation to domestic law enforcement and national security)  
- Mexico City (contextual reference to Oswald’s activities)  
- Soviet Union (contextual reference to Oswald’s travel)  

Key Events  
- Assassination of President John F. Kennedy (referenced as a historical case study)  
- CIA’s involvement in international intelligence alerts and source protection protocols  
- Legal and operational considerations for future assassination inquiries  

Key Organizations  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)  
- U.S. Congress (Oversight Committees)  
- National Security Act of 1947 (legal framework for intelligence operations)

MLK Declassified Files

00501462_cia_testimony_before_hsca_104-10146-10020.pdf

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