</s>104-10151-10198 O.I.C. 76-3550 FR # 76-4021 APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1993 APPROVEO FOR RELEASE1993 CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM RELEASE H.C ., INC. INC. H.D.C .. INC. 1976 H.E.L ., D.D ., C. D. C. 2515 Select Committee on Assassinations House of Representatives H.S.C A. Washington, D ., G. 252515 77-0012 Dear Mr. Chatham: Mr. Lyle Miller, of my staff, has relayed to me the interest. of your Chief Counsel, Mr. Richard Sprague, that records related to the investigation of the deaths of John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr. not be destroyed once the "moratorator" on the destruction of Agency records is lifted. Let me assure you that there is no cause for concern. The "moratorium" was imposed on the Destruction of CIA records in 1975 during the investigation was imposed by the Senate Select Committee to Study Government Operations with Respect to the Intelligence Activities and will expire on 10 December 1976. At that time regular document destruction will begin in accordance with Respect and control schedules approved by the Archivist of the United States and subject to review by the Senator Select Archivist in the United Statutes and subject by the Secretary Select of the destruction "moratatorium" and the application to regard to the lifting schedules to the orderly disposition of Agency records was published in of the Federal Register, a copy of which is enclosed. It It is CIA's policy to fully support investigative bodies of the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branch, we will will continue to do so. Once "moratariam" is lifted," we will destroy any materials which would appear to relate to your investigations or be of interest to your Committee. Further, we'll make available for your review the lists for disposition of records prepared for the Archivist or of interest at the same time these lists are submitted to the SenateSelect Committee for your Intelligence. Your Commissioning notices the Agency that it lists will not bedestroyed until Your Committee notices the Agenda that it is not yet destroyed until has no objection. "Te date, 15 lists have been furnished to the Senator, and Select Committee and they will be made available for you review inmediately. 218554

Summary  
The document is a letter dated 7 December 1976 from George Bush, then Director of Central Intelligence (CIA), to Mr. Chatham, likely a member of the Senate Select Committee on Assassinations (SSCA). The letter addresses concerns raised by Mr. Richard Sprague, Chief Counsel for the SSCA, regarding the preservation of CIA records related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bush confirms that no documents related to these investigations will be destroyed once the "moratorium" on CIA record destruction, imposed in 1975 by the Senate Select Committee to Study Government Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, expires on 10 December 1976. The letter states that after the moratorium ends, the CIA will destroy materials not relevant to ongoing investigations or of interest to the SSCA, but will retain and provide access to records deemed pertinent. It also mentions that lists of documents for disposition have been furnished to the Senate Select Committee and are available for review.  

Key People  
- George Bush (Director of Central Intelligence)  
- Mr. Chatham (recipient of the letter)  
- Mr. Richard Sprague (Chief Counsel, Senate Select Committee on Assassinations)  

Key Locations  
- Washington, D.C. (implied as location of CIA and Senate committees)  
- CIA headquarters (implied through reference to agency operations)  

Key Events  
- Imposition of a "moratorium" on CIA record destruction in 1975 by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence  
- Expiration of the moratorium on 10 December 1976  
- Assurance that records related to JFK and MLK assassinations will not be destroyed without committee objection  
- Provision of lists of documents for disposition review by the SSCA  

Key Organizations  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- Senate Select Committee on Assassinations (SSCA)  
- Senate Select Committee to Study Government Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities  
- Archivist of the United States  
- Federal Register (referenced in document disposition procedures)

MLK Declassified Files

00507427_lettermr_lyle_miller_of_104-10151-10198.pdf

Document Summary

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