Office of the Historian

195. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Director of Central Intelligence Helms1

Washington, October 18, 1969.

SUBJECT

  • 303

The President has requested that henceforth all CIA programs of a clandestine or covert nature which normally involve approval by the 303 Committee be subject to review by the Committee every 12 months. Such programs which have not been reviewed by the 303 Committee will be terminated or held in abeyance pending 303 approval.2

Henry A. Kissinger
  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry Files, Job 80–R01284A, Box 3, Folder 33, C–17–303 Committee. Top Secret; Sensitive.↩
  2. According to the minutes of the 303 Committee meeting on October 17, “The Chairman asked for re-affirmation of his understanding that CIA covert action proposals approved by the Committee are automatically cancelled if not reviewed by the Committee every six months or a year. Mr. Helms responded affirmatively with the suggestion that annual review is appropriate in most cases, but that the Committee can request six month or more frequent periodic reviews where desirable in specific instances.” (National Security Council, Nixon Intelligence Files, NSC Files, 303/40 Committee Minutes, 1969)↩