CIA+Established+-+12-13

CREATION OF CIA
Intelligence activities have always been part of United States government, ever since the presidency of George Washington. During World War II, such intelligence activities were organized into a single government organization called the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). Created in 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the OSS was given the mission of collecting “essential facts and intelligence estimates” that often played crucial roles in organizing military campaigns. In October 1945, after it performed its duties during World War II, the OSS was disestablished and the tasks transferred to the State and War Departments. Soon after dissolving the OSS, President Harry S. Truman found the need for a centralized intelligence organization urgent. In January 1946, National Intelligence Authority and Central Intelligence Group were established by President Truman. However, in September 1947, the two organizations were replaced with National Security Council and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), following the National Security Act. To this date, CIA holds the task of “coordinating the nation’s intelligence activities and correlating, evaluating and disseminating intelligence affecting national security.”

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT: // President // :

 * asked New York lawyer William J. Donovan to draft a plan for an intelligence service
 * created the Office of Strategic Services, America’s first government-wide intelligence agency


 * WILLIAM J. DONOVAN: //lawyer, soldier, diplomat:// **
 * submitted plans for an intelligence service prior to attack on Pearl Harbor
 * head of Office of Strategic Services
 * submitted a proposal in 1944, calling for the separation of OSS from Joint Chiefs of Staff, with the new organization having direct presidential supervision


 * HARRY S. TRUMAN: //President//: **
 * established the Central Intelligence Group and the National Intelligence Authority
 * established Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Council (National Security Act of 1947)
 * signed Central Intelligence Agency Act, allowing CIA to work confidentially and providing economic support for CIA


 * SIDNEY W. SOUERS: //Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence:// **
 * first Director of Central Intelligence of Central Intelligence Group

TIMELINE OF KEY DATES

 * JUNE 1942: **
 * __Office of Strategic Services__ established[[image:aaa'.png align="right"]]
 * mandate to collect and analyze strategic information required by the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to conduct special operations not assigned to other agencies
 * William J. Donovan appointed by FDR as the head


 * NOVEMBER 1944: **
 * Donovan submitted to FDR a proposal calling for the separation of OSS from Joint Chiefs of Staff with the new organization having direct Presidential supervision


 * OCTOBER 1945: **
 * OSS abolished & its functions transferred to State and War Departments


 * JANUARY 1946: **
 * __Central Intelligence Group__ established by Harry S. Truman
 * mission is to coordinate existing departmental intelligence under the direction of a __National Intelligence Authority__
 * Rear Admiral Sidney W. Souers appointed Director of Central Intelligence (DCI)


 * SEPTEMBER 1947: **
 * National Intelligence Authority and Central Intelligence Group disestablished
 * National Security Act of 1947: __National Security Council__ and __Central Intelligence Agency__ established

**1949** // : //
 * [[image:CIAHQ.jpg width="388" height="251" align="right" caption="CIA headquarters building in Langley, Virginia."]] Central Intelligence Agency Act passed:
 * permitted CIA to use confidential fiscal and administrative procedures
 * exempted CIA from many of the usual limitations on the expenditure of federal funds

>>
 * APRIL 1953: **
 * amendment to the National Security Act of 1947:
 * Deputy Director of Central Intelligence to be appointed by //president// with the advice and consent of the //Senate//
 * commissioned officers of the armed forces, active or retired, could not occupy both Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (DDCI) positions at the same time


 * AUGUST 1955**
 * President Eisenhower signs a bill, authorizing $46 million for the construction of CIA headquarters building

**1980** // : //
 * Intelligence Oversight Act:
 * CIA to report regularly to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence


 * DECEMBER 2004: **
 * Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act signed by President George W. Bush:
 * abolished the position of DCI and DDCI
 * created the position of Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (D/CIA)
 * created the position of Director of National Intelligence (DNI)
 * oversees Intelligence Community and the National Counter-Terrorism Center (NCTC)

OUTCOME
The establishment of CIA allowed American intelligence activities to happen under more organized and confidential conditions. The Central Intelligence Agency Act allows CIA to utilize classified administrative procedures and exempts CIA from economic restrictions put on other governmental organizations. With the CIA, operations can be held more systematically and crucial foreign affairs information gained more quickly. The above allow the US to be very up-to-date on important situations around the world and respond immediately through carefully organized planning.

INFLUENCE ON COLD WAR
During the Cold War, CIA was a leader in identifying nations where Communism has taken a root and overthrowing Communist regimes and supporters in those nations. President Eisenhower and Kennedy were in charge of a CIA-backed plan to take Fidel Castro down by invading Cuba with 1,200 anti-communist exiles. After the failed invasion at the Bay of Pigs on April 17, 1961, CIA continued its efforts to remove Castro from power, but they proved unsuccessful. In Vietnam, CIA led the Phoenix Program, a plan to identify and “neutralize” the infrastructures of Viet Cong. Suspected Viet Cong and civilians that sympathized Viet Cong were captured, tortured, and sometimes killed. At the end of the program in 1972, 81,740 suspects had been “neutralized” and 26,369 of them killed. The CIA played an active and vital role during the Cold War as it led the movement to rid Communist regimes in nations around the world, often through violent, unethical means.