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I. INTRODUCTION

In January 1971, President Nixon directed that a review be made of the security classification procedures under Executive Order 10501. A committee was set up under then Assistant Attorney General William Rehnquist to study the existing classification system and to make recommendations with respect to its operation and to propose steps that might be taken to provide speedier declassification. Based upon that review and other studies, a new and progressive Executive order on the classification and declassification of national security information and material was issued by the President on March 8, 1972. The Order, known as Executive Order 11652, became effective on June 1, 1972. This reform was the first major overhaul of the Government's classification system in 20 years.

The President directed the establishment of the Interagency Classification Review Committee (ICRC) to assist the National Security Council in monitoring implementation of the new order. The ICRC was given the responsibility of placing particular emphasis on overseeing compliance with and implementation of the Order and the programs established thereunder by each Executive branch department. The ICRC is the first White House level committee with overall responsibility for the Government's security classification program. On the same day the President signed the Executive order, he issued a statement in which he said: "The full force of my office has been committed to this endeavor." This kind of

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support along with the cooperation of individual departments within the Government has provided the ICRC with a firm basis for optimism. There is still much work to be done, however, and the ICRC intends to continue vigorously pursuing its oversight responsibilities.

The legitimate need of protecting information and material which bears directly on the effectiveness of our national defense and the conduct of our foreign relations must be continually balanced with the concept of an informed citizenry in a free society. The ICRC steadfastly strives to keep these two fundamental goals of the Executive order in constant balance in exercising its responsibilities. Under the aegis of the ICRC, significant progress has been made by all reporting departments in achieving these goals. The purpose of this report is to describe and evaluate that progress.

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II. INTERAGENCY CLASSIFICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE

The President directed the National Security Council to monitor the implementation of Executive Order 11652 on Classification and Declassification of National Security Information and Material. To assist the National Security Council, the President directed the establishment of an Interagency Classification Review Committee with the following respon

sibilities:

"This Committee shall meet regularly and on a continuing basis shall review and take action to ensure compliance with this order, and in particular:

(1) The Committee shall oversee Department actions to ensure compliance with the provisions of this order and implementing directives issued by the President through the National Security Council.

(2) The Committee shall, subject to procedures to be established by it, receive, consider and take action on suggestions and complaints from persons within or without the government with respect to the administration of this order, and in consultation with the affected Department or Departments assure that appropriate action is taken on such suggestions and complaints.

(3) Upon request of the Committee Chairman, any Department shall furnish to the Committee any particular information or material needed by the Committee in carrying out its functions."

The Interagency Classification Review Committee (ICRC) was subsequently formally established by a National Security Council Directive dated May 17, 1972, with the following specific functions:

"The Interagency Committee shall...take such actions as are deemed necessary to insure uniform compliance with the Order and this Directive."

"The Interagency Committee shall carry out the duties assigned it by Section 7(A) of the Order. It shall place particular emphasis on overseeing compliance with and implementation of the Order and programs established thereunder by each Department. It shall seek to develop means to (a) prevent overclassification, (b) ensure prompt declassification in accord with the provisions of the Order, (c) facilitate access to declassified material and (d) eliminate unauthorized disclosure of classified information."

"Under such procedures as the Interagency Committee may prescribe, it shall consider and take action on complaints from persons within or without the government with respect to the general administration of the Order including appeals from denials by Departmental Committees or the Archivist of declassification requests."

The ICRC also has the responsibility of reviewing and approving all departmental regulations which implement the Executive order and directives issued thereunder. Upon approval, those parts of such regulations which affect the general public are published in the Federal Register. Regulations have now been adopted by all reporting departments.

ICRC membership consists of the Archivist of the United States and senior representatives of the Departments of State, Defense, and Justice, the Atomic Energy Commission, the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Council Staff. The Acting Chairman is the Archivist of the United States, Dr. James B. Rhoads, who was appointed to this position by the President on April 24, 1973. An Executive Director is appointed by the Chairman. The present Executive Director is William L. Brown who was formerly an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. The names of the present members are listed in Part III. Executive Order 11652 and Executive Order 11714 which amends Executive Order 11652 are set forth in Appendices A and B respectively. The NSC Directive of May 17, 1972, is set forth in Appendix C.

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