SAFOI vs. CIA: Air Force Demands Declassification of 1953 Robertson Panel Report
From July to September 1966, the Air Force SAFOI (Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Information) repeatedly pressed the CIA's OSI for full declassification of the 1953 Robertson Panel Report. Sara Hunt of SAFOI made multiple phone calls. The CIA's David Stevenson responded that all CIA and staff mentions had been withheld. On September 1, Walter Mackey prepared a 53-page dossier documenting the declassification chain of events for the CIA Director.
Background
Air Force Pressure
On July 12 and again on the 27th, the Air Force had requested the 1953 Robertson Panel Report be fully declassified, citing prior publicity of CIA involvement. Sara Hunt, Secretary of the Air Force, Office of Information (SAFOI), visited OSI on July 19, 1966, to request a copy.
OSI Deputy Director Karl Weber wrote to Colonel Gerald Jorgensen at SAFOI on August 16 regarding the request. OSI determined that no additional material could be released. Permission had not been obtained from the personnel and organizations involved.
CIA Response
On August 15 the complete report was forwarded as sanitized. SAFOI's Sara Hunt phoned three times from August 16-18 about the extent of sanitizing. OSI's David Stevenson responded that all mentions of the CIA and its staff had been withheld.
Mackey Dossier
On September 1, 1966, Walter Mackey prepared a lengthy draft document for the CIA director's perusal — the chain of events concerning declassification of the complete 1953 report. Following a two-page cover letter were several attachments — 53 pages worth.