john steinbeck's 1952 letter to the cia and the cia's response

8/12/2019 John Steinbeck's 1952 Letter to the CIA and the CIA's Response

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2/8Steinbeck: Citizen SpyMedia Packet Page 4


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Steinbeck: Citizen Spy Media Packet Page 5

Jan 28, 1952

Dear General Smith:

oward the end of February I am going to the Mediterraneanarea and afterwards to all of the countries of Europe not out ofbounds. I am commissioned by Colliers Magazineto do a seriesof articlessubjects and areas to be chosen by myself. I shallmove slowly going only where interest draws. Te trip will takesix to eight months.

If during this period I can be of any service whatever to yourself

or to the Agency you direct, I shall be only too glad.

I saw Herbert Bayard Swope recently and he told me that yourhealth had improved. I hope this is so.

Also I wear the Lou for 52 button concealed under the lapelas that shy candidate suggests.

AgainI shall be pleased to be of service. Te pace and methodof my junket together with my intention of talking with greatnumbers of people of all classes may offer peculiar advantages.

Yours sincerely,

John Steinbeck

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ER 2-56036 February 1952Mr. John Steinbeck

206 East 72nd StreetNew York 21, New York

Dear Mr. Steinbeck:

I greatly appreciate the offer of assistance made in your note ofJanuary 28th.

You can, indeed, be of help to us by keeping your eyes andears open on any political developments in the areas throughwhich you travel, and, in addition, on any other matters whichseem to you of significance, particularly those which might beoverlooked in routine reports.

It would be helpful, too, if you could come down to Washingtonfor a talk with us before you leave. We might then discuss any

special matters on which you may feel that you can assist us.

Since I am certain that you will have some very interestingthings to say, I trust, also, that you will be able to reserve sometime for us on your return.

Sincerely,Walter B. Smith

DirectorO/DCI:REL:lebRewritten: LEBecker:mlkDistribution:Orig Addressee2 DCI (Reading Official) [w/Basic has been handwrittenbeside this line and scratched out]1 DD/P [a check mark and w/Basic handwritten in]1 Admin [Tis has been scratched out] handwritten is w/Basic


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August 3, 2012Mr. Brian KannardReference: F-2012-00585

Dear Mr. Kannard:Tis is a final response to your 9 and 30 January 2012 Freedom ofInformation Act (FOIA) requests pertaining to John Ernest (sic) Steinbeck.We processed your request in accordance with the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552,as amended, and the CIA Information Act, 50 U.S.C. 431, as amended.Our processing included a search for records as described in our 13 April2012 acceptance letter.

We completed a thorough search for records responsive to your requestand located one document, consisting of three pages, which we can releasein segregable form with deletions made on the basis of FOIA exemption(b)(3). Te document is enclosed.

With respect to records that would reveal a classified connection betweenthe CIA and your subject, in accordance with section 3.6(a) of ExecutiveOrder 13526, the CIA can neither confirm nor deny the existence

or nonexistence of records responsive to your request. Te fact of theexistence or nonexistence of requested records is currently and properlyclassified and relates to intelligence sources and methods informationthat is protected from disclosure by section 6 of the CIA Act of 1949, asamended, and section 102A(i)(l) of the National Security Act of 1947, asamended. Terefore, this portion of your request is denied pursuant toFOIA exemptions (b)(1) and (b)(3). I have enclosed an Explanation ofExemptions for your reference and retention.

Although our searches were thorough and diligent, and it is highly unlikelythat repeating those searches would change the result, you neverthelesshave the legal right to appeal the above decisions. As the CIA Informationand Privacy Coordinator, I am the CIA official responsible for thesedeterminations. You have the right to appeal this response to the AgencyRelease Panel, in my care, within 45 days from the date of this letter.Please include the basis of your appeal. In accordance with our regulation,as a matter of administrative discretion, the Agency has waived the feesfor this request.

Sincerely, Michele MeeksInformation and Privacy Coordinator


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A

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After pursuing a degree in Finance and Economics at David LipscombUniversity, Brian ran small business concerns for three years and entered theworld of corporate management in 1998 for an eleven-year tour. In 2009,Brian left his management career to finish his first book, Skullduggery: 45True Tales of Disturbing the Dead, and in early 2010, opened the independentpublishing house Grave Distractions Publications. In the last three years,Grave Distractions has published over fifty books for nineteen differentauthors, including the works of Dead Sea Scrolls scholar Dr. RobertEisenman of the University of California, Long Beach and American HistoryProfessor Dr. James . Baker of Western Kentucky University. Brian alsodoes freelance writing and his articles have been featured in such placesas: Armchair General Magazine, CNN, Coast to Coast AM, Psychic Oracle

Magazine, Red Ice Creations, Yahoo News, and Unexplained Mysteries.Brian is also a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Freemason and writes the esotericthemed blog, Grail Seekers. Assisting Brian in his work is his lovely wifeLaura, son Robert, and unholy black cats Preacher and Mercado. Currently,Brian is considering a number of projects delving into Cold War mysteries.

The author standing on the

deck of USS LST 325. This Navy

transport ship landed troops

and equipment at the 1943

Salerno invasion.

john steinbeck's 1952 letter to the cia and the cia's response

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