ABILENE, Kan. – The Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, one of 13 presidential libraries operated by the National Archives, has opened approximately 3,500 pages of formerly security classified pages. Many of these documents are available online in the Research area of our web site at www.eisenhower.archives.gov.
Documents available for research in Abilene, Kansas
The recently declassified documents include an Oct. 8, 1953, diary entry by President Dwight D. Eisenhower detailing the U.S. overthrow of the Iranian government by covert means. Eisenhower confided in this diary entry, “Another recent development that we helped bring about was the restoration of the Shah to power in Iran and the elimination of Mossadegh. The things we did were ‘covert.’ If knowledge of them became public, we would not only be embarrassed in that region, but our chances to do anything of like nature in the future would almost totally disappear.”
Other recently declassified items are found in the Operations Coordinating Board, Psychological Strategies Board, and Disaster Files of the National Security Council collection; the papers of General Lauris Norstad, and Robert Anderson. General Norstad served as commander U.S. and NATO forces during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. Robert Anderson served as Secretary of the Navy (1953-1954) and Secretary of the Treasury (1957-1961).
Some of the topics included in the newly-released documents include Soviet defectors, Soviet satellites and weapons capability, JFK’s policy toward Cuba, and psychological strategy planning for Japan and Thailand. Approximately 50% of the newly released documents are from the National Security Staff Papers. The documents contain references to 26 foreign countries.
Other Information
The research room is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 12:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. (with no materials being pulled after 4:00 p.m.) and closed on all Federal holidays. All researchers, including the media, must have a valid researcher card prior to gaining access to the records. Researcher cards may be obtained with a completed application form and valid photo ID. To ensure you have a positive research experience, we suggest you contact a staff archivist at 785.263.6700 before you visit the research room.
Post by Samantha Kenner