The death of Frank Olson

Active: 1953

Declassified

Editorial summary

Frank Olson was a chemist at the Army's biological warfare research center at Fort Detrick, Maryland. He had a wife, three children, and a security clearance that gave him access to the Army's work on anthrax, brucella, and other agents intended for use against enemy troops or crops.

In November 1953, Olson attended a working retreat at Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland. Sidney Gottlieb, the chemist who ran the CIA's MKULTRA mind-control program, was there. So were several of Olson's Army colleagues. On the second evening, Gottlieb served Cointreau after dinner. Olson drank his. Twenty minutes later Gottlieb told the group that the drinks had contained LSD, then a little-understood compound the CIA was studying as a possible truth serum and interrogation tool.

In the days that followed, Olson became withdrawn and agitated. He told his wife he wanted to leave his job. The CIA sent him to New York with a security officer, ostensibly to see a psychiatrist. On the night of November 28, 1953, Olson went through the closed window of his tenth-floor room at the Hotel Statler and died on the sidewalk below. The agency told his family that he had suffered a nervous breakdown and jumped.

The family learned the truth in 1975, when the Rockefeller Commission report referred to a Dr. Olson whose death had followed a covert LSD dosing. President Gerald Ford apologized to Olson's widow in the Oval Office. Congress provided a settlement.

Olson's son Eric spent decades arguing that his father had not jumped but had been pushed, on the theory that the agency feared what Olson, agitated by the drug and disturbed by what he had seen at Fort Detrick, might say next. A 1994 exhumation found a hematoma on Olson's skull that the forensic pathologist who examined the body called rankly and grossly suspicious of homicide. The CIA has never reopened its file.

Editorial summary by govweird, grounded in the declassified record and the Church Committee public hearings.

Originating agency

Central Intelligence Agency

Activity period

1953

Source document

CIA Family Jewels (702 pp.)

Public release

June 25, 2007

Originating directive

Schlesinger memo, May 1973

Source page range

pp. 125 to 135

Topics

Mind Control & Psi MKULTRA

Original document, embedded

The full 702-page Family Jewels document is hosted by govweird. The embedded viewer above is anchored to the relevant pages (pp. 125 to 135); scroll within the frame to browse adjacent material. Mirror copies are at the National Security Archive and the CIA reading room.

Transcript (OCR)

Show the OCR-extracted text from the source pages

--- PAGE 125 --- MORI DocID: 1451843 - Co. . R a) . : 7s i EVES Bi SUBJECT: Sensitive Activities Performed by the Office of : Logistics co Action would be more economical and eliminate the need for one agency of the Government to duplicate facilities readily available from another. A typical example of this procedure is purchasing photointerpretation gear for the Defense Intelligence Agency element located at NPIC. In connection with the current reporting Tequirement, however, : I have had our records researched for the past 2 years and Attachment 1 reflects those transactions which appear to be relevant to the subject of this memorandum, d. In connection with the disclosures during the sum- | © mer of 1971 that the Rand Corporation was not properly safeguarding classified documents, this Office wdertook two acts. I directed the Security Officer from our West Coast Procurement Office at the Moffet Naval Air Station in California to visit the Rand Corporation and satisfy himself that classified material furnished them by the Agency was both properly safeguarded and accounted for, His report was affirmative. On 23 August 1971, the senior Security Officer assigned to this Cffice forwarded a letter to the Rand Corporation stressing and reaffirming | - the procedures Rand must follow im safeguarding classified . information furnished them by the Agency. .Of residual . interest in this matter, there is summarized the ‘contents R of a memorandum of 2 July 1971 to the Executive Director- . Comptroller from the DD/I which is in our possession. : This memorandum reports that FRIS regularly disseminated reports to the Rand Corporation . but that instructions had been issued to cease distribution of classified reports. While no other direct dissemination went to Rand, other USIB agencies, primarily USAF, were passing "many" copies of DD/I products to Rand as au- : thorized under USIB regulations. The memoran- dum also states that Rand personnel had requested searches and document retrieval from the CRS facility. 5. In connection with action taken for the Office of Security, there are three relevant items: - a. The Printing Services Division, OL, was requested by the Office of Security to print a book written by Harry J. Murphy, Office of Security. The book was pre- pared by Mr. Murphy under a Brookings Institution Federal N | 5 ONLY 00125 _______ --- PAGE 126 --- . MORI DocID: 1451843 Co Re SUBJECT: Sensitive Activities Performed by the Office of : : : Logistics To : Executive Fellowship. The book is entitled "Where's ‘What -- Sources of Information for Federal Investigators." : It is a full treatise on the existence of sources of in- . formation that may be useful to an investigator. The book's first printing of 300 copies was made in June 1967. Due to demand, a second printing of 600 copies was made . in September 1968. The title page of the book gives attribution to Mr, Murphy, Office of Security, Central - Intelligence Agency, and. the Brookings Institution Federal Executive Fellowship. The book is classified Confidential, and ‘it is our understanding that the distribution was made ‘to appropriate agencies of the Federal Government. A copy of Mr. Murphy's book can be made available for review if desired. : Sometime in 1972, a representative of the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) requested ’ that the Agency give consideration to our publishing, at LEAA expense, an unclassified version of this volume. It . was the intent of LEAA to make broad-scale distribution to Police Departments throughout the .eountry. The Director : of Security and I consulted on this matter and jointly determined that the LEAA request should not be honored be- cause the Agency should not put itself in the position of N publishing law enforcement material for geméral.and un- - - classified purposes, and it would be an abuse of our print- . ing facilities. . b. On 5 January 1971, the Director of Security re- . quested that I approve his leasing up to eleven motor vehicles for use in connection with a special support operation which would last approximately 3 months. The . Director of Security informed me, in his requesting memo- randum of '5 January 1971, ‘that "This support activity has © been undertaken at the specific instruction of the Director and has his personal approval." The rsquest was approved, Cc. From 1968 to date, the Office of Security has | requisitioned from this Office a considerable amaunt of materiel which we understand was to be given or loaned by . . : them to local Police Departments. In certain cases some of this materiel was issued from Agency stocks and, in - other cases, direct procurement of the materiel was made - by funds furnished by the Office of Security. A complete | listing of such materiel is found in Attachment 2. i . . . - : | TREY 00126 SE Sitie i : : ’ Co . | --- PAGE 127 --- In... MORI DocID: 1451843 RE IQ IATA i SUBJECT: Sensitive Activities Performed by the Office of Logistics To b. This Office is aware, although it had no cognizance nor responsibility, that an apartment was rented in Miami Beach, Florida, during the period of the Democratic National Convention, 10-14 July 1972, and the Republican National . Convention, 21-24 August 1972. The a artment was used as. _ a meeting place . in liaison with | . . 6 . ’ . Ty EYES. 00127 : RET : i . co : --- PAGE 128 --- CE ———————————....SS MORI DocID: 1451843 { | LOBES 3 SUBJECT: Sensitive Activities Performed by the Office of i Logistics Co I . i! ’ .assistance in connection with the political conventions 3 that were being held. WH Division is the cognizant H operating component on this matter. H 7. The above recitation of facts represents, to the best Hl of my knowledge and memory, those matters which appear to be 2 relevant to subject tasking given by the Director, : Director of Logistics N | 2 Atts . . i ce: DD/MES i :| : Pod | . "| M4 Ey | - x --- PAGE 129 --- p . ) | i ’ i | | | I | | i : i | 00129" il. --- PAGE 130 --- EE ——— MORI DocID: 1451843 — Ni : . 5 Fl \ . © Gc : . HHO ©. REN gas 58 o pels R EE) ou 3] Fob NT | Sus] ao ao SEE = 2 a : SH EE ESS 5 E8EsuBan nn El MAES <0 < mR RRB [DE 0 Co 0, oo =» o ES 8 »® 9 © ® oo wn oo ~ oo Oo + un 2 MN 1 OS on» Oo <+ 0 oS o - Mm om om TM Mme rv R33 © mM - - - - = EES | BN —~ re) oH © <+ I 8 - — — : s . al ) : » ~ © MS NN © © om 4 EEN 8 a I N= on 58 . 3 . >= . = ° . = - [3] ~ 8 § [d=] . < ) RE Bed I Lat 5 0 Hao ~ -) . no © [ad IL - 2) vo o ra ig o I I") 3 LIE I ow . HoH oH HOH 3) ) So el 0 9 0 ® 0 o o BA a A B Nd N NN nN = = 0 >= 5} Bo by NB © wu 3= = A ERER| ka — — LE) 0 wm [3 = — S a a 8 of « Q =H oO tH ~ 0 & w 8 g 5 5 2 9 © ~0 o 5 H << < vu un E © o oo. o A eS ~ FER GA . ® Lo 2 2 90 © © wu O > d8 8 8 # g E 8 8B oOo .un n EO Hoa 2 FE 2 2 2 £2 ss 8g gong lg - 2 uw gq FRE BE B= A J = og o $3 2 2 © © 3 woo oh 2 © ~~ od a ? 9 2 EE E & wow og 239 3 g . Oo No S 2 2 8 & uv 0 § BH Ss ® . [23 I B= =~ OO < BHO Lm A o ) 44 NN oN USN NN HNN oN = ’ oun EAT Shr ss NRK KN RQ ~~ o SON ON I NT NE a NON © 3 LRT) Umm oN © oo Nm oo +“ N = oN Q 8 NN 6 § oo og — NS SO NNN Tess dT ud¢ SN - A LEN MM HF a9 a o Mm X : ~~ — a] 80 . . [] . 0 . . na a a a a aaa a a OW wow ow LL OB Dw on ow» a w ow 24 © = © © © © KF FB Mm HBR BOE . Fy . ~ --- PAGE 131 --- EE —— MORI DocID: 1451843 . ! I~ i a Ba Te Le) © oO . = 5 Bx “3 fos . Um G Lue =e oe I S25 5% S58 8% w@ pig p ow . > 0 ~~ ov Bed ed 4 SHAR [TN Ter S40 "WHO o 2 © 3 3 §0 HEY Hsu Oe wn O30 boH-Ad bORed owns o S ®. PER A335 Hs. meal 8 HoH HHH =x 0 0 THEO E4s EP RH 0 Del = mom A mM mm on oH £00 SO Edo [I gl A moo [SIE I ON EE ZO HzZWw Hzun 5 i oN . I «+ wv . ofl Mm «4 o QD NN © oO o w o «© . [=] — oo [xl Lad ~ ~~ ° wn w oN I=] o~ of Bow © © MN nom om ES ~ ~ . o < <+ Ho EE] — 4) . 5 | B . fh © I [ o 4 ° o | pe —- =] : EE CY J NON oH HM oN oN < — | . [=] ~ . ~N =3 ~~ ~ i kS oS - ; 3 - i 10 : Se : . : i - B H wed - H [3 Nin bi NE §= R . a > 0 + : o CXR PS — < [3 § In Leds : no oa a 0 [3 Ps 0 © @ ° « « m [a3 (1 oO HH ®®m oo | CE BE SE -9 — — en EE Bs) [UE TI VR 3 Ei o °° ge [5 o oo g BE iad =] 8 8 = NN A 13 RB °9 SD o o Sx = ~ o° o qc +» 0 A = Hoo od od [2 [4 sd = nw 2 8 sn 8 En) gg 5 ~ ~ - Ho [3 [RE = I) 5 Ek [5 Gi of oo D7 a WR BW 0 Ho nm © ot ord ©. H ow dg 4d ££ A ol oo oo ow [3 135 - . : 2 OH EO FE £2 3 82 8 wo [3 o Qo. . "0 He += Ha BH oS 8 od [3 2 Bel gE 2 [4 E o B= E- YP [) [4 5 - EI TT BE = BE NY ~ A -A } .. 17 EE 3 od © gf 3 © © © =o ~ ~ N= : FLEE BES EE SEE £0 4B : LE I AT T-VI ~ 1 - = [A . . ) 4 NNN ad HH HH Ho hd IN ’ ~ oul ~ ~ ~ NN SN NRK ~ ~ ~ : oN NS SSS SS NN ~ ~ ~ 3 + © wm © NN NN 1 oO o [d © ’ + oH oN oo NN NNN oH — J a SON NN SSS SSS ~ ~ ~ AAl 6d © ©, 1 ¢ Ff § 60 a — =) ~ . ET : . 0 . =] Ho i : a5 a aa a a a a : a a a OH vB © [ZB ZI I 7 BE BE [2] [ZB 7} N a HOB HH BH = O O [=] [3 [3 1 ’ @ ae --- PAGE 132 --- | : . MORI DocID: 1451843 Co oe 00132 --- PAGE 133 --- | . MORI DocID: 1451843 . ) E wii i Te MATERIAL REQUISITIONED FROM LOGISTICS | : BY SECURITY FOR ISSUANCE TO : |. . ) LOCAL POLICE | : ITEM ’ i ’ QUANITY © Gas Mask M-9 ’ 200 Gas Mask M-17 ’ 196 ) Steel Helmet and Liners 231 i Vest-and Groin Protector . 96 - } Vest, Flak M-52 34 Vest, Protective Co . to 46 . Vest, Grenade 105 Execuvest : ) . 6 4 - Emergency Flashing Red Light 22 ! *Searchlight; Tear Gas i © 36 ) : *Chemical Baton 6 1/2" : 36 i} *Chemical Baton 12" N . : 24 . *Chemical Baton 26" 24 . *Mustang 35 Pistol . h : 6 - *Searchlight with Shoulder Strap 36 : *Stun Gun : 3 *NOTE: Various quantities and types of replacement chemical . cartridges, loading kits, and batteries were also zo ordered for asterisk items. Co a ’ 00133 Co EES ely - --- PAGE 134 --- : MORI DocID: 1451843 [J uMstassicien © (3 SER {J CoN. sEuTIAL BC ea { ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET ’ SUBJECT: TOmronal) TTT I J — FROM: TT TTT me [ET a : oJcs | p/oics,[ Hq. x PT od] i _ 11 kay 173 BN Le Gear designation, room number, and DATE OFFICER'S | COMMENTS [Number each comment fo show from whom | seve | FORWARDED INITIALS %o whom. Drow a line across column offer each comment.) © pp M&S I TT i IRE. | IN I EOE | for VEL [smd deste dE) Werke jf — Er SOV em Wlsge : EE I I a TT E— | A ae TT | TT | RN | J) — EC jy 60H seer CONFIDENTIAL: [1] WIPRMAL M1 unciassiFiep | Lo. ad RS cis a ave ens Teme ena : ’ --- PAGE 135 --- RRR MORI DocID: 1451843 . Sal : co . [RE dl SLY 01 oo : Ful Ns LY 4 . - 11 BAYT . MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Central Intelligence Agency : THROUGH : Deputy Director for Management and Services SUBJECT ¢ Activities which might be considered sensitive issues. N . Ihave listed below computer processing projects which the Office of ’ Joint Computer Support has participated in or is aware of and which might be considered sensitive issues. - Most Sensitive Projects OJCs Project Officer Nature 0JCs , Project Organization, & of Reason for . Identification Telephone Project Listing HYDRA Richard Ober A special pro-" Type of ) CI Staff ' ject initiated data being s C1 . by DCI collected. : SANCA [(e——] Machine Type of - index to data in : security files index, [ Information Type of Rk storage & re- data in 1] trieval of drug = files. - related data {ORD's project . - . OFTEN) : Sensitive Projects ) : H C1] Computer file Type of ! of drug data. data in : file, : : 00135 SECRET

Extracted by tesseract.js. Carbon-copy typewriter text from 1973 is imperfect; words may be misread. Always cross-check against the embedded image above.