By:

Courtney Vannoy

National Security Act of 1947

Research Question

How did the National Security Act of 1947 and its governmental changes affect the United States security from then until now?

Signing Info

• July 26,1947

• Harry S. Truman was president

• Did not take effect until Sept 18, 1947

Changes

• U.S. Armed Forces• Added Air Force

• Foreign Policy• Intelligence Community• Secretary of Defense• Major component, along with Truman

Doctrine and Marshall Plan, of the administration’s Cold War strategy

Departments of the Country

• Merged Department of War and Department of the Navy into National Military Establishment• Led by Secretary of Defense• Officially set up the position

• Created Air Force Department• Separate from Army Air Forces

National Security Council

• A central place of coordination for national security policy in the executive branch

National Security Council

• 7 Permanent Members:• the President, who served as chairman • the Secretary of State • the Secretary of Defense • the Secretary of Army • the Secretary of Navy • the Secretary of Air Force • the Chairman of the National Security

Resources Board • Others were invited when needed

National Security Council

• Original function with President Truman:• Helps the president on national

security and foreign policies• Also helps coordinate the policies

for many government agencies• Has counterparts in other nations’

national security councils

Joint Chiefs of Staff

• Consists of:• Chairman• Chief of Staff of the Army• Chief of Staff of the Air Force• Chief of Naval Operations• Commandant of the Marine Corps

(occasionally when needed)

Joint Chiefs of Staff

• A group of uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense• Help and advise:• Secretary of Defense• National Security Council• Homeland Security Council

Central Intelligence Agency

• A civilian intelligence agency of the United States government

• Reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence

Central Intelligence Agency

• United States always carried out intelligence activities since George Washington’s presidency • Only since WWII has it been

coordinated government wide• Realized they would make it official

Central Intelligence Agency

• Functions:• Collects information about foreign

governments, corporations, and individuals

• Instructs public policymakers • Leads emergency tactical operations• Carries out covert operations

December 14, 1947

• First operation ordered by National Security Council

• To execute “covert psychological operations designed to counter Soviet and Soviet-inspired activities.”• In April 1948, set out to beat the

communists of Italian elections

Bay of Pigs Invasion

• Unsuccessful action• Launched in April 1961• Invasion Day: April 17

• Sent Cuban exiles back to southern Cuba to try and invade• Attempt to overthrow the Cuban

government of Fidel Castro

Comparison: Old vs. New

Old

• Truman said “It was intended merely as a center for keeping the President informed on what was going on in the world. • Never wanted the CIA “to

act as a spy organization.” That was never the intention when it was organized.

New

• Used as spy organization• Carry out secret

operations• They still do let president

know what is going on but carries out the plans

Comparison: Old vs. New

Old

• National Security never said anything about oversea operations

• Supposed to perform “other functions and duties related to intelligence affecting the national security”• Many covert operations

found a way through the loop hole

New

• Basically take care of any operation that the president orders• Anything the President

needs and orders the CIA does without having to “find a way through the loop hole”

Death of Osama bin Laden

• May 2, 2011 • Operation Neptune Spear• Ordered by President Obama and

coordinated by the CIA• Found him in a house in Abbottabad,

Pakistan• CIA mainly watched the house and

gathered information

How They Found Osama bin Laden

• Began with information revealed in 2002• Use of pictures and intelligence reports

helped discover people involved• CIA rented home for staking out and

observing the house for many months• Reviewed all the evidence on their own

to figure out that bin Laden was actually living in the house

Plan for Osama bin Laden

• CIA controlled operation • US not in war with

Pakistan• Original Plan• 2 helicopters supposed to

be involved• 4 SEALS, a dog, and

translator positioned around perimeter

• Leader and 6 other SEALS would land on the roof

Plan for Osama bin Laden

• What really happened• First helicopter experienced mechanical

issues and had to land unexpectedly and ran into perimeter walls

• Second group had to go from outside and scale the walls to get to the house• They had to locate them and then

follow them into the house and shoot

Oral History

Merrill Pflug, my 87 year old grandfather Alive when act was signed and first CIA operations

Question: Do you remember when the CIA was formed?

Answer: “ Yes, it was after World War II. My brothers came back from the war and we were just happy it was over, but I do remember that changes were made.”

Question: What did people think of the Air Force splitting from the Army?

Answer: “I can’t remember people talking about it at first but I got drafted into the Army and was part of the airborne section. We thought the Air Force was important. I really think they do a lot today.”

Question: What did people think of the CIA formation?

Answer: “They were not really sure and thought it was a bad thing. I can remember that people talked about how it was not a good thing after the Bay of Pigs Invasion and then people kept questioning whether spying was good.”

Question: What do you think about the CIA today?

Answer: “I am sure they do some good things, but I am not comfortable with all the spying we do. I am sure we don’t hear a lot about what is going on with the CIA through the news.”

Question: How did the National Security Act of 1947 and its governmental changes affect the United States security from then until now?

Answer: “I don’t specifically remember when he signed the act, but I know we needed better security for the nation when we lived through World War II. The security from World War II to now is much better and we know more now to keep us safe. It is obvious there has been multiple changes for the better.”