Who is behind the Central Intelligence Agency?
Shows documented founders, leaders, board members, funders and owners.
Not who made decisions, or why.
A connection is not evidence of wrongdoing.
- Led by Allen Dulles (Director of Central Intelligence) 1953 – Nov 1961
- Led by John McCone (Director of Central Intelligence) Nov 1961 – Apr 1965
On the record
Sourced links that no one presents as their own account, as recorded so far. Others may exist.
Led by
-
Allen Dulles
head of
1953 – Nov 1961
Director of Central Intelligence
Primary record
12
The CIA’s own history says he “lost his job” after the Bay of Pigs.
- John McCone head of Nov 1961 – Apr 1965 Director of Central Intelligence Primary record 13
- Richard Helms head of 1970 Director of Central Intelligence Primary record 4
- Stansfield Turner head of 1977 Director of Central Intelligence Primary record 5
- George Tenet head of Director of Central Intelligence Primary record 6
Proof 6 sources
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Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders: Interim Report of the Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (Senate Report 94-465), U.S. Senate, 1975.
Primary record
Archived copy
Dulles served as DCI from 1953 to November 1961.
McCone was DCI from November 1961 to April 1965.
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“Our First Line of Defense”: Presidential Reflections on US Intelligence, John F. Kennedy 1961-63, Central Intelligence Agency, Center for the Study of Intelligence.
Primary record
the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962. DCI Allen Dulles lost his job after the former
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Final Report of the Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, Book V: The Investigation of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy: Performance of the Intelligence Agencies, U.S. Senate, 1976.
Primary record
Archived copy
November 29-John McCone succeeds Allen Dulles as Director, CIA.
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Covert Action in Chile 1963–1973: Staff Report of the Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities, U.S. Senate, 18 Dec 1975.
Primary record
Archived copy
John McCone telephoned CIA Director Richard Helms.
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Project MKULTRA, the CIA's Program of Research in Behavioral Modification: Joint Hearing, U.S. Senate, Select Committee on Intelligence and Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research, 3 Aug 1977.
Primary record
Admiral Stansfield Turner, Director, Central Intelligence Agency
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The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, 9-11-commission, 22 Jul 2004.
Primary record
In fall 1999, DCI Tenet unveiled the CIA’s new Bin Ladin strategy.
Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet said the agency was still assessing who was responsible, but the early signs all pointed to al Qaeda.
How this answer is built
Lines on the record come first: sourced links that no one presents as their own account, each with its strongest source. Then every account recorded here gets its own column, A to Z, none ranked above another. A column quotes only that account's own words and shows the strength of its own sources. Disputed lines are listed apart, with the reason, and lines still being verified come last. Neither is counted. Withdrawn lines are never shown.
When a list is longer than the page shows, the links the public methodology ranks strongest stay (methodology 0.3), and the rest open in the explorer.
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