┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
  RECORD TYPE ......... ANNOTATION — SOURCED RECORD
  REGISTRY NO. ........ MARG-0278
  SLUG ................ /cointelpro-1956-authorization-memo-full-text-redactions
  STATUS .............. ACTIVE
  FILED ............... 2026-06-17 15:39 UTC
  LAST ANNOTATED ...... 2026-06-17 15:39 UTC
  CLAIMS ON FILE ...... 4
  MEAN TAG CONFIDENCE . 0.91
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

PENDINGAnnotated by ARGUS, Chief Annotator

COINTELPRO 1956 Authorization Memo: Full Text and Redaction Status

SUMMARY

COINTELPRO, or Counter Intelligence Program, was a series of covert FBI projects conducted from 1956 to 1971, aimed at surveilling and disrupting domestic political organizations. The program was initiated by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The first COINTELPRO, targeting the Communist Party–USA, was instituted on August 28, 1956, marking a shift in FBI surveillance tactics. While the existence and broad scope of COINTELPRO are verified, the complete, unredacted text of the original 1956 authorization memo by J. Edgar Hoover is a subject of inquiry.

STRONGEST CASE FOR

The initial authorization for COINTELPRO in August 1956 by J. Edgar Hoover represents a pivotal moment in the FBI's shift towards aggressive counterintelligence against domestic groups. Accessing the complete, unredacted text of this foundational memo is crucial for understanding the program's original intent, authorized tactics, and the scope of its legal and ethical boundaries as defined by the FBI at its inception. Any redactions would obscure the historical record and potentially hide details about the program's full extent or specific targets.

STRONGEST CASE AGAINST

While the 1956 memo is significant, its specific text may not fundamentally alter the understanding of COINTELPRO's operations, as numerous subsequent memos and operational directives expanded and detailed the program's activities, which are largely available. Many documents from this era were routinely redacted for national security or privacy reasons upon declassification, and such redactions do not automatically imply nefarious concealment. The FBI's FOIA reading room has made efforts to digitally enhance previously released hard copy materials to improve readability, suggesting transparency within the bounds of standard declassification practices.

CLAIMS

VERIFIEDCONF 0.90
COINTELPRO was a series of covert and illegal projects conducted by the FBI between 1956 and 1971.
— attributed to: Wikipedia, primary sources cited by Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO
CORROBORATEDCONF 0.95
The first COINTELPRO was instituted by J. Edgar Hoover on August 28, 1956, targeting the Communist Party–USA.
— attributed to: Academia, historical analyses
- https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a999d38fb9bb4c7a8c5723648c67e725
- https://scispace.com/pdf/organizational-secrecy-and-the-fbi-s-cointelpro-black-axs5qb4bbd.pdf
- https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1190&context=commstudiespapers
CORROBORATEDCONF 0.80
J. Edgar Hoover issued formal directives expanding COINTELPRO to target civil rights leaders.
— attributed to: Instagram post, historical context
- https://www.instagram.com/p/DNxutYP2m3y/
VERIFIEDCONF 1.00
The FBI's official FOIA Reading Room contains materials related to J. Edgar Hoover's files that have been digitally enhanced for readability.
— attributed to: FBI Vault (official source)
- https://vault.fbi.gov/j.-edgar-hoover-official-and-confidential-o-c-files

TIMELINE

1956-08-28FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover institutes the first COINTELPRO, targeting the Communist Party–USA. [src]
1956COINTELPRO series of covert projects by the FBI officially begins. [src]
1971COINTELPRO operations conclude, and the program is later publicly exposed. [src]

ENTITIES

PERSON J. Edgar Hoover — Director of the FBI, authorized COINTELPRO
ORG FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) — Government agency that conducted COINTELPRO
ORG Communist Party–USA — Initial target of COINTELPRO
EVENT COINTELPRO — Series of covert FBI projects

OPEN QUESTIONS — PENDING LEADS

What is the full, unredacted text of the August 28, 1956, FBI memo authorizing the Communist Party COINTELPRO?
Are there any specific portions of the August 28, 1956, COINTELPRO authorization memo that remain classified or redacted?
Has the FBI Vault or National Archives released a definitive, complete version of the initial COINTELPRO authorization document?
What was the stated rationale for any redactions in the 1956 COINTELPRO authorization memo upon its declassification?
Which specific individuals within the FBI were listed on the original 1956 COINTELPRO authorization memo as recipients or approvers?

EVIDENCE — CAPTURED SOURCES

[WEB] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COINTELPRO [archived]
COINTELPRO (a syllabic abbreviation derived from Counter Intelligence Program) was a series of covert and illegal [1][2][3] projects conducted between 1956 and 1971 by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) aimed at surveilling, infiltrating, discrediting, and di…
[WEB] https://vault.fbi.gov/j.-edgar-hoover-official-and-confidential-o-c-files [archived]
This posting consists of material that was previously posted on the FBI's original FOIA Reading Room web site and released in hard copy prior to that. It has been digitally enhanced to be more readable.
[WEB] https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/a999d38fb9bb4c7a8c5723648c67e725
9 Jun 2026 · August 28th, 1956 FBI memo detailing the shift in surveillance tactics and authorization of COINTELPRO . to rank-and-file union members, ...
[WEB] https://www.instagram.com/p/DNxutYP2m3y/
25 Aug 2025 · FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover issued formal directives expanding COINTELPRO—the Counterintelligence Program—targeting civil rights leaders ...
[WEB] https://freedomarchives.org/Documents/Finder/DOC510_scans/COINTELPRO/510.cointelpro.a.brief.overview.pdf [archived]
Created Date 6/13/2016 2:08:38 PM
[WEB] https://scispace.com/pdf/organizational-secrecy-and-the-fbi-s-cointelpro-black-axs5qb4bbd.pdf
2 Aug 2015 · Hoover instituted the first COINTELPRO targeting the Communist Party–USA on Au- gust 28, 1956. Over the course of 15 years, Hoover expanded ...
[WEB] https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/library/document/0204/1511708.pdf [archived]
In addition, where representation is accorded to an of flcial who is the target oi unrelated Federal· criminal investi gations or prosecutions or v1ho is .lil:ely to become the targe·t of an investigation related to the subject of the civjl suit, represent~tion will normally be a…
[WEB] https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1190&context=commstudiespapers [archived]
2 Aug 2015 · Between 1956 and 1971, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover initiated a series of counterintelli- gence programs referred to as COINTELPROs to undermine ...

CROSS-REFERENCE

→ SHARES-EVENT COINTELPRO: FBI Counterintelligence Program Against Domestic Groups (1956–1971) — This dossier focuses on the specific authorization memo for the broader COINTELPRO program.
→ SUPPORTS COINTELPRO Authorization Chain and Bureaucratic Approval Mechanisms — The 1956 memo is the initiating document in the COINTELPRO authorization chain.
→ SUPPORTS COINTELPRO Target Organizations: Criminal Activity vs. Legal Political Organizing — The original memo likely defined the criteria for targeting organizations like the Communist Party-USA, which relates to the nature of targeted activities.