W. Marvin Watson, FBI file
| Tracking # |
RD 55620 13900580-000 |
| Submitted | Nov. 29, 2017 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Parker Higgins, FOIA The Dead
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
A copy of all documents or FBI files pertaining to W. Marvin Watson, an obituary of whom was published in The New York Times on November 29, 2017 under the headline "W. Marvin Watson, Johnson’s Unofficial Chief of Staff, Dies at 93". Please see attached PDF copy of that obituary, which may also be found at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/obituaries/w-marvin-watson-johnsons-unofficial-chief-of-staff-dies-at-93.html.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Parker Higgins, FOIA The Dead
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
There are eFOIA files available for you to download.
From: National Archives and Records Administration
A no responsive documents response.
From: Federal Bureau of Investigation
There are eFOIA files available for you to download.
From: Beryl Lipton
To Whom It May Concern:
As further described in the attached letter, this request is being forwarded to your office for processing. Confirmation of receipt and an estimated date of completion would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
From: National Archives and Records Administration
Dear Parker Higgins,
Thank you for submitting your Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act
request to the National Archives and Records Administration, via
FOIA@nara.gov.
Because you have requested access to historically permanent federal
records, we have forwarded your FOIA request, received in our office
December 20, 2017, to our Office of Research Services, Special Access and
FOIA staff, for further review and handling. As a result, you will be
assigned a tracking number by that office.
If you would like to follow up with that office directly, please contact
them at the address below, or electronically via email.
Special Access and FOIA Staff (RD-F)
8601 Adelphi Road, Room 5500
College Park, MD 20740
By phone: 301-837-3190
By fax: 301-837-1864
By email: specialaccess_foia@nara.gov
Thank you for contacting the National Archives and please visit our website
at www.archives.gov/foia for further information. Please also visit our
main website, www.archives.gov, to learn more about the many exciting
resources we offer the public.
Sincerely,
Matthew Heichelbech
Government Information Specialist Detailee
National Archives and Records Administration
Office of the General Council, Archives II
301-837-1934
matthew.heichelbech@nara.gov
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <requests@muckrock.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 20, 2017 at 1:35 PM
Subject: RE: Freedom of Information Request #1390580 - 000
To: FOIA@nara.gov
National Archives and Records Administration
FOIA Office
170 Marcel Drive
Winchester, VA 22602-4843
December 20, 2017
This is a follow up to request number 1390580 - 000:
To Whom It May Concern:
As further described in the attached letter, this request is being
forwarded to your office for processing. Confirmation of receipt and an
estimated date of completion would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/accounts/agency_login/
national-archives-and-records-administration-129/w-marvin-
watson-fbi-file-46261/?uuid-login=3d3df810-19fd-4829-854b-
dd2724c37d03&email=FOIA%40nara.gov#agency-reply
Is this email coming to the wrong contact? Something else wrong? Use the
above link to let us know.
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 46261
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is
being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share,
and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed
(i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the
department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
---
On Dec. 15, 2017:
There are eFOIA files available for you to download.
---
On Dec. 5, 2017:
There are eFOIA files available for you to download.
---
On Nov. 29, 2017:
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request
the following records:
A copy of all documents or FBI files pertaining to W. Marvin Watson, an
obituary of whom was published in The New York Times on November 29, 2017
under the headline "W. Marvin Watson, Johnson’s Unofficial Chief of Staff,
Dies at 93". Please see attached PDF copy of that obituary, which may also
be found at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/obituaries/w-marvin-
watson-johnsons-unofficial-chief-of-staff-dies-at-93.html.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and
this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform
me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer
the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or
CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I
look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business
days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Parker Higgins, FOIA The Dead
Filed via MuckRock.com
E-mail (Preferred): requests@muckrock.com
Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/accounts/agency_login/
national-archives-and-records-administration-129/w-marvin-
watson-fbi-file-46261/?uuid-login=3d3df810-19fd-4829-854b-
dd2724c37d03&email=FOIA%40nara.gov#agency-reply
Is this email coming to the wrong contact? Something else wrong? Use the
above link to let us know.
For mailed responses, please address (see note):
MuckRock News
DEPT MR 46261
411A Highland Ave
Somerville, MA 02144-2516
PLEASE NOTE: This request is not filed by a MuckRock staff member, but is
being sent through MuckRock by the above in order to better track, share,
and manage public records requests. Also note that improperly addressed
(i.e., with the requester's name rather than "MuckRock News" and the
department number) requests might be returned as undeliverable.
From: National Archives and Records Administration
Mr. Higgins--
I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information Act request of
December 20, 2017 for records in the custody of the National Archives and
Records Administration. Your request was received in this office on
December 21, 2017, and assigned FOIA case number *55620*. This is your
FOIA request #1390580-000.
You requested access to case file numbers
*94-HQ-61420 and *
*161-HQ-2855*, identified by the FBI as potentially responsive to your
request for records relating to *W. Marvin Watson*. My initial assessment
confirms that W. Marvin Watson is in fact the subject of these files.
Case file *94-HQ-61420* has been reviewed pursuant to the Freedom of
Information Act (5 USC 552) and I have released 33 pages in full.
You
or your representative may view the released version of the file in Room
4000, the reading room operated by the Motion Pictures Branch at the
National Archives facility in College Park, Maryland. Please contact
Jessica Hartman at least one week in advance of your visit at
Jessica.Hartman@nara.gov <Rebecca.Calcagno@nara.gov> to arrange to see the
file.
When you arrive in the reading room, staff will provide a CD/DVD with a
copy of the file in .pdf format that can be transferred to a blank CD/DVD
or to your personal storage device. There is no charge to transfer the
file, unless you need to purchase a blank CD/DVD in the reading room.
If you cannot visit our College Park facility, you may order a reproduction
copy at the cost of $.80 per page. Please contact Ms. Hartman to place an
order.
Case file *161-HQ-2855* has an estimated 175 pages, compiled as part of an
internal security investigation conducted between October 1964 and January
1969.
File 161-HQ-2855 requires screening for categories of information exempted
from disclosure under the terms of the FOIA, prior to public release. In
particular, there are documents that may be redacted to protect the
identities of confidential sources, including FBI informant codes and
informant file numbers.
This portion of your request has been assigned to our first-tier processing
queue. Taking into consideration our existing backlog, the estimated time
required to complete the processing of your request is approximately 24
months from the date of this letter.
To notify this office of a *change in your contact information* or to *track
the status of your request*, please telephone 301-837-3190
<(301)%20837-3190> or e-mail specialaccess_foia@nara.gov.
If you have specific questions regarding the subject of your request,
please contact me directly at Amanda.Weimer@nara.gov or at 301-837-0604
<(301)%20837-0604>. All communications concerning this request should
reference your case tracking number *55620*.
If you are not satisfied with our action on this request, you have the
right to file an administrative appeal within ninety (90) calendar days
from the date of this letter. Appeals must be in writing and may be
delivered by regular U.S. mail or by e-mail. By filing an appeal, you
preserve your rights under the Freedom of Information Act and present the
deciding agency with an opportunity to review your request and reconsider
its decision. If you submit your appeal by regular mail, it should be
addressed to the Deputy Archivist of the United States (ND), National
Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, Room 4200, College
Park, Maryland 20740-6001. Both the letter and envelope should be clearly
marked “FOIA Appeal.” If you submit your appeal by e-mail, please send it
to foia@nara.gov, addressed to the Deputy Archivist, with the words “FOIA
Appeal” in the subject line. Please be certain to explain why you believe
this response does not meet the requirements of the Freedom of Information
Act. All communications concerning this request should reference FOIA case
number 55620.
If you would like the opportunity to discuss our response and attempt to
resolve your dispute without initiating the appeals process, you may
contact our FOIA Public Liaison for assistance:
Accessioned Executive Branch Records – Washington, DC Area
FOIA Requester Service Center: 301-837-3190 <(301)%20837-3190>
FOIA Public Liaison: Martha Wagner Murphy
8601 Adelphi Road, Room 5500
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Telephone: 301-837-3270 <(301)%20837-3270>
E-mail: dc.foia.liaison@nara.gov
If you are unable to resolve your dispute through our Public Liaison, the
Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) is the federal FOIA
ombudsman. OGIS offers mediation services to help resolve disputes between
FOIA requesters and federal agencies. You may contact OGIS at the following
address:
Office of Government Information Services (OGIS)
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, Room 2510
College Park, MD 20740-6001
202-741-5770 <(202)%20741-5770>
1-877-684-6448 <(877)%20684-6448>
V/r
Dr. Amanda Weimer
Special Access and FOIA (RD-F)
National Archives at College Park
8601 Adelphi Road, Room 5500
College Park, MD 20740-6001
+1 (301) 837-0604
https://www.archives.gov/research/foia
Main FOIA Telephone: 301-837-3190
This email is UNCLASSIFIED.
From: National Archives and Records Administration
Dear Parker Higgins:
I am writing in further response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
request RD 55620 for records in the custody of the National Archives and
Records Administration.
You requested access to FBI file numbers 161-HQ-2855 and 94-HQ-61420. We
previously reviewed 94-HQ-61420 and provided a summary of our review to you
on December 21, 2017.
I completed a line-by-line review of 161-HQ-2855. Please be advised, we
have considered the foreseeable harm standard when reviewing records and
applying FOIA exemptions for this request. Information was released to the
greatest extent possible. Below is a summary of my review:
Records Requested
Total Pages
Pages Released in Full
Pages Released in Part
Pages Withheld in Full
161-HQ-2855
230
225
5
0
I withheld information protected under section (b) of the FOIA (5 U.S.C.
552). The specific reasons for the denials are:
TYPE OF INFORMATION WITHHELD
FOIA EXEMPTION
personal privacy of living individuals
(b)(6)
personal privacy of living individuals in law enforcement records
(b)(7)(C)
You or your designated representative may view the file at the National
Archives at College Park, Maryland. Research visits are by appointment only
and are scheduled no further than three months in advance as we are closely
monitoring local public health metrics due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research room hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
You can use Eventbrite to schedule your research appointment by
visiting the Textual
Research Room Appointments page
<https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/textual-research-room-appointments-487599>
and following the steps listed below:
-
Navigate to Upcoming Events and click on the desired date
-
Click Register and complete the registration process
*If tickets for a particular room do not appear during registration,
appointments for that day are sold out. We recommend checking back in the
event of cancellations.
Please complete the online Researcher Orientation
<https://rise.articulate.com/share/uK5NGkSpg74JHLTOcGPmM4e94MJyxQgD#/> as
well as the online researcher registration form
<https://researchercommunity.force.com/securitycentral/s/kiosk-registration>
before scheduling an appointment on Eventbrite.
If you hire a researcher, they will need to make an appointment through
Eventbrite.
Once you have obtained an Eventbrite ticket, contact our office at
specialaccess_foia@nara.gov or 301-837-3190 to inform us of your upcoming
onsite research appointment date and provide your FOIA tracking number RD
55620. Please provide us with advanced notice as it may take our office
three days to a week to prepare for your visit.
If you cannot visit our College Park facility, you may order a reproduction
copy of the file(s) at the cost of 80 cents per page. To place a
reproduction order, please contact our office at specialaccess_foia@nara.gov or
301-837-3190. A mailing/billing address is required to generate a price
quote, so please include that information with your reproduction request.
Please monitor our web page https://www.archives.gov/college-park for
details and updates, as the situation can change quickly. Thank you for
your patience and understanding during this time.
If you are not satisfied with my action on this request, you have the right
to file an administrative appeal within ninety (90) calendar days from the
date of this letter. Appeals must be in writing and may be delivered by
regular U.S. mail or by email. By filing an appeal, you preserve your
rights under the Freedom of Information Act and present the deciding agency
with an opportunity to review your request and reconsider its decision. If
you submit your appeal by regular mail, it should be addressed to the
Deputy Archivist of the United States (ND), National Archives and Records
Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, Room 4200, College Park, Maryland
20740-6001. Both the letter and envelope should be clearly marked “FOIA
Appeal.” If you submit your appeal by email, please send it to foia@nara.gov,
addressed to the Deputy Archivist, with the words “FOIA Appeal” in the
subject line. If you exercise your right to appeal, please explain why you
believe this response does not meet the requirements of the Freedom of
Information Act. All communications concerning this request should
reference your FOIA tracking number.
If you would like the opportunity to discuss my response and attempt to
resolve your dispute without initiating the appeals process, you may
contact our FOIA Public Liaison for assistance:
Accessioned Executive Branch Records – Washington, DC Area
FOIA Requester Service Center: 301-837-3190
FOIA Public Liaison: Rebecca Calcagno
8601 Adelphi Road, Room 5500
College Park, MD 20740-6001
301-837-3190
You may also contact the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS),
the Federal FOIA Ombudsman’s office, for assistance. OGIS offers mediation
services to help resolve disputes between FOIA requesters and Federal
agencies. The contact information for OGIS is:
Office of Government Information Services
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road–OGIS
College Park, MD 20740-6001
Email: ogis@nara.gov
Phone: 202-741-5770 or 1-877-684-6448
This concludes the processing of your request. If you have questions
concerning my review, please contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Laurel Macondray (she/her/hers)
Archivist
Special Access and FOIA Program (RF)
National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road, Room 5500
College Park, MD 20740-6001
laurel.macondray@nara.gov
(301) 837-2997
https://www.archives.gov/research/foia
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