2. How did the National
Security Act of 1947 and its
governmental changes affect the
United States security from then
until now?
Research Question
3. • July 26,1947
• Harry S. Truman was president
• Did not take effect until Sept 18, 1947
Signing Info
4. • 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
Changes
5. • 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
Departments of the Country
6. • A central place of coordination for
national security policy in the executive
branch
National Security Council
7. • 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
8. • 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
National Security Council
9. • 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
10. • A group of uniformed leaders in the United
States Department of Defense
• Help and advise:
• Secretary of Defense
• National Security Council
• Homeland Security Council
Joint Chiefs of Staff
11. • A civilian intelligence agency of the
United States government
• Reports directly to the Director of
National Intelligence
Central Intelligence Agency
12. • 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
13. • Functions:
• Collects information about foreign
governments, corporations, and
individuals
• Instructs public policymakers
• Leads emergency tactical operations
• Carries out covert operations
Central Intelligence Agency
14. • 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
December 14, 1947
15. • 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
Bay of Pigs Invasion
16. Old New
• Truman said “It was • Used as spy organization
intended merely as a • Carry out secret
center for keeping the operations
President informed on • They still do let president
what was going on in the know what is going on
world. but carries out the plans
• Never wanted the CIA “to
act as a spy organization.”
That was never the
intention when it was
organized.
Comparison: Old vs. New
17. Old New
• National Security never • Basically take care of any
said anything about operation that the
oversea operations president orders
• Supposed to perform • Anything the President
“other functions and needs and orders the CIA
duties related to does without having to
intelligence affecting the “find a way through the
national security” loop hole”
• Many covert operations
found a way through the
loop hole
Comparison: Old vs. New
18. • 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
Death of Osama bin Laden
19. • 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
How They Found Osama bin Laden
20. • 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
21. • 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
Plan for Osama bin Laden
23. 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.”
24. 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.”
25. 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.”
26. 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.”
27. 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.”
