8. Editorial Note
On February 18, 1961, President Kennedy issued Executive Order 10920 abolishing the Operations Coordinating Board. (26 Federal Register 1463) On February 19 the President issued a statement explaining how work formerly done by the OCB would be performed in other ways as part of the administration’s program for strengthening the responsibility of individual departments. First, the Secretary of State and the Assistant Secretaries for regional bureaus, in consultation with other departments and agencies, would be the usual means of coordinating efforts with respect to a country or area. Second, to the extent the OCB, as a descendant of the former Psychological Strategy Board, was concerned with the impact of American actions on foreign opinion and with the American “image” abroad, this work would be done by the President, the Department of State, and the U.S. Information Agency. Third, to the extent the OCB was responsible for ensuring action at the President’s direction, this function would continue by direct White House communication with the responsible agencies. For text of the President’s statement, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy, 1961, pages 104–105.