Establishment of NSA

Date: November 4, 1952 • Location: Fort George G Mead Junction, United States

Robert A. Lovett, United States Secretary of Defense, issued a memorandum establishing the National Security Agency, with responsibility for all communications intelligence for the government.

Robert Abercrombie Lovett was an American politician who served as the fourth United States secretary of defense, having been promoted to this position from Deputy Secretary of Defense. He served in the cabinet of President Harry S. Truman from 1951 to 1953 and in this capacity, directed the Korean War. As Under Secretary of State, he handled most of the tasks of the State Department while George C. Marshall was secretary.