The Office of Policy Coordination (OPC) was a United States covert psychological operations and paramilitary action organization. Created as an independent office in 1948, it was merged with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1951.
OPC was created in 1948 under the United States National Security Council document NSC 10/2. The OPC's directors included representatives of the State and Defense departments and the CIA. Though a unit of the CIA, the OPC Director reported to the State Department.
State Department official George F. Kennan was the key figure behind OPC's creation.
The OPC's executive director was Frank Wisner, a former OSS figure in Romania and later an assistant secretary of state for refugee affairs.
The OPC grew rapidly during the Korean War. In April 1951, US President Harry Truman established the Psychological Strategy Board in order to coordinate all US psychological warfare strategy.
In 1952, the office came under the direct control of the CIA and was merged with its Office of Special Operations to form the Directorate of Plans.
Famous quotes containing the words office of, office and/or policy:
“This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Go; and if that word have not quite killed thee,
Ease me with death by bidding me got too.
Oh, if it have, let my word work on me,
And a just office on a murderer do.
Except it be too late to kill me so,
Being double dead: going, and bidding go.”
—John Donne (1572–1631)
“It is always the best policy to speak the truth, unless of course you are an exceptionally good liar.”
—Jerome K. Jerome (1859–1927)