What did the declassified documents reveal?

This episode opens with a declassified United States Army airgram concerning the health and behavior of Chairman Mao Tse‑tung, dated February third, nineteen sixty‑four. The document is notable because it reveals the specific intelligence questions the United States asked its diplomatic posts about the personal condition of the Chinese Communist leader during a period of heightened Cold War tension. The source is listed on the Black Vault website. The record was released to the public through the Black Vault archive, which hosts a digitized copy of the original airgram. The release is part of a broader declassification effort by the Department of State, and the document carries the handling indicator “Secret – for Department of State use only.” No formal Freedom of Information Act case number is provided in the public listing, but the declassification authority is identified as the Department of State, and the material was made available on the Black Vault site in the early twenty‑first century. Now, the document itself. FOR DEPARTMENT OF STATE USE ONLY. CA‑7647. SECRET COPY ONE. SERIES A. HANDLING INDICATOR TWO. TO: The American Consulate General, Hong Kong. FROM: Department of State. DATE: February third, nineteen sixty‑four. SUBJECT: Health and Behavior of Mao Tse‑tung. The health and behavior of key Chinese Communist leaders have been the subject of numerous and comprehensive reports from the Consulate General. While realizing this, the Department has, however, been asked to forward to the appropriate posts specific questions pertaining to the health and conduct of Chairman Mao. In the debriefing of visitors to Communist China, efforts should be made to obtain the following information from sources: 1. Over what period and during what time of the day did the source have contact with Mao? Compare, if possible,

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

United States Army Airgram Concerning The Health And Behavior Of Chairman Mao

◆ BLUF — The short version

This episode opens with a declassified United States Army airgram concerning the health and behavior of Chairman Mao Tse‑tung, dated February third, nineteen sixty‑four. The document is notable because it reveals the specific intelligence questions the United States asked its diplomatic posts about the personal condition of the Chinese Communist leader during a period of heightened Cold War tension.

Date: SEP 5 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was United States Army Airgram Concerning The Health And Behavior Of Chairman Mao about?: This episode opens with a declassified United States Army airgram concerning the health and behavior of Chairman Mao Tse‑tung, dated February third, nineteen sixty‑four. The document is notable because it reveals the specific intelligence questions the United States asked its diplomatic posts about the personal condition of the Chinese Communist leader during a period of heightened Cold War tension.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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United States Army Airgram Concerning The Health And Behavior Of Chairman Mao

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