What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency intelligence report on Lin Piao and the Great Helmsman, dated January twenty‑first, nineteen seventy. It is notable because it offers a contemporary U.S. assessment of Lin Piao’s relationship with Chairman Mao Tse‑tung and his potential role as successor. The document was released under the Freedom of Information Act, approved for public release in May two thousand seven. The declassification authority cites Executive Order twelve nine five eight, sections three point three(b) and six point two(c). The source of the scanned text is the Black Vault archive, which hosts the original file for public access. Now, the report itself. EO twelve nine five eight, three point three(b) (1) greater than twenty‑five yen rs. EO twelve nine five eight, six point two(c). Directorate of Intelligence. Intelligence Report – Lin Piao and the Great Helmsman. Title: POLO XXXIX. RSS number zero zero four four slash seven zero. Date: January twenty‑first, nineteen seventy. Approved for release date: May two thousand seven. Warning: This contains information affecting the national defense of the United States, within the meaning of Title eighteen, sections seven ninety‑three and seven, as amended. Its transmission or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law. Lin Piao, now sixty‑two years of age, has long been Mao Tse‑tung’s favorite military leader. It was not until nineteen fifty‑eight, however, that he became a major party leader, and he has been Mao’s “closest comrade‑in‑arms” and designated successor as chairman of the party only since nineteen sixty‑six. Lin’s unexpected rise to such eminence has evoked questions as to whether he should be taken seriously as successor to Mao and as a true Maoist. For example, has Lin merely supplied Mao’s vanity and the opportunities provided by the Cultural Revolution for his own purposes, or is he fully faithful to the great Mao and committed to Maoism? Was Mao’s choice of Lin as successor a sudden and arbitrary decision which he may reverse, or was the act a culmination of years of growing confidence in Lin as a standard bearer for revolutionary continuation? This intelligence report gives the reader a sense of Lin’s development and character and of his relationship over the years with Mao. It concludes that Lin is a devoted Maoist, that he will probably take the helm from the Great Helmsman, and that he will attempt to follow the revolutionary course that has been charted by Mao. The larger question as to whether Lin Piao as Chairman will be able to stay in power without modifying Mao’s policies is the subject of further papers in a series of studies of Lin Piao. This study was reviewed by the Office of National Estimates and the Office of Current Intelligence. Both are in general agreement with its thrust and findings. Summary and conclusions. Lin’s support of Mao. The detailed record set forth in the annex is one of Lin Piao’s dog‑like devotion to Mao over a…

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.

CIA This Is A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Report On Lin

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency intelligence report on Lin Piao and the Great Helmsman, dated January twenty‑first, nineteen seventy. S. assessment of Lin Piao’s relationship with Chairman Mao Tse‑tung and his potential role as successor. The document was released under the Freedom of Information Act, approved for public release in May two thousand seven.

Date: AUG 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Episode notes

This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency intelligence report on Lin Piao and the Great Helmsman, dated January twenty‑first, nineteen seventy. It is notable because it offers a contemporary U.S. assessment of Lin Piao’s relationship with Chairman Mao Tse‑tung and his potential role as…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was CIA This Is A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Intelligence Report On Lin about?: This is a declassified Central Intelligence Agency intelligence report on Lin Piao and the Great Helmsman, dated January twenty‑first, nineteen seventy. S. assessment of Lin Piao’s relationship with Chairman Mao Tse‑tung and his potential role as successor. The document was released under the Freedom of Information Act, approved for public release in May two thousand seven.
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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