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American Cryptology during the Cold War - The Black Vault

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Lieutenant General Ralph J. Canine went to bat for <strong>the</strong> new organization at a time when its<br />

existence was challenged and its longevity was far from certain.<br />

Canine and <strong>the</strong> New Organization<br />

But it was not to be business as usual, largely because of <strong>the</strong> personality of <strong>the</strong> first<br />

director. Lieutenant General Ralph Canine, who dominated early NSA policies and<br />

stamped his character on <strong>the</strong> Agency, had been a line Army officer with no intelligence<br />

experience until he became deputy assistant chief of staff for army intelligence in 1949.<br />

Prior to that he had been an artillery officer, with wide experience in combat (both world<br />

wars, serving under Patton in World <strong>War</strong> II) as well as logistics. Although he brought no<br />

technical education to cryptology, he exerted his influence through a hands-on<br />

management style. He was forceful and determined and tenaciously enforced <strong>the</strong><br />

Brownell recommendations on <strong>the</strong> reluctant SCAs. His whimsical personality produced<br />

legions of "Canine stories," which simply embellished liis reputation as a maverick.<br />

Collins proclaimed him a "fortunate choice," and said that "he ... raised <strong>the</strong> National<br />

Security Agency from a second-rate to a first-rate organization."z Canine was no diplomat,<br />

I1Al'lBbE ¥h\ Y\'.bEl'l'f KEYH9I:JE 69MlN'f eS?i'fRSb SYSTEMS ofSUffbY<br />

NOT REI,EASABI F TQ li'QR:BI8fH,ATIONALS<br />

62

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