November 4, 1952:

“The NSA was established [….] by order of President Harry Truman. This decision followed the Nation’s important work in breaking German and Japanese codes during WWII, which contributed to Allied success against the German U-Boat threat in the North Atlantic and victory at the Battle of Midway in the Pacific, and other successes. President Truman’s decision to establish NSA followed several studies on how best to continue this codebreaking work in the post-war era.

In 1959, pursuant to its authority under Article I of the Constitution, Congress enacted the National Security Agency Act which provides a separate legislative basis for NSA’s activities.” — NSA

Related Resources:

• Public Law 86-36: National Security Agency Act of 1959
• Executive Order 12333: United States Intelligence Activities
• Executive Order 13284: Amendment of Executive Orders, and Other Actions, in Connection With the Establishment of the Department of Homeland Security
• Executive Order 13355: Strengthened Management of the Intelligence Community
  Executive Order 13470: Further Amendments to Executive Order 12333, United States Intelligence Activities
• HSDL search results for “National Security Agency”
• HSDL resources published by “National Security Agency”

Photo: NSA’s headquarters, Ft. Meade, Md. (Credit: NSA)