CIA history: Origins of the agency and the OSS

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) originated from intelligence failures following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The lack of coordinated information analysis and decision-making during the attack highlighted the need for a centralized intelligence body.

In early 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the predecessor to the modern CIA. Led by General William ‘Wild Bill’ Donovan, the OSS aimed to unify intelligence operations and eliminate rivalries between civilian and military agencies, such as the FBI and various military intelligence offices. During World War II, the OSS conducted secret operations against Axis powers, including sabotage, commando attacks, and support for guerrilla organizations.