According to the White House Central Files manual, this category was for "material which covers national security functions including the safeguarding of classified information; restrictions on the use of military aircraft; troop transportation and military operations which involve the planning, preparation and conduct of warfare; the planning, mobilization and management of resources and production for defense needs; and for material pertaining to the protection of life and property by preparing for and carrying out nonmilitary functions to prevent, minimize, repair and recover from damage caused by enemy attack, including post-attack mobilization plans."
The file manual specifically excepted material pertaining to: alien property and war claims (see JL); military assistance to other nations (see FO); national emergency (see FE); and veterans and their dependents (see VA).
The researcher should note that most highly sensitive defense and security materials were retained by the National Security Council in a separate file. Most of the material in this file, WHCF-ND, concerns administrative, legislative and political concerns and is infrequently classified higher than "Confidential."
