LETTER TO W. E. COLBY FROM EDWARD C. SCHMULTS RE LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT DATED OCTOBER 29, 1975 CONCERNING CLAIM OF OLSON FAMILY

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00313397
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 23, 2025
• Document Release Date: February 18, 2000
• Publication Date: November 7, 1975

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
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November 7, 1975
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Dear Bill:
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With regard to your letter to the President, dated October 29,
1975, on the claim of the Olson family, the President has
approved ndation that a private relief bill in the
amount o o settle Such claim be submitted to
Congress, and that ie Administration support prompt passage
of the bill.
I suggest that a draft of the private relief bill be 'prepared by
your lawyers with the assistanCe of the Department of Justice.
I have called Rex Lee, Assistant Attorney General, Civil
Division, and he has indicated that Justice will be pleased to
...render whatever assistance they can. After the bill.and a
justification of the theory and the amount of damages have been
prepared, the materials should be reviewed by the lawyers for
the Olson family. In discussing a private bill approach with
Messrs. Rudovsky and Kairys,. they indicated they wanted to
review the bill before it is submitted to Congress.
One last thought on the bill is that we should attempt to achieve
at the least a two step procedure rather than the normal three
steps for private bills generally. As I understand it, the normal
process is (1) a bill is passed referring the matter to the Court
of Claims for a damages hearing; (2) a bill is enacted approving �
the damages found by the Court of Claims and authorizing payment;
and (3) an appropriations bill is passed for the authorized payment.
Hopefully, we will be able to streamline the normal procedure and
avoid a Court of Claims hearing to achieve rapid passage of the bill.
While the drafting of the bill is moving forward, I suggest the
appropriate legislative people discuss the procedural aspects
with the arpropriate staff members of the concerned House and
Senate Judiciary Subcommittees. In the House, presumably an
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attempt would be made to haVe the bill introduced by Repreientativ'e
Goodloe E. Byron (D. Md. ), who represents the Olsons' district.
In the Senate, the Olsons' lawyers informed me that Senator Mathi
has expressed an interest in the matter.
I am sure you will agree that it is important that we start the
private bill process as soon as possible.
With best regards.
Honorable W. E. Colby
Director .
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C. 20505
cc: Honorable Rex Lee
Sincerely,
Edward C. Schmults
Deputy Counsel to the President.
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