THE JOSEPH ALSOP ACCOUNT

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 05013717
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: December 15, 2022
• Case Number: F-2022-01326
• Publication Date: February 5, 1973

Approved for Release: 2022/10/17 C05013717
5 February 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: The Joseph Alsop Account
1. Shortly after I took over my present duties (in September.
1966), Mr. Helms asked me to undertake the chore of dealing with
Mr. Joseph Alsop on Indochinese matters. The object of this exercise
was two-fold: first, to save Mr. Helms' time by minimizing the number
of occasions Mr. Alsop called him directly on Indochinese questions and
secondly (but more important), to endeavor to minimize any public
sniping at the Agency's Indochina performance by Mr. Alsop by keeping
him as charitably disposed toward us as was feasible, all factors con-
sidered.
2. In compliance with the above described instructions, I (and
my wife) have developed, over the past six years, a cordial social rela-
tionship with Mr. (and Mrs.) Alsop. He calls me fairly frequently during
periods when his interests are focused on Indochina and from time
to time invites me for lunch. We have engaged in a number of general
conversations about Indochinese matters, but I have taken great care
never to let this arrangement be a source of leaks or a vehicle through
which Mr. Alsop can acquire information he has no business having.
3. Mr. Alsop's own personality has actually made it fairly easy
to keep him happy and reasonably well disposed without actually telling
him anything. For one thing, he is fairly honorable (very much so for
a journalist), and to date, has been very good about dropping any line of
inquiry that I clearly did not wish to pursue. Also -- and even more useful
it is quite easy to divert Mr. Alsop's attention and steer the conversation
away from a thicket you do not care to enter by asking him a question on a
different subject where he thinks (often with reason) he has considerable
expertise. Such subjects are by no means limited to current international
affairs. They include, for example, Greek history, archeology, renais-
sance painting, landscape gardening, and virtually all matters related to
Chinese history, art, architecture, etc.
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law
4. Over the past six years, Mr. Alsop has published a good deal
of classified information, but he obtained none of it from us. He has good
sources in the Pentagon (e.g. , General Depuy, , the DCSOPS, and General
Graham in DIA) . He is also actively cultivated, and used, by Dr.
Kissinger (much more than Mr. Alsop realizes) and, at times, by the
President himself.
5. I raise this matter because Mr. Alsop called me on Saturday
(3 February), inviting me to lunch on Monday (5 February). I tentatively
accepted the Monday engagement planning to cancel it Monday morning --
as I did -- pleading (legitimately) press of business which made it im-
possible for me to get away from my desk. Iwill endeavor to stall �
Mr. Alsop off until I know your pleasure on whether you want this rela-
tionship terminated or sustained under previous -- or different -- ground
rules. On balance, I think the relationship has been useful to the Agency
in the sense that it has helped to prevent our getting very much public
static on Indochina matters from this quarter and seems to have been at
least partially responsible for keeping Mr. Alsop charitably disposed
toward us in general. If this relationship should be abruptly terminated
or obviously curtailed, Joe's antennae are well enough tuned so that he
would be almost certain to sense that something was up. Nonetheless,
whether or not this relationship should continue as before is obviously a
matter for your decision
e�. .2.
Ge rge A. Carver, Jr.
Special Assistant for Vietnamese Affairs
-2-
Approved for Release: 2022/10/17 C05013717