TALK WITH JOSEPH ALSOP, 5 JAN 64

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06195569
• 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: January 7, 1964

Approved for Release: 2022/10/17 006195569
7 January 1964
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Talk with Joseph Alsop, 5 Jan 64
I. On Sunday, 5 January, at his invitation, / joined
Joe Alsop for a long walk along the Georgetown Canal for a
talk about the "State of the Union." As usual, the conversa-
tion was rather general and philosophic, having to do with
the general state of the Communist world and, more particularly
(on Alsop's part), on the state of the .Johnson Administration.
2. I used the opportunity to give.Alsop an informal
fill-in on the main economic points about the Soviet Union
which we have been briefing newspapermen, generally, on.
I also touched on my concern lest awareness of the relatively
favorable U;S./U.S.S.R. balance of forces impart an exaggerated
"peace" euphoria among the Western nations.
3. For once, Alsop seemed a little more cheerful than
I, saying that he was not very worried about slackening of
Western defenses through excessive interest in expanding trade
and credit relationships with the U.S.S.R., although he recog-
nized it as a danger.
4. Joe is.vrapped up in domestic politics and really
showed surprisingly little interest in the foreign scene.
I think he is trying to complete his emotional readjustment
to the transition from the Kennedy Administration and is
anxious to be able to approve of the new President. He told
me that he had just learned at first hand that the "Irish
Mafia" had all signed up as enthusiastic Johnson supporters
and would fight the campaign with him. This, Alsop took to
be a sign of strength and a hopeful augury for the future.
As usual, I refrained from saying much about these Washington
matters and, also as usual, found that Joe was perfectly
happy to do practically all the talking in our "exchange of
views."
5. The only other topic discussed was the "image" of
CIA. I mentioned a few recent outrageous attacks on the Agency
and complained, as I had in.the.past, that journalists seem
only to be interested in writing scandal about us rather than
anything on our solid accomplishments. Joe said that he thought
Tr
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ifki�coved for Release: 2022/10/17 C06195569
that we were way too "sensitive" about criticism against us,
saying that he thought most of it was an inevitable journalistic
game, and we should not worry a great deal about it.
r)
L.)
S. CLINE
Deputy Di ector (Intelligence)
cc: DCI (via DDCI & ExDir)
Assistant to DCI (Mr. Chretien) �
RSC:jr
Distribution:
Orig RSC Memo for Record file
1 - 0/DDI chrono
P;i1;1
Approved for Release: 2022/10/17 C06195569