MEETING WITH CHAIRMAN RIVERS AND CHIEF COUNSEL BLANDFORD OF HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE RE THE CANCELLATION OF OXCART

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP70B00338R000300160002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 13, 2006
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: May 21, 1968
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2006/12/15: CIA-RDP70B00338R000300160002-6
Approved For Release 2006/12/15: CIA-RDP70B00338R000300160002-6
 Approved For Release 2t 0.5 115, C =RDP 70B00338R000300160002-6
BYE 086-68
Copy 1 of 2
21 May 1968
SUBJECT: Meeting with Chairman Rivers and Chief Counsel Blandford
of House Armed Services Committee re the Cancellation
of OXCART
1. Yesterday I called Mr. Blandford to arrange for Chairman
Rivers to be informed on the above matter and to ask Mr. Blandford
if he could make a date for us to talk to the Chairman. He suggested
that I visit his office at 0715 this morning and we could discuss it and
then decide how best to inform the Chairman.
3. The Chairman then made a few remarks about the Agency's
failure to keep him informed, remarking that henceforth he would
expect to be promptly informed of whatever he should know about.
4. Blandford explained that I was there to talk about the cancellation
of OXCART. The Chairman commented that he didn't have time to
"listen to a lot of stuff" about OXCART, but he wanted to know why it was
being suddenly cancelled. I said I understood this was primarily because
of budgetary considerations 5X1
5X1
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5. The Chairman asked if an OXCART vehicle had ever been
shot down. I said no, but that one had been washed out in a training
accident.
6. In response to further questions by the Chairman and
Blandford, I mentioned the numbers of OXCART missio and the
high percent of success; the annual cost of the program,
the fact that by taking account of the savings accomplished by mothballing
eight SR 71's
I also briefly mentioned the problems involved in mothballing.
7. The Chairman asked if the program was still considered
highly classified. I said it was indeed. He said "you mean nobody
knows CIA. is running this? " I said I hoped not and was unaware of any
serious leaks. The Chairman commented that "if the Air Force takes
it over everybody will hear about it soon enough, IT adding that he was
much concerned about cancellation of OXCART and was seriously
considering "bringing the problem into the open. " I repeated that we
considered the project very sensitive. The Chairman said he would
take "full responsibility" regarding any security problems.
8. The Chairman directed that we prepare a "complete paper"
regarding the history and performance of OXCART, and of its termi-
nation. He said this paper should be given to Blandford who would
keep it in his personal safe where it would be available for reference
so that "we won't have to rely on anybody's memory. "
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10. In connection with the Chairman's complaint about "not being
kept informed", it is worth noting that an officer from DIA (usuall
apparently calls on the Chairman every morning at 0730 to s Tow 2bX1
him a copy of the DIA daily ents.
25X1
JOHN M. MAURY
Legislative Counsel
Approved For Release 2006/12/15: CIA-RDP70B00338R000300160002-6
 Approved For Release 2006/12/1. f,CIA-RDP'OBciO338R000300160002-6
21 May 1968
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Meeting with Chairman Rivers and Chief Counsel Blandford
of House Armed Services Committee re the Cancellation
of OXCART
Distribution:
Copy 1 - OLC
Copy 2 - DDS&T
Approved For Release 2006/12/15: CIA-RDP70B00338R000300160002-6