LETTER TO MR. KENNETH E. BELIEU FROM JOHN M. MAURY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP72-00337R000100120040-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 30, 2004
• Sequence Number: 40
• Publication Date: March 10, 1969
• Content Type: LETTER

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
10 March 1969
Mr. Kenneth E. BeLieu
Deputy Assistant to the President
for Congressional Relations
The White House
Washington, D. C.
Re: Ervin Bill, S. 782
Enclosed are copies of the Director's 28 February 1969 request
to appear before an executive session of Senator Ervin's Subcommittee,
and Senator Ervin's response of 4 March 1969 inviting us to appear at an
open hearing. Also enclosed is a copy of Senator Ervin's letter to the
Director of 5 March 1969 referring to CIA's "totalitarian powers" and
inviting us to present drafts of any proposed amendments to the bill which
we deem essential.
To bring you up-to-date on developments regarding this problem:
On 26 February I reviewed the matter at length with
Representative David N. Henderson who reaffirmed his concern
and support. He still believes the best solution is a complete
exemption for CIA, NSA and FBI, but says he has to work
discreetly in order to avoid a head-on clash with Ervin. Henderson
said that, during the last session, Mr. Hoover told him privately
the bill did not seriously affect the FBI, but it would undoubtedly
cause grave problems for other security agencies. Henderson
said he will try to get Hoover to make such a statement publicly
but is not optimistic.
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On 26 February of my Office, talked
with Senator Eastland who seemed completely sympathetic to our
problem and suggested that if we are refused an appearance before
the Ervin Subcommittee, we request a hearing before Eastland's
full Committee.
On 6 March the Director wrote to Secretary Rogers and
Secretary Laird inviting their attention to the problem (copies
enclosed).
A couple of weeks ago, the Director mentioned the problem
to Senator Stennis, who didn't commit himself to do anything but
recommended we keep Ed Braswell fully informed.
I have spoken several times with Senators Bayh and
Jackson who understand the problem and will try to be helpful.
We have told Senator McClellan of our concern about the
Ervin bill, but have not briefed him on details. However, McClellan
appears completely sympathetic with our efforts to maintain a tight
personnel security system, and I think will want to be helpful (but
like his colleagues, will probably shy off from a direct confrontation
with Ervin).
We have kept Bill Woodruff and Ed Braswell informed, and
they suggest that our best course is to continue to press the matter
vigorously with Senator Ervin and members of the Judiciary Committee
(although experience to date offers little ground for optimism in this
regard).
On the House side, Representative Lipscomb promises to
go to bat for us when the time comes.
Bun Bray, House Post Office and Civil Service Committee
staff, is, per Henderson's direction, drafting a revision of the
Ervin text granting us a complete exemption. (Incidentally, Bray
tells us Ervin is already busy lobbying for his bill on the House
side.)
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Among Executive agencies, Bob Hampton and Tony Modello,
of the Civil Service Commission, apparently are very much for us,
and Roger Jones, of the Bureau of the Budget, is well up on the
problem and says we should assume we have carte blanche from
the Bureau to continue our work against the bill.
Frank A. Bartimo, Assistant General Counsel (Manpower),
Department of Defense, will probably get the action on the letter
to Secretary Laird. He testified against S. 1035 last year and
naturally feels just as strongly about S. 782. He feels, however,
that someone should get Jack Stempler off the dime.
On 10 March Larry Houston and I explained our problem to
Walter Yeagley, John Dean and Kevin Maroney in Justice. They
agree the bill is basically bad, and feel that the worst aspect from
the standpoint of this Agency is the provision giving aggrieved
employees and applicants access to Federal courts. Dean mentioned
having seen a memo from the FBI to the Deputy Attorney General
strongly criticizing the predecessor bill, S. 1035.
John M. Maury
Legislative Counsel
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