CONVERSATION WITH CHAIRMAN DAVID N. HENDERSON, MANPOWER AND CIVIL SERVICE SUBCOMMITTEE, HOUSE POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP72-00337R000400030089-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 12, 2006
• Sequence Number: 89
• Publication Date: March 12, 1969
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2006/12/12 CIA-RDP72-00337R000400030089-5
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OLC 69-0207
12 March 1969
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Conversation with Chairman David N. Henderson, Manpower
and Civil Service Subcommittee, House Post Office and
Civil Service Committee
1. In a phone conversation today, I quoted to Chairman Henderson
salient parts of Senator Ervin's two letters to the Director, the first of
.which invited us to appear in open rather than executive session, and in
the second of which the Senator referred to the Agency's ".totalitarian powers"
and made clear his opposition to an exemption.
2. Chairman Henderson said he found the tone of the letters
"shocking" and thought that the proper people should know about them.
3. Chairman Henderson went on to suggest that, in view of the
unreasonable position taken by Senator Ervin, and the fact that we had a
good case, it might be to our advantage to appear in open session. I pointed
out the hazards of this, particularly as establishing a precedent and making
us fair game for other headline-hunting congressional committees. Henderson
said he appreciated this and could not really pass judgement- -that we would
have to weigh the pros and cons, but reiterated his feeling that on this issue
we had a good case which would stand up well under public scrutiny. In any
event, Henderson felt we should promptly show Ervin's letters to Senator
Russell and explain our dilemma to him. Meanwhile, Henderson said he was
continuing his preparations to cope with the problem on the House side in view
of the fact that he, "probably will have to get something out this year. "
Distribution:
Original - Subject
1 - Ex/Dir-Coxnpt
1 - OG C
1 - DD /S
1- Chrono
OLC/JMM:jmd
JOHN M. MAURY
Approved For Release 2006/12/12 : CIA-R?P72-00337R000400030089-5