CONVERSATION WITH WILLIAM WOODRUFF, COUNSEL, SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, RE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP73B00296R000100180015-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 25, 2003
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: November 11, 1971
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2003/04/02 : CIA-RDP73B00296R000100180015-6
SECRE i /SEN S Ir~ I V E
OLC 71-1197
11 November 1971
MEMORANDUM FDR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Conversation with William Woodruff, Counsel, Senate
Appropriations Committee, re White House
Announcement Regarding the Intelligence Community
1, In a conversation today, Bill Woodruff told me
that Senator John Stennis had asked him to personally
look into the significance of the revised procedures in the intelli-
gence community called for by the White House announcement.
Mr. Woodruff said Senator Stennis made clear his concern arose
from:
a. His belief that it would be impossible for
Mr. Helms to carry out his new responsibilities
without delegating the management of CIA to his
Deputy--a military man--and that Senator Stennis
was determined to prevent any increased influence
of military officers in the intelligence process.
b. Senator Stennis' fear that the establishment
of a National Security Council Intelligence Committee
under Dr. Kissinger would interpose an echelon
between Mr. Helms and the President, thus in effect
downgrading the influence and independence of the
Director.
2. I told Mr. Woodruff that I thought the Senator's concern
was unfounded, and that much of the confusion apparently arose over
a widespread misunderstanding as to how the system had been operating
in the past. I noted the changes were really quite limited when one
compared the old and new arrangements. Mr. Woodruff said he
would keep in touch with us when he got around to carrying out Senator
Stennis' request to look into the intelligence problem, but this would
probably be a couple of weeks off because he was still deeply involved
in matters for the Appropriations Committee.
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3. Mr. Woodruff remarked that if our Subcommittees were
not satisfied with the new arrangements, and particularly were not
assured that Mr. Helms' authority and access to the President were
unimpeded by the new arrangements, that they would deal with the
problem very effectively--by cutting off funds for the intelligence
community.
4. Mr. Woodruff said Richard Moose, Consultant on the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, had come to him in behalf of
Senator Stuart Symington to obtain information about the new arrange-
ments in the intelligence community. Mr. Woodruff said he had
refused to discuss the matter with Mr. Moose.
25X1A
\ JOHN M.
Legislative Counsel
Distribution:
Original - 0 & M file
- Sen.
Appropriations file
1
- Sen.
Stennis
1
- Sen.
Symington
1- Chrono
2
SECRET/SE11 ~ 11VE
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