LETTER TO HONORABLE JOHN C. STENNIS FROM(Sanitized)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74B00415R000100070025-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 12, 2002
• Sequence Number: 25
• Publication Date: January 18, 1972
• Content Type: LETTER

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The Honorable John C. Stennis
Chairman, Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate
Washington, D. C. 20510
18 February 1972
My dear Mr. Chairman:
I will be retiring from active Government service the end of
this month, having completed more than forty-two years. The last
twenty-five of these have been with the Central Intelligence Agency,
the first seventeen having been in the Army, from which I was re-
tired in 1947 as a result of combat disability incurred during World
War IL During almost twenty of the twenty-five years with CIA,
first as Deputy Director for Support and later as Executive Director-
Comptroller. I have been privileged to appear before your Subcom-
mittee with the Director to testify and furnish information about a
variety of matters of importance to the Committee and the Agency.
As I leave the service, I should like to tell you of the very great re-
spect I have for you and your Subcommittee. Through all the years,
the Subcommittee has exemplified the best in legislative practices
in being eminently fair, completely objective, and very helpful. As
professional intelligence officers, we have noted in particular your
security consciousness and your spotless record in the protection
of Intelligence sources and methods.
I have always felt that the Agency' a relationship with the Sub-
committee was a very healthy one based, an it was and is, on com-
plete candor, mutual respect, and confidence. You and the members
of your Subcommittee have made a great contribution to intelligence
in nurturing this Agency from its fledgling days of the late Forties to
what I believe to be a mature, sophisticated, and highly professional
organization today. I think the Congress and the Agency can take
pride in the fact that during the past several years, despite constraints
on money and manpower, the intelligence product has continually im-
proved and to a marked degree.
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It has been my privilege to serve in responsible positions on
the Staff of all of the Directors of Central Intelligence since CIA be-
came a legal entity in September of 1947. Your confidence in these
men has been fully justified. I am sure you are aware of the in-
creasing complexities and problems with which Mr. Helms has coped
during his tenure. May I say that he is the most professional of
them all and your confidence in him is well - placed indeed.
My thanks, Mr.. Chairman, for the privilege of being associ-
ated in a small way with you and the other distinguished members
of your Subcommittee in the service of our country.
Sincerely,
LKW/ji
Distribution:
riginal - Addressee via OLC
1 - Legislative Counsel
1 - Executive Director
1 - ER
1-
25X1A
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