DIRECTOR'S MEETING WITH CHAIRMAN JOHN STENNIS RE 23 NOVEMBER 1971 BRIEFING OF SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74B00415R000200020037-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 31, 2006
• Sequence Number: 37
• Publication Date: November 22, 1971
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2006/08/01 : Cl R000200020037-4
SECRET
22 November 1971
SUBJECT: Director's Meeting with Chairman John Stennis
Re 23 November 1971 Briefing of Senate Armed
Services Committee
1. Today I accompanied the Director in a meeting with Chairman
John Stennis and Mr. Ed Braswell, Chief Counsel of the Senate Armed
Services Committee, to discuss the Director's appearance tomorrow
before the full Committee. Prior to the Senator's arrival, we discussed
with Mr. Braswell the "two hats" concept of the Director's responsibilities,
noting that they were not spelled out by statute but were implicit in the
Director's responsibilities as head of CIA on the one hand and the Chair-
man of the U. S. Intelligence Board on the other. Mr. Braswell mentioned
Senator Symington's concern over Laos and the likelihood he would raise
this question tomorrow. He also pointed out some questions we might
get as a result of the Newsweek story.
2. When Senator Stennis joined the discussion,,he explained in
confidence problems that Senator Symington had raised in the Appropriations
Committee, and said it was entirely possible that Senator Symington could
bring up on the floor the question of intelligence budgets which Senator
Ellender had refused to discuss with him in the Appropriations Committee.
Senator Stennis said he was looking for means to avoid the authorization
process in connection with the Agency budget,and thought this might be
done.
3. Senator Stennis asked whether Senator Symington had been
present at any meetings where the Agency budget was discussed under
Senator Russell's chairmanship. There was some uncertainty on this
point. Senator Stennis said that pressure for some disclosures regarding
the community budget was mounting, and he might find it necessary to give
some ground. He suggested the possibility of adding Senators Mansfield
and Scott to the Intelligence Subcommittee.
CRC, 10/8/2003
SECRET,
MORI/CDF
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4. Mr. Braswell went over some questions which he thought
might be asked tomorrow including the one of whether the Director was
being "kicked upstairs. " The Director said he couldn't abrogate his
responsibilities for running CIA--that he could delegate a little more to
some of his deputies but he had no intention of relinquishing his authority
over the Agency and would not sanction a deputy dealing "behind his back. "
He said if he found it impossible to carry out his responsibilities to both
the Agency and the community, he would "be back" to Senator Stennis.
He said, in strict. confidence, that he was sure the President had no
intention of his relinquishing his control over the Agency. He explained
that the NSCIC had been set up largely in response to his own recommendation
in order to fill a gap in the old system by providing authoritative customer
guidance.
5. Senator Stennis said that one of the problems concerning certain
Committee members was the influence of Dr. Kissinger. The Director
explained that Dr. Kissinger's role was determined entirely by the
President, who gave Dr. Kissinger his orders.
6. There was some discussion of whether a transcript should be
made and Senator Stennis said that he doubted this was a good idea, but
if he changed his mind he would let us know.
"JOHN M. MAURY
'"'Legislative Counsel
Distribution:
Original - Subject (Brig file)
1 - DDCI
1 Ex/Dir
1 - NIPE
1-OGC
7- OLC Chrono
1 - Committee file
2
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Approved For Release 2006/08/01: CIA-RDP74B00415R000200020037-4