DIRECTOR'S CONVERSATION WITH SENATOR STENNIS RE IMPLICATIONS OF THE WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74B00415R000400110026-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 22, 2006
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: November 8, 1971
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2006/11/22 : CIA-RDP74B00415R000400110026-4
IS E (A R El
OLC 71-1179
8 November 1971
MEMC)RANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Director's Conversation with Senator Stennis Re
Implications of the White House Announcement on
the Intelligence Community
1. Today the Director received a phone call from Senator Stennis,
who noted that their conversation on 5 November had been interrupted and
the Senator had not had the opportunity to discuss the above subject thoroughly.
The Senator went on to say he was concerned over the possibility of the
Director's relinquishing his direction of CIA in order to assume a greater
role in overseeing the community. The Director replied that in fact all
DCIs have worn two hats, and he had no intention of giving up his authority
over the Agency. He said he understood the President's purpose was
simply to make things run a little smoother in the community, and particu-
larly, to have the Director sit astride the budget process in order to
achieve some much needed economy. The Senator said he found this
reassuring. The Director said if he couldn't run CIA and at the same time
accomplish the President's objectives regarding the community, he would
either ask for help or quit the job. He said his main purpose in assuming
the additional responsibility was to try to help Senators Stennis and Ellender
in getting a better hold on the community budget.
2. The Director told Senator Stennis that, as he had suggested,
the Director had called on Senator Margaret Chase Smith and had a pleasant
chat with her.
3. The Director again emphasized to the Senator that his main
purpose was going to be to get a better hold on the community budget, and
he asked the Senator to let him know if he found things were not going 25X1
satisfactorily. The Senator replied he thought the Director had the right
attitude on the matter. The Senator qnid he Just received a thick letter
"from my friend who sits on my right" who was "greatly
disturbed over the announcement. " The Senator said he would take this
matter up when he had a chance. 25X1
Distribution:
Original - Subject JOHN M MAURY
1 - Stennis
Legislative Couns
Appr ed For Release -066c1'1WCIA-RDP74B00415R00040011002 'F I?= C
el SECRET