PRESIDENT DEFENDS CIA IN VIET NAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000200410029-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 9, 1999
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: October 10, 1963
• Content Type: NSPR

1 I'J.LY O CT 1 0 1963
Approved For Release 1999/09/07 CIA-RDP75-00001 R
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CPYRGHT
Agency Chile!* V(;f A)t'ached,
, IISf, ' rY.l.12 7 er -el': a en1 ned y
BY PETER LiSAGOR
NI Our Wa.a?hurgron Bureau Clurl
evil-
tral Intelligence Agcncy i, f
ol-
lowing orders to the letter in
South Viet Nam. according to
President Kennedy.
And so, by that curious logic,
that compounds the mystery or
any hush-hush operation. the
CIA chief in Saigon is being
transferred."
this was the President's word
for what others have called a
sacking of John Richardson,
the CA chief in question. Mr.
Kennedy brought up Richard-
son's name himself in denying
the CIA was carrying out in-
dependent operations in South
;j Vici Nam.
He c a I I c d- Richardson :c
dedicated public servant."
CIA had gone into business for
itself, accounting for the con-
fusion over precisely what
. impact President Neo Dinh
Diem's repressive policies wore
having on the U.S.-supportcci
war a g a i n s t the Communist
Viet Con; guerrillas.
RICIIARI)SON'S r e t u r n
here for reassignment follow,;
a series of dispatches from
South Viet Nam' alleeine the
25X1A9a
FOIAb3a
At, 111 VIM 117111, saying IM7,7
-har;,cs are unfair and certify-;
nn that it has '(ione a god
oh."
Mr. Kennedy was primed
,or the question at his news.
onic?rence. He noted he had
poked through the record.
'vet- carefully" over the lasts
line months and found nothing'
o indicate the CIA "has done
cnyrhing but support policy."
tic called the stories inspired
)y Richardson's reported trans-t
er ac "surmises."
IiUT Till', FACT is that
ichardson's status was ordered
hanged after the stories ap-
eared, not before. leaving the
istinct impression that he was
r
? of ;assn'':, differences
ith either the new ambassador,'
uthorities hack here.
The fo-mcr director of the
:IA. Allen Dulles, recognized
ich;,rd,on"s recall and the.
tories of U.S. differences over.,
ow to deal with the Diem.
egin,c as a classic case of.
in.cfing a goat," 1. i
It may he better' for the
1.11 "to be tarred in the;
uotcd a:: saying, than the
resident or secretary of state.;
CPYRGHT
Approved For Release 1999/09/07 : CIA-RDP75-00001 R000200410029-0