SENATE USES HELMS APOLOGY TO PROBE ACTIVITIES OF CIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000200890008-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 5, 1999
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: June 30, 1966
• Content Type: NSPR

B'~tI,T MO)1iI! SUN
Approved For Release 2000/OJ U3: dX*DP75-0014;
Serrate Uses`H-.elisis Apology-
'; To Prove Activities Of CIA
n
. an F:rnr R. L. ,TrnNF;
(Washinp!on 8urja(Vu 0/ T/re Sun)
Washington, July 29-The Sen.- from that of his predecessor, Wil? ilelms's respgnses, Fulbright in-
ate Foreign Relations Committee liam Y. flahorn, who angered theldicated, the Foreign Relations
:today capitalized on a mistake bin Foreign Relations Committee by Committee might be able to get
'Richard M. Ncitns,new chiefoisayirg he could not respond tojlhe' kind of information about
the Central -.Intelligence Agencyjrln`estians about the agency's sources and methods that
to l Reborn
take a closer look at-CIA one "?rres and methods.y '
14 had denied it.
Only the special CIA watch-do
alions. g
Committee members questioned. Panel composed of members of
the Armed Services and Appropri-
him about rumors of CIA interfer'?.alions commilices could get such
once in labor union elections'and information, Raborn held.
about reports 'It had used educa-I Baborn's stand so infuriated
tonal institutions, foundations Senator Fulbright and Senator
a and the international student ex- McCarthy (D., Minn.) that they
change program as a "cover." lsniight aj)proval of a resolution
1. Helms replied that under Its,giving the Foreign Relations
charter the intelligence agencytCommittee an equal- vote id sur-
'can operate only outside the Unit vcillance of CIA activities.
,ed States. Events Related
Apology Made ' 'It? was the defeat of the Ful-
The CIA director-in office only:brtghi .McCarthy effort; by coin.
th
i
t t
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l
ll
a mon
-wen
ap
to
o
Hi
at?cidence, that provokedsthe editor-
Ids men request to apologize for tat (hat Inspired the letter that
s
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t _..._
th
en
ng a
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r to
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d
Fulbright said Ilelms had as*
sured the committee "very posi-
tively" that the CIA had not used
the student exchange program as
a cover for espionage activities.
The committee chairman added,
when asked, that he had no hard
evidence to the contrary.
No Union Involvement
Fulbright also reported Helms
as saying that so far as he knew
CIA agents were not intervening
in labor union elections. Explain-
ing why he had raised that pros=
pest yesterday In the Senate,
Fulbright remarked: "I had heard
they do."
ova ial'ha r lily t
au
ing ,a an edi' ell ion before the ?Fulbright panel Before Helms aii ived at' the!
;loittee chairman, critical of the com- this morning. Capitol this morning to give his
,mittee chairman, Senator Ful-, personal apology and explanation,1
'bright (D., Ark.), and his effort tof. Opinions about the significance Senator Morse (D., Orel issued a
!gain a role in overseeing the CIA. of his testimony varied.
Helms told statement calling upon him to
,
e . klnlbright Senator McGee (D., Wyo.) said cum,
4,_ '- ? nlie] Ins, s mistake had turned out resign.
mittce Ghat an assistant had pro
1(o be. "helpful and constructive'.' Morse was unable to attend the
pared the letter, attached the , edi-~
'batch of personal mail that he'
signed routinely.
According to Fulbright, who gested, smile of his colleagues
said Helms's."forthright" answer might bo, less r"suspicious'' about
closed the letter-writing issue,,the`the CIA bad less prone to make
CIA director acknowledged he,' a lot of wild statements"'.about
6d not focused' sufficient atien the agency.
McCarthy, In contrast, ' said
llnn on the comments he sent the
piobe-Democrat. he. thought Helms's testimony
Different Approach , J"opened up new avenues for dis-
Looking somewhat. chastened; cussion and a possible compro-
1iclms emerged from his two hnugmise in his effort to obtain a
%Iosed? session- with the committee Foreign Relation Committee role
.and reluctantly faced reporters, In watchdogging the CIA.
"I regret having signed4 the Testimony "Salutary1D
letter. I apologize for it. I made a Fulbright, who aired his sus-
mistake." - he ? said. The slim, picions About CIA -interference in
dark-haired,'59-year-9ld CIA chief domestic affalrr on the :Senate
!hen walked away, refusing to an Ifloor yesterday,. thought the Helms
steer questions. ; i '. : Aesi imyny was '.' alutary" for, dif-
',r It was learned, . however, that" ,erent reasons, ~
when he was hefiire the cop'mit ' 0)il; ofi;the:.gle~Cgae(lte ~p~ ;by
lion put to hint by senators.
t.,This was.,a, ifferent, eppaga~~
because it educated some com- committee meeting because of his
mittee' members about the real efforts to settle the airline strike.
nature of CIA operations. But none of his colleagues who
vacneu up UIe rubignauon uemanu;:
Fulbright and McCarthy pro-!
fessed to be satisfied with Helms's
apology for writing the letter to,
the editor. k
All Would Resign
Senator Mansfield (D., Mont.;,
the majority leader, remarktd
thair if every man who made A.
mistake had to resign; the cntlrei
Senate would have to resign.'
Morse, in demanding that Helms:
quit, said his letter "disqualified
him for further useful service in
his present capacity." '
? "We must assume," said Morse,
that the: contro' ersial letter was
'
A
but part of
CI
campaign to Id?
fluence " publid opinion through
Approved For Release'2000/04/14: CIA-RDP75-00149ROO0200890008-8