DEAR MR. SECRETARY:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000600040160-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 15, 1998
• Sequence Number: 160
• Publication Date: October 31, 1963
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000600040160-8
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 11, 1965
FROM THE SENATE INTERNAL SECURITY SUBCOMMITTEE
In response to a number of inquiries regarding its stand with
respect to the Otepka case, the Internal Security Subcommittee
today made public the text of a letter to the Secretary of State
signed by all Subcommittee members in October 1963. In releasing
the letter, Senator James 0. Eastland (D-Miss.) declared: We
all still feel the same way and I see no prospect at all that the
Committee will change its position with respect to this matter."
The letter is as follows:
October 31, 1963
The Honorable Dean Rusk
The Secretary of State
Department of State
Washington 25, D. C.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
Mr. Otto Otepka, Chief of the Division of Evaluations,
Office of Security, Department of State, today faces
grave charges apparently growing out of his appearance
as a witness before the Senate Internal Security Sub-
committee and his honesty in responding to the Sub-
committee's questions.
Without attempting to pass upon these charges,
we want to express our confidence in Mr. Otepka's
integrity, capability, and professional skill.
A committee of the Senate has a right to the
testimony of any official or employee of our Govern-
ment respecting any question of security or possible
wrongdoing in any department or agency, if the subject
matter of the committee's inquiry falls within its
jurisdiction, A Government employee who comes before
a Senate committee and testifies truthfully should not
thereafter be penalized or disciplined in any way for
doing so.
Qt#' d
Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000600040160-8
 Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000600040160-8
Mr. Otepka's testimony has been a valuable
contribution to the Internal Security Subcommittee's
current investigation of security in the State Depart-
ment, and we feel he has performed a substantial
service for his country. We would consider it a
great tragedy if the services of this exceptionally
able and experienced security officer were lost to
the United States Government on the basis of alleged
technical violations growing out of his cooperation
with the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee.
Kindest personal regards.
Sincerely,
JAMES 0. EASTLAND, Chairman
Internal Security Subcommittee
THOMAS J. DODD, Vice Chairman ROMAN L. RUSKA
OLIN D. JOHNSTON EVERETT MaINLEY DIRKSEN
JOHN L. MCCLELLA KENNETH B. KEATING
SAM J. ERVIN, JR*
TIUG-1i SCOT
Approved For Release : CIA-RDP75-00149R000600040160-8