ESTABLISHMENT OF SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR EXTERNAL OVERSIGHT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79M00467A000200050028-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 10, 2004
• Sequence Number: 28
• Publication Date: June 8, 1976
• Content Type: MF

Approved For RQ0ase 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467 0 D?-00050028-5
47
8 JUN 1976
Fcecutive Regiatr
MEMORANDUM FOR: Deputy Director Designate of Central Intelligence
FROM: William W. Wells
Deputy Director for Operations
SUBJECT: Establishment of Special Assistant for
External Oversight
1. Background. Approval is requested for the concept, outlined
below, of a DDO Special Assistant for External Oversight to be responsible
for those matters affecting the Directorate stemming from our relation-
ships with the Oversight bodies, both of the Congress and of the Executive
Branch, and for certain other Congressional matters. This officer will
carry out his duties within the framework of the Agency's larger mechanisms
for Congressional and Executive Branch relations: the Office of the
Legislative Counsel, the Office of General Counsel and the Inspector
General's office. I am thinking of a small staff headed by an officer at
the GS-17 level who would report directly to me and to the ADDO. I would
like to put this concept into full operation by about 21 June and have in
mind appointing Mr. o this post, if you approve.
2. Mission. This staff officer would handle the following tasks:
a. Provide a focal point for the Directorate in dealing
with questions received from the nine Congressional and
Executive bodies cited in paragraph 3, and for providing
responses to them;
b. Organize and, where appropriate, present briefings
on Directorate activities whether solicited by these
Congressional and Executive bodies or initiated by us;
E-2, IMPDET
CONFIDENTIAL
Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000200050028-5
 Approved For R,pase 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467 0200050028-5
CONFIDENTIAL
c. Function as the office of permanent record for
written or oral requests from the Oversight bodies as they
affect this Directorate;
d. 'Carry out the residual work of the SA/DDO with
respect to the Senate and House Select Committees, and to
maintain as appropriate the remaining records of that office;
e. Assist the Office of the DDO in presenting budget
and program data to the Congressional Appropriations Sub-
Committees; and
f. Identify issues affecting the Directorate which might
require legislative initiatives by CIA.
3. Scope. This officer would be vested with primary Directorate
staff responsibility for its relations with the following entities:
a. House Appropriations Sub-Committee
b. Senate Appropriations Sub-Committee
c. House Armed Services Committee
d. Senate Armed Services Committee
e. House International Relations Committee
f. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
g. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
h. Intelligence Oversight Board
i. President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.
Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000200050028-5
 Approved For Rase 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467VO200050028-5
CONFIDENTIAL
-3-
4. Style. The incumbent in the position of Special Assistant for
External Oversight will be tasked to provide a more active and dynamic
Directorate Qf Operations participation in the Agency's relationships with
these important bodies. While much of the work of this office will
necessarily be reactive in nature, a better understanding of the Directorate
and its methods, policies, and responsibilities will be fostered by sponsor-
ing briefings of key legislative officials in anticipation of problems and/or
legislative proposals, rather than in reaction to them. Direct relation-
ships with appropriate Congressional and Executive Staff offices will be
sought, but only through and in full coordination with OLC, OGC, and the
IG, as appropriate. Needless to say, the closest internal relationships
with those offices will be essential and it will be maintained. The purpose
of having this officer maintain such direct relationships is not only to
narrow the communication gap between the DDO and the outside world but
also to screen, to the extent possible, other Directorate officers from
needless exposure to a variety of Congressional staffers which in time will
erode cover and operational compartmentation affecting sources and methods
if a control point for doing this type of liaison is not established.
5. Comment. I would see this officer also serving as the representative
of the Directorate on any working-level body you may develop to deal with
the Agency's overall relationships with the oversight elements of either
branch of the Government. I would not assign to this officer any responsibility
for FOIA matters, although he will need to keep himself very familiar with25X1A
this are of activities.
%s7 E. H. Knoche
Deputy Director Designate of Central Intelligence
),'C -2 ,- _ vi-) cJ
- ,9X2 OOt T r /`JA 7
s JUN 1976
_Apprdued For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000200050028-5