LETTER TO MR. JOHN WILLIAM WARD FROM GEORGE BUSH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79M00467A001100010009-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 33
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 3, 2005
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: June 5, 1976
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved F > IIfaffl j0 NCkA BYO AO0110001000? 0
CENT
WASH INGT0N,b.C,. 20505
5 June 1976
Mr. John William ward
President
Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
Dear President Ward:
letter of 17 May 1976, in which
,, concerning
This is in response to your
you levied upon CIA a Freedom of Inform ton pc- requeesfi request conceoncerni
paid or unpaid contact between the Agency and any
student, or employee of Amherst College. This aspect of your
letter has been referred to the apprropriaee office you for ill -receive
under procedures design--d. to implement Act.
that response in due course.
You raised several other issues in your letter, and their
tone suggests that you misunderstand the nature of CIA contact
with the academic con~mmity. I note that you sent William Van
e, President, AAUP, a copy of your letter to me. As you
apparently are atirare, he also wrote expressing Concerns sine ax
apparently
to yours. I believe that my response to him was clear, and I
take the liberty of quoting here from that letter, dated 11 May 1976.
I said,
,,The Agency has several kinds of relationships
with scholars and scholarly institutions. They
include negotiated contracts forrescientific
social
research and development, matters that affect
science research on the many consultations
foreign policy, paid and unpaid
between scholars and CIA -research ss, con-
tracts with individuals t~rho have travelled ,
and other similar contracts that help s ful it
our priszry responsibility; i.e.,. to provide
policy makers of our government with information
and assessments of foreign developments.
We seek the voluntary and witting cooperation
of individuals who can help the foreign policy
'I~l1ose who help
processes of the United States , CY.c~ s~.onal=ly
are e}j,ressing a freedom of choice.
such relationships are confidential at our request,
Approved For Release 2005/06/08 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO01100010009-0
 any employee of any school with whom we have had an exchange of views
in his capacity as employee is free to acknowledge that fact. publicly
or to his college or university administration. My understanding of
these matters leads me to believe, however, that while consulting
with any part of our government a scholar usually thinks of himself-
as a private actor rather than as part of the institution of higher
education from which he comes. Thus, he feels neither more nor
less obligated to report his relationship with CIA than he would
his consultations with other U.S. agencies, with U.S. and foreign
businesses, or with foreign governments. Since we do not seek
scholarly contact from particular schools, but rather reach out
for advice from the best authorities wherever they may be, I see
some merit in the scholar's logic.
I also want you to be assured that I do understand the importai t
role of our colleges and universities in the preservation of freedom.
Each institution in our society must make its own rules mid policies
about the conduct of its members. I seriously disagree with two of
your points, hos?wever.
Approved ftrwRelease 2005/06/08 : CIA-RDP79MO04 A001100010009-0
but more often they are discreet at the scholar's
request because of his concern that he will be
badgered, by those who feel he should not be free
to make this particular choice.
None of the relationships are intended to
influence either what is taught or any other
aspect of a scholar's work. We specifically
do not try to inhibit the 'free search for truth
and its free exposition.' Indeed, we would be
foolish to do so, for it is the truth we seek.
We know that we have no monopoly on fact or on
understanding, and to restrict the search for
the truth would be extremely detrimental to our
own purposes. If CIA were to isolate itself
from the good counsel of the best scholars in
our country, we would surely become a narrow
organization that could give only inferior
service to the government. The complexity of
international relations today requires that our
research be strong, and we intend to keep it
strong by seeking the best perspectives from
inside and outside the government."
I hope that the above statement is reassuring. Let me say that
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 Approved Fd%Release 2005/06/08.: CIA-RDP79M004WA001100010009-0
First, X cannot agree that secrecy is necessarily a threat
to freedom--either to the freedom of the individual or to the
freedom associated with true scholarship. Surely you would not
argue that a professor whose research contributed to the development
of a sensor that could warn of strategic attack is obligated to
publish the research findings that make the system effective. I
also hope that you can see the merit of secrecy that ensures the
flow of vital information to the government by protecting sources
and methods of collection. If you can accept that secrecy, then
would you preclude a scholar who consults with the government from
reviewing information that is protected? And if a scholar reviews
secret factual details about a foreign policy problem, would you
require him to reveal those details when he writes his next article
on foreign affairs for a scholarly journal?
Finally, I hope that any policies or standards of ethics
that you adopt for Amherst will include an encouragement to serve
the society and its institutions. I believe that on his own time
a faculty member should be free to consult or contract with the -
CIA or any other part of the government without fear of censure.
For our part, we will never coerce someone to cooperate. Having
said that, it seems to me that a scholar's conscience, -rather
than an institutional "yes" or "no", should determine his relationship
with the government.
Sincerely,
Georg' Bush
Director
Distribution,
Driginal- Addressee
cys to DCI
DDCI
DDS &T
DDI
DDA
DDO
D/ DCI/' NiO
.Asst/DCI
l
C/!t'S I PS Chrono
Mr. Knoc'h-
t: S Academic- File - 3
STAT Ox' F, /I AAr roved For Release 2005/06/08 CIA-RDP79M00467A001100010009-0
 005/06/08: CIA-RD
Letter to John W. Ward President, Amherst Coileg~ F-76-324
?I
STAT
DDA/IPS
2 E 50 HQS
TO: (officer designation, room number, and
building)
'DDCI
Mr. Knoche EX-3
F0`3749
1 -5
Gene F. Wilson
C/IPS DX-2 Green
Even though the DCI signed
the letter which acknowledged
Mr. Ward's request, it is the
general consensus that this
letter, an FOIA response,
should be signed by Mr. Wil so
The attached draft reflects
changes and/or suggested re S,
visions provided by Messrs. .
INTERNAL
^ SECRET ^ CONFIDENTIAL ^ UNCLASSIFIED
f( TAugust 3,976
OFFICER'S COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
INITIALS to whom. Draw a line across column after each comrcrart.)
fA6bWd&1 o009-
AT
AT
 Approved For Release 2005/06108 CIA-RDP79M9g467A001100010009-0
John Wil
P liam Ward
resident
.Amherst College
Amherst AIA 01002
Dear President Ward:
This is
Augusin res
t
1976 sent 1976,9 andpon e to your letters h You by the DireferenrectorcOfe to then F
etterla x. 1976 and
We have cam Central Inte:llz tedTune
the results completed an exhaustive gejice.
disclo
latzonships wi Se' that this search of
either asth anyone who Agency mair~
b .tainsour records and
ody a member of the S connected no covert
staffi with Amherst re-
or as a member of 'College, have deter the sttraen;t
We number of mined thafi
Cagle varied contacts over the
ge in the 19co with membersyofrt s there' had
C the 1970s fewer been a
in -
purposes such These'contactsn the 1960s, and Staff at Amhors
employment as identificatio ave run the only a couple t
materials professional n of pros gamut of routine
by Amherst Consultation pective candidates for
None oft College Personnel and requests for study
Even than heSe contacts
Even s gh the could not involved
without viola tin 'divulge the Cavert relationshij.
the are nevertheless gr g their indaidvidualentities of
, 1976 atif1ed to Such in
May l7 `
indi_
names of an You stated that Hate thatghfi to privac
Y specific individualsjJexM1e Hat interYourested l in etter th-e
of
YV~e wish to thank you for
your interest in the Agency
Sincerely'
G
Tnforr:lat.ion
ene P'
end Privacy' Coordinator
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~TT6-.t37~'~
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 Approved FqS1F&ggg0
A-1 4 (1 e4-
~C,Y` &A
4/bT s(fwa+ .
C k
It appears that he is expecting
a reply from us. Please look into this.
GB 8-6
UM-Wmwft
zo. 1~e . OOOO4eOO4**1C1C)()
Ps.
, /7Z,
40/ %
Approve c a re..Oa+!
010009-0
 UNLLASSIFIEApprove[d_, Wfo"& 2005/06/08: CIA-RCP 9Ad Wb 11hA1b010009-0[] SECRET
STA
STA
OFFICER'S
INITIALS
DATE SENT
21 September 1976
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
STMT
FDat., 3749
-75
JOHN WILLIAM WARD
C/FOI&PLD
SEP 1976
NTERNAL ^ UNCLASSIFIED
[~ SECRET ^ CONFIDENTIAL ^ I
ONLY
 Approved r Release 2005/06/08 : CIA-RDP79MW67AO01100010009-0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON,D.C. 20505
Mr. John William Ward
President, Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts
This is in response to your letters of 17 May 1976 and 2 August 1976
to the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) requesting, under the Freedom of
Information Act, information concerning "paid or unpaid contacts between the
CIA and any faculty member, student or employee of Amherst College."
As you can appreciate, this Agency receives many requests for
information under the Freedom of Information Act regarding confidential
relationships between the CIA and various foreign and American individuals
and institutions. We are obliged, however, to respond to such requests
neither affirmatively nor negatively because the DCI has a responsibility,
under paragraph 102(d) (3) of the National Security Act of 1947, to protect
intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure.. To the
extent A c A4'dtV200511'6B/ 10 lA 4OPV9FAOU 0VftWd@0V'- scant
to the authority of exemption (b) (3) of the Freedom of Information Act.
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I regret that under the circumstances we are unable to be more
forthcoming in our response to your request. May I add, however, that as _
the Director pointed out in his letter to you of June 5, any academician with
whom the Agency has a relationship is free to acknowledge that fact to his or
her college or university administration. Let me also repeat his assurance
that we do understand and appreciate the vital role of our colleges and univer-
sities in the preservation of freedom.
Sincerely,
Gene F. Wilson
Information and Privacy Coordinator
-2-
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 DIRECTOR OIL ENT1 AL INTELLIC NCE
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It appears that he is expecting
a reply from us. Please look into this.
GB 8-6
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 s Execitivs 19ogtsuy
'Approved F MHMOjtp6/(LOM4-- '9MO0 AO01 0( ,40-0 Q
AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS 01002
413-542-2234
The President 413-542-2000
August 2, 1976
George Bush, Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C. 20505
Dear Mr. George Bush: .
My slowness in responding to you is no measure of
my pleasure with your personal and thoughtful response to my
letter of inquiry.
I look forward to the response from "the appropriate
office" to the question concerning paid or unpaid contact be-
tween the Central Intelligency Agency and any faculty member,
student, or employee of Amherst College.
I have deliberated for some time whether to respond
at.length, and have decided not to. First, I truly do not wish
to impose. myself upon you. I was not being simply polite when
I said your responsibilities are heavy, and I would not wish to
add to them unduly. Second, as a friend once said to me when
we were talking together about one's political responsibility,
my first responsibility is to see to it that the institution
at which I have the pleasure of being President is well-run.
So, I would prefer to wait upon an answer to my inquiry before
rhetorical speculation.
There are distinctions properly to be made, and you
make some. There are also differences, I suspect, between us
on how a scholar or an institution of learning may best serve
American society. If I were to pursue those differences, it
would best be done by way of particular instances, so I will
resist the impulse and wait to see if there are instances
which involve Amherst College which are germane to my concerns.
Again, however, I truly thank you for your letter.
Cordially,
11
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 Approve or- Release 2005/06/08 : CIA-RDP79Mg7A001100010009-0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASH INGTON, D.C. 20505
5 June 1976
"The Agency has several kinds of relationships
with scholars and scholarly institutions. They
include negotiated contracts for scientific
research and development, contracts for social
science research on the many matters that affect
foreign policy, paid and unpaid consultations
between scholars and CIA research analysts, con-
tracts with individuals who have travelled abroad,
and other similar contracts that help us fulfill
our primary responsibility; i.e., to provide the
policy makers of our government with information
and assessments of foreign developments..
We seek the voluntary and witting cooperation
of individuals who can help the foreign policy
processes of the United States. Those who help
are expressing a freedom of choice. Occasionally
such relationships are confidential at our request,
lUeoutive Registry
Ream 7-t-12
10,*adguartsrs Approved For
Mr. John William Ward
President
Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
This is in response to your letter of 17 May 1976, in which
you levied upon CIA a Freedom of Information Act request concerning
paid or unpaid contact between the Agency and any faculty member,
student, or employee of Amherst College. This aspect of your
letter has been referred to the appropriate office for handling
under procedures designed to implement the Act. You will receive
that. response in due course.
You raised several other issues in your letter, and their
tone suggests that you misunderstand the nature of CIA contact
with the academic community. I note that you sent William Van
Alstyne, President, AAUP, a copy of your letter to me. As you
apparently are aware, he also wrote expressing concerns similar
to yours. I believe that my response to him was clear, and I
take the liberty of quoting here from that letter, dated 11 May 1976.
I said,
 Approved ,+Release 2005/06/08: CIA-RDP79MOZA001100010009-0
but more often they are discreet at the scholar's
request because of his concern that he will be
badgered by those who feel he should not be free
to make this particular choice.
None of the relationships are intended to
influence either what is taught or any other
aspect of a scholar's work. We specifically
do not try to inhibit the 'free search for truth
and its free exposition.' Indeed, we would be
foolish to do so, for it is the truth we seek.
We know that we have no monopoly on fact or on
understanding, and to restrict the search. for
the truth would be extremely detrimental to our
own purposes. If CIA were to isolate itself
from the good counsel of the best scholars in
our country, we would surely become a narrow
organization that could give only inferior
service to the government. The complexity of
international relations today requires that our
research be strong, and we intend to keep it
strong by seeking the best perspectives from
inside and outside the government."
I hope that the above statement is reassuring. Let me say that
any employee of any school with whom we have had an exchange of views
in his capacity as employee is free to acknowledge that fact publicly
or to his college or university administration. Nly understanding of
these matters leads me to believe, however, that while consulting
with any part of our government a scholar usually thinks of himself
as a private actor rather than as part of the institution of higher
education from which he comes. Thus, he feels neither more nor
less obligated to report his relationship with CIA than he would
his consultations with other U.S. agencies, with U.S. and foreign
businesses, or with foreign governments. Since we do not seek
scholarly contact from particular schools, but rather reach out
for advice from the best authorities wherever they may be, I see
some merit in the scholar's logic.
I also want you to be assured that I do understand the important
role of our colleges and universities in the preservation of freedom.
Each institution in our society must make its own rules and policies
about the conduct of its members. I seriously disagree with two of
your points, however.
2 -
Approved For Release 2005/06/08 : CIA-RDP79M00467A001100010009-0
 ApprovedfWp Release 2005/06/08: CIA-RDP79Mf7A001100010009-0
First, I cannot agree that secrecy is necessarily a threat
to freedom--either to the freedom of the individual or to the
freedom associated with true scholarship. Surely you would not
argue that a professor whose research contributed to the development
of a sensor that could warn of strategic attack is obligated to
publish the research findings that make the system effective. I
also hope that you can see the merit of secrecy that ensures the
flow of vital information to the government by protecting sources
and methods of collection. If you can accept that secrecy, then
would you preclude a scholar who consults with the government from
reviewing information that is protected? And if a scholar reviews
secret factual details about a foreign policy problem, would you
require him to reveal those details when he writes his next article
on foreign affairs for a scholarly journal?
Finally, I hope that any policies or standards of ethics
that you adopt for Amherst will include an encouragement to serve
the society and its institutions. I believe that on his own time
a faculty member should be free to consult or contract with the
CIA or any other part of the government without fear of censure.
For our part, we will never coerce someone to cooperate. Having
said that, it seems to me that a scholar's conscience, rather
than an institutional "yes" or "no", should determine his relationship
with the government.
Sincerely,
GeoxgZF?Bush
Director
Distribution:
Original.- Addressee
cys to DCI
DDCI
DDS&T
DDI
DDA
DDO
D/ DCI1 NIO
Asst/DCI
C/IPS
Mr. Knoche
C/Review Staff
ES Academic File - 3 -
ER
STAT OPR/ Ap roved For Release 2005/06/08 CIA-RDP79M00467A001100010009-0
 Approvbed Apr, R ~}ease -.20006/:08 : CIA7D79M
uc"ADAMD~lu G Q. Barbara
I've revised the letter to President Ward
of Amherst College, taking account of Mr.. Bush',s
ideas. It seems to me that, because of the very
specific mention of covert relationships in the
Parkhurst letter, the response to'that should not
be revised. We have retyped the first page of the
X more complete
Parkhurst letter to accommodate
address line.
FORM USE PRCVIOUS
5.75 I?1 EDITIONS
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 Approved For Release 2005/06/08 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO01100010009-0
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WNW
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHING1 N,D.C. 20508
26 May 1976
Approved For Release 2005/06/08 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO01100010009-0
Mr. John William Ward
President
Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
Dear President Ward:
of individuals who can help the foreign policy 0 4ur104,
processes of the United States. Those who help cz
"The Agency has several kinds of relationships
with scholars- and scholarly institutions. They
include negotiated contracts for scientific .
research and development, contracts for social
science research on the many matters that affect
foreign policy, paid and unpaid consultations between
scholars and CIA research analysts, contacts
with individuals who have travelled abroad, and
other similar contacts that help us fulfill our
primary responsibility; i.e., to provide the
policy makers of our government with information
and assessments of foreign developments.
We seek the voluntary and witting' cooperation
ram
L
at 1etter, dated 11 May 1076. I said,
This is in response to your letter of 17 May 1976, in
which you levied upon CIA a Freedom of Information Act
request concerning paid or unpaid contact between the
Agency and any faculty member, student, or employee of
Amherst College. This aspect of your letter has been
referred to the appropriate office for handling under
procedures designed to implement the Act. You will receive
that response in due course.
You raised several other issues in your letter, and
their tone suggests that you misunderstand the nature of
CIA contact with the academic community. I note that you
sent William Van Alstyne, President, AAUP, a copy of your
.letter to me. As you apparently are aware, he also wrote
expressing concerns similar to yours. I believe that my
response to him was clear, and I take the'liberty of quoting
11
her f h
 Approve' Release 2005/06/08: CIA-RDP79MQW7A00.1100010009-0
are expressing a freedom of choice. Occasionally
such relationships are..confidential at our request,
but more often they are. discreet at the scholar's
request because of his concern that he will. be
badgered by those who feel.he should not be free
to make this particular choice.
None of the relationships are intended to
influence either what is taught or any other
aspect of a scholar's work. We specifically
do not try to inhibit the 'free search for truth
and its free exposition.' Indeed, we would be
foolish to do so, for it is the truth we seek.
We know that we have no monopoly on fact or on
and to restrict the search for
derstanding
,
un
the truth would be extremely detrimental to our
own purposes. If CIA were to isolate itself
from the good counsel of the best scholars in
our country, we would surely become a narrow
organization that could give only inferior
service to the government. The complexity of
international relations today requires that our
it
research be strong, and we intend to keep
strong by seeking the best perspectives from
inside and outside the government.??
.I hope that the above statement is reassuring.'-TWithout
,knowing right now whether there has been contact between the
CIA and employees of Amherst, let me say that any employee
of any school with whom we have had an exchange of views in.
his capacity as employee is free to acknowledge that fact
publicly or to his college or university administration. My
understanding of these matters leads me to believe, however,
that while consulting with any part of our government a
scholar usually thinks of himself as a private actor rather
than as part of the institution of higher education from
which he comes. Thus, he feels neither more nor less
obligated to report his relationship with CIA than he would,
his consultations with other U.S-. agencies,. with U.S. and.
foreign businesses, or with foreign governments. Since we do
contact from particular schools, but rather
l
l
h
ar
y
o
not seek sc
reach out for advice from the best authorities wherever they
may be, I see some merit in the scholar's logic.-.
Sincerely,
George Bush
Director
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-2-
 FdEReCb OM6/Q6'F'CFAFfWP79M00467A001100016009-0
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Next 1 Page(s) In Document Exempt
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 UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL SECRET
OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP
TO
NAME AND ADDRESS
DATE
INITIALS
I
Coordinator for Academic R
elations
2
3E 3 HQS
3
4
5
6
ACTION
DIRECT REPLY
PREPARE REPLY
APPROVAL
DISPATCH
RECOMMENDATION
COMMENT
FILE
RETURN
CONCURRENCE
INFORMATION
SIGNATURE
Remarks:
Per our telephone conversation, attached are
some very rough notes the Director made for
consideration as additions to the letters for
Messrs. Parkhurst and Ward. I have given a
copy to ODDO I If you agree that
these thoughts are worthy of inclusion, please
have the letters retyped (and the Director said he
has no pride in the prose, so go ahead and edit
as you think proper).
If the letter to Parkhurst is retyped, please
have the address lines changed as indicated on the
slip of paper attached.
FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER
FROM: NAME. ADDRESS AND PHONE NO.
DATE
/ /
proved /EIF 08 : Cf~=RDP79M0046
A0 1000
UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL
SECRET
FORM -NO- 9'7 Use previous editions
 MUJORARDIN 'FOR Approve Release~2OU5/x}6(0
Here is a suggested:.revision of'~.the letter
to President Ward. You might wish to check
entence of the last paragraph. I
d
s
the secon
think it is true, and it is the-;beginning of the
statement of principles that:I am attempting to
draft. It. separates . the, question'of a scholar's
responsibility to report CIA contact. when he.see
himself as independent_ actor.,from his.-Leap
capacity It~leaves the choice of
ther case
reporting to the scholar in ei
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 Approver Release 2005/06/08: CIA-RDP79Mr4Q4'67A001100010009-0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON,D.C. 20505
26 May 1976
Mr. John William Ward
President
Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
Dear President Ward:
This is in response to your letter of 17 May 1976, in
which you levied upon CIA a Freedom of Information Act
request concerning paid or unpaid contact between the
Agency and any faculty member, student, or employee of
Amherst College. This aspect of your letter has been
referred to the appropriate office for handling under
procedures designed to implement the Act. You will receive
that response in due course.
You raised several other issues in your letter, and
their tone suggests that you misunderstand the nature of
CIA contact with the academic community. I note that you
sent William Van Alstyne, President, AAUP, a copy of your
letter to me. As you apparently are aware, he also wrote
expressing concerns similar to yours. I believe that my
response to him was clear, and I take the liberty of quoting
here from that letter, dated 11 May 1976. I said,
"The Agency has several kinds of relationships
with scholars and scholarly institutions. They
include negotiated contracts for scientific
research and development, contracts for social
science research on the many matters that affect
foreign policy, paid and unpaid consultations between
scholars and CIA research analysts, contacts
with individuals who have travelled abroad, and
other similar contacts that help us fulfill our
primary responsibility; i.e., to provide the
policy makers of our government with information
and assessments of foreign developments.
We seek the voluntary and witting cooperation
of individuals who can help the foreign policy ,ovuTzoN
processes of the United States. Those who help '%
U ~ m
Approved For Release 2005/06/08 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO01100010009-0 v~b' 6^a
rrs-1g+
 Approved. Release 2005/06/08 : CIA-RDP79MB"7A001100010009-0
are expressing a freedom of choice. Occasionally
such relationships are confidential at our request,
but more often they are discreet at the scholar's
request because of his concern that he will be
badgered by those who feel he should not be free
to make this particular choice.
None of the relationships are intended to
influence either what is taught or any other
aspect of a scholar's work. We specifically -
do not try to inhibit the 'free search for truth
and its free exposition.' Indeed, we would be
foolish to do so, for it is the truth we seek.
We know that we have no monopoly on fact or on
understanding, and to restrict the search for
the truth would be extremely detrimental to our
own purposes. If CIA were to isolate itself
from the good counsel of the best scholars in
our country, we would surely become a narrow
organization that could give only inferior
service to the government. The complexity of
international relations today requires that our
research be strong, and we intend to keep it
strong by seeking the best perspectives from
inside and outside the government."
.I hope that the above statement is reassuring. Without
knowing right now whether there has been contact between the
CIA and employees of Amherst, let me say that any employee
of any school with whom we have had an exchange of views in
his capacity as employee is free to acknowledge that fact
publicly or to his college or university administration. My
understanding of these matters leads me to believe, however,
that while consulting with any part of our government a
scholar usually thinks of himself as a private actor rather
than as part of the institution of higher education from
which he comes. Thus, he feels neither more nor less
obligated to report his relationship with CIA than he would
his consultations with other U.S. agencies, with U.S. and
foreign businesses, or with foreign governments. Since we do
not seek scholarly contact from particular schools, but rather
reach out for advice from the best authorities wherever they
may be, I see some merit in the scholar's logic.-
Sincerely,
George Bush
Director
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AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS 00110002
May 17, 1976
413-54.2-2234
413-542-2000
STAT
Mr. George Bush
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C. 20505
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Activities, under
the Chairmanship of Senator Frank Church, in its report on covert and
clandestine relations between the C.I.A. and universities, recommended
no action to prohibit such relations. Instead, the Senate Select Commit-
tee said it believes "it is the responsibility of private institutions
and particularly the American academic community to set the professional
and ethical standards of its members."
I accept the responsibility named by the Senate Select Committee,
and write you for information which I need in order to discharge it. Under
the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552), I wish to know, as President
of Amherst College, whether any intelligence operation conducted by the
C.I.A. has involved any faculty member, student, or employee of Amherst
College, including, but not limited to, paid or unpaid agents or informers.
I do not wish to have the name of specific individuals. I wish
only to know whether and to what extent any individual at Amherst College
may have been involved in covert relations with the C.I.A. Frankly, I am
incredulous that any individual could possibly have been, but then the
report of the Senate Select Committee is surely a challenge to innocent
faith in the operations of agencies of the United States government.
I do not wish to lecture faculty, students, or employees of the
College, in the abstract, about their professional and ethical obligations.
To do so could only arouse general suspicion and free-floating anxiety,
wonderment about why I address the question at all. I find myself in the
awkward position of not knowing, by definition, whether there is some secret
arrangement between the C.I.A. and any member of the College, now or in
the past.
Important issues are involved. At Amherst College, we try to teach
students to live by a code of "intellectual responsibility." A sentence
from that code reads, "Amherst cannot educate those who are unwilling to sub-
mit their own work and ideas to critical assessment." The sentence is an
attempt to capture in words the ideal of an intellectual community, the
belief that openness, honesty, the willingness to say what one has to say
and to accept criticism and to listen to opposing views are essential, the
necessary conditions of intellectual life. Secrecy subverts those essential
values and conditions. It is, to put it simply, intolerable in an academic
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Mr. George Bush
-2- May 17, 1976
More is involved, no less than the conditions of freedom in a
pluralistic and free society. That is not simply rhetoric. Your respon-
sibilities as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency are heavy and
grave. The justification of all you do derives finally from the defense
of freedom. But in a free society, the surest way to subvert freedom is
to call into doubt, to question the authenticity and credibility of free
and independent institutions within American society itself.
Between the isolated individual and the awesome power of the state,
a free society depends upon intermediate institutions to act as buffers
against power, to say "No" to power. To erode the capacity to believe that
private institutions do play the role which freedom requires is to create
a psychology of mistrust and fear which can only weaken freedom itself.
Your responsibility is great. My responsibility is small. But to
discharge my responsibility, namely, to remind members of one academic com-
munity of their proper intellectual and moral and political responsibility,
requires information from you. It is information legally required, but I
would not insist on that. It is morally required.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Cordially,
ohn William Ward
cc: William W. Van Alstyne, President, AAUP
George L. Shinn, Chairman, Board of Trustees
Senator Frank Church
Senator Edward Kennedy
Senator Edward Brooke
914 0 1Z AM
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4
SAINT LOUIS UNIVER$ITY
OFFICE OF LAW PLACEMENT SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI a
September 23, 1976
Mr. William Colby
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear Sirs
Each year a number of graduating law students-at Saint. Louis
University School of Law inquire about the opportunities in
the various federal agencies and departments througho t the
country. Our placement office would therefore appreciate it
if you could supply us with a list of any legal posit ns.
which will be open in May of 1977. Specifically, coup you
include all the requirements for the job, along with brief
Job description.
Thank you for your attention in this matter. We looforward
RCS:3sh
Richard C. Sheerarp J.D.
Placement Director
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