PREPARATION FOR DCI'S MEETING WITH REPORTERS' BREAKFAST GROUP AND 'MEET THE PRESS.'

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CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020-6
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RIPPUB
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K
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30
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December 12, 2016
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July 23, 2002
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20
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Publication Date: 
February 17, 1976
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MF
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ATINTL fATINTL Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M0 7AO02700050020-6 17 February 1976 MEMORANDUM FOR: Morning Meeting Participants SUBJECT Preparation for DCI's Meeting with Reporters' Breakfast Group and "Meet the Press." The Director might want some briefing before he goes on "Meet the Press" on 22 February. He also might want some briefing before the Budge Sperling reporters' breakfast on Thursday, 19 February. Attached are some first whacks at questions and possible answers. If you have any suggestions, corrections, or additions please tell me, our secretaries on matters, e.g. China, which doubtless will come up. or dictate to one of Please note I have not dealt with substantive intelligence STATINTL Angus MacLean Thuermer Assistant to the Director Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020-6 ? S Possible Questions and Answers for Sperling Breakfast and Meet the Press Question Why won't you make public the names of newspapermen who have been associated with CIA in the past? A number of leading newsmen have felt that this would clear the air. Answer I think we've now gone about as far as we can in this matter. This is an area where I would especially hope for understanding on the part of the press. As a matter of sheer practicality, this country cannot run a secret foreign intelligence service if we go around talking about the people who work with us. This seems pretty clear and fundamental to me. We want the same sanctity for our sources you newspapermen want for yours. Question Your press release didn't include such persons as photographers. Answers No, it didn't. And it. didn't include copyboys and copygirls, either. Our statement was meant to convey our intent. It was not a finely-tuned legal document. I think we're going to have to stand on what we've said. Question Did your statement refer only to U.S. newspapermen? Answer No. If you look at the statement, you will see that it says, "any paid or contractual relationship with any full-time or part-time news correspondent accredited by any U.S. news service, paper, periodical, radio, etc., etc." In all of the hue and cry about newspapermen, I was interested to hear of a commentary by one of your colleagues (Eric Sevareid). He drew a parallel between now and the frenzy of the McCarthy period. He mentioned the phrase, "are you now or have you ever been?" in connection Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020-6 Approved Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M0~67AO02700050020-6 -2- with those alleged to be Communists. He added that the phrase once again is "are you now or have you ever been?" an associate of CIA for exactly the opposite reason: for being thought to be an ardent anti-Communist. As we've mentioned often, none of our associations with newsmen were aimed at influencing the content of the American press. As you people know best of all, a newspaperman has access to people and places that other people simply don't have. You can just come to your own conclusions about what this means for an intelligence organization. And incidentally, the suspicion in some closed societies and some not so closed -- that newspapermen are close to their government certainly did not arise with the birth of the CIA. Long before the Agency was born, friends'of mine, correspondents in police states, have been grilled on the suspicion that they were intelligence personnel. This suspicion on the part of totalitarian governments is not going to go away no matter what I or you or anyone else says. It's just one of those facts of life. uestion How many persons are involved in this phase-down of newsmen you've mentioned in your press statement? Answer My recollection is that it's somewhere less than a score of persons. Question You've said that you won't have any secret relationships with any clergymen or missionaries. Wheat does that mean? Answer It's all pretty simple. It means that here and there in the Agency there are a few cvertly employed persons such as lay preachers and part-time religious leaders. Question What do you think of the ViZZage Voice publishing 24 pages of what it says was a version of the Pike Committee report? Answer The White House has spoken out on that subject and the Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Approved Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79MOW 7AO02700050020-6 -3- Secretary of State has had a few words to say, and I can only add that we have never favored its publication but we don't want it suppressed: we want the secret stuff taken out of it. Question Are you going to take any legal action against the leakers? Answer That's a matter for the Justice Department. Question You've been at the Agency now for a couple of weeks. What changes do you have in mind in the structure of the Agency? Answer Draw on Presidential statement. Question Do you favor a single joint oversight committee? Answer I don't have any set thoughts on that. Naturally, that is the Congress's own business but I do think that reporting in to six committees is a bit much- We've seen the secrecy problems that are inherent in the present situation. But of course, we'll adjust ourselves to anything the Congress decides. Question I see that you were out on the West Coast where one paper said that not that you lost your shirt but that you lost your underwear. Would you care to say what you were doing on the West Coast? Answer When I see some of the great intelligence puzzles that are solved by our experts at the Agency, I sometimes wish that they could be unleashed on the problem of airline baggage. No, I was not out to the West Coast to lose my shirt or my shorts, or anything else. I was out for some official briefings. Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Approved Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M0~67A002700050020-6 -4- uestion Did you see former President Nixon when you were out there? Did your trip out there have anything to do with Mr. Nixon's trip to China? What do you think of Mr. Nixon's trip to China. Answer No, in no way. I did not see former President Nixon. I was engaged solely in official Agency business. I do know Mr. Nixon is widely respected in Chinese governmental circles, and the popularity enjoyed by Julie and David Eisenhower is quite evident. Other than these observations, I'd rather not get into any commentary on his trip. Question Some have said that you were about to open up a big publicity campaign at the Agency. Would you care to comment on that? Answer There's no hiding the fact that the A en h g cy as a problem in some parts of the country with what has become known as "image". I'm certainly not going to mount a great publicity operation; on the other hand, I hope to meet occasionally with newspapermen -- as I'm doing today -- and make a few public appearances, as I did on "60 Minutes" last week. This will be part of my effort to explain to the American people just what intelligence is, how important it is, and its role in our government. There's a lot of myth about it and I feel that. we should have some facts floating around as well. Let me take this opportunity to say how impressed I've been by the quality of the people I have met out at CIA, and . in the intelligence community generally. We could staff a medium-sized university with the Ph.D.'s we have around there at Langley. You want to know something about aerodynamics, and you press a button and the man who knows shows up. I simply have to say that in the short time I've been out there, I'm impressed. Question Mr. Bush, there have been a number of comments about your very active political past and the tradition that such political persons as yourself should not be appointed to the post of Director of Central Intelligence. Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020-6 Approved a Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79MOf 7AO02700050020-6 -5- Answer Use material from your hearings, and from your statement the day you were sworn in. Good stuff. Question What is your view on covert action? Answer Use material used at the Frank Shakespeare. meeting in New York. It was excellent. uestion What do you think about advance notice to Congressional committees on proposed covert action? Answer I think we run into a constitutional question here. The conduct of foreign policy is a prerogative of the Executive. Under the present arrangements, the "timely" notification of Congress of covert action of which the President has approved in practice follows almost immediately after the Agency gets approval. There are a number of chances for Congressional members who don't like the proposed operations to make their feelings felt. Just because the Agency has approval doesn't mean the operation starts off like a rocket. There's plenty of time for legitimate discussion. with the President himself, if need be, by Congressional members who don't like what is proposed. uestion You have a lot of old friends up on the Hill. Will you be up lobbying for the Agency? Answer Not only do I have friends up: on the Hill but the Agency itself has a lot of friends up on the Hill. I certainly will make myself available to any member who wants information about the Agency or its position on subjects bearing on intelligence. Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020-6 -6- Question What do you think about the suggestion that the Defense Intelligence Agency should be abolished? Answer That's nonsense. The DIA has a broad and vital role in the military structure and in the intelligence community. In addition to its significant input in the total intelligence community, it also does a tremendous amount of absolutely necessary departmental level intelligence which our Armed Forces simply must have. Question We've had reports about low morale at the Agency and that intelligence gathering has been adversely affected and that foreigners won't cooperate with CIA any more. Is that really true? Answer Give a pat on the back to employees: good morale in bad situation, steadfast folk, etc. But underscore the seriousness of revelations, the genuinely bad effect on operations. You might wish to mention the London Daily Telegraph article, "Is America Going Mad?" in this context. (copy attached.) Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Approved FRelease A0I/b$ 9 rItIP7ftDP79M00467A00270 002U~ IS . A ME ICA' GOJ'NG, . AD? * IT IS TIME America's friends spoke out,ivith some nasty questions to'the so-called "liberal" east-coast establish- ment. By that we mean sections of the Press, sections of. Congress, - television - commentators : and comedians, -university 'pundits and a ? lot of other people who may think there is a dollar to be made out of denigrating their country's institutions and leaders. - We all know about the ' trauma " of Vietnam and Watergate, but it's getting a bit boring. ? How long has?t e rest of-the free world got to put up with these tender-minded people recov~rjg?from their " trauma'"? '?Jndefirtitely? America is accustomed to, and' has merited,-a. good 'deal of deference from: her' allies. -.But deference can be a disservice:-`114, United States should know? that her European cousins' and allies are appalled and disgusted by the present. open disarray of her public life. The self-criticism and self-destructive tendencies are running mad, with no countervailing force in sight. She has no foreign policy any more, because Congress will not allow it. Her intelligence arm, the C I A, is being gutted and rendered inoperative, the names of its staff being published so that they can be murdered. Her President and Secretary of State are being 'hounded, not for what they do but simply because ' they 'are people there,'to be pulled down We hope, and .believe that the vicious antics, of the liberal east-coast establishiiient, which are doing all this untold harm, do not' reflect the feelings of the mass of the country. But it is a matter for wonder, ? Is the country as a whole becoming deranged? Surely not.. Perhaps the Presidential election later this year will clear the air. ? Yet that is still .l1 months away, and in the meantime there' is all the campaigning to be gone through. Please, America, for God's sake pull yourself -together. Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Approved- Releaj,2OO2/08/2I : CIA-RDP79MO'A002700050020-6 TRANSMITTAL SLIP DATE19 FEB 1976 TO: DCI ROOM NO. BUILDING REMARKS: FROM: Angus MacLean Thuermer ROOM NO. BUILDING EXTENSION If FEB 55 24 REPLACES FORM 36-8 WHICH MAY BE USED. 7 6 -~v~ ~313/i Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020-6 ? Addendum to Possible Questions and Answers for Meet the Press (Mr. Warner) Question Isn't the legislation to protect sources and methods similar to the British Official Secrets Act? Answer No. It is a far more limited piece of legislation. It is designed to provide criminal sanctions for disclosures of intelligence sources and methods to unauthorized persons. Furthermore, its application is limited to employees and former employees and employees and former employees of contractors. It applies only where there is a privity of relationship and the individual receives sensitive information because of his relationship to the Government. By its terms it specifically excludes any application to persons who have had no such privity of relationship, thus effectively and purposely excluding representatives of the media. Also, the legislation pro- vides that the Attorney General could apply to a court for an injunction restraining publication or other acts which would disclose in an unauthorized fashion protected intelligence sources and methods. Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020-6 Approved For Release 2002/08/21: CIA-RDP79M00467AO027000500 .,R WILL CHECK CI.A.SSI ATION TOP AND BOTTOM SEND- .,R SEND- UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL SECRET OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP Mr. Thuermer ACTION ( DIRECT REPLY APPROVAL I I DISPATCH CONCURRENCE INFORMATION COMMENT FILE For your information. FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER O/DCI UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL FIRM $0. 237 Use previous editions 1-67 proved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 ApprovedAr Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79MO MEMORANDL.IMi FOR TEE RECORD 29 January 1976 g o s i e it back. I said I would be willing to consider that. He said he would not make this public until- d was announced to come out a day or.two after the" 22nd, we mi ht want t ]'d , nor.. did I think anyone at the White House, and so we agreed that told him that I didn't know when that was going to be y a wanted to have it right after the release of the President's report or recommendations on reform- T I. committed to him to be on "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Februa 22 H r Bill. Monroe- "Meet the Press" ten ays before the 22nd.. (cc: Mr. Thuermer) Approved For Release 2002/08/21: CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 ACTION INFO DATE INITIAL 1 DCI 2 DDCI 3 S/MC 4 DDS&T 5 DD1 6 DDA 7 DDO 8 D/DCI/IC 9 D/DCI/NI 10 . GC 11 LC 12 IG 13, Compt 14 D/Pers 15 D/S 16 DTR 17 Asst/ DCI 18 AO/DCI 19 20 21 22 Approve or Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79 67A002 IRVING WALLACE 308 SOUTH BRISTOL AVENUE LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA 90049 February 18, 1976 sculive egistry f Mr. George H. Bush Director Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D.C. 20505 My dear Mr. Bush, I have enclosed an advance copy of my latest novel, THE R DOCUMENT. You may note that the book opens with an epigraph In 1787, after the delegates in Philadelphia signed the new United States Constitution, a woman approached Benjamin Franklin. "Well, Doctor," she asked, "what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" Franklin replied, "A republic, if you can keep it." Of course, we must and will keep it, and it was to underline this necessity that I wrote this hook. +y novel is about a day in the very near future when an effort is made, by a majority in the government, to tamper with the Bill of Rights, to find a legal means to suspend it indefinitely when necessary. I have not attempted a scholarly tract on the subject. I am a novelist and a storyteller, and I felt I could best dramatize the vital importance of our first ten amendments in the form of a highly dramatic, suspenseful story. Because I thought the book and the theme might be of special interest to you, I am taking the liberty of sending a copy to you. I hope you will enjoy the hook. Sincerely yours, ;1' le i /7/ 7.'- Irving Wallace Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 ?o1r . /6 UNCLASSIFIED tI pproved For Release 2002/08/21 CIA-RDP79M~4 W ,9 EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT Routing Slip SECRET ACTION INFO DATE INITIAL 1 DCI 2 DDCI 3 S/MC 4 DDS&T 5 DDI 6 DDA 7 DDO 8 D/DCI/IC 9 D/DCI/NI 10 GC 11 LC 12 1G 13 Compt 14 D/ Pers 15 D/S 16 DTR 17 Asst/ DCI 18 AO/DCI 19 20 21 22 ?/i--,'- ~,p rQyed F elease 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02 Coifeie Iwrse a rche College Marketing Et Recherche And Research ? Canada Canada CONFIDENTIAL =_ . e orge Bush _n Intelligence Agency ~-/McLean, Vg. / ~^ington, D.C. 20505 Bush: ~-/O5~?fo ?' w = M a ations on your appointment and confirmation. You will do cre to the Presidential choice as you did:as congressman from Texas, -Nations ambassador, chairman of the Republican Party, and envoy- M.) o ei china. _-erican people and the United States government still do have fr. =s in other countries. Friends who agree with the need to remain T ;__~m t in order to defend freedom and.democracy - even to the extent o=rye--er knowing what friendly neighbouring countries are doing. .. realize that the Job of the Central Intelligence Agenc i ., y s recent congressional and media --e_i.-ties. And we would like to help you and the CIA. 4 e a offering the use of our nationwide network as a better th d me o . of- theri.ng needed information such as topics of oil and gas from 3--.r and other areas of the Canadian west and north, TIME/Readers MEee- and border tv stations, etc. Issues and potential problems. - are also prepared to accredit your people as representatives of our s=__-ry, News/Fotos Canada America/U.S.A. (CriRC) Limited, and arranges of their material in other publications or our own newsmagazine currently in the works. contact on the matter for any one to reach is Mr. Lime-Kirk. .-Ts _ forward to hearing from you soon. . ,,-4 en Pre_=ent C?.C. B=x 7147-A CMRC?- An Equal Opportunity Organization C-. M5W 1X8 CMRC?- Une Organisation de Chances Egales . = 363-6000 CMRC?- Una Organizacion de Oportunidades Iguales Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Ap ved For Release CMRC L?J[ tee1lnc. a Beatleboards Canadaip CoUege Marketing And Research Canada r)!- a c,n,n.,4sr ~?_. , . I r-.vr, News/cotos Canada/U.S.A.? -t ()--. V,E.'r 1X3 Rent A Thie'g America/U.S.A. Rent A Th;e`a Canada 3r R:des Canada Americai U.S.A.? 'MR j tWia' ;:Orvani'a[ iza a? yn~~de~.~ rt bor unid wAti.. ~ nacior~unir}adeglauales:K! CINAC 1-~ ne;Ocganisatiorr cte Chances Eca'fes ` t~ . Cs" Eaua 0 3portur itv Organ afion 002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020-6 Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Cal( e ~ ene elease 2 03jPeW3 Aac jfAQP79M Et Recherche And Research Canada Canada CMRC' UNSv SITIES AND COLLEGES .. a - Calgary - Univ. of Calgary Mau. - Brandon Univ. of Brandon - Edmonton - Univ. of Alberta. - Winnipeg - Univ. of Ma a. . - Caazrose - Camrose Lutheran College - Univ. of Wpg. - Lethbridge - Univ. of Lethbridge St. Andrew's of B.C. R.B. - Moncton - Univ of Moncton 7~couver - Univ 0 Baby - Simon Fraser Univ. - Fredericton - Univ. of R.B. 7ctoria - Univ. of Victoria - B.C. Inst. of Tech. - Sackville- Mt. Allison Univ. U i St Mere rr,,i,r_ _ M+_ S+. Vincent Univ. n v -tigonisb - St. Francis Xavier Univ., Mount u,;* Bernard College - :---.=o - N . S . Agricultural College - io fville - Acadia Univ. o - Guelph - Univ of Guelph, Conestoga College - --- lton - McMaster Univ., Mohawk College - ="don - Univ. of Western Ontario, Fanshawe College - Kingston - Queen's IIniv., Royal Military College,. St. - `--awa - Carleton IIniv., Univ. of Ottawa - Peterboro - Trent Univ. Catherines - Brook Univ. - Sd'flvey - Laurentierne IIniv., Univ. of Sudbury - "=order Bay - Lakehead Univ., Confederation College Lawrence ._ C ollege - =r-onto - Univ. of Toronto, York Univ., Ryerson Polytech Institute - 7aterloo - Wilfred Laurier Univ., Univ. of Waterloo, Conestoga College - i d.sor - Univ. of Windsor, St. Clair College. 21.3.1 0 :.=-f s C - Charlottetown - Univ. of P.E.I., Holland College. - L?ennoaville - Bishop's Univ.. Champlain. College - Sherbrooke - Univ. de Sherbrooke - Quebec City - Laval Univ., Univ. de Quebec . - Montreal - McGill Univ.. Concordia Univ. (SGWU),.Univ. St. John's - Memorial Univ., Queen's College eginia - Univ. of Sask. - Saskatoon - Univ. of Sask., St. Andrews College de Montreal - Detroit - Wayne State Univ., Univ. of Detroit, ?Marygrove College Detroit College of Law, Madonna College, .Mercy College ^ ~? 1'O FIDE MILLION STUDENTS IN CANADA AND. THE U. S. .?-O. 3cz `147-A CMRC?- An Equal Opportunity Organization "3rvm.. C. MSW 1X8 CMRCO - Une Organisation de Chances Egales i ~,'3-6000 CMRCa -- Una Organizacion de Oportunidades Iguales Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Approved FgWelease 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00MA002700050020-6 SENDER WILL CHECK CLASSIFICATION TOP AND BOTTOM UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL SECRET OFFICIAL ROUTING SL's" io TO NAME AND ADDRESS DA INITIALS 1 \ c 3 3 4 S 6 ACTION DIRECT REPLY PREPARE REPLY APPROVAL DISPATCH RECOMMENDATION COMMENT FILE RETURN CONCURRENCE INFORMATION SIGNATURE Remarks: FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER FROM: NAME. ADORES$ AND PHONE NO. DATE 17 FEB 1976 UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL SECRET 1-67 237 Use PrwiOus .dittoes FORM NO. Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79N (" _ LI > ti ,~ 1; 1 ~to 1'~ I ~ STATING ~~-- L u Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 FtAD 10 TV f p Sele c 9.O2/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M 67A002700050020-6 PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF =ROGRAM STATION CBS Evening News WTOP TV CBS Network CITY February 11, 1976 7:00 PM Washington, D.C. Commentary by Eric Sevareid ERIC SEVAREID: Various institutions of the press, print and broadcast, find themselves in an odd and oddly difficult situation as the secrets of the very porous secret intelligence establishment spill out in public. These press situations, proud of their capacity to ferret out the whole truth, do not know the whole truth about themselves; how man and just who on their staffs or loosely connected with their staffs were also undercover CIA agents. And how many and who might still be agents. They're trying hard at the moment to clear up the matter, because the practice is intolerably injurious to the credibility of the press. There is general agreement on that and agreement -- now by the CIA too -- that not even the non- staff stringer type of journalist should also be connected to the intelligence service. of the inability of the Congress to keep secrets secret. But at this point a?Iserious problem arises of a moral mature, whether names of past and present agents working as journalists should be provided to the companies by CIA if the companies are to trace the pattern of the practice and clean it up. Who else is entitled to know these names? Should they be published by a press that has generally insisted on full disclosure about the CIA? Should they be given to the Senate committee, which would almost certainly mean publication, bepause to be restored. But this act in itself would not ally suspicions that the list is not complete. Some leading journalists and press executives think the answer.is yes to both questions if their credibility is .. a:eeat suppoed by Rd;.o - Reports. t',c may be used for file and reference purposes or?.ty. It may not be reproduced. so!d or pub&cy dencns7atad or exttibted. Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020-6 UFO Approver Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M~67A002700050020-6 2- And what of the individuals named? They had received assurances of anonymity when they agreed to work for CIA. They certainly believed they were serving their country. And this is troubling to anyone who was here during the hysteria of the McCarthy period 20 years ago. Then there were investigators on Capitol Hill busy throwing out the names of civil servants, teachers and press people accused of once having been a member of the Young Communist League or knowing Communists or subscribing to Marxist publications and so on. Dozens of entirely patriotic persons had their careers harmed or ruined. The refrain of the Un-American Activities Committee was: e-a e~you`nowor have you ever been, etc? Now the refrain from liberal investigators is becoming:` Are you now or have you ever been connected with American offical intelligence, an anti-Communist enterprise? Liberals, including the liberal press, were shocked at what was done to well intended people in the McCarthy days. Now some of the same voices demand that the same thing or something disturbingly close to it be done to men whose crime seems to be that they were not too pro-Russia, but too pro- America. One generation's meat is the next generation's poison. WAITER CRONKITE: So pervasive have become the suspicions of CIA activity around the world that today an Italian magazine, without substantiation, claimed a Roman Catholic Cardinal had once bugged the Pope's audience and reported to the CIA. Approved For Release 2002/08/21: CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020-6 Approved For Ruse 2002/08/21 CIA-RDP79M00467A700050020-6 February 16.; 1976 TO: Angus Thuermer For the record, today I talked to Don Hewitt, the--"producer of 60 Minutes, and Mike Wallace, thanking both for the editing and program. Wallace mentioned he may want to-come here in three months and do something he felt would be very helpful to the Agency. I will follow up on this personally. GB:lm (16 Feb 76) Distribution: Orig - Asst/DCI 1 - DCI 1 - ER LEO ~3~h,iL Approved For Release 2002/08/21,: CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020-6 MEMORANDUM FOR: Angus M7my -e and g Nels 2 . Approved F ? elease?~002/08rz2 CIA-R Feb 11 minutes of mo meeting refer ? to a press policy of not talking to any foreign journalists. I thought Colby and others had talked to foreign journalists. Please send me a copy of the policy along with its rationale. JATINTL'Ik you, (DATE) FORM NO. T AUG 54 101 REPLACES FORM 10.10 WNJCN; MAY SE USED. 0500 Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Approved Release!-2002108i-29 :'E FA-RDP79M0 A002700050020-6 Excerpt from the 11 February 1976 Morning Meeting Thuermer reported that, according to Simon Winchester (Manchester Guardian), the Director had agreed to see him after fulfilling requests from US newsmen. Thuermer and Nelson agreed that the Director should continue our previous policy of not granting interviews to foreign newsmen. Approved For Release 20 2/0a/ 1 qIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Approved For Release 2002/08/21,,,6,CIA-RDP79M00467A0027000500 ~'? SENDER WILL CHECK CLASSIFICATION TOP AND BOTTOM UNCLASSIFIED - CONFIDENTIAL SECRET OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP TO NAME AND ADDRESS DATE INITIALS 2 3 4 5 .6 ~- 1 PV ACTION DIRECT REPLY PREPARE REPLY APPROVAL DISPATCH RECOMMENDATION COMMENT FILE RETURN CONCURRENCE INFORMATION SIGNATURE Remarks: 1 1 A, LL, /JiLd Aik, FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER FROM: NAME, ADORESS AND PHONE NO. DATE UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL SECRET 25X1A Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467A002700050020- February 12, 1976 Mr. Angus Thuermer Assistant to the Director Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D.C. 20505 Dear Angus: As promised during our telephone conversation today, I am enclosing the editorial dealing with the Central Intelli- gence Agency which was aired on WRKO the week of February 9th. I am also enclosing xeroxes of two responses from our listeners. I am sure you will find their comments interesting. Should somebody in the agency wish to amplify or respond to the editorial, please let me know and I will make the neces- sary arrangements. John Hobbs Vice President & General Manager JH:hy attach. cc: Dwight Case President, RKO Radio Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 T?KO GOERI . flUVLD1fG. GOV RflMf1T C .fTV B, fO$TOfl. mASSnCI s TTS 02114 (617) 793-9000 EDITORIAL #142 RIGHT NOW THERE IS MUCH CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIO- NALITY OF COVERT MILITARY AND POLITICAL ACTIONS CONDUCTED BY THE C.I.A. THERE ARE CHARGES AND COUNTERCHARGES BY A SENATE COMMITTEE AND THE C.I.A. WHAT IT ALL SEEMS TO BOIL DOWN TO IS THE QUESTION: DO WE NEED AN ORGANIZATION TO COLLECT FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE WHICH GIVES US INFORMATION ABOUT THE POLITICAL AND MILITARY CAPABILITIES AND INTENTIONS OF OTHER NATIONS? WE THINK THE ANSWER IS YES -- MORE NOW THAN EVER BEFORE IN THE PAST. THE ETHICS OF CLANDESTINE INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS HAVE LONG BEEN DEBATED AND SOME WOULD DO AWAY WITH THEM. BUT THE PLAIN FACT IS THAT NO GREAT STATE CAN ABANDON THEM. THE UNITED STATES NEEDS SOME AGENCY THAT GATHERS INTELLIGENCE. WITHOUT THIS KIND OF INFORMATION. WE WOULD BE EX- TREMELY VULNERABLE TO THREATS BY WOULD-BE INTERNATIONAL BULLIES. WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE THE C.I.A. VIABLE IS SOME SORT OF INTELLIGENT CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT THAT WOULD ENSURE ALL AMERICANS THAT OUR FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOM AND PRIVACY WOULD NOT BE ABUSED. WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE, WRITE TO US AND WE'LL FORWARD YOUR COMMENTS TO YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND SENATOR. WRITE TO WRKO, GOVERNMENT CENTER, BOSTON, 02114. (WRKO recognizes its.obligation to provide time for qualified spokesmen to reply to its editorials.) WRKO - Broadcast - 2/9/76 - 4:50pm 2/10/76 - (once an hour from 12:50am to 8:50am, 10:50am, 12:50pm) .RKO GEnERA1L BUILDInG. GOVERnmEnT CENTER. IlOSTOn. fnfSSAOUIUSETTS 02114 (617) 7'12-9000 This is a V/RKO Radio editorial presented in the interests of our listeners. Comments on our editorial opinions are welcome, and we recognize our obligation :o broadcast opposing views of responsible spokespersons in order to achieve a balanced presentation on this issue. Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 ,,,Approvec*r Release 2002/08/21: CIA-RDP79M'67AO02700 '.-iRKO Government Center Boston, [.:a . 021 14 February 11, 1976 Gentlemen: Yes, I favor a strong and effective C..I.A.. I also f.evcr a much stronger domestic system of sur*illance of American citizens involved >+ee in subversion. That involves som.mem}Jorc of Congress in my opinion. Yours very truly, DICK BRE NA-:111 r e, ,1t,iU . ~1 Approved For Release 2002/08/21 : CIA-RDP79M00467AO02700050020-6 Dick Brennan P. 0.Box8 wam, Ma. 01001 413-786-0629