A MAN'S WORD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01601R001200450001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 8, 2001
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 13, 1972
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP80-0160
KNOXVILLE, TEAIN.
JOURNAL,
M - 66,978
Monday the U. S. Supreme Court
refused by a 6-3 vote to hear an
appeal from a federal court injunc-
tion prohibiting a former official of
the Central Intelligence A^_ency
from publist ii ~` yr .t: ticles
containing classified material.
/ The appellant is Victor E. Mar-
l chetti of Vienna, Va., formerly ex-
ecutive assistant to the d e p u t y
director of the CIA. After resign-
ing in 1969 he submitted an article
to a magazine which, the govern-
ment contended, would disclose
classified information about intelli-
gence sources, methods and opera-
tions. He also has attempted to
publish a novel about the CIA.
Marchetti was supported in his
appeal by the American Civil Lib-
erties Union, the Authors Lea ue
of America and the Association of
American Publishers. The appeal
said the injunction would lead to
"a systematic scheme of censor-
STATINTL
ship which will surely result in the
denial of the fundamental right of
the American people to be supplied
Ntith information about the conduct
of their government."
Defending the ruling of lower
courts, the government said it is in
accord with the Supreme Court's
"consistent recognition of the need
for secrecy in the sensitive areas
of foreign affairs and national se-
curity."
Apparently little attention was
paid to the fact that Marchetti,
when he joined the CIA in 1956,
signed an agreement never to di-
vulge classified information with-
out the director's approval. One
would have to assume that he and
the American Civil Liberties Union
think his right to publish, whatev-
er the consequences for his coun-
try, is more important than keep-
ing his word.
V/
Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP80-01601 R001200450001-2