LETTER TO MR. PETER J. KAHN FROM W. E. COLBY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000200030019-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 18, 2005
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: August 16, 1974
• Content Type: LETTER

Executive Rc-jistry
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16 August 1974
Mr. Peter J. Kahn
Thank you for your very kind invitation to speak at the Duke
Law Fora. I accept with pleasure. With respect to dates, I believe
my schedule indicates that something in November would be most
suitable. Perhaps I could ask my Assistant, Mr. Angus Thuermer,
to work this out with you.
As for the arrangements, I believe that arrival in time for
dinner would be most conveaisnt from my point of view, skipping the
press conferee. I would also hope to return to Washington that
evening, and I will probably have transportation of my own.
Sincerely,
ot
L.-
WE C: blp
Distribution:
Original - Addressee
I - Mr. Thuermer w/cy basic
1 - ER w/basic
1 - DCI w/cy basic
1 - DDI
C..CoJ,
W. E. Colby
Director
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 Appro0VFI BelDJ?e 2PP/(l
14 August 1974
NOTE FOR THE DIRECTOR
FROM: Ed Procto~
This concerns the invitation you
received to speak at the Duke Law Forum
(attached). You asked that I draft a reply
saying you could not accept for yourself
but would offer a substitute.
There are some arguments against
taking this course:
- - This is a very prestigious group and it
would be inappropriate to offer a
substitute.
-- The invitation provides you with a real
opportunity to make some points with the
public on our posture with respect to
protection of intelligence information--
proposed legislation, Marchetti, and
all that. You might also talk about your
role in providing policy makers with the
information and assessments they need
to do their jobs.
-- The invitation is wide open as to timing.
It would be difficult to say you can't make
any kind of commitment. To say that you
don't speak to out-of-town groups would be
countered by your past appearances.
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Page Two
As I see it, you have two courses of
action:
a. Say you will accept the invitation
and make the most of it, or
b. Turn it down with a polite letter
giving no explanation or substitute.
My recommendation is that you take
Option a. The Legislative Counsel and the
General Counsel concur in this view.
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13 August 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR: The DDI
Ed,
I hope that this draft letter for the
DCI doesn't reflect too clearly my lack of
enthusiasm for his proposed refusal to speak.
In fact, I think this could be a good forum
for him, even though it is in the Fourth
Circuit where the Marchetti case was fought.
I know he doesn't want to become regular
guest speaker all over the country, but his
announced attitude toward openness should
square with a program of at least semi-public
appearances. A forum like this should be a
high quality opportunity.
I don't think they will take any sub-
stitute we can offer. He could avoid the
press part by saying "no press".
Furthermore, they have offered him a total
of 80 possible days to appear, too large a
number to protest sched lems.
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
I was flattered to receive your very kind invitation to
speak before the Duke Law Forum later this year. As you may
know, it has been the policy of past Directors of Central
Intelligence to avoid becoming "public figures" in the same
sense that other members of the government are able to do so.
This is due in large part to the fact that the nature of the
position prevents the kind of unrestrained discussion which
makes your forum and others most interesting.
I am sorry that I must refuse your offer. While I feel
rather strongly that the place of intelligence in our society
should be more widely understood, I believe that the best way
to achieve this end is not to offer you a speaker whose
position requires him to proscribe many areas of discussion.
Our analysts and operating officials do participate in the
meetings of many professional societies, and they write books
and articles for scholarly journals. For now, this approach to
greater openness seems to suit us best. Perhaps when we have
more experience with our changing attitudes we will be able
to respond more positively to a request such as yours.
Sincerely,
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MEMORANDUM FOR: --Mr-- rroc orb'
Mr. Colby has been invited to address the
Duke Law Forum but probably can't make it.
He wants us to draft a reply stating this,
adding that he might send a substitute (prefer-
ably a Duke graduate).
Personally, I don't feel the Forum would
want taensubstitute, unless he were General
Walters. Note that past speakers were Rehnquist,
Ken Rush, and Sam Ervin.
What
Give toL
Other
Inn kt~ovt
G-n 29 July 74
(DATE)
FORM NO. REPLACES FORM 10.101
1 AUG 54 I O I WHICH MAY BE USED.
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