COMMENTS OF PRESIDENT CARTER ON THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M00165A002200040011-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: March 11, 1977
• Content Type: MFR

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MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Comments of President Carter on the Intelligence Comma ity
In the course of a restricted meeting on 9 March 1977 with the
NFIB principals and other representatives of the Intelligence Connuniy,
President Carter made a number of comments, the highlights of which
follow:
1. He requested that a worldwide "inventory of agents"
be prepared so that he and his advisors could determine whether
the geographic deployment of these individuals corresponds to
his needs for intelligence information.
2. Intelligence "priorities and goals" must come frog
the consumers, namely the President and his principal foreign
and defense policy advisors, and not from the Intelligence
Community. He had examined the KIQs for 1977 and determined
that they were not his most important questions. Intelligence
goals and priorities must reflect the true needs of the
President and the NSC. He is, however, open to suggestion--
from anyone as to how to support agreed upon goals. The
President stated that the Intelligence Community should
receive better guidance from the users of intelligence. He
also wished to have broader distribution of relevant intelli-
gence to other departments such as Treasury and Agriculture.
3. While satisfied with other categories of intelligence
reporting, he is disappointed with the information on the
assessments of political trends and intentions in foreign
countries. He requested that the Intelligence Community p_-ace
greater emphasis on political analysis of foreign developments
Otherwise, he is impressed with the professional competence of
the Community and the quality of its production.
4. The President expressed complete confidence in Admiral
Turner whom he has charged with the mission of closely coo--di-
nating all elements of the Intelligence Community, includi-ig
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the development of procedures for rapid conversion of the
Intelligence Community from peacetime to wartime status ir:
the event of such a contingency. Admiral Turner has-.been
given all the authority he requires to bring together
previously autonomous intelligence components. In this
connection, he wanted it understood that Admiral Turner
is not merely the "titular head" but he "is the head" of
the Intelligence Community.
5. .He felt that the Executive Order on intelligence
issued by President Ford had started the Intelligence
Community moving toward closer coordination. In due course,
however, the Executive Order would have to be reassessed
and strengthened.
6. The President is concerned about the large number
of people in and out of the Executive Branch who have access
to sensitive intelligence information. Too many committees
and Members of Congress are exposed to sensitive intelligence
information and he has expressed his concern to the congres-
sional leaders whose reaction has been encouraging. He would
like to see a reduction in the number of congressional com-
mittees exposed to this information but he cannot guarantee
that he will be successful. There is "too much laxity" in
the handling of sensitive intelligence. Before information
is circulated, the identity of the source must be separated
from the substantive information. The President specifically
cited the need for "more stringent compartmentation."
7. In response to a comment from Admiral Turner, who
said it was important that the President receive divergent
views on important issues, Dr. Brzezinski said he did not
believe the President was receiving divergent views.
8. The President assured the group that he will speak
out publicly, as he has already done, in support of the
Intelligence Community and he will try whenever possible to
give public credit to intelligence. He recognizes that the
excesses of the past were largely due to orders from higher
levels. For the future, however, improprieties and
illegalities must be avoided. If any mistakes are made they
should be reported immediately to Admiral Turner and the
President so that appropriate officials, including the
President, can decide how to handle the matter and whether
a private or public accounting is necessary. If delayed
relevations of concealed illegalities or improprieties occur,
the damage to the Intelligence Community would be
"irreparable."
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 SECRET
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SUBJECT: Comments of President Carter on the Intelligence Comm, gmitr
MEMJRANDUM FOR THE RECORD
In the course of a restricted meeting on 9 March 1977 with'-he
NFIB principals and other representatives of the Intelligence
Community, President Carter made a number of comments, the high-jighi
of which follow:
1. He requested that a worldwide "inventory of agents-be
prepared so that he and his advisors could determine whether the
deployment of these individuals corresponds to his needs for
intelligence information.
2. Intelligence "priorities and goals" must come from the
consumers, namely the President and his principal foreign and
defense policy advisors, and not from the Intelligence Community.
He had examined the KIQs for 1977 and determined that he does no:
agree with the priorities listed therein. As President, he dif'-ers
with the collection requirements listed in the KIQs. We must therefcr=y
reassess these intelligence goals and priorities, but he is open to
suggestions from anyone as to how to support agreed upon goals.
3. While satisfied with other categories of intelligence
reporting, he is disappointed with the information on and assessments
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analysis of foreign developments. Otherwise, he'is impressed with
of political trends and intentions in foreign countries. He rer uesttp.1
that the Intelligence Community place greater emphasis on politi cal
professional competence of the Community and the quality-of its
production.
4. He instructed that pivicedures be developed for rapid dbnvers=ori
of the Intelligence Community from peacetime to wartime status in the
event of such a contingency.
5. The President expressed complete confidence in Admiral turne--
whom he has charged with the mission of closely coordinating all elenrts
of the Intelligence Com unity. Admiral Turner will be expected '-o hr-rna
together all previously autonomous intelligence components. In '-his r nnection
he wanted it understood that Admiral Turner is not merely the "tItul.r-?
head's but he "is the head" of the Intelligence Community.
6. He felt. that the Executive Order on intelligence issued by
President Ford had started the Intelligence Community moving towArd t
coordination. In due course, however, the Executive Order would have
to be reassessed and strengthened.
7. The President is concerned about the large number of people
in and out of the Executive Branch who have access to sensitive
.intelligence information. For example, too many people Iaiow about Kerr
There is "too much laxity" in the handling of sensitive intelligence.
Before information is circulated, the identity of the source must be
separated from the substantive information.
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damage to the Intelligence Community could be "irreparable."
8. In response to a comment from ?,r. Brzezinski, the Presider,
stated he did not feel-he was receiving "divergent views" on
intelligence matters. He requested that, when appropriate, diverges- views
be made known to him, even in the PDB.
9. The President assured the group that he will speak out
publicly, as he has already done, in support of the Intelligence
Community and he will try whenever possible to give public credit vl
intelligence. :He recognizes that the excesses of the past were lar,.~y
due to orders from higher levels. ? For-the future, however, i.rrproxr _,?ties
and illegalities must be avoided. If any mistakes are made they should
be reported immediately to Admiral Turner andthe President so that
appropriate officials, including the President, can decide ho;, to hLzdle
the matter and whether a private or public accounting is necessary. If
delayed revelations of concealed illegalities or improprieties occur, the
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