MEMORANDUM FOR ALL PERSONNEL OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY STAFF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01066A001400250001-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 9, 2005
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 2, 1973
• Content Type: MEMO

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THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20505
July 2, 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR ALL PERSONNEL
OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
AND THE. INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY STAFF
As the time comes to bid farewell, let me say a few words to
those of you in the Agency and on the IC staff who are, of course,
the special responsibility of the DCI. Brief as has been my tenure
as DCI, my interest in the intelligence community and intelligence
processes is of long standing and will continue. Along with the
other elements of the community, you will have my interest and
sympathy -- as well as my continued scrutiny -- as you grapple
with the difficult problems that are unavoidable.
First, as the international environment becomes more fluid
and the balance of military power approaches more closely to a
rough equality, the importance of good intelligence will increase
rather than diminish. The wider range of political forces and the
counterpoise of opposed instrumentalities mean that excellence of
intelligence will in many circumstances determine the ultimate out--
comes.
Second, in light of both the stakes and the limitation on
resources, the. intelligence community must function as a community
rather than a collection of warring entities. The Central Intelli-
gence Agency, properly to fill its function, must itself be one
Agency, part of a larger community serving our national leadership..
To assist our leaders, intelligence must be absolutely first class..
The story must be told exactly as you see it, but the style and
manner of presentation should be such to ensure that the story gets
through and is understood. There must be no muffling or waffling
of the message. Differences of view can be clearly stated. And
the true range of possible outcomes of U.S. policy choices must be
exposed to our national decision-makers.
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Moreover, the community will have to fulfill its larger role
on a diminished level of real resources. That is indeed a challenge.
I am pleased that my successor as DCI shares my own determination
that the many talents in the intelligence community be efficiently
managed, be flexible in responding to new challenges, and w:ll.adhere
firmly to the established legal limitations.
There is more talent in this Agency than in any comparable
group within the Federal Government. Harnessed together and
properly exploited, this talent can and, T am confident, will
make an indispensable contribution to the future of this nation.
Let me close by expressing a personal word of thanks to all
of you for your support during this recent period, and to wish all.
of you the best in the future.
14(~- A"A-~
James R. Schlesinger
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