THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DCI IN TIMES OF POTENTIAL NUCLEAR CRISIS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01133A000600040014-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 11, 2004
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: March 17, 1975
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Reldase 200 RDP80M01133A000000 ft! l91f- 4-ii , & -,/_
IC 75--1105
17 March 1975
MEMORANDUM FOR: General Wilson
SUBJECT: The Responsibilities of the DCI in Times of
Potential Nuclear Crisis
1. Recent exercises such as Nickel Plate-74 and Prime Rate-75
have again raised the issues surrounding the role of the DCI as the
primary intelligence advisor to the President. The problem basically
arises from the lack of understanding of the function of the DCI as
contrasted to the function of the Director of CIA. The-problem
stems from the fact that the DCI "hat" was seldom put on until the
administrations of the last two directors.
2. Evidence of this lack of understanding is to be found -in
the various Defense Department plans for the survival of the National
Command Authority (NCA) under conditions of nuclear attack (or a
grave threat of nuclear attack). The plans include relocation of the
NCA to various hardened sites or by use of the National Emergency
Airborne Command Post (NEACP), or both.
3. The specific symptoms of the lack of understanding of the
DCI's role show up in the lack of communication and information
means dedicated to the DCI's function under conditions of relocation
during nuclear crises. As DCI he is not only responsible for the
intelligence generated by CIA but also for analyzing and making
judgments on intelligence to be given to the President from such
sources as DIA, NSA and State/INR. While these organizations (other
than CIA) have other routes to the President, the convergence of all
the intelligence from all sources remains the DCI's, and only the
DCI's, responsibility.
4. It would seem essential, then, to periodically review the
various plans related to nuclear crisis situations in order to ensure
that the DCI's role is recognized and that appropriate means have been
provided to allow the DCI to carry out his responsibilities to the
NCA.
5. In the pursuit of the above objective I am gathering informa-
tion on the communication capabilities dedicated or available to the
DCI when he is operating from various alternate locations (including
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the NEACP).
are giving me their u cooperation. have also
called RADM Lucien Capone of the Defense Communications Agency who
is anxious to cooperate with us. He will arrange briefings for us
this week.
ro.uct Review Division
Distribution:
Orig - General Wilson
1 - PRD Chrono
1 n Area Branch Subject
1 -r L Chrono t,,,'
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