CONVERSATION WITH FISHER HOWE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80M01133A001000080044-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 4, 2005
• Sequence Number: 44
• Publication Date: October 25, 1974
• Content Type: MFR

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DCI/IC-3004-74
25 October 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Conversation with Fisher Howe
1. Fisher Howe called to request a covert action briefing on
18 November for the Commissioners serving on the intelligence
panel of the Murphy Commission. He noted that he would have,
hopefully, by that date papers on the subject from Ambassador
Belcher, Chet Cooper, and John Bross. He was, therefore,
requesting on behalf of the Commission that the Director or his
designee brief the five Commissioners on the panel (and any other
Commissioners who might wish to attend) on the morning of
18 November in the PFIAB Conference Room. I asked what staff
he proposed to have in attendance and he indicated that he would
plan to be there along with Reckford and Kent Crane. He also
indicated that the Executive Director, Dean Wilcox, might wish
to attend as well but that the meeting would be restricted to those
indicated.
2. I explained that the Director might wish to have a letter
setting down the specifics from Ambassador Murphy. He found no
problem with this but reiterated that his call represented an official
request. I stated that I would take the matter up with Mr. Colby and
be back in touch with him in the course of the day.
3. I then advised that Kent Crane had requested a budget briefing
and some suggestion was made that that briefing could be given at the
same time as the covert action briefing. I advised that it was difficult
for me to understand a need for a comprehensive budget briefing in
the context of Ambassador Murphy's letter to the Director and that
it would be helpful if we had a better appreciation of what the
Commissioners' needs were in this respect. Howe responded that
the Commissioners had never asked for such a briefing although they
may wish to have one at some point in time. He agreed with me that
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it would be inappropriate to use the hour and a half or so on the 18th
to deviate from the purpose of the meeting into budgetary detail.
I pointed out that we had extended ourselves as far as we could to
accommodate Bob Macy in the preparation of his paper on budget
and resources. I noted that while I was not able to comment
officially on Bob's paper, having no role in this matter, the
document had been brought to my attention by one of his staff. I
added that Bob properly did not address specific budgetary figures.
Howe advised that he did not feel the Macy paper was responsive
and that Bob would probably rework it sometime in the course of
November on his return. He generally agreed, however, that specific
budgetary data would continue to be excluded. I, in turn, agreed to
cooperate in any way we can. I noted that Major Pickett apparently
was preparing a paper or comments on the Macy document.
4. In closing, I alerted Howe that any detailed budgetary presentation
to the Commissioners would obviously require clearances by the Director
and our Congressional Committees.
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Associate Deputy to the DCI
for the Intelligence Community
Distribution:
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1 -DDCI
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The Director has been advised of the foregoing. A letter has been
requested from the Commission formalizing the request. Howe has been
advised that DCI will be responsive, but for reasons of delicacy, the
briefing will be given in general terms and where specifics are required,
these will be given only the particular Commissioners requiring the detail.
I also registered concern over four staffers and invited Howe to handle
this matter singularly if possible. On receipt of the letter from the
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