2 MARCH 1978 MEETING OF THE DDO WITH THE HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE STAFF

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R002100010032-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 30, 2006
• Sequence Number: 32
• Publication Date: March 2, 1978
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2006/1S2CRETA,-RDP81 M00980R002100010032-3
25X1
OLC 78-1020
2 March 1978
SUBJECT: 2 March 1978 Meeting of the DDO with the House
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Staff
1. On 2 March.1978, the DDO, John McMa
by SA/DO/O, and
Office of Legislative ounse , met in the office of Thomas K.
Latimer, (H 407 The Capitol) Staff Director. Also present
from the Committee were: Loch Johnson, Pat Long and Mike 25X1
O'Neil, all of the Committee staff. The meeting lasted from
1620.: until 1710 hours.
25X1 2. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss which
if any portions of the projected hearings on the mechanisms
for obtaining covert action approvals.(Findings, Perspectives
and Memoranda of Notification). Mr. Latimer said that the
Committee is planning to hold the hearings in April on the
18th or 19th. Mr. McMahon quickly registered his view that
it would be inappropriate to hold these hearings in open
session. Various reasons were given: (a) open hearings would
provide public proof in fact running covert action
25X1 operations in foreign I I countries; (b) open hearings
on CIA activities almost always generates unfavorable press,
particularly in foreign countries; and (c) it is not CIA's
position to reveal publically how the NSC plays its role in
the approval process. The final agreement was that the
hearings would be closed and that any unclassified paper which
the Committee proposed to release subsequently would be
coordinated with CIA prior to its release. Mr. Latimer asked
to see some examples of the negative publicity which has
in the past followed open hearings on CIA (with particular
reference to the January hearings on CIA and the press).
3.1 Mr. Latimer expressed his concern that covert
action projects might be carried under some other guise,
thereby avoiding appropriate briefing of Congress. Specifically,
he had paramilitary activities in mind. Mr. Latimer was told that
paramilitary activities are currently being carried under
and that Mr. McMahon himself views para-
military activities as an item which would fall under Hughes-Ryan.
Further, Mr. McMahon offered to provide Mr. Latimer with a copy
of a paper which the Agency had prepared on the subject of
SWAT teams for Senator Adlai E. Stevenson (D., Ill.). 25X1
r,11F 1.+v
 Approved For Release: 2006/11 1C RDP81 M00980R002100010032-3
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4. "Further -discussions were held on the distinction
between disinformation and false information provided to a
"double agent" for the purposes of misleading the oppostion
service. The issue turns on the purpose behind providing
the information,-,,i.e., if the purpose s to make the agent
believable or to provide him with information which will
improve his operational posture, this would be CI; if-the
purpose is to mislead the government and its people, this would
be CA. It was generally agreed that this is a fine line.
5.' Iir. Latimer said that be believed that there should
be a "sunshine law" on covert action projects and that they
regular re-approval processes.
should be subject to. periodic review and have to undergo
.covert action infrastructures.
7. IIrhere was'some discussion of a proposed one week
trip to some stations during the Easter break by Representative-
Les Aspin (D., Wis.), Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversights:.
.While nothing was precisely determined during the meeting,
subsequent to the meeting Mr. McMahon recommended that we
create a plan for a trip through some European. stations with
.Distribution
Orig - OLC Subject
1 - OLC Chrono
OLC:MMP:sf (15 Mar 78)
Assistant Legislative Counsel
SECRET