INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R003200070090-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 10, 2004
• Sequence Number: 90
• Publication Date: February 8, 1978
• Content Type: MF

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,J9C.
OLC 78-0559
8 February 1978
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Acting Legislative Counsel
SUBJECT : Intelligence Oversight Responsibility of the
Senate Appropriations Committee
STAT 1. Action Requested: None; for information only.
Ongoing adjustments resulting from the death last November of
Senator John C. McClellan (D., Ark.) have opened the possibility
of Senator William Proxmire (D., Wis.) succeeding to the
Chairmanship of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, which
handles the Committee's intelligence oversight functions.
STAT 2. 0 Background: Senator McClellan was Chairman of
both the full Appropriations Committee and its Defense Subcommittee.
Senator Warren G.. Magnuson (D. , Wash.), who has succeeded
Senator McClellan as Chairman of the full Committee, is a member
of the Defense Subcommittee, but he can head only one such group
and he appears reluctant to relinquish his Chairmanship of the
Subcommittee on Labor, Health, Education and Welfare.
Senator John C. Stennis (D. , Miss.) would be next
in line for the Defense Subcommittee Chairmanship should
Senator Magnuson defer, but Senator Stennis would have to
give up Chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Public Works,
and there appears to be some opposition to the idea of
Senator Stennis' simultaneously heading both the full Armed
Services Committee and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee .
The late Senator Richard B. Russell was the last man (1963-1968)
to wield such influence over both the authorization and funding
of Defense programs.
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Senator Proxmire is next in seniority among Democrats
on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. In order to assume
its Chairmanship, however, he would have to give up Chairmanship
of the Subcommittee on- Housing and Urban Development and
Independent Agencies. Assuming that he would he willing to do
so, there, still are some complicating considerations. that could
prevent him.. from- taking responsibility for the Committee's
intelligence oversight function.. These. include:
(1) The possibility that Senator Robert C.
Byrd (D. , W. Va .) may be named to, fill the vacancy on the
Defense Appropriations. Subcommittee. Senator Byrd is
senior to Senator Proxmire on the full Committee.
(2) Indications that Senator Magnuson is
considering relocating responsibility for intelligence
oversight away from the Defense Subcommittee. Under
Senator McClellan, intelligence oversight was handled
by an. Intelligence Operations "Subcommittee" of the
Subcommittee on Defense. Senator Magnuson may
be thinking of creating. (and Chairing) another such
more or less informal group to handle intelligence
oversight.
STAT 3. Staff Position: We believ at the situation remains
fluid. We a monitoring this issue d submitting further reports
as it develops. Background informati on Senator Magnuson is attached.
STAT
Attachment:
As Stated
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Senator Warren G. Magnuson (D., Wash.)
Senator Warren G. Magnuson was born in 1905. He holds a law
degree from the University of Washington, and was an Assistant
U.S. Attorney in the mid 1930's. Senator Magnuson was first elected
to the House in 1936, and to the Senate in 1944. He served as a
Lieutenant Commander in the U. S . N . R . during World War II.
Senator Magnuson has been primarily interested in domestic
issues . He is especially noted for his long standing championship of
consumer protection legislation, which predates the upsurge of interest
in this area that has taken place over the past several years.
Senator Magnuson has worked closely with his junior colleague
Senator Henry M. Jackson (D., Wash.) on many issues, but he does not
appear to share Senator Jackson's strong views on foreign policy.
Senator Magnuson's term does not expire until 1980, when he will
75 years of age. The Agency has aided the Senator's office in dealing with
a number of constituent requests and relatively minor problems over the
years, but there is no indication that he has a particularly strong
positive or negative attitute about the Intelligence Community.
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INFO / rfl
FROM:
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NO.
DATE
$ FEB 1978
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number each comment to show from whom
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
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to whom. Draw a line across column after each comment.)
1.
9 F
EL 978
Attached for your
Acting DDCT
information is a memorandum
2?
on intelligence oversight
responsibility of the
Senate Approa ions
3?
Committee.
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