LETTER TO HONORABLE MELVIN PRICE FROM FREDERICK P. HITZ

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R003200090002-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 28, 2006
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: October 10, 1978
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2006/07/28: CIA-RDP81M00980R003200090Q2-_
THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE h9G) uRu;t
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20505
OLC 78-1944/W
10 O CT 1978
honorable Melvin Price, Chairman
Committee on Armed Services
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C. 20515
I need not impress on you the need to protect sensitive compartmented
intelligence which is so vital to our Nation's intelligence collection efforts.
The Director of Central Intelligence became seriously concerned by the
increasing numbers of persons granted access to compartmented intelligence
and initiated a review within the Executive Branch to critically assess the
basis for the granting of such access. The Director has extended this review
to the Legislative Branch and issued Guidelines establishing my office as the
Community focal point to oversee the issuance of compartmented clearances
for the Congress, the General Accounting Office and the Library of Congress.
A member of my office will be in contact with Mr. John J. Ford,
Staff Director, to review existing compartmented clearances for staff
members of your Committee and to establish procedures for the issuance
of future clearances. We will represent all Community agencies which
sponsor the issuance of clearances for staff members
on your Committee. I assure you a is program is not intended in
any way to impair the work of the Congress which requires access to
sensitive intelligence. Our only concern, which I know you share, is that
there be a clearly established need for such access.
I feel certain that in a spirit of cooperation we can work out suitable
arrangements to effectively limit and control the issuance of compartmented
clearances and thereby enhance the protection of our most vital intelligence
collection assets. Enclosed is a copy of the Director's letter to the Speaker
informing him of the program. A similar letter was sent to the President of
the Senate.
Sincerely,
Frederick P. Hitz
1 - Exec Sec - Security Committee w/o/encl
1 - OLC Chron w/o/encl
1 - OLC Subject w/encl
OLC:PLC:jrns (4 Oct 78)
Enclosure 040 79 11VY1,6
Distribution:
Orig - Addressee w/encl
1 - D/OS w/o/encl
Approved For Release 2006/07/28: CIA-RDP81 M00980R003200090002-6
 Approved For Release 20001Q71X2&' QiA-,F; -
Honorable Walter T;iondale
President of the Senate
United States Senate
lc1 as:hington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. President:
due to the broadening of interest in foreign intelligence within the Congress,
access has been extended to staffs of other committees- It is imperative
that a review, similar to that underway within the Executive Branch, be
undertaken within the Legislative Branch to assure that current and future
access to highly sensitive intelligence information is clearly justifiable.
Accordingly, I have designated my Legislative Counsel to serve as the
focal point to review all requests for such access for Congressional
staff personnel. His office will contact the chairmen and staff. directors
of those committees concerned to assess the justification of existing
clearances and to establish agreed upon guidelines to assess critically
the need-to-know for future clearances. I do not intend in any way to
impede or impair the work of any committee which requires access to.
sensitive intelligence. It is my concern, however,..that the, need--to-know
be shown to be clearly warranted. In this re',ard, experience has shown
that most congressional requirements for substantive intelligence can
be satisfied without access to highly sensitive sources and methods
information.
In view of my statutory responsibility to protect intelligence sources
and methods, I became greatly concerned by the proliferation of highly
sensitive intelligence collected and maintained within systems of
compartmentation. I initiated a review within the 3 xecurtive Branch to
reassess the justification for existing clearances and "to limit issuing
future clearances based on the strictest. application of need--to-kriotiv.
This same concern extends to the Legislative Branch. As you know,
staff personnel of our Con` ressional oversight committees have been granted
access to highly sensitive compartmented intelligence information. However. ,
Where there is a clearly justifiable need, Members of Congress are
given access to sensitive intelligence information. Personal staff of
Members, however, have been denied such access and I have reaffirmed
this policy. The only exception, which I ain initiating at this time, is to
grant selected key staff members serving in the offices of the Leadership
Approved For Release 2006
JUL i % .
 Approved For Release 2006/07/28 : -
r
Of Iltc' 1.C)I1~;1'ess FIcces`; since thei ' I)I'incipals rcc: ive :;C::tsilivC' ?.ntt:'ilti;Crt2-
0l'1 a regular' basi and 1'CCJU1re st.af CtCi.`>2 :I nCe `. his will. incll2Cle
C1 L.' i1(;natC'.CT p:'.T':;C) lr'll ::~.Clf~ II"JC'ICE~7t'.i.`i t['C)(Ct i!!C.' fi.if(:i of }'C)1 oIi.tcea~
to e )resident ~~T C)"'~ C'itl~-)Or'C' of ihc: Senate, itncl Majority and hiirloz-i,'y
Leaders of both the Senate and the House- M).
y L egislatiVe Co?zi~ el
will be c:ontactit-toyour offices to Cletei',-nine: Which taftj ':':io r'I(l you
have cle:;igl~czf.cci for such accc:is. recently received a ).ctte.r s.i?;TttCl
join-fly by Senate It ajority Leader T{obe-cl Byrd aid Sc uai.e. Minor
3_.,eacler lloward f>al:er submit ting a i'#`que for :ita.tt aCCeS.`i vhic:h will
be honored and handled directly with their offices
It is xrzy firm belief that- these proc:eclures will not inter f er:e with
the proper flow of intelligence to the :Congress, but will serve to enhance
f he protection of highly sensitive intelli~;t nee sources and methods by
limiting access to n absolute need---to-+1now. X would welcom your
support to facilitate acceptance of these pr occdures by committee
chairmen in ct:1y way that you CIC'em ap*1 ropr i to .
Yours sincerely,
Approved For Release 2006/07/28: CIA-RDP81
 2 ? JJ!_ i J7
i:tonorable Thomas P. O'Neill
Speaker of the House
House of Representatives
NIVas'hington, D.C. 20515.
Dear Mr. Speaker;
In view of ray statutory responsibility to protect intelligerc.e sources
and methods, I became greatly concerned by the proliferation of )B illy
sensitive intelligence collected and maintained within systems of
compartmentation. I initiated a review within the Executive Branch to
reassess the justification for existing clearances and to limit issuing
future clearances based on the strictest application of need-to--know.
This same concern extends to the Legislative Branch. As you know,
staff personnel of our Congressional oversight committees have been granted
access to highly sensitive compartmented intelligence information. However,
due to the broadening of interest in foreign intelligence within the Congress,
access has been extended to staffs of other committees- It is imperative
that a review, similar to that underway within the Executive Branch, be
undertaken within the Legislative sir anch to assure that current and future
access to hi hly sensitive intelligence information is clearly justifiable.
.Accordingly, I have designated my Legislative Counsel to serve as the
focal point to review all requests for such access for Congressional
staff personnel. His office will contact the chairmen and staff directors
of those committees concerned to assess the justification of existing
clearances and to establish agreed upon guidelines to assess critically
the need-to--know for future clearances. I do not intend in any way to
impede or impair the work of any committee which requires access to
sensitive intelligence. It is my concern, however, that the need-to-know
be shown to be clearly warranted. In this regard, experience has shown
that most congressional requirements for substantive intelligence can
be satisfied without access to highly sensitive sources and methods
information. -
Where there is a clearly justifiable need, Members of Congress are
given access to sensitive intelligence information. Personal staff of
Members, however, have been denied such access and I have reaffirmed
this policy. The only exception, which I am initiating at this time, is to
grant select-_d key staff members serving in the offices of the Leadership
Approved For Release 2006/07/28: CIA-RDP81 M00980R003200090002-6
6
Approved For Release 2006/07/28,, C:IA.RDP8.1 M00980R003200090002
 Approved For Release 2006/07/28: CIA-RDP81 M00980R003200090002-6
Ole nti ,T}"tce i:he c 1-).t?)t1C:lt7al5 receive St'T1S.t'1.1.`Je ).ittel~-ti~C':lCC
WI-t :t l'C?Illar basis and require staff ziS :T.::i,=).11CC.`? .f1}f`: \`: [t~. i.nc ludo
designated personal si.afr .111eiR m s irolrt the rja.I l> of your ofJ.[CC
-the President Pro-'Ten1por-C. of the Serrate, a11:ld I%if l.jo.cit} ~.t}ld t:i.l.;"tority
Leaders of both the Senate and the House. t`,y Lc i`;I.CCtiti'C` Counsel
will be C:U "ti:c ct-?-11i: ~ral.lr offices -Io cict.c rm.inc ~~:hi.ch star[ i~e:~ :o ~rte1 you
l.eLteX'.`iign ('1
have desig nated for such acres ;. l ret:ently received a
"joirltly by Senate Majority Leader Rocrt Byrd al.1d S enat:- Miltor.ity
Leader 7loviard Baker submitting a request for staff access which will
be honored and handled directly with their offices .
It is my firm belief that these Procedures :/ill not interfere with
the proper flow of irtteliigence to the :Congress, but -,will serve. to enhance
b
-
h
d
O
}
5
the protectiorl of highly sensitive into ti?t:nce ;;ounces an c? Ine
limiti,tg access to ctrl absolute I e Cl 'tcf~li i"1ow. I would welcome. your
support to facilitate acceptance of these procedure -?
Yours; since:).'E y,
S .t~t,.l~7iitIELO 'CIJR DER
to;
Approved For Release 2006/07/28: CIA-RDP81 M00980RD03200090002-6