LETTER TO HONORABLE ADLAI E. STEVENSON FROM FREDERICK P. HITZ

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R003300110003-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 26, 2006
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: October 10, 1978
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2006/11/01 : CIA-RDP81 M00980R00330011
THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
OLC 78-1944/V
Legislative Counsel
1? OCT 1978
Honorable Adlai E. Stevenson, Chairman
Subcommittee on Science, Technology
and Space
Committee on Commerce, Science
and Transportation
United States Senate
Washington, D. C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chairman:
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 Stewart,
on your staff, to review existing compartmented clearances for staff
members of your Subcommittee and to establish procedures for the issuance
of future clearances. We will represent all Community agencies which
sponsor the issuance of learances for staff members 25x1
on your Subcommittee. I assure you a this 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 President
of the Senate informing him of the program. A similar letter was sent to the
Speaker.
Sincerely,
Orig - Addressee w/encl 1 - OLC Chron w/o/encl
1 - D/OS w/o/encl 1 - OLC Subject w/encl
1 - Exec Sec - Security Committee w/o/encl
OLC:PLC:jms (4 Oct 78)
Aoorove For Release 2006/11/01 - CIA-RnPR1M00AROR00: 'i001I000'i-1
Enclosure OG,C 2/115
Distribution:
Frederick P. Hitz
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Honorable Thomas P. O'Neill
Speaker of the House
House of Representatives
\\ra si?ington , D.C. 20515
7
2 ? JUL 11
Dear Mr. Speaker: -
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 ox
cox-rpartrnentation. I initiated a review viithin the Executive Branch to
reassess the justification fo.r existing clearances and to limit issuing
future clearances bL sed on the str?ic e st application of need--to--know.
Branch. ,
This same concern extends to the Legislative As you know
staff personnel of our Congressional oversight committees have been.granted
access to highly sensitive compartrne-nted intelligence information. However,
due to the broadening of interest in foreign intelligence within the Congress,
access has been extended to st;-~kffs 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 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 infor_ation. 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 selected key staff members serving in the offices of the Leadership
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1_. ~Yil.l l)e cc) li:acf:i-rte; youe offices to clE t~ r1~t::.1E: which strife
have designated for such access I X'C'CE'ltly recci.v tl a Z-('t-lE:r.sig ed
jointly by Senate Majority Leader ttobert Byrd aid ~eeatc: I'tilii or ity
Leader Howard Baker submitting a request for staff acceS; "t7biCh will
be honored and handled directly with their offices.
It is my firm belief that. these proved r; es :trill not inter f e-re V it.h
the proper flow of i.ittelli trence to the :Cori f; ^ess, but will sec' e to enhance
the protect:lion of hi "11,13, erlsi.i.ive irztc:lti; ::xlee sources anct methods b}-
lzrztiiinff cxccess to`ari absolute need-'to kuo.1. :[ would weicorcte your
support to facilitate acceptance of these ;.~rvicedxirccd key staff members serving in the offices of the Leadership
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of i}i(.t Cclz~~;r c :i accc::;~.; :i.incc jai it })i~itlcipaIs z'c cei.~`c sensitive i-rtteIli};c ,lC e
oIl F! Ti T;tll_).I' )) ;i5 and require Hitt This will 5)"WI ICle
C?C-':it~~Tlr'.ited }):~Z'~ onal staff ine.mbe1 ; from ill C' :it tt}s of yol?Z C)~:LC C' :,
the President Pro--'fens}lore of the Senate, :irlcl WGijoriiv and
I:.elders of both thee Senate and the house. hly LegisIaltivc Counsel
will be contacting your offices to determine which ::tlff: paraoenel you
have designated for .such access. I recently received at lett.C .t' :.:i?;ned
jointly by Senate Majority Leader Itobert Byrd attd Sena-I.e. Minority
Leader ltoward Baker submitting a rE`quest for stall access 1'ihicl-i will
be honored and handled directly with. their offices:
it is roy firm belief that- these procedures -vlilt not inter fer,e with
the proper flow of intelligence to the .Congress, but ,,rill serve to enhance
the protection of hi hly Sensitive intelligence sources and methods by
limning access to .Iln -absolute neecl---td- 4:now. I would welcorrtc yonr
support to facilitate acceptance of these I)rocechire_: by comm ittee-
chairmen in any way that you deem appropria e :
Yours sinc~ere:ty,
71:11 Si,, 1 i
-.7T TSit' IELD T IJfNER