PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF INTELLIGENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84-00780R004200150004-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 22
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 23, 2002
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: August 3, 1971
• Content Type: MF

DD/ S I::u{:._S 1'D
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DD/S 71-3075
MEMORANDUM FOR: Executive Director-Comptroller
SUBJECT : Public Understanding of the Role of Intelligence
REFERENCE : Memo dtd 16 July 71 to Deputy Directors
fin ExDir -Compt, same subject
1. This memorandum is for your information only in response to referent
memorandum.
2. The thoughts and comments I received from the Support components in
response to referent memorandum are, I believe, excellent ones and are pre-
sented below in three parts: what we are doing today; what additional coverage
might be given in the future; and general observations regarding this topic.
a. What We Are Doing Today
(1) A summary of our current contacts with the public are pre -
sented below; the details of these contacts are attached at Tab A.
(a) In the academic arena, we have Senior Agency Representa-
tives assigned to five of the Senior Government Schools; we are
providing about 600 speakers per annum to various School courses
and other gatherings; and each year we have a large number of em -
ployees enrolled as students in Senior Schools (38 per year) and in
full-time academic training at colleges and universities (about 40
per year). In addition, OTR briefers gave 11 briefings last year
for academic groups with 220 persons in attendance.
(b) Briefings of other outside groups last year included nine
Brookings Conferences for Businessmen; eight briefings on the CIA
mission to social, civic, and professional groups; and 133 briefings
for over 5,000 persons from National Security Agencies.
(c) Continuing liaison is maintained with other Government
agency counterparts and related private industry by our repre -
sentatives in each of the Support components. I
(d) Membership and participation in professional clubs and
associations is encouraged by each Support component.
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(e) Comments regarding contacts by our recruiters in the
field were submitted directly to you by the Director of Person,
b. What Additional Cover! r M& Be Given in the Future
(1) College courses relating to "The National Decision-Making
Process" and "The Economics of National Security" could be developed,
and appropriate training could be offered by the Agency to appropriate
professors in colleges and universities. Some examples of subject
matter might be:
(a) Pearl Harbor and the handling of intelligence, a classic
example of strategic warning problem.
(b) The creation of the Agency, its responsibilities, and or-
ganization.
(c) NIE m W SNIE production and the organization of USIB.
(d) Agent operations using the Peakrevsky case (and/or others)
to illustrate the strategic implications of a good agent operation.
(e) Critical intelligence problems confronting the decision-
maker.
(2) Better briefing of employees entering the Agency on how to
respond to questions about the Agency. Admonitions during EOD
processing frequently are never countermanded or modified or tamped-
down as the years go by, and such guidance as "use your bead" or "ob-
serve the need-to-know principle" serve little purpose. New employees
feel that they are left with a handful of air wheat it comes to talking about
their jobs and the Agency. Since they are spokesmen for the Agency
and the role of intelligence, they should be trained to act as spokesmen;
i.,e., be given a positive line to follow in responding to legitimate inquiry.
(3) A much more extensive program for reaching social, civic,
professional, and business groups (the community leaders of ?Middle
America") should be developed. The various civic clubs (such as
Kiwanis) constitute a veritable national network operating at the
municipal level. and reaching the leaders of the community. Speaking
invitations from such groups could easily be stimulated by Domestic
Contact Service. These groups are not only receptive, but consider
it quite a coup to get a speaker from CIA. A little parting of the
mystery veil by the speaker (along the lines of our film "Need To Know")
and a chance for them to ask a few questions and receive honest answers
could ro a lone wav in aainine under 3in? and sunnort of the Anencv.
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(4) The public has been advised that the Agency has great ex-
pertise in all fields and that with the Degrees our employees hold we
could start our oven university. We could encourage our experts,
particularly those in the intelligence and Science and Technology
Directorates, to participate more heavily In academic forums in-
volving the specialty field or basic discipline in which they work In
the Agency.
(5) A conscientious effort could be made toward developing the
interest of youths in intelligence. Since most young people have had
little or no contact with the Agency or its personnel, trained overt
employees could be sent to h schools and colleges in response to
requests for speakers. I believe that the requests would be forth-
coming if the word was out that we would consider such requests
favorably. The future success of the Agency will depend on our re-
crulting bright, young, and innovative employees who have a full.
understanding of the need for and role of intelligence in a free society.
Through a direct contact like this, many students will realize the posi-
tive purpose of intelligence and some will become motivated toward an
intelligence career.
(6) Overt staff employees in certain disciplines could be given
sabbaticals for a period of residency at American universities and
colleges.
(7) In relation to education, the Agency could develop a curriculum,
bibliography, and teaching aides which could be used at the high school
level for the teaching of the history and role of intelligence. Educators
play an Important part in developing the future citizen. If we could
provide him with such guidance, he would be better able to impart an
understanding of the function of intelligence in the decision-making
process.
(8) We could make our film "Need To Know" more broadly avail-
able for showing to interested groups. I continue to believe that an
employee should be present at showings of the film to respond to ques-
tions from the audience. It is believed that the mere showing of the
film and the contact with an Agency employee In this fashion can dispel
much of the mystery, glamour, and misconceptions centered around
the Agency.
(9) An organization of Agency "Alumni" could prove to be an or-
ganized voice to comment favorably on the Agency, to give construc-
tive viewpoints in times of trial, and to act as outside spokesmen when
the Agency is not in a position to respond directly.
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(10) We could prepare articles about the Agency and some of its
accomplishments for publication In wide circulation magazines (such
as Readers Digest) and specialized magazines. An example of this is
the highly favorable article published in printing trade Journals about
the Agency's development of computerized typesetting.
(11) More difficult would be enlisting TV production of a CIA
series similar to the FBI series but.without the overt Government co-
operation and controls noted in that series. Some cooperation of a
"historical" nature would probably not draw severe criticism, and the
resultant work could be freely adapted on a fictional basis (much like
the FBI series). The Important factor here would be a series showing
CIA doing something colorful for specific advantage to the U. S. and to
the public.
(12) First-person spy memoirs of a colorful nature might be en-
couraged on a highly selective basis from retirees and former employees.
(13) The Agency might seek membership in such organizations
as the Rosslyn Businessman's Association and the McLean Citizens
Association In light of the Agency's Davy Impact on both of those
areas and, likewise, a better understanding of us could be gained
from bringing more local civic organizations and senior high school
classes to our campus for general briefings and a look at us in our
natural habitat.
(14) The briefing program directed toward the dependents of
officers being assigned overseas could be expanded to provide briefings
for dependents of U. S. based employees to insure that early in an
officer's career his dependents learn something about the Agency.
c. General Observations Regarding This Topic
(1) The Director observed that after the "Ramparts" disclosures
vis-a-vis the National Student Association and the Agency, the nega-
tive reaction to the Agency on U. S. College campuses was at a level
which made any reasoned approach to explaining the Agency's function
impossible at the time. When the Director spoke on 15 June, the first
installments of the "Pentagon Papers" had just been published in the
New York Times. Sias that time, the publication of the "Pentagon
Papers" per se has been completed both in the press and in paperback.
Commentary In the media on the "Pentagon Papers" has been favorable
to the Agency, but has underscored that the "wisdom" of the Agency
was not followed, leaving the reading public with the thought "why a
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Central ellige ce Agency if its collective wisdom is Ignored?"
At the time of the "Rampatla" disclosure, the Director observed
that the winds of the storm were blowing too strongly to be heard.
It would seem that the winds are blowing Just as strongly now, from
another direction as a result of the "Pentagon Papers."
(2) After all to said and done, one can also ask whether the
"intelligence image" vis-a-vis the American public is a problem
with which the Agency shoyld be concerned. Intelligence in some
form is a tool which has and will continue to exist in some form in
the Executive Branch of Government. Since it is a tool of the Execu-
tive Branch, is it proper to "go to the people" to justify its continued
existence In the form it now has? ' Intelligence has no public function
as does labor, agriculture, Afire, or education. It does not provide
any direct public service. Its usefulness in presenting the President
with the best information and judgment available can only be maintained
by carefully protecting "sources and methods." This vital protection
can only suffer erosion by "going to the public." As long as "sources
and methods" must continue to. be fully protected, it would seem doubtful
that the Agency and its role can ever be creditably presented to the
American public. Attempts to do so will continuously create situations
challengtsg its creditability and repeatedly reopen its "public Image"
issue.
(3) If we decided to go the route of providing speakers to civic
and businessmen groups throughout the country, the following statistic s
reflect the timetable which would be involved:
"There are 454 cities in the United States with a population
between 25, 000 and 50, 000; 232 with a population between 50, 000
and 100, 000; and 15 3 with a population of 100, 000 or more. For
a starter, one man giving an average of three briefings a week,
could, In one year, speak once in all American cities with a popu-
lation of 100, 000 or more. If he makes one appearance in the
100, 000 to 500, 000 dies and speaks an average of six times each
in the 26 biggest cities (500 000 and over), it could be done in two
years or by two men in one year. This is illustrative of some of
the possibilities in this kind of community-relations program."
(4) The Director's speech before the American Society of News-
paper Editors explained the role of intelligence in an excellent way.
His recent trip to the middle East on behalf of the President was a
public expression of the President's confidence in him and though not
intentionally publicized. it did get wide coverage in the world press.
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In 1972, the Agency will celebrate its 25th anniversary. It might be
appropriate on that occasion to wed toward some low key publicity.
A publicly announced visit by the President and a release of his state-
ment corncerning the Agency might btuppropriate as would a statement
by the Director. In fact, TV and radio coverage would not be entirely
out of order. We have a year to prepare for it.
(5) The: public could be made more aware of the Intelligence and
Science and Technology Directorates roles of this Agency and thereby
remove some of the focus from the spying and covert action role of
the Clandestine Service.
3. Although I recognize that some of the thoughts and Ideas expressed
above may not be feasible from the cost and/or effort standpoint, I believe that
we should look at all approaches before we decide the course of action we will
take in attempting to resolve this problem.
4. Attached at Tab 8 Is a thoughtful response from a former CT in the
Support Directorate which was prepared after seeing a copy of referent memo-
randum. I thought you, too, might find it Interesting.
John W. Coffey
Deputy Director
for Support
2 Attache
EO-DD/S:CND:es (3 Aug 71)
Distribution:
Orig - Adse w/atts
I - ER w/atts
tiY- DD/S subject w/atts
1 - DD/S chrono
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WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY
. Office of Training
a. Senior Agency representatives are now on detail to the National War
College, Army War Col'age, Defimse lr telligence School, National Interde-
partmental Seminar, and Navy War College. (A request from the Air War
College is now pending.) These individuals have a unique opportunity to present
and explain the role of intelligence to attendees at these Schools and to Seminars
conducted by these Schools for p item American businessmen and academi-
cians.
b. Briefings for outside groups during FY 1971, examples: nine Brookings
Conferences for Businessmen which were aft ended by 260 businessmen; 11
briefings for academic groups which were attended by 220 students; eight briefings
on the CIA mission we * given, by OTR briefers to social, civic, and professional
groups; and 133 briefings by OTR briefers for over S. 000 persons from the
National Security Agencies.
c. CIA students enrolled in Senior Schools (War Colleges and their civilian
equivalents) and full-time academic training have an excellent opportunity to
explain the role of Intelligence and dispel misconceptions regarding the Agency
to fellow students. OTR has three day orientation for these students to prepare
them for their role as Ambassadors for Intelligence and the Agency. Our students
going outside are our best salesmen and the ripple effect of their attendance In
a variety of courses Increases their influence far beyond just those people they
contact directly. This effort is low-key, personal, and In response to a national
curiosity on the part of our stunts' class members. Since those we send are
usually top-notch people, the Impression we are making in this arena should be
good.
d. Over 300 Agency employees are involved in providing briefings at various
courses and gatherings.
2. Office of Communications
a. OC is in constant liaison w h other Government agencies involved In
the communications field and with the communications electronics industry.
A number of the technical programs sponsored by OC are imaginative and setting, and this fact is not lost to our Governmental counterparts nor to the
civilian contractors with whom we work.
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. Office of Medical Services
a. We have continuing liaison with the Medical Director of the Foreign
Service and with medical officials of the U. S. Public Health Service, the U. S.
Civil Service Commission, NSA, and the Military Services.
b. Several of our staff Medical officers are members of the Council of
Federal Medical Directors.
c. Several of our staff Medical officers and staff psychologists hold
teaching appointments at local medical schools and universities.
d. Our three professional consultant panels (Clinical, Psychiatric, and
Psychological) are continuing means for improving the understanding of the
Agency mission. These panels, made up of eminent professionals in their
respective fields, are convened several times each year bore at headquarters.
By way of example, the Clinical Consultant Panel is composed of the Medical
Directors of the following industrial organizations:
e. Psychologists of our Psychological Services Staff in recent years have
with increasing frequency received approval for the publication of certain works
in professional journals.
4. Office of Security
a. This spring attended the Presidential Classs-
room for Young Americans as the Agency Representative. Some 2, 000 high
school students from all over the country attended and all had serious mis-
conceptions regarding the Agency. was able to dispel these miscon-
ceptions during his various discussions with the students. His report regarding
this activity is attached hereto.
5. office of Logistics
a. Our engineers, contracting and procurement officers and senior
Printing Services Division personnel are members of professional societies
In their fields and are in frequent attendance at their meetings and conferences.
b. We have heavy contact with private business firms with whom we have
contracts and those which are interested in having their products considered for
Agency use.
25
25
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. We have extensive contact with other Government agencies for whom
we Provide contracting services and from whom we procure materiel and ser-
vices.
6. Office of Finance
a. A number of our officers hold membership in the Federal Government
Accountants Association, the American institute of Certified Public Accountants,
and the American Management Association. Their membership in these organi-
zations and their participation in the meetings, seminars, and conferences is
encouraged.
7. Office of Personnel
Their comments were submitted directly to your office in accordance with
your request in referent memorandum.
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The student body of the Presidential Classroom for Young
Americans was composed of students from many diverse back-
grounds. Students ranged from 16 to 18 years of age and were
usually in their senior year of high school. Students represented
high schools from all of the states, territories and overseas
schools of the Departments of State and Defense. Most minority
groups and ethnical backgrounds were represented. All students
paid a $200 tuition and had to supply their own transportation to
Washington and back home. In most cases the school or local groups
paid the student's tuition and travel expenses and in the case of the
Upwardbound students, the Department of Health, Education and
Welfare paid their expenses. Each class lasted for one week and
was made up of approximately 320 students. The students came
with a common concern about their government and put forth an
amazing effort to make the program and their experience a success.
In order to illustrate their sincerity and maturity, there was only
one discipline action necessary during the six-week period in which
nearly 2, 000 students participated. They displayed a concerned
and matured attitude as well as a self-disciplined approach to
their in-depth study of government.
The attitude of the students toward government in general
will assist in understanding their opinions and misconception of
the Central Intelligence Agency. The writer is of the opinion that
there is a direct relationship between their impression of govern-
ment and their perception of the Agency. They looked at govern-
ment as a group of bureaucrats who performed their duties to sus-
tain the status quo. Since many students believed that the govern-
ment was out of contact with the people, the sensitivity of the
bureaucracy to the needs and desires of the citizen was seriously
questioned. Furthermore, their image of the government and
their characterization of the civil servant was derived from second
and third hand sources since many students had never had any
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contact with the government until attending the Presidential Class-
room. The government was perceived as primarily a conservative
force which served as an impediment to the progress of the coun-
try. The student was unaware of the problems and forces which
confronted government. Thus, while the students were sincere
and honest in their constructive criticism and to some extent dis-
enchanted with the responsiveness of government, they illustrated
a sense of naivity and lack of historical perspective concerning
the problems and the dilemma of government.
In considering the student's attitudes toward the Agency,
there arose four major concerns. First, they maintained that the
Agency was conducting domestic spying and gathering files on
civilians. Second, they were under the impression that the Agency
had no checks on its activities. Third, they viewed the total func-
tion of the Agency as a group of "spies" running around the coun-
try and the world assasinating left-wingers and overthrowing
governments who disagreed with the policy of the United States.
Fourth, they assumed that the Agency was an inherent policy formu-
lating and directing body.
A very real misunderstanding of the students was their
fear that the Agency was conducting activities in the United States.
There was an unawareness among the students of the scope and
limitations of the Agency. Their misnomers arose from the fact
that they did not understand the function nor the use of intelligence
and had a total misconception of the role and application of intel-
ligence. Their fears of the activities of the Agency in the United
States were based strictly on misinformation and conjecture.
Fundamentally, the CIA is a spy outfit and, therefore, must spy
on the citizens of the United States.
Many students contended that the Agency had no checks on
its activities and even went so far as to consider it a totally auto-
nomous organization within itself without any outside direction.
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SECRET
They contended that money was either appropriated directly or funds
were diverted from other expenditures to the Agency to carry out any
mission it deemed necessary.
The students' main image of the Agency was derived from
second and third hand sources. The "Mission Impossible" and
"James Bond" pictures of the Agency was a very real concept.
Practically none of the students had either read or come into
contact with any primary information concerning the Agency.
While it was hard to comprehend why students who were con-
cerned about government had such a naive and disillusioned
opinion of the Agency, it was a fact that they were totally mis-
informed and out of contact with information that could clarify
and explain the function of the Agency. In relation to this point,
the students were amazed that a person could write the Agency
for an application. They opined that Agency employees are
recruited by some mysterious person who would appear from
no where and select a person for a career with the CIA. Fur-
thermore, besides the routine requirements and outstanding
qualities which all employers seek in their employees the
students assumed that there was some insidious and elusive
quality which one has acquired during a life time and is needed
for Agency employment.
The final misconception of the students was their lack of
knowledge of the structure of government. Since most students
were unaware and uninformed about the National Security Council,
they maintained that the Agency was a policy formulating organi-
zation. The assumption was apparent in their discussion that the
Agency determined its own goals and there was no coordination of
intelligence activities with National Security. Furthermore, the
students had little knowledge of the history of intelligence in the
United States and believed that the CIA anteceded the events of the
Second World War. They were unaware of the events of post World
War II period which prompted the need for an intelligence organization
to be maintained during peace time.
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The information with which the students entered the discus-
sion was based primarily on hearsay information. My discussion
with the students was centered on an attempt to make the Agency
a more realistic part of the government and how it fit into the
foreign policy making structure of the Executive Branch. As the
students brought up their views concerning the Agency they were
readily willing to listen to an explanation and understanding of
its functions. Once the ground work was formulated the title of
my discussion "The Role of Intelligence in a Free Society" became
more apparent to them. The emphasis during the discussion cen-
tered on the need and function of foreign intelligence in assisting
the policy formulation and decision making of the President. While
concentrating on and using the events at Pearl Harbor as a take
off point and emphasizing the responsibility of intelligence in a
modern world, the realization was brought to the student that
intelligence is a positive force which can prevent world conflict
rather than their impression that intelligence will lead to conflict.
The positive aspects of intelligence were demonstrated to
the students. Upon completion of the discussion of the role of
intelligence in a free society, the students departed with a much
more receptive opinion towards the need and function of intelli-
gence and the Agency. It is believed that the mere contact with an
Agency employee assisted in dispelling the glamour and miscon-
ceptions of the Agency. The students went away with the impres-
sion that the Agency personnel is composed of capable, well-trained,
and self-disciplined individuals. There was little doubt that the
open discussion with the students served to close the gap which
existed between the student's view of the Agency and its actual
function.
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23 July 1971
1. Start by better informing the Agency's own employees on "the
true and overall functions of intelligence. " Nowhere is this need as great
as in the support areas where people are far removed from Agency intelligence
products. If individual Agency employees try to aid public understanding of
intelligence, let them be informed Agency employees.
2. Begin to dissolve the "paranoia" open employees present when
asked about the Agency. Most citizens will ask very little, and they might
appreciate a straightforward answer--even a no comment.
3. Encourage open employees to join professional associations and
attend meetings and conferences. As friendships are developed in these
associations more of these publics can be informed about the role of intelli-
gence and of the Agency in producing national intelligence.
4. Allow, encourage and provide Agency speakers to fan out throughout
the nation to speak to interested public and private groups. Don't push, just
let it be known to speakers bureaus that Agency spokesmen are available for
the sundry lecture circuits.
Mr. White gave an enjoyable and informative talk about the Agency and
the role of intelligence (my wife says it's more than I'd told her) to the wives
of Agency employees last summer. Talks, like Mr. White's, by Agency
management to various American publics could aid these publics in under-
standing the role of intelligence and the Agency in national security affairs.
5. Don't pass out "truth kits" like the Office of Training gives to employees
going out to universities on extended training. Some segments of the public
might be satisfied with the documents in the package--other segments of the
public would only become more alienated.
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6. Unless there is an attitude of let sleeping dogs lie--the people's
representatives in the Congress offer an important public group that needs
to have a minimum basic understanding of the role of intelligence and the
Agency's role in national intelligence production.
7. At some future date, possibly the intelligence community as a whole
could create an Archive of open information, exhibits (the process of national
intelligence production), and memorabilia; a place that would be a regular stop
for tourists to Washington, D. C. Locate the site away from the Agency.
Possibly the Smithsonian Institute would cooperate in such a future undertaking.
a. Film--the Agency has got to have the talent to put together an
even better film than the one shown last year--Need To Know. Such a film
can be shown in conjunction with traveling Agency speakers or on its own to
groups requesting it.
b. Books, pamphlets--no more than the books and/or pamphlets
used by recruiters. Smacks too much of public relations. Our constituency
for printed matter should remain the President, the NSC, the intelligence
community, etc.
c. Newspapers (interviews) minimal--too easily misquoted to millions.
d. TV (series) a gong ho P. R. effort would probably try to land us
a series a la FBI or O'Hara: U. S. Treasury. Remember Rod Randall and
O. S. S. Let's stay real and not become plastic Jesus'.
e. TV (interview) DCI only. Not for quite some time--time is not
right. Have the DCI do a whole 1 1/2 hour evening interview show. Preferably
David Frost (English) or Dick Cavett--both tend to be better interviewers.
Arrangements can be made if shows are interested. Show can probably be
taped in D.C. Host would want some preplanning, but no staged questions
and/or answers.
I realize this suggestion is ladened with some risks and uncertainties
(e. g. Cavett would probably ask questions resulting from previous interviews
with former Captain Robert Murasco and Dr. Daniel Ellsberg.) I suggest this
as a wider forum for aiding public understanding of the role of intelligence and
the Agency as explained by the DCI. Individual employees of the Agency to a
large degree are here in Washington, D.C. Their public is rather small.
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f. Magazines (interview) --the magazine chosen would depend on
the target group. After 4 1/2 years I would still suggest Playboy as the
magazine, if the target is youth. Playboy has a large pass around potential.
MJR
Atts:
Assumptions.
Asides
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ASSUMPTIONS:
1. By "structured approach to a better public understanding of
intelligence, " I assume this does not mean the establishment of a full
blown Agency public relations program. A public relations program
would tend to be seen as an Agency admission of insecurity about either
its role, its objectivity, or the user's review of our product. It would
also leave us open, and rightfully so, to the same kind of criticism the
military is receiving in "The Selling of the Pentagon. "
NSC.
2. That the Agency's basic constituency is the President and his
3. That the Agency (through individuals or collectively as an
organization) be candid within limits, honest, and just, when presenting
itself openly to the public.
4. People under cover are not involved in aiding public understanding
about intelligence.
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ASIDES:
Ideas not called for by the memorandum.
1. During the past year in school, the one area that stood out as a
public misunderstanding of the role of intelligence is the area of estimating
the intentions of other national leaderships. Most people hit me with the
past trespasses of the Agency as reported in the press. Also most people
figure "spies" find out about missiles, planes and/or armies and that they
study the economies of other nations and snap pictures from the sky. Boo
spies! But one idea that even more radical students could begin to accept
as a needed function of our Agency is this:
That in order not to make a misjudgment about the intentions
of other national leaderships, which could level to a nuclear
exchange, there is a continuing need in today's world for an
intelligence apparatus to inform the President as accurately
and/or objectively as possible of the intentions of other national
leaderships.
The converse is pointed out by the students--the need for our
opponents to do the same concerning American leadership.
In the area of gaining information on the intentions of other national
leaderships, the role of intelligence and/or the Agency would be worthwhile
to explain to the public.
2. We will only do harm to ourselves if we become neurotic about
"The Agency's Image." Images are not real substance, they are what
dreams are made of. The only crucial publics that must be convinced
always about the need for intelligence are us, the employees of this Agency,
the consumers of our finished national intelligence products, and our
financiers.
There is no being "The Agency" to have an image. There are only
us... people. . . intelligence careerists. No amount of low key selling of
"The Agency", no amount of attempts to convince the American people of the
need for intelligence, no amount of image making will do us good in the end.
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Our need exists as long as we humans are trying to stay alive in
a world of unsolved problems.
A turn to even low key public relations gimmicks by our Agency
would mean we doubt ourselves--we doubt our product to stand on its own
merits.
I say the above because public understanding in juxtaposition with
convince the American people and structured approach to public understanding
doesn't meld.
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 App
VEar L AS - - WMMM
?UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL SECRE
OFFICIAL ROUTING SLIP
TO
NAME AND ADDRESS
DATE
INITIA
1
Deputy Director for Support
2
3
4
5
6
ACTION
DIRECT REPLY
PREPARE REPLY
APPROVAL
DISPATCH
RECOMMENDATION
COMMENT
FILE
RETURN
CONCURRENCE
INFORMATION
SIGNATURE
Remarks :
FOLD HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER
FROM: NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NO.
DATE
Executive Director- Comptroller
16Ju1 7
I
FORM NO. 237 Use previous editions
1-67 I
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DD/S 2/ r2 Do2?
16 July 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR : Deputy Director for Intelligence
Deputy Director for Plans
.-eputy Director for Support
Deputy Director for Science and Technology
SUBJECT : Public Understanding of the Role of Intelligence
1. During the question-and-answer period f, f lowing the Director's
15 June State of the Agency address, he was askea whether 11th Frets more
that all of us as individuals and collectively can di, to help A.-ne-: icans in
public and private life better understand the true ar.1 the overa? L functions
of intelligence?" In the course of his response to This qaes : r., he said:
"I think there is more that can be done to put intelli-
gence in a better perspective in the mind of our ;compatriots,
and we're going to be looking at this and checking on ways
to do this with increasing frequency. In point of fact; he
speech to which you refer (American Society of News gaper
Editors) was an effort to kick this thing ~,ff and see If we can
get a hearing in this modern context and it was clear that we
did. I think by and large the speech was relatively wall ac-
cepted. So we're going to try and get a quiet program to-
gether and over a period of weeks and months see if we can't
do a better job of trying to convince Americans that iey need
intelligence, which obviously they do. "
2. In the weeks ahead I plan to di .4 uss with the Director what he
has in mind. At that time I want to pres.-.r.t ar. inventory of current activ-
itywhich meets the criteria of informing }.abli--_and privateset. tors about
Vie value of intelligence and the CIA ffunction. At the same time I would
like to be in a position to offer suggestions on what more should be done.
We have discus sec. this topic several times in connection with lie Manage-
ment Advisory Group's 18 November 1970 memorandum on "The Agency's
Image, 11 but we may have reached the point where additional forward move-
ment toward a structured approach to a better public understanding of
intelligence will require some fresh thinking reduced to writing.
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dcc lassifi ssiilca tion
SECRET doc a and
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3. Please prepare a brief paper by 2 August on what you are doing
and what more can be done. I am asking the information addressees of
this memorandum to forward any thoughts they may have on this topic.
25
L. K. White
Executive Director-Comptroller
cc: D/DCI/NIPE
D/Personnel
General Counsel
Inspector General
Asst, to DCI
D/ONE
D/PPB
DTR
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