LETTER TO (SANITIZED) FROM (SANITIZED)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00148R000100360018-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 27, 2007
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: August 3, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2007/06/27 : CIA-RDP84B00148R000100360018-8
TRANSMITTAL SLIP I
DATE 5 Aug 82
TO:
Registry - Vera
ROOM NO. BUILDING
REMARKS:
Please log the attached and
send FYI copy to C/PAD/OEXA.
0 has the original and
will take the action.
has a zerox copy.
If you have any questions, please
call me.
Thanks
Judy
FROM:
ROOM NO.
BUILDING
EXTENSION
 SheNelwUorki~imes
WASHINGTON BUREAU
1000 CONNECTICUT AVE, N.W.
WASHINGTON. D C 20036
[phone]
66 P1 P-/V,56
The Central Intelligence Agency
Washington DC 20505
The New York Times Magazine has asked me to do a story
on the C.I.A. It has been awhile since the Times Magazine, or
any major magazine, for that matter, has taken a comprehensive
look at the agency. The last piece published by the Times
Magazine appeared in July 1979. Written by Tad Szulc, it was a
look at the agency in the wake of the overthrow of the Shah of
Iran and Admiral Turner's shakeup of the operations directorate.
In September 1976, Taylor Branch wrote a piece about covert opera-
tions and the Church Committee investigation. Not surprisingly,
both articles concentrated on upheaval and problems.
It's time for a dispassionate, in-depth look at the
agency. The Reagan Administration has clearly set out to rebuild
American intelligence capabilities and Bill Casey has put a pre-
mium on improving the quality of intelligence analysis. There's
been much talk in the press about improving and expanding opera-
tions and an increased use of covert actions. However, no one
has stopped to pull all this together in a single story that, in
effect, gives the public a status report on the C.I.A.
If you strip away the frills, I guess it boils down to
a basic question: how good is the C.I.A.? That means beginning
with the ultimate product, the intelligence analyses and reports.
How accurate are they? How timely? How useful to decision-
makers? Since the reports reflect the quality of intelligence
collection, I would like to examine the steps that have been taken
to make improvements in that area. Given the public fears about
covert operations, I should try to report what the agency is, and
is not, doing.
 Approved For Release 2007/06/27 : CIA-RDP84B00148R000100360018-8
August 3, 196Z 2.
Obviously, I can write a story based on interviews
with intelligence consumers, members of congressional over-
sight committees and intelligence officials from other agencies,
but to do justice to what's happening at the C.I.A., I really
should spend time with agency officials. I realize I'm asking
for unusual access, but I think it's in both our interests.
Because the hysteria about intelligence abuses has passed, this
is a good time for an even-handed assessment of the C.I.A. The
best way for me to understand what the agency is doing, and the
best way for the agency to dispel a lot of public rumors and
suspicions, is to let me talk with agency officials.
Let me give you some examples. For an overview of the
C.I.A. I should talk to Mr. Casey and John McMahon. If I am to
understand and report on improvements in intelligence analysis,
I need to talk to Bob Gates and some of his analysts. I need to
find out what problems this Administration inherited in analysis
and how you've gone about correcting them. I need to know what
changes have been made in the content and timing of intelli ence
and some of the national intelligence otticers.
rebuilding means. What improvements have been made in the
collection of foreign intelligence? One interesting issue is
training--how does the C.I.A. go about finding and training people
for foreign assignments? Without compromising your operations,
I'd like to write a little about the teaching of tradecraft.
What sorts of covert operations are considered acceptable these
days? For all these questions, I'd like to have some time with
John Stein and his people.
Similarly, I'd like to interview E.R. Hineman about his
science and technology shop and Harry Fitzwater about support
and logistics. On the issue of internal checks, I'd like to
interview and the new inspector general, if one
has been named. Because there is a great deal of interest in,
and misunderstanding about, counterintelligence, I would like
STAT
STAT
 Approved For Release 2007/06/27 : CIA-RDP84B00148R000100360018-8
I am open to discussion about ground rules for some of
these interviews. I would like to do as many as possible on the
record, but in some of the more sensitive areas, you may prefer
background sessions. My deadline for reporting is mid-September,
so, if the agency is willing to help, I'd like to get started
with interviews as soon as possible.
 External A. airs
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The Central Intelligence Agency
Langley, Va.