LETTER TO HOWARD H. BAKER FROM RONALD REAGAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85-00003R000200030010-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: February 3, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2008/09/18: CIA-RDP85-00003R000200030010-2
THE WHITE HQUSE
February 3, 1982
Dear Senator Baker:
Legislation to- make criminal the unauthorized disclosure
of the names of our intelligence officers remains the
cornerstone for the improvement of our intelligence
capabilities, a goal that I know we share. Nothing ha3'?-
been more damaging to this effort than the pernicious
disclosures of the names of officers whom we send
abroad on dangerous and difficult assignments.. Unfor?tu-
nately, these disclosures continue with impunity,
endangering lives, seriously impairing the effectiveness
of our clandestine operations, and adversely. affecting
morale within our intelligence agencies.
L33t September the House of Representatives overwhelmingly
passed the Administration-supported version of the
Intelligence Identities Protection Act. The Senate is
soon to take up con3ideration of this legislation, and
you will have before you two versions. While I believe
that both versions are fully protective of constitutional
guarantees, Attorney General Smith and I firmly believe
that the original1version, first introduced by Senator
Chafee and others, is far more likely to result in an
effective law that could lead to. successful prosecution..
I strongly urge you and each of your colleagues to support
the carefully-crafted Chafee-Jackson amendment to S.391.
I cannot overemphasize the importance of this legislation.
Sincerely,
The Honorable Howard H. Baker
Majority Leader
United States Senate -
t?la3hington, D. C. 20510
Approved For Release 2008/09/18: CIA-RDP85-00003R000200030010-2