LETTER TO MR. BERNIE RAIMO FROM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85B00552R001000080013-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 29, 2008
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: August 16, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

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16 August 1982
Mr. Bernie Raimo
Rouse Select Committee on Intelligence
Washington, D.C.' 20515
We would like to present the following thoughts for your con-
sideration before the end of the conference on revision of
the CIA Retirement and Disability System to provide survivor
and retirement benefits for divorced and widowed spouses of
overseas officers. These items have surfaced in conversations
with women facing divorce, with personnel of the U.S. State
Department Family Liaison Office, and with officers and mem-
bers of the Association of ..American Foreign Service Women,
whose membership includes many CIA wives. We realize that
any action proposed b~- the Conference must be within the
words of the legislation already voted upon.
cae believe that spouses -- including former and widowed
spouses -- should receive complete, timely information about
''their vested rights. t~~e realize that this essential point is
difficult to accomplish. It hinges on direct communication.
with spouses. Our =ega1 counsel, has been .25X1
consulted and agrees with our pose ion on is porn .
The problem of com~nur~ication has already been recognized.
Many of the 75 com:~~ents.received during the 10 additional
days that the record was held open following the 5 Ntay 1982
Senate Hearing concerned the difficulties in communicating
terms of the bill to CIA employees. The problem is compounded
for communication with wives. And reaching divorced and
widowed spouses is still more difficult.
~~?e believe that .i.r.formation on these vested rights should co
directly to each spouse without relying on any intermediary,
such as the employed officer who through inattention or'care-
lessness might not deliver the communications or who might
have reasons of his own for withholding some or all of the
provided. information. _
w'e believe that it is vitally important for spouses to be
informed well in advance of any divorce actions. Other-
wise, `through ignorance and a desire to avoid further stress-
ful contention, they may sign away their vested rights. (Some
spouses have signed away their chances at any future rights
for this reason.)
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?
Traditionally, CIA spouses are encouraged not to ask questions,
to obtain any information about CIA only on a need-to-know
basis and then to seek the information from the CIA employee
to whom they are married. Many 'spouses have never been in
direct contact with CIA for any reason, other than medical
clearance. They would not know how or from whom to obtain
the information they needed, even if they had some indication
that such rights existed. Some are afraid to contact CIA
directl~% because they fear they might jeopardize security --
the officer's or that of matters of national intelligence.
The recent passage of the Identities Bill well may give greater
impetus to this reluctance. Other spouses are afraid that
exposure of family problems could lead to loss of employment
for the officer, in many cases, the only source of income for
the entire family.
We believe that informing spouses adequately is vitally im-
portant to CIA, also, Senator Durenberger is quoted in the
Congressional Record of 30 June 1982 that he is confident that
the amendment will aid in the recruitment of. bright motivated
people to serve the CIA, as well as providing for a better life
overseas by giving spouses the assurance of some economic secur-
ity for themselves and their families. But for the amendment
to have this impact, the spouses must know about the amendment
'early in their association with CIA.
Recognizing this need for timely information distribution,
we encourage final approval of the provision in the Senate
legislation Sec. 505 (c) (as reported in the 30~June 1982
Congressional Record enclosed) concerning "a survivor annuity
elected under this subsection:" .
The director shall on an annual basis...
(2) to the maximum extent practicable, inform
spouses or former spouses of_particinants or
former participants of their rights under this
? section and Section 222. (retirement annuities;
this part added)
This responsibility was recognized during debate of the para-
lel legislation, the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (reported in
the 1 October 1980 issue of the Congressional Record), in which
the Secretary of State is urged:
...to review, advise, and generally assist par-
ticipants and their spouses or former spouses on
whether their spousal agreements can be honored.
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And the Secretary is admonished:
This new retirement law should be interpreted
consistent with its intent by both the courts
and-the Department of State. It is the in-
tent of Congress that Foreign Service divorced
spouses be protected against poverty in old age.
Regulations and decisions that restrict these
protections are contrary to the will of Congress.
We would suggest the following ways to provide this information
to spouses:
The first notification of vested spousal rights should be in
a packet of family-related information provided directly to
each spouse at the time the married officer enters on active
CIA duty.
The message should be a matter of record in the Family Employee
LIaison Office at CIA, through which CIA employees and their
spouses are encouraged .to process on .the way to and from over-
seas assignments. (See attachment for similar proposal regard-
ing the FS Act of 1980.)
The message should be sent directly to spouses in newslet ers--
like that proposed at meeting of the Task Force on Women's
Concerns-- or similar formats.
The information sho~,~ld be included in training courses which
spouses attend, such as the course for wives o ie s of
Stations, the overseas briefing classes, and the classes
for officers entering training for overseas service.
And because this type of legislation would seem to cover all--
or nearly all--spouses of U.S. Government officials serving
abroad, consideration should be given to making a general
statement in the national press, requesting concerned spouses
to pursue additional details directly from the employing
agency.
Again, may we express our gratitude to you, Bernie, and to the
other me~::bers of the Intelligence Committee staff for your help,
sympathy, and understanding through the entire process of this
legislation. We and the many who will benefit are grateful.
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