LETTER TO WILLIAM P. CLARK FROM WILLIAM J. CASEY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R002304490088-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 4, 2017
• Document Release Date: April 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 88
• Publication Date: July 21, 1983
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP85M00364R002304490088-7
The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington. a C.20505
2.1 JUL 1983
The Honorable William P. Clark
Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
National Security Council'
Washington, DC 20506
Unauthorized disclosures of classified information.are
destroying our intelligence assets and impairing our national
security. Since the National Security Act of 1947 requires me
to protect intelligence sources and methods, I am doing all in
my power to stop the breakdown in security discipline. I ask
for your help,
I am sending a. letter to your Director of Public Affairs
asking for assistance in defending against unauthorized
disclosures and for early warnings of potentially damaging
media stories or broadcasts. Specifically, the letter makes
the following points:
?CIA's Public Affairs Office is prepared to
assist responsible media contacts on stories
concerning intelligence. topics. The premise here
is that there are journalists covering national
security, foreign policy and defense issues who, as
responsible citizens, are willing to protect
intelligence sources and Methods when concerns are
flagged to their attention.
?When Intelligence Community Public Affairs
officers learn of an imminent media story which
could jeopardize intelligence assets, they are to
inform CIA's Public Affairs Office immediately. I
can then consider how to respond in order to
protect sources or to limit the national security
damage.
I also intend to invite your Director of Public Affairs
and any other officials from your organization you designate to
a meeting at the CIA Headquarters very soon, a meeting to
convey thoughts on the unauthorized disclosure problem and, at
the same time, solicit views on ways to combat this threat.
Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP85M00364R002304490088-7
 Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP85M00364R002304490088-7
William P. Clark, Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs
I appreciate your assistance and look forward to meeting
with your people to discuss this subject in further detail.
.Sincerely,
/s/ 1Ilat~t J. Casey
William J. Casey
Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP85M00364R002304490088-7