DCI BRIEFING OF THE FULL SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE- 23 NOVEMBER 1971

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP87B01034R000700280001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 17, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: November 23, 1971
• Content Type: MF

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TS 202154
Copy p of 15
23 November 1971
MEMC)RANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: DCI Briefing of the Full Senate Armed Services
Committee - 23 November 1971
1. The Director briefed the full Senate Armed Services Com-
mittee on 23 November 1971. The meeting lasted from 1010 hours to
1230 hours. A technical sweep of the room, 212 Old Senate Office
Building, was conducted and the room was kept under technical
monitoring throughout. Discussions included SI and TKH material.
No transcript was taken.
2. Present for all or part of the session were:
John Stennis (D., Miss.), Chairman
Stuart Symington (D., Mo. )
Howard W. Cannon (D., Nev. )
Thomas J. McIntyre (D. , N. H. )
Harry F. Byrd (I, Va. )
Margaret Chase Smith (R., Me.
Strom Thurmond (R., S. C.)
Peter H. Dominick (R., Colo.)
Barry Goldwater (R. , Ariz. )
Richard S. Schweiker (R. , Pa.)
William B. Saxbe (R., Ohio)
3. Present from the Committee staff was:
T. Edward Braswell, Chief Counsel and Staff Director
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4. Accompanying the Director were:
Carl Duckett, DDS&T
Bruce Clarke, D/OSR
25X1A9a CI
John M. Maury, Legislative Counsel
5. The Chairman opened the meeting by recalling that the Director
had given a similar world roundup briefing to the Committee early in the
session, and he felt that another such briefing would be useful as the session
drew to an end. He remarked that because of pressing matters on the floor
there might be interruptions, and he would like the Director to cover his
material as quickly as possible.
6. The Director proceeded to cover material from his prepared
text (on file in OLC) dealing with Soviet strategic forces, Chinese military
developments, Sino/Soviet relations, Middle East, India/Pakistan, Vietnam,
Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and (in response to a question) the Chinese
political situation.
7. Following the Director? prepared remarks, the Chairman
commented that he had an understanding with the Director that any member
could, at any time, call on the Director for a private briefing on situations
in various parts of the world.
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8. In response to questions from the Chairman, the Director then
commented on the recent demonstrations in ~.nd the strength and
effectiveness of the South Vietnamese armed forces. The Chairman also
inquired about recent events in Thailand, to which the Director responded
that the same leaders were now in control and no changes in Thai foreign
policy were expected.
10. Senator Cannon asked several questions about the security
forces along the Soviet border, and the Chinese nuclear and strategic r
missile capabilities.
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11, The Chairman then commented that he would have to leave
for the floor, but before doing so wished to make a statement and had
hoped Senator Symington would be present since he and Symington had
discussed the matter which he wished to comment ono He referred to
the White House announcement regarding the intelligence community and
called attention to the National Security Act of 1947. He noted that the
Director had, in accordance with his responsibilities under this Act,
always "worn two hats"--one as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
and the other as Chairman of the U. S. Intelligence Board;, in which capacity
he had coordinated the work of the other U. S. intelligence agencies. He
said the Committee had approved Mr. Helms as the Director--not anyone
else--on the assumption that he would be in full charge of the CIA, subject
only to the authority of the President. At this point Senator Symington
returned to the room and the Chairman repeated his above points, adding
that the Committee planned a full review of the intelligence community.
He said he felt that the new arrangements announced in the White House
release should be spelled out in an Executive Order. He added that he had
not been consulted in advance regarding the "new plan" and that Senator
Smith, the Ranking Minority Member, could speak for herself as to whether
she had been consulted in advance. He added that he wished members of
the Committee had been consulted.
12. The Chairman then asked the Director "to what extent, if any,
does the new plan change your direction of CIA ?" The Director responded
"not at all" adding that he still had the same desk, same responsibilities
and planned to carry on work in the same way. He said he could not
abrogate these responsibilities and that the new arrangements actually
consisted of only two points affecting his work: he had been asked to devote
closer attention to the affairs of the intelligence community, and he had been
given one specific new duty--that of preparing a consolidated intelligence
program budget for the community. He added that he had not been consulted
in advance about the new plan, but he had been asked his views on a proposal
that the chief of the intelligence community sit in the White House, separated
from any of the working agencies. He said he strongly opposed this, arguing
that in such a position the chief would "have no troops, " be just another
member of the White House staff, and be unable to argue issues with the
various intelligence agencies on their merits since the agencies would
have all the facts and expertise. Senator Symington commented that he
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was seriously concerned over the new plan and proposed to raise the
matter on the floor this afternoon. He went on to say he would like to
hear more about the European situation at an early briefing, and then
asked some questions about the Arab/Israeli situation,
:L3, Senator Symington then asked the Director if the CIA had a
budget and to whom it was submitted. The Director said he did have a
budget and he submitted it to the Off ice of Management and Budget.
Senator Symington asked if the Director was familiar with the budgets
of the other intelligence agencies, and the Director said not in detail.
Senator Symington quoted figures, from the recent Newsweek article which
the Director said were not accurate. Senator Symington said that he had
been unable to get figures that were accurate and that neither the Congress,
nor members of the Armed Services Committee, had access to these
figures. Senator Symington then quoted from a report issued earlier
this month by the House Appropriations Committee criticizing the
excessive spending, waste and duplication by the intelligence agencies.
He asked the Director how he would cut the budgets of the other agencies.
The Director said this was a controversial question but it was one of the
things that the new arrangements were designed to accomplish.
14. Senator Symington recalled the years he had spent in the
Executive Branch of the Government and said he had seen firsthand the
influence of the military on intelligence estimates. He said this was no
reflection on the present Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, but he
was deeply concerned that while the Director was busy "coordinating
with the community" the military would gain an excessive influence in
the preparation of National Estimates. The Director replied that none
of the changes called for in the Presidential announcement would have any
impact on the content of National. Estimates, and pointed out that the
National Security Council Intelligence Committee was not concerned with
the substance of estimates, but rather with ensuring that National Estimates
covered the subject matter in which the policymakers were interested.
ToP
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1.5. Senator Tower asked some questions regarding the Chinese
leadership situation following the demise of Lin Piao, and said he would
like to have a detailed briefing on the internal situation in. China at an
early date, which the Director said we would be glad to arrange, Senator
Tower also expressed interest in the internal situation in Thailand.
16. Following his questions along the above lines, Senator Tower
commented he thought the Director was doing a "splendid job. "
17. Senator McIntyre quoted from a New York Times story of
7 November regarding the National Security Council Intelligence Committee,
and expressed concern over whether the new arrangements threatened the
independence of CIA. The Director replied the new Committee was
intended to fill a much needed gap by providing guidance on what the
policymakers needed in the way of intelligence support, but would have
no voice in what the intelligence estimates actually said. The Director
said he deeply believed in the present system; which, he felt, ensured
the independence of the CIA and the intelligence process, and that if this
system were changed, he would not want to continue in his present position.
18. Senator Dominick expressed an interest in the Soviet satellite
and anti-satellite programs, and the Director explained that the Soviets
had indeed been perfecting an anti-satellite system which could result in
an operational capability if they chose to pursue it, Senator Dominick
25X1A also expressed interest in the and inquired about whether
the Soviets appeared to plan a preemptive attack on China. The Director
said we saw no such evidence, but probably would get some advance
warning if this were in the cards.
19. Senator Schweiker inquired about who in the Chinese hierarchy
would be next in line after Chou En-lai. The Director said. this was one
of the most difficult questions facing us. Senator Schweiker also asked
several questions about the India/Pakistan situation and the Middle East.
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20. Senator Dominick was interested in the status of Soviet
efforts to gain base rights in India and the Indian Ocean which, as the
Director explained, were continuing but had not yet been entirely
successful.
21. In closing, Senator Stennis said he had several additional
questions which he would submit in writing. He commented that the
briefing had been extremely valuable and he hoped henceforth that
four such briefings could be arranged for each session.
22. Following the briefing, Senator Dominick said he would like
to be included in the private briefing requested by Senator Tower on the
internal Chinese situation.
23. Follow up action:
a. Obtain and prepare replies to follow up questions from
Chairman Stennis.
b. Arrange for private briefing of Senators Dominick and
Tower on the internal Chinese situation,
FOIAb3b
Distribution:
Copy 1 - Subject
Copy 2 - DCI
Copy 3 - DDCI
Copy 4 - Ex/Dir
25X1A9a Copy 5 -
25X1A9a
Copy 6 - DDI
Copy 7 - DDS&T
Copy 8 - SAVA
Copy 9-D
Copy 10-
Copy 11 -
copy 12 -
JOHN M. MAURY
Legislative Counsel
Copy 13 - NIPE
25X1A9a Copy 14 - , Security
Copy 15 - OLC Chrono
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