[PUBLIC IMAGE OF CIA DISTORED]

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01314R000100660007-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 21, 2004
• Sequence Number: 7
• Content Type: TRANS

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Approved For Release 2004/10/1
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Approved For Release.2004/10/12 : CIA-RDP88-01314R000100660007-6
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PUBLIC IMAGE OF CIA DISTORTED, WRIT L SATS
CArticle by ML,: "What the CIA is"s Florence, 11 Mond_, Italian, 17 May
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Washington -- A few evenings before he was named director of the CIA
(Central Intelligence Agency) in 1966, Richard M3Garrah Helms, one of the
most outstanding career officers of the American espionage service, was in-'
vited to dinner by the President of the United S'tAes. Democratic Senator
Eugene MoCarttr was among those invited. During dessert, McCarthy, who had
heard of the imminent appointment of Helms, asked him about the French wine
being served: "Do you think 1953 was a good year for this Chateau d'Yquem?"
Helms said he.knew nothing about it. Then the Senator pointed to some yel-
low roses on the table and asked Helms if he could identify the variety.
Helms said he knew nothing abouut roses.
"Well, then," McCarthy said sarcastically turning to President John-
son, "James Bond would have been able to give better answers."
The episode was recalled several days later by Johnson himself when
he nominated Helms as Chief of the American intelligence service. Johnson
added that the anecdote did not decrease the esteem in which Helms was held