THE POT STARTS BOILING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000400390002-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 3, 2004
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: April 30, 1979
• Content Type: MAGAZINE

ris
oilin
Things were beginning to happen
faster in Washington with the re-
turn of the President and Congress
from Easter holidays.
The new U.S.-Russian treaty on stra-
tegic-arms limitation--SALT-was all
but formally settled. A showdown on a
windfall-oil-profits tax was at hand.
New figures showed the economy at a
critical point, teetering between reces-
sion and stepped-up inflation.
Those are just the high points. It's a
time when the pot is starting to boil on
issue after issue.
At the center of the activity is Jimmy
Carter. The President, fresh from re-
laxing in the Georgia sun, prepared to
send a sheaf of controversial proposals
to Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers, back in session, seemed
less determined to enact much legisla-
tion. For the 96th Congress, large-scale
action would be something new: It has
passed only eight bills since convening
in January, the slowest start in 40 years.
But the leisurely pace appeared to
be coming to an end.
Diplomats assured as much in mid-
April, when they ironed out all but fi-
nal details of the SALT II package. The
next step was to arrange specifics of a
summit. between Carter and Soviet
President Leonid Brezhnev.
Aim of treaty. SALT II will go be-
yond the first strategic-arms agree-
inent by putting firmer ceilings on the
numbers of intercontinental missiles,
bombers and warheads the two super-
powers can have.
Even before final provisions of the
treaty were laid out, SALT debate built
up steam. Senators who must vote on
the pact already are choosing up sides.
Opponents seized on testimony be-
fore Congress by Central Intelligence
Agency Director Stansfield Turner
that indicated the U.S. may not be able
to monitor potential cheating on the i
treaty by the Russians. The reason is
loss of electronic stations in Iran. The'
Approved For M#a 290 d b7 M4M'x'83=01315R000400390002-7
timony, had Defense Secretary Harold)
Brown rebut it, but the basis for a hot;
AT.T nnnf'nntation was set. I
ARTICLIA or Release *~~/~121~~4-RDP88 0 3158000400
ON PAGE
4000
EXCERPT
he Pots