LETTER TO MR. WILLIAM SAFIRE FROM WILLIAM J. CASEY RE MAX HUGEL AS DD/O

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R001003880115-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 6, 2007
• Sequence Number: 115
• Publication Date: May 22, 1981
• Content Type: LETTER

proved For Release 2007/03/06: CIA-RDP88B00443R0010038801
F UNCLASSIFIED CON TIAL
EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
Routing Slip
I 001m
ACTION
INFO
DATE
INITIAL
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DDCI
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D/DCI/CT
Compt
Mr. Gate
ES
May 1981ry
22
 Executive Registry
22 May 1981
Approvei5iirRel~e 2007/03/06: CIA-RDP88 300443R 003880115-8,
Central Intelligence Ag
Dear Bill,
I would appreciate it if you would
have this TWXed to New York. I spoke
to Max Frankel and he is expecting it.
Yours,
l
William J. Casey
,Washington, D.C. 20045 _
Mr. William Safire
The New York Times
943 National Press-Building
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 Approved For Release 2007/031061RDP88B00443R003880115-8
? Central lntelligenceAgency Yn
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and the. requireruents.1of.:the job is widely recognized among those who
have worked and those who now work with him.
22 May 1981
Your luridly titled editorial on Max Hugel becoming the Deputy
Director for Operations of CIA asks what prompted the appointment.
I had observed-Mr.-Hugel-in action for a-little over a year, some
portion of.that:`time at the head of the-largest of CIA's four
directo-rates..,I ii_ked-what I saw.. When. the vacancy developed, I
concluded, after cansiderabl-e consultation with my colleagues, that
his 'drive,'clarity.of?~.mind and executive ability would, in combination
with-the experience-and.,professional skills in the operational
directorate, offer,-the best way to both strengthen and effectively
run that directorate at the same time.
That decision was_.my responsibility and I can assure you it was
made strictly.ori_the merits, with no extraneous influence of any kind.
I believe than:. the relationship between Mr. Hugel 's abilities and
experience, the.-.experience and professional skills available to him
The.. Editor
The New--York Times
229 West 43 Street
New York, New Yo-rk 10036
Sincerely,
 Apt7roved For Release 2007/03106: CIA-RDP88B00443R*003880115-8
gl ar y IVire :Casey. .ee~
t A certain skepticism is in order wheal the intelli-. Still,.winning votes. in New Hampshire is one thing.
ence brotherhood complains that amateurs are taking ''Knowing the national security, byways of Washington is
,
tho rant"I intallioenrp Aoenrv_ The Bav of Pigs -- . auite -another.. And, presiding. over -spy. networks- re.
--
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assassinate Fidel Castro in the 1960's: Butin the matter;" con-firmati on,, unlike the- positions of C.I.A.. Director
of :Max. ;Hugel; "a~New Hampshire businessman now "and Deputy"Director., So as a matter of la ~rrMr. Casey
a
A
turned spymaster, the consternation among old C.I.A.. -has every ngw .to appoint a chum as spymaster. s
hands is surely understandable: - r. w - matter of policy, the appointment is questionable. ?- . -
d
egree
Mr.Hugel'9 most visible:qualification,is his long- _ ~ - The.C.I.A: is unlike any. other agency:in the
ti'' friendshi with the CIA 's; Director - William ;- of trust-it demands from.Congress. and the public. That
Casey. According to his officials biography Mr. ,Hugel-' ;^trust was grievously abused in a period. not.long ended.
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World-War II. He. has had three months' experience as .Administration that talks loosely about. "unleashing"
a middle-echelon administratorat.the.agency's Lang the.C.I:A.?..These fears are fanned when an outsider
ley headquarters; a.k.a:;The.CompanywWith-only this ...with tenuous credentials is given command of The
i
sion. ? R.
background, he has-now. been promoted: to head the Company s_most free-wheeung v
ert actions and clandestine intelligence overseas
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Plainly, Mr:;-Casey.wanis a 1oyaL associate in uus. - For security reasons, a en
peculiarly sensative.pOSt whicl?has beear described as committee has beeii? reluctant to delve too deeply into, -
the most :difficult: and dangerous. in, the--Governmeait. the agency's secret: operations.: But-the command; .
after that of the-President. And Mr .Huge} earned that.,, structure is a different matter.. Mr Casey -even the
confidence when he resigned-as- an:electronics com-*President..- have .an obligation to?';explaia"what
paay ? and to spell to help wimv I _ crucial.Ne~a: Hampshire. prompted the Hugel aPP?ntment, P~ out. the .
., .;.,.~ rv.ti.rtm n ftiet a? Mr 7'acav s~caumed_catnmand. ',constraints on - covert.- operations:- That much, light .
impresses