SPEECH TO THE EDWARD WEINTAL PRIZE CEREMONY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY 13 APRIL 1983

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88B00443R001404070041-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 10, 2008
• Sequence Number: 41
• Publication Date: April 13, 1983
• Content Type: REPORT

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SPEECH TO THE EDWARD WEINTAL PRIZE CEREMONY
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
13 APRIL 1983
GOOD EVENING. MY CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF THE AWARD
RECIPIENTS, MR. BEECHER AND PROFESSOR STERN.
WHEN I WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS YOU ON MY VIEWS CONCERNING
JOURNALISM, I THOUGHT IT AN UNUSUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR A DIRECTOR
OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE. I AM REMINDED OF A SHOGUN IN OLD JAPAN
WHO WAS RIDING ACROSS HIS KINGDOM WHEN HE CAME UPON ONE OF HIS
SAMURAI, BLOODIED AND WOE-BEGOTTEN. THE SHOGUN ASKED HIM WHAT
HAD HAPPENED. "MY LORD. I AM JUST BACK FROM DOING BATTLE WITH
YOUR ENEMIES TO THE EAST." ANSWERED THE WARRIOR. To WHICH THE
SHOGUN REPLIED, "BUT I HAVE NO ENEMIES TO THE EAST." THE
SAMURAI PAUSED AND THEN SAID, "YOU DO NOW!"
AS I LOOK AROUND THE WORLD TODAY, I AM CERTAIN I DON'T
NEED ANY MORE ADVERSARIES. MY PURPOSE HERE TONIGHT IS NOT TO
CREATE ANY NEW ONES. SOME TENSION IS INHERENT BETWEEN THE PRESS
AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY BUT WE WANT TO MINIMIZE TENSION
AND MAXIMIZE COOPERATION. JOURNALISTS ARE COMMITTED TO FINDING
OUT THE MOST THEY CAN ABOUT US. WE ARE COMMITTED TO
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PROTECTING LEGITIMATE SECRETS. THAT DOES NOT MEAN OUR
RELATIONSHIP BOILS DOWN TO "IT'S OUR JOB TO PROTECT SECRETS AND
A REPORTER'S JOB TO UNCOVER THEM." THAT WOULD PUT US IN A
POSITION ANALOGOUS TO A TOURIST AND A PICKPOCKET. THE TOURIST
SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PROTECT THE WALLET FROM THE PICKPOCKET.
As DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE, MY PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PROVIDE THE MOST ACCURATE, TIMELY ANALYSIS
OF FOREIGN DEVELOPMENTS TO OUR NATIONAL LEADERS. THAT MUST
SOUND FAMILIAR TO THOSE OF YOU IN THE PRESS. JOURNALISTS ARE
ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ACCURATE, TIMELY ANALYSIS. TO FULFILL MY
RESPONSIBILITIES, I MUST ALSO SEE TO IT THAT THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPS THE BROADEST POSSIBLE RANGE OF SOURCES OF
INFORMATION. AGAIN THIS MUST SOUND FAMILIAR. WE VALUE AND USE
INFORMATION, OBSERVATION, AND ANALYSIS PROVIDED BY EMBASSY
PERSONNEL, MILITARY ATTACHES, AND THE WORLD PRESS. WE MAINTAIN
A LARGE RESEARCH ORGANIZATION AND AN AROUND-THE-CLOCK NEWS ROOM
AND EDITORIAL ORGANIZATION TO ANALYZE THE FLOOD OF INFORMATION
FROM ALL SOURCES AND MAKE IT USEFUL TO POLICYMAKERS.
I AM REQUIRED BY LAW -- THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 1947
TO BE SPECIFIC -- TO DEVELOP THE MEANS TO PROTECT INTELLIGENCE
SOURCES AND METHODS. THIS IS A SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITY AND ONE I
DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY. JOURNALISTS TAKE SERIOUSLY THEIR RIGHT TO
MAINTAIN THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THEIR SOURCES--AND HAVE GONE TO
JAIL-RATHER THAN EXPOSE THEM.
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UNDER OUR POLITICAL SYSTEM, I CARRY OUT MY
RESPONSIBILITIES AS DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE UNDER THE
CLOSE SCRUTINY OF THE PRESS -- CERTAINLY A UNIQUE POSITION AMONG
THE INTELLIGENCE CHIEFS OF THE WORLD. BUT WHILE INTELLIGENCE
SHOULD NOT BE DIVORCED FROM PUBLIC OPINION.. NEITHER SHOULD IT BE
OVERLY CONCERNED WITH THE DAILY SHIFTS, THE UPS AND DOWNS, OF
PUBLIC CRITICISM OR PRAISE. THIS IS MORE PROPERLY THE CONCERN
OF THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. ELECTED OFFICIALS. WHETHER IN
THE WHITE HOUSE OR IN CONGRESS. MUST STAY CLOSELY ATTUNED TO THE
PUBLIC'S WISHES. WE IN INTELLIGENCE MUST BE RESPONSIVE TO THE
PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS. WE RECEIVE THE PUBLIC'S DIRECTION
THROUGH THEM. THAT IS WHY WE WELCOME CONGRESSIONAL AND
PRESIDENTIAL OVERSIGHT. THAT OUR ACTIONS ARE REVIEWED AND
APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC'S REPRESENTATIVES GIVES THEM A LEGITIMACY
THEY WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE IN OUR OPEN SOCIETY.
THE PRESS HAS AN ENORMOUS IMPACT ON PUBLIC OPINION AND,
THEREFORE. ON POLICY DECISIONS. SURVEYS SHOW THAT MOST
AMERICANS RECEIVE NEWS CONCERNING THEIR GOVERNMENT FROM THE
MEDIA; TWO-THIRDS OF OUR CITIZENS LISTEN EXCLUSIVELY TO
TELEVISION FOR THEIR NEWS. THUS. JOURNALISTS EXERCISE
CONSIDERABLE POWER AND INFLUENCE. THAT POWER MUST BE
ACCOMPANIED BY A STRONG SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY. I AM NOT
PERSUADED THAT A JOURNALIST MUST PRINT ANY ALLEGED INTELLIGENCE
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INFORMATION HE OR SHE RECEIVES BECAUSE "SOMEONE ELSE WILL PRINT
IT ANYWAY." NOR AM I CONVINCED BY THE ARGUMENT THAT IF A
REPORTER OBTAINS SOME INFORMATION, IT IS THEN CORRECT TO ASSUME
OUR ADVERSARIES' INTELLIGENCE ORGANIZATIONS MUST ALSO HAVE IT.
THESE ARE FACILE JUSTIFICATIONS.
THE 1970s WERE A VERY TRYING PERIOD FOR US IN
INTELLIGENCE. THE INTENSE SCRUTINY BY THE PRESS, WHILE HARMFUL
TO MORALE. DID HAVE ONE VALUABLE RESULT -- THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
NEW, AND THE STRENGTHENING OF OLD. OVERSIGHT PROCEDURES. AGAIN,
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT WE WELCOME THIS; IT MAKES US STRONGER.
THE PRESS IS ANOTHER MEANS OF ENSURING CHECKS AND BALANCES, IF
REPORTING IS ACCURATE AND FAIR. BUT I WOULD ASK YOU TO KEEP IN
MIND THAT IRRESPONSIBLE EXPOSURE IN THE PRESS OF ALLEGED
INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS -- CORRECT OR INCORRECT -- CREATES VERY
REAL PROBLEMS FOR US.
WE MUST PROTECT OUR SOURCES AND METHODS AND OFTEN CANNOT
CORRECT INACCURATE STORIES. FALSE STORIES OR PARTIAL TRUTHS
SEND WRONG SIGNALS TO THOSE WHO MIGHT CHOOSE TO WORK WITH US.
ALLIED INTELLIGENCE SERVICES QUESTION COOPERATING WITH US OUT OF
FEAR THEIR OWN PROGRAMS COULD BE COMPROMISED. OUR OWN OFFICERS
ARE ALSO AFFECTED. AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER WILL NOT TAKE
NECESSARY RISKS IF HE OR SHE FEARS THE SOURCES OR PROGRAMS THEY
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ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR COULD BE EXPOSED IN THE PRESS. AND, AS YOU
KNOW, TIMIDITY WHETHER BY A REPORTER OR AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER
BREEDS FAILURE.
THIS IS NOT TO SAY THERE CAN NEVER BE A DIALOGUE BETWEEN
INTELLIGENCE AND THE PRESS. I HAVE WITNESSED ADMIRABLE
RESTRAINT AND JUDGMENT BY JOURNALISTS. THE AMERICAN PRESS,
UNLIKE THE AUSTRALIAN PRESS, DID NOT SENSATIONALIZE THE
ABSOLUTELY FALSE ALLEGATIONS THAT CIA HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE
ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES OF THE NUGAN HAND BANK. NOR, AS FAR AS I AM
AWARE, HAS ANY U.S. NEWSPAPER EVER REPRINTED THE LONG LISTS OF
ALLEGED INTELLIGENCE AGENTS PUBLISHED IN THE INFAMOUS COVERT
ACTION INFORMATION BULLETIN. I HAVE BEEN GRATIFIED BY THE
READINESS OF JOURNALISTS TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER WITHHOLDING
PUBLICATION OF INFORMATION WHICH COULD JEOPARDIZE NATIONAL
INTERESTS AND BY TREATING A STORY IN A MANNER WHICH MEETS THE
PUBLIC NEED AS THEY PERCEIVE IT, YET MINIMIZES POTENTIAL DAMAGE
TO INTELLIGENCE SOURCES. THE TRICK IS TO RECOGNIZE THE
POTENTIAL FOR DAMAGE AND TO CONSULT ON HOW IT MIGHT BE
MINIMIZED. WE ARE ANXIOUS TO DO THIS. AND SINCE MY APPOINTMENT
AS DIRECTOR, I HAVE SEEN A GROWING UNDERSTANDING BY THE PRESS OF
OUR EFFORTS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY, TIMELINESS. AND RELIABILITY
OF THE ANALYSIS WE PROVIDE TO OUR NATIONAL LEADERS.
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UNFORTUNATELY, INACCURATE STORIES STILL APPEAR; SOME OF
WHICH DAMAGE OUR CREDIBILITY AND ABILITY TO FUNCTION AT THE
HIGHEST LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE. RECENT STORIES THAT THE CIA WAS
RELUCTANT TO GET INVOLVED OR TAKE SERIOUSLY THE INVESTIGATION
INTO THE SHOOTING OF THE POPE AND THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS
DISSATISFIED WITH OUR ROLE ARE UNTRUE. I HAVE TO WONDER WHAT THE
MOTIVATIONS ARE FOR THESE STORIES. LIKEWISE. I THINK THE PRESS
SOMETIMES EXHIBITS A VERY SELECTIVE PERSPECTIVE. MEANINGFUL
ANALYSIS OF THE RECENT EXECUTIONS OF 15 LABOR, BAR ASSOCIATION
AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS IN SURINAME AND THIS REGIME'S
GROWING TIES TO CUBA DID NOT OCCUR UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AFTER THE
FIRST REPORTS OF THE SLAYINGS. WOULD THE SAME DELAY HAVE
OCCURRED IF SUCH VIOLATIONS HAD TAKEN PLACE., FOR INSTANCE. IN
EL SALVADOR? IN FEBRUARY OF THIS YEAR. WHEN FIVE MEN IN MIAMI
WERE CONVICTED OF CONSPIRING WITH CUBAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO
SMUGGLE DRUGS INTO SOUTHERN FLORIDA. I WAS SURPRISED THERE WERE
NO REPORTS IN SUCH NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS AS THE NEW YORK TIMES OR
THE WASHINGTON POST DESPITE THE FACT ONE OF THE MEN TESTIFIED
THE CUBAN GOVERNMENT PLANNED TO "FILL UP THE UNITED STATES WITH
DRUGS."
AN EXAMPLE OF GOOD REPORTING IS THE WALL STREET JOURNAL'S
ARTICLES ON YELLOW RAIN. THEY WERE THE ONLY MAJOR NATIONAL
NEWSPAPER TO TREAT THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE IN A HARD-HITTING
MANNER. IN GENERAL....
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MANNER. IN GENERAL, THE PRESS HAS ADEQUATELY AND FAIRLY
REPORTED ON TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. BUT PRESS REPORTING CONCERNING
THE ALLEGED DISPUTE BETWEEN DIA AND CIA ANALYSIS OF THE RATE OF
INCREASE IN SOVIET MILITARY SPENDING WAS OVERBLOWN. I BELIEVE
THE PRESS HAS NOT CONVEYED THE FORCE, SCOPE AND INTENSITY OF THE
CUBAN THREAT IN THE CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA. THIS HAS NOT
RECEIVED THE IN-DEPTH, EXTENSIVE REPORTING IT DESERVES. THE
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE NARCOTICS TRADE, TERRORISM IN THE
DESTABILIZATION OF GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS AND SUPPORT OF
INSURGENCIES IS A STORY WHICH CAN BRING A WEINTAL /WINE-TALI OR
PULITZER PRIZE OR BOTH. THE MEDIA DOES EXTENSIVE REPORTING AND
ANALYSIS ON THE SOVIET MISSILE AND CONVENTIONAL MILITARY THREAT
WHICH WE SPEND HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO COUNTER. BUT
THE BIG STORY OUT THERE IS WHAT COULD BE THE MORE LETHAL PROCESS
THROUGH WHICH IN LESS THAN A DECADE HAS POSITIONED SOVIET POWER
ON THE SOUTHERN FLANK OF CHINA, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE OIL FIELDS
IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AT CHOKE POINTS IN THE WORLD SEA LANES AND
AT OUR VERY DOORSTEP IN THE CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA.
I FIND A CONTINUING MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE IN CIA
ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH WHEN WE REVIEW FORMER AND CURRENT
EMPLOYEES' MANUSCRIPTS BEFORE PUBLICATION. WE ARE NOT
ATTEMPTING TO PREVENT UNFLATTERING OR UNFAVORABLE COMMENTS FROM
BEING PUBLISHED. WE ARE ONLY CONCERNED THAT CLASSIFIED
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INFORMATION BE PROTECTED. IT IS TRUE THAT SOMETIMES THE
PROCESS TAKES LONGER THAN WE OR THE AUTHOR MAY LIKE. REVIEWING
A 600 PAGE NOVEL FILLED WITH REFERENCES TO FICTIONALIZED
INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS CAN BE A LABORIOUS PROCESS. NEARLY
75 PERCENT OF ALL MANUSCRIPTS WE HAVE REVIEWED HAVE BEEN
CLEARED WITHOUT OBJECTION. MOST MANUSCRIPTS ARE REVIEWED IN
FEWER THAN THIRTY DAYS; SOME IN A MATTER OF HOURS TO
ACCOMMODATE A PRESS DEADLINE. THIS IS NOT THE PERSPECTIVE
READERS FIND IN PRESS ACCOUNTS. WHAT I WOULD HOPE IS THAT THE,
SAME SKEPTICISM APPLIED TO THE STATEMENTS OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS
BE APPLIED TO THOSE FEW DISGRUNTLED FORMER EMPLOYEES PEDDLING
THEIR BOOKS. THESE AUTHORS MAY NOT BE IN A POSITION TO JUDGE
WHETHER AN INTELLIGENCE SOURCE OR METHOD NEEDS PROTECTING. I
WOULD ALSO HOPE THAT A REPORTER'S SKEPTICISM WOULD EXTEND TO
THOSE WITH TALES OF IMPROPRIETY -- THE WHISTLEBLOWERS. SOME OF
THESE PEOPLE MAY HAVE LEGITIMATE COMPLAINTS BUT THEY ARE
OBLIGATED TO FIRST BRING THEIR STORIES TO THE APPROPRIATE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES OR INTERNALLY TO THEIR INSPECTOR GENERAL.
UNLESS THE WHISTLEBLOWER FIRST FOLLOWS THESE PROPER ROUTES OF
CRITICISM, HE OR SHE CANNOT BE CONSIDERED A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN
NOR SHOULD THE REPORTER TAKE THEIR TALE AT FACE VALUE.
WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED BY MY LEGAL
RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROTECT LEGITIMATE SECRETS, WE DO MAKE
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ATTEMPTS TO RESPOND TO QUERIES FROM THE PRESS. EVERY QUESTION
POSED BY A REPORTER THAT COMES INTO MY PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE AT
CIA IS THOROUGHLY RESEARCHED BEFORE POSSIBLE RESPONSES ARE
CONSIDERED. I AM SURE NEWSMEN AND WOMEN FEEL THEY RECEIVE MORE
"UNABLE TO HELP" AND "NO COMMENT" RESPONSES FROM US THAN FROM
ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND IT MUST BE FRUSTRATING FOR
THEM. BUT WE DO TRY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCURACY OF A STORY
WHENEVER WE CAN.
I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO YOU TONIGHT.
MY SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS, ONCE AGAIN. TO MR. BEECHER AND
PROFESSOR STERN. IF THERE IS ONE THOUGHT I WOULD LIKE TO LEAVE
WITH YOU IT IS THAT WE IN INTELLIGENCE AND JOURNALISTS SHARE
THE COMMON RESPONSIBILITY OF PROTECTING SOURCES. PERHAPS THIS
TIE CAN LEAD US TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHERS
CONCERNS. WE WOULD BOTH BENEFIT. THANK YOU.
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