REAGAN TALKS TOUGH ON LEAKS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00552R000505380011-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 12, 2010
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: June 4, 1986
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2010/08/12 :CIA-RDP90-005528000505380011-0
~~~ 0 CHICAGO TRIBUNE
ON PA(;IE
4 June 1986
Reagan talks tough on leaks
WASHINGTON SAP]-Presi-
dent Reagan, weighrng strategies
to curb leaks of classified and xn-
sitive information, said Tuesday
his administration rs bound by law
to prosecute people who make
material public that could under-
mine natronal security.
The President conferred for an
hour with aCabinet-level group
Monday, discussing the problem
of leaks and what to do about
them.
"It was a discussion. It was not
a decision-making meeting," said
Edward Djerejian, a White House
deputy press secretary. "There will
be more discussions and meetings
and recommendations made to the
President."
Reagan, posing for pictures
Tuesday before a meeting with Re-
publican congressional leaders,
was asked whether he agreed with
CIA chief William Casey that
members of the news media
should be prosecuted for leaks. ?_.
"It isn't a case of what we may
think about it," he replied.
"There is a law that was
passed-I believe it was in 1954-
that's very specific and not just
about the media. It's about anyone
who makes public information
which could be dangerous to our
national security. And I would
think that all of us are bound by
that law."
He apparently was referring to a
1950 law against "publishing any
classified rnformation concerning
the communications intelligence
activities of the United States."
He did not elaborate on his ro-
marks, and Djerejian and another
White House spokesman, Peter
Roussel, refused to discuss the.
substance of Monday's meeting.
However, NBC Nightly News re-
ported Monday night that Reagan
and hrs advixrs agreed that then
would be no blanket ux of lie de-
tectors by the federal government,
and that each agency would deci 1e
for itself whether they would be
used.
The Washington Post, in Tues-
day's editions, said the "prevailing
view" of the group was that offi-
cials who leaked secrets should be
fired or punished.
But it said the group did not
reach any agreement on whether
stringent new procedures are
needed.
Approved For Release 2010/08/12 :CIA-RDP90-005528000505380011-0