CASEY PROTECTS THE RIGHT FLANK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00965R000403720073-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 27, 2012
• Sequence Number: 73
• Publication Date: January 28, 1985
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/28: CIA-RDP90-00965R000403720073-9
NEW YORK POST
28 January 1985
BY NILES.LATREM;
pro tects
INSIDE WASHINGTON
0 on, right 04n, k.
CIA Director William
Casey has emerged as a
key powerhouse in the be-
hind-the-scenes maneuver-
ing over rebuilding Presi-
dent Reagan's team in the
wake of the departure of
longtime Reagan aides
from California.
Insiders say that the CIA
spymaster has become
"heavily involved" in the
negotiations with incom-
ing White House Chief of
Staff Donald Regan over
staffing the White House
and is using his clout with
the President as well as his
longstanding friendship
with Regan to insure that
the next Reagan team will
carry more conservative
credentials than the last.
Administration officials
say that Casey is quietly
emerging as the keeper of
the conservative flame in
the Reagan administration
in the wake of the depar-
ture of Interior Secretary
William Clark and Presi.
dential Counsellor Edwin
Meese and is pushing his
friends, rejecting his ene-
mies and making sure that
most candidates for big
White House jobs are being
"cleared."-through him.
Among the moves Casey
has made include the push-
ing of former General Ser-
vices Administration chief
Gerald Carmen as White
House political director -
although that job may still
go to respected 1984 Reagan
campaign manager Ed Rol-
line.
Casey also was an en-
thusiastic supporter of the
switch between Regan and
Treasury Secretary-desig-
nate James Baker, and
many officials believe that
the dramatic changeover
would have never occurred
without his support.
Casey's. personal distaste a bitter tend with the right
for Baker and opposition' to wing of the GOP over a key
some of the White House personnel decision in his
positions during the last own shop at Langley.
four years were well publi. Insiders sad that the
sized
The involvement of a CIA CU's Deputy Director
director in political planning John McMahon is plan-
and Whim House personnel ?ing to resign soon for a
is unprecedented in U.S his- job In private business.
tory. Casey's top choices to
In the past, CIA chiefs i replace McMahon are Us-
have been strictly apoliti-
cal and virtually shunned
by White House staffers
and presidents.
But Casey, the Long Is-
land lawyer who master-
nel Olmer, a former Regan
deputy at the Treasury
Dept., and Robert Gates,
now In charge of CIA esti-
mates.
But conservative groups
minded Reagan's first are outraged by these
campaign and who is one choices. - especially
of five original Cabinet Gates, who is considered to
members left, carries be a close associate- of
political skills that Reagan David Aaron, a former ad-
deeply admires, say maid- viser to Walter Mondale
era. and Deputy National 8e-
Officials believe that as a curity Council adviser in
result of his influence with the Carter administration.
the president and his friend-
ship with Regan, Casey will They are pushing Gen.
t
ro-
emerge as a dominant voice Paul Gorman. the eon
in the shaping of U.S. foreign versial and outgoing com-
policy in the second Reagan mander of the U.S. South.
P
d
DESPITE Casey's insist.
ence on appointing conser-
vatives at the White House,
he is currently involved In
anama,
in
ern Comman
but are expected to be re-
buffed.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/28: CIA-RDP90-00965R000403720073-9