YOUR PROPOSED INTRODUCTION OF COLIN POWELL AT THE CIA PROGRAM OBSERVING BLACK HISTORY MONTH 18 FEBRUARY 1988 10 A.M. HEADQUARTERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90G01353R001900020008-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 24
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 1, 2012
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: February 11, 1988
• Content Type: MISC

STAT
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CIA-RDP90GO1353R001900020008-6
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CIA-RDP90GO1353R001900020008-6
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11 February 1983
RE: Your proposed introduction of
Colin Powell at the CIA Program
Observing Black History Month
18 February 1988 10 a.m.
Headquarters Auditorium
STAT
You are scheduled to introduce Lieutenant General Colin L. Powell,
Assistant.to the President-for:National Security Affairs, at the Agency
program commemorating National Black History Month at Headquarters.
In your proposed remarks, you mention the vital role black Americans have
played in defending our nation since the days of the American Revolution.
This is in keeping with the theme of this year's Agency exhibit commemorating
Black History Month entitled "Blacks in the Military." You also refer to the
contributions made by a black slave, James Armistead Lafayette, who provided
invaluable intelligence to General Lafayette during the Revolutionary War.
Following a discussion of the role blacks have played in contributing to
America's security, you discuss your personal commitment to bringing more
minorities, . into. the Agency's professional work force.
In introducing General Powell, I suggest that you make some personal
comments before mentioning the biographical information we have provided.
The information on James Armistead Lafayette and background material on
General Powell are attached as Tabs A and B.
Bill Baker
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PROPOSED REMARKS
BY
WILLIAM H. WEBSTER
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
AT THE
CIA PROGRAM OBSERVING NATIONAL BLACK HISTORY MONTH
INTRODUCTION OF COLIN POWELL
FEBRUARY 18, 1988
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GOOD MORNING. I AM VERY PLEASED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH. SINCE THE DAYS OF THE AMERICAN
REVOLUTION, BLACKS HAVE PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN DEFENDING OUR
NATION. IT IS FITTING THAT WE MARK BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN 1988 B*
RECOGNIZING THE COURAGE, DEDICATION, AND SACRIFICE OF BLACK
AMERICANS WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN THE MILITARY.
WHILE FOCUSING ON THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THOSE IN THE MILITARY,
THE 1988 CIA EXHIBIT COMMEMORATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH ALSO
ILLUSTRATES THE.ROLE BLACKS HAVE PLAYED IN CONTRIBUTING TO OUR
MISSION -- THE COLLECTION OF INTELLIGENCE. THE EXHIBIT INCLUDES A
TRIBUTE TO JAMES ARMISTEAD LAFAYETTE, A SLAVE FROM NEW KENT COUNTY,
VIRGINIA, WHO ENLISTED ON BEHALF OF THE COLONIAL CAUSE UNDER FRENCH
MAJOR GENERAL LAFAYETTE. THE CONTRIBUTION JAMES ARMISTEAD LAFAYETTE
MADE TO THE REBELLION WAS ESPIONAGE. IN 1786, THE VIRGINIA GENERAL
ASSEMBLY EMANCIPATED THE FORMER INTELLIGENCE OPERATIVE. IN THE
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WORDS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODY, THIS EX-SLAVE "AT THE PERIL OF HIS
LIFE-FOUND MEANS TO FREQUENT THE BRITISH CAMP, AND FAITHFULLY
EXECUTE IMPORTANT MISSIONS ENTRUSTED TO HIM BY THE MARQUIS."
WHEN LAFAYETTE TRIUMPHANTLY TOURED AMERICA IN 1824 HE VISITED
RICHMOND TO GREET THE MAN HE CONSIDERED "HIS" INTELLIGENGE AGENT.4
JAMES ARMISTEAD LAFAYETTE IS ONE OF THE MILLIONS OF BLACK
AMERICANS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE SECURITY OF THIS NATION.
TODAY IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OF US AT THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY TO RECOGNIZE AND TAKE PRIDE IN THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF BLACK
AMERICANS. IT IS ALSO A TIME TO REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE
PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM, JUSTICE, AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL OUR
CITIZENS.
THROUGHOUT MY CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE, I HAVE STRONGLY BELIEVED
THAT ANY PUBLIC INSTITUTION -- IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE AND FAIR --
MUST REFLECT THE SOCIETY OF WHICH IT IS A PART. HERE AT CIA, OUR
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AFFIRMATIVE ACTION RECORD OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS SHOWS GAINS IN
SOME AREAS. BUT THERE ARE MANY OTHER AREAS WHERE I WANT TO SEE MORE
PROGRESS. PARTICULARLY, I EXPECT TO SEE MORE MINORITIES IN OUR
PROFESSIONAL WORK FORCE, AS WELL AS INCREASES OF BOTH WOMEN AND
MINORITIES IN THE MIDDLE AND SENIOR LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT.2 I
CONSIDER THIS A PRIORITY, AND I WILL WORK TO BRING IT ABOUT.
AND NOW I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST SPEAKER THIS MORNING
-- A PERSONAL FRIEND OF MINE -- GENERAL COLIN POWELL, ASSISTANT TO
THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS.
(YOU MIGHT WANT TO MAKE SOME PERSONAL COMMENTS ABOUT GENERAL
POWELL HERE)
GENERAL POWELL WAS RAISED IN THE SOUTH BRONX, AND HE GRADUATED
FROM CITY COLLEGE OF NEW YORK. HE WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND
LIEUTENANT IN THE U.S. ARMY IN 1958. OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS,
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GENERAL POWELL HAS HELD A VARIETY OF COMMAND AND STAFF ASSIGNMENTS,
RANGING FROM PLATOON LEADER IN THE EARLY YEARS TO COMMANDING GENERAL
OF HEADQUARTERS FIFTH CORPS IN FRANKFURT, WEST GERMANY. HE SERVED
IN KOREA AND VIETNAM, AND THEN WENT ON TO BECOME THE SENIOR MILITARY
ASSISTANT TO SECRETARY OF DEFENSE CASPAR WEINBERGER. LAST DECEMBER,
HE WAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY
AFFAIRS.3
GENERAL POWELL, WE ARE HONORED BY YOUR PRESENCE AND LOOK FORWARD
TO HEARING FROM YOU.
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FOOTNOTES
1 Information on James Armistead Lafayette is included in the
"Blacks in the Military" exhibit commemorating Black History_Month
on the first floor of the Headquarters building and is attached as
Tab A. The exhibit was prepared by the Office of Equal Employment
Opportunity and the Office of Information Resources.
2 Remarks on the need for more minorities in the Agency's
professional work force were drawn from Judge Webster's remarks at
the SIS Promotion and Awards Ceremony on 12 January 1988.
3 Biographical information on Lieutenant General Colin L.
Powell is from the Agency program on Black History Month, which is
attached as Tab B.
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STAT
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SU&JECT: (optionoi)
Black History Month Program
FROM:
EXTENSION
NO.
Robert E.Fitzgerald
Equal Employment Opportunity
Director
DATE
,
626 CofC
1 February 1988
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
DATE
building)
OFFICER'S
COMMENTS (Number eoch Camment to show from whom
INITIALS
to whom. Draw a line ocross column ofter.eoch comment.)
RECEIVED
FORWARDED
Executive Director
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