THESE ARE THE TWO LETTERS I DESCRIBED THIS MORNING.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90M00005R000300090023-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 14, 2011
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: March 18, 1988
• Content Type: LETTER

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/12/14: CIA-RDP90M00005R000300090023-0
SUBJECT
John Helgerson, D/OCA
STAT
CLASSIFICATION
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s. Al son Fortier, Special Assistant
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o the President & Senior Director
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REMARKS
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Director of Congressional Affairs
These are the two letters I described
this morning. I am still checking to see
?.enter frDrn th-- DDCI to.
Senator Boren exists such as you described.
John Helgerson
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OCA 88-0747
11 March 1988
The Honorable David L. Boren, Chairman
Select Committee on Intelligence
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr, Chairman:
we are aware that S. 1721, the Intelligence Oversight Act
of 1988, is scheduled to be considered by the Senate next
wee'.. I am writing to clarify an issue that has arisen with
respect to that legislation.
The issue concerns what types of CIA activities will
require Presidential Findings. It is my understanding that the
definition of "special activities" contained in S. 1721 is
intended to maintain the status quo with respect to when a
Presidential Finding is required. That understanding is
derived from our discussions and from the report accompanying
S. 1721, which states the Committee's intention "to maintain
current law with respect to both CIA and the Executive branch
as a whole, as mutually interpreted and agreed upon by the
are
Executive branch and the intelligence committees." As you
aware, we are also working with HPSCI on language for its
version of the oversight bill that may clarify that intent even
further. We hope the result will be a single definition that
would apply to all U.S. Government departments and agencies.
Any definition of "special activities" contained in the
legislation will, of course, be subject to interpretation.
Under existing law, the Hughes-Ryan Amendment,
little disagreement in the majority of circumstances about
those activities for which a Presidential Finding is or is not
required. we expect that to continue if S. 1721 becomes law.
In a few rare circumstances, however, the Agency considers
activities for which that determination is not as clear. We
believe the record will show that the Committee has generally
t/
S E C R E T
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re of any significant such
obtained1activities
asuadresultnobythee
=?.c,e:,L;y even if a Finding was
'weeping the Conunittee fuSly1721 orrsimilarl legislation
its intelligence activities. If
becomes law, we intend to continue reporting these activities
as we have in the past.
We do not interpret the intent of the legislation as
changing this approach. If this is not consistent with your
Director Webster and
view of the intention of this legislation,
I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this matter
dii:ectly with you and the Vice-Chairman. A similar letter is
beinc sent to the Vice-Chairman.
Acting Director of Cen ral Intelligence
Distribution:
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1 - ADCI
1 - EXr)IR
1 - ER
1 - OCA Record
1 - JLH Chrono
1 - DD/SA
1 - DD/HA
1 - DD/LEG
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S E C R E T
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