REAGAN PRETTY HOSTILE TO MEDIA: GLASSER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00561R000100030086-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 9, 2012
• Sequence Number: 86
• Publication Date: June 10, 1983
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

S1 ,Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/09: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100030086-4
7
UNITED PRESS I NTERNA TIONA~
10 June 1983
Reagan "pretty hostile" to media: Glasser
By ANDREA NEAL
TNDIANAPCLIS
The Reagan administration is restricting-the public's access to information
through subtle executive orders and a policy of denying visas to foreigners, the
head of the American Civil Liberties Union said.
'We are all being allowed to speak' and publish and meet. But the information
debate requires is being restricted,' ' Ira Glasser, of New York City, told the
Indianapolis Press Club Friday. -
Glasser said his organization rates President Reagan ''very bad'' in the
category of freedom of speech and information.
Reagan has been '' pretty hostile, -but pretty clever also, '' Glasser said. 11
Instead of ordering wiretaps and break-iris, ' 'it's all through executive orders
in invisible ways nobody sees. ' '
Glasser said Reagan policy has made it easier to classify government
documents -- such as CIA reports -- as confidential and has severely weakened
the Freedom of Information Act. An order signed March 11 requires federal
officials to sign contracts promising to clear materials they write for
publication with the government, even after they leave office.
''What this imposes is basically a lifetime prior restraint on government
officials, '' Glasser said.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/09: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100030086-4