REAGAN SETS CODE OF SECRECY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00561R000100040085-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 22, 2012
• Sequence Number: 85
• Publication Date: February 3, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STET
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/22 :CIA-RDP91-005618000100040085-4
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}3.~ Gilbert X: Lewthwaite
Washington Bureau of The Sun
tiVashington--President Reagan
yesterday imposed a :new secrecy
code on government officials, requir-
ing their prior comirtitment to "coop-
erate .fully" in the: investigation , of
any leaks of National Security Coun-
cil information"to ;which they have
had access: '? ~ -
This appeared to open the way for
the use of lie detector tests on offi-
cials who handle national security se-
crets which are published or broad-,
cast b;~ the media. -. ; -,~ ;:, ,., , ?-
The'directive; signed':by Mr. Rea-
gao, was circatated "to ~ 15 ~ .depart-
ments and agencies: Itsrequires that
officials sign "a cover-note?to be at-
tacked to all National. Security_Coun-
cil classified documents promising to
discuss the contents only.with persons
authorized by 1aw,to have access to
. the particular document:
An administration? lawyer said all.
officials, from the~top White House:
aides on .down, would have to sign
such statements on: receipt of classi-
fied i~'SC information~~:,:., .:.: ~ - '~-
Atthe same time the attorney gen-'
eral was ordered yesterday-ta-con-
vene an interagencyt gtoug to~? study'i
the effectivedess of currenC:Iaws and:'
regulations prohibiting~~eaks: A sepa?.~
rate group. is ~already~.studying the.
way material;is clas'sified:;.~ ~ ~ ~-
3aLT.i.?0:~:~ SV:;
3 r ebrua: 1 1982
Yesterday's directive superseded '
an order, issued last month, requiring;
all officials to-obtain clearance from
their. 'superiors before meeting with
reporters and to report bacM: on the
discussion afterwards.. _
' David R:'. Gergen, .chief White
House spokesman, said this clause
was dropped because it had "a chill-
ing effect on the flow of information"
and' inhibited the "legitimate con-
tacts" .that many' journalist`; main-
tain -.
` At`ttie same time, .there is a -con- '
~tinued beLef here, and a very strongly'
iteld_ belief, that it is important to the;
government and to the public- to pro-:
test sensitive information,' .':aid Mr.
Gergen. .. _ - ~ . ~
The general tightening up reflects'
iVir. Reagan's growing .frustration
over,news, leaks. At his Janua;.y press ~
'conference, )VIr. Reagan complained
':that leaks had.reached "a new high,"
sand "endangered things that eve were
trying to accomplish."
One constantly cited leak judged
'within the administration;~'to'have
been .damaging was the disclosure of.
the decision tit sell Taiwan-additional
fighter ~ planes..Diplomatic oontacts
. with the- Chinese, who opposed the
:sale, .had not been completes' when
'the news appeared on the fror, t page
of the 6V?shington Post,. according.
to officials:: ?-,
The Taiwan, leak led:4ta~severaI`
Pentagon officials taking Ile detector
tests; but the source of the article re-
mained undiscovered:
Administration officials yesterday-
;:said the new code by covering;.,NSC_
"deIsberations" as well as documents;
would outlaw. leaks -about the exis-
tense of personality. conflicts. within ~ .
;the foreign policy=making operation,
such as the well-publicized feud be-
tween Secretary of Sfate Alexander
`1~1. Iiaig,;Jr., and former Nafional:Se=.
cur ity Adviser Richard V. AIIen. Such
insight into the functioning ofahe~for-
eign policy mechanism could be clam-
aF;in; to E1.S. interests, said officials. ~ j
The notice.to be-attached-to all*
classified NSC documents in the fu-;i
lure reads: "The attached.:do~ument,~
contains sensitive National-Security
Council Informatiorr~It is-to 6e..read'.
and'discussed onlu fly oersons aut$git;
ized by'law:~~ ~ ~ ~: ~:. ~. -- +
. , Your signatiice ackrawjedgesyou;~
are such a-person_and.you promise?,
you will. show or discuss informat#oni~
"contained in the documenE=onl~r~vith~
persons who are authorized by lawito~
have access to thisdocur~ent?} ~ ,;r, . ~I
"Persons handling this-documentsi
acknowledge he rorshe?kgo,.wa:~ind un-j
derstands ;the ~ secun'ty a v c~tating~
theceta and;~will~cooperafe with any;
lawful-investigation=~iq the United;
States Governmerrf:' into:' any unau-~
thoriaed disclosnre:o~f etassified informs
mationcont3-ned-herein;' '
=~' In a.memorandum informing they
:agencies of the new groundraies,?Na ~
tional Security ~Adviser:William P.'
Clark ordered that the number c ' per
sons with access to NSC informatiorr~
:lie held:to .."the.absoliite: minimum,`'
.and that dissemination and reproduc
tion~ of =NSC documents: bc~ ~strictl
controIled,, _ . `. ..y
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/22 :CIA-RDP91-005618000100040085-4