REAGAN DEFENDS POLICIES TO CURB NEWS DISCLOSURES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00561R000100040105-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 23, 2012
• Sequence Number: 105
• Publication Date: January 23, 1982
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/27: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100040105-1
}-= r' EDITOR & PUBLISHER
of rn0 23 January 1982
~ei-io-lan defends poOicies.
to curb news disclosures
memq _ ._s or
top government public information spe-
cialists the evening of January 18 to clar-
ify the memo's intent.
According to Nimmo of Commerce,
the confusion resulted from uncertainty
over what constitutes a major
ress
p
By George Brandon having a closed administration, or appearance. and the timing of the Baker
if ...this directive might have a chilling memo arriving almost simultaneously
Defending his efforts to crackdown on - effect on reporters' efforts to gather the with the President's announcement of the
government officials leaking classified news."' directive on leaks of national, security in-
national security information, President "No, I don't believe so,". Reagan -re formation.
Reagan refused to rule out the use of lie sponded. "All we're doing is what every There were reports of some depart-
detectors to plumb the source of unautho- administration before us had done-and ment officials going beyond the terms of
rized leaks. we hadn't been doing. It's simply the the Baker memo and requiring prior
The President was asked during his case, so. that we all know what is going clearance of routine staff contacts with
seventh full-scale news conference Janu- on ..." Reagan said the Baker memo is the press. Nimmo said that in the absence
ary 19 whether he will use "alt legal aimed only at coordinating and clarifying of clarification from the White House ,
means. including lie detectors," to ferret the position the Administration takes on "people wanted to err on the side of the
out the source of leaks of classified in- issues, not cutting off the flow of informa-_ overly complying."
formation. In reply, Reagan refused to tion to reporters. In the meeting with government com-
discuss specific measures he might autho- "We've seen the situation when it municators, Gergen "gave a much clear-
rize in probes of leaks, saying only that would have been very ...educational er reading," Nimmo said. According to
William Clark, his recently appointed for the people, andadvantaeeousforus,if Nimmo, Gergen explained that policy of
national security adviser. "is drawing up ? two or three particular issues could have prior clearance of press contacts was not
some specifics of that kind." been brought before the public," the meant to apply to routine interviews with
Reagan said any such investigative President said. "And because of not broadcast and printreporters, but rather
approaches would be "within the law, checking with each other we round three only to the major television appearances
and they'll have to be judged-what par- separate departments all going at once listed and, for print reporters, "a Sperling
ticular things are done-will be judged on with statements ..." breakfast or National Press Club appear-
the individual case. It will not interfere Though the Baker memo drew less ini- ance." Godfrey Sperling of the Christian
with our determination to have an open tial attention from reporters tan the pub- Sciennce Monitor for years.has brought
administration present information that licly announced plan to crack down on together Washington reporters and offi-
properly belongs to the press," the Presi- national security leaks, it gave rise to vials for informal discussions over break-
dent said. "But we must stop that leak fears among the Washington press corps fast.
which. . .several times has really en- that even routine contacts with agency "There was a question whether this
dangered things that we were trying to officials would come under White House applied to a (telephone) call from the New
accomplish ....We will certainly pro- scrutiny. It also led to confusion among York Times," Nimmo said. "The answer
tect the constitutional rights of our agency staff and even some public affairs now is no."
citizens." _ officers, who were not sure how far the The effects of the administration's two.
In response to a follow-up question la- White House wanted to go in "coordinat- headed effort to tighten the reins on in-
fer, Reagan acknowledged that in "one ing" the scheduling of press contacts. . formation management were not im-
agency of the government right now-a Following is the pertinent paragraph in mediately obvious among the Washing-
major agency-there are some, people the original Baker memo distributed to ton press corps.
voluntarily taking (lie detector tests) be- cabinet secretaries, agency heads and
cause they themselves knew that they senior White House officials: Jack Nelson, Los Angeles Times
had association with and knowledge of a "Specifically, it is requested that bureau chief, said he noticed a difference
tremendous leak that occurred." whenever you, or anyone under your in contacts with his sources since the
Presumably, Reagan was referring to jurisdiction, receives an invitation for an Baker memo went out. "Some people
the Pentagon, where Deputy Defense interview on a Sunday talk show, morn- who had been returning your
Secretary Frank C. Carlucci himself took ing network television, 1Jio htline, calls . . . they're not now," Nelson said.
a lie detector test after ordering others to McNeil-Lehrer or other major press Walter Mears, Washington bureau
submit to it. Carlucci and other members appearance (including print interviews), chief for Associated Press, said he has not
of the Defense Resource Board took the that you consult with the White House heard of his reporting staff encountering
test in an investigation launched after the prior to your acceptance." new obstacles as a result of the Baker
Washington Post reported details of a The Baker language later was included memo.
board meeting in which a researcher esti- in a directive addressed to the top staff Quoting unnamed "White House
mated Reagan's plan to beef up U.S. de- and administrators of the Department of sources" and "White House officials,"
fense efforts might cost S750 billion more Agriculture by Assistant Agriculture Nelson reported in the Los Angeles
than had been projected. Secretary John Ochs. In the Department Times that President Reagan originally
Aside from the steps he may authorize of Commerce, Public Affairs Director had planned to bar all background and
to enforce his January 12 directive on Mary Nimmo attached the Baker memo off-the-record briefingsbyadministration
national security leaks, Reagan also to her own asking staff to pay closer officials. Nelson's sources also said the
addressed press concerns about a' attention to coordinating major press President wanted to bar all contacts with
memorandum sent to senior administra- appearances. It also was disseminated to the media unless they were cleared with
tiorioffiicialsJanuary 6 by James A. Baker staff in other cabinet departments and the White House in advance. not just
III, White House chief of staff. some, but not all, federal agencies. "major" appearances.
The President was asked if the Baker The White House memo led. to confu- The Times story said some White
memo directing administration officials sion among agency public affairs officers, House officials who believed cnrt, n .,,,r,-
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/27: CIA-RDP91-00561 R000100040105-1 1