REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ABOUT CONTACTS WITH ACADEMICS AND OTHER PROFESSIONAL RESEARCHERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91M00696R000700120007-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 12, 2004
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: April 19, 1976
• Content Type: MF

Approved For Release 2004/05/13 : CIA-RDP91 M00696R00?Z00120007-0
1.9 April 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: Associate Deputy Director for Intelligence
SUBJECT Request for Information about Contacts with
Academics and Other Professional Researchers
1. The attachments to this memorandum are the responses of
the DDI Coordinator for Academic Relations and the Office of
Political Research to the referenced query. These lists are
arranged as follows:
I. DDI/CAR Contacts
II. OPR Contacts
III. OPR Consultants and Independent Contractors
IV. OPR Research Institutes
V. Firms or Individuals That Evaluate OPR Products
VI. Recruitment Activity
2. You will recall that at the creation of OPR, the position
of Coordinator for Academic Relations was merged with other work
in the OPR hierarchy. This reflected the DDI view that OPR had a
leading responsibility within the Directorate to maintain contact
with the best non-governmental researchers and analysts. From the
beginning, the Office has taken this charge seriously, and the
effect upon the research product has been positive.
3. As a regular feature of OPR's program, selected specialists
are invited to come to Headquarters to present a seminar that is
relevant to some portion of our office work program. Analysts
from other DDI offices attend these formal sessions. More informal
and intensive afternoon meetings with OPR staff members review the
"how" and the "why" of specific forthcoming projects, or of the
thrust of the work program in general. Few scholars have refused to
participate, and, of those, most have had schedule conflicts. The
purpose of such contact--to broaden the perspective of the analysts
in general, and to discuss specific projects--has been fulfilled.
Approved For Release 2004/05/13 : CIA-RDP91 M00696R000700120007-0
 Approved For Release 2004/05/13 : CIA-RDP91 M00696R000Z00120007-0
4. In addition to such seminars, we have called together
small groups (e.g., three outside Sov/EE specialists) to look
carefully for two or three days at the work of a single staff.
We have called together 15 multi-disciplinary and area specialists
on the West Coast to advise about the substantive objectives of
our International/Functional Staff. In each case, our ideas
were refined and improved, and we expect to repeat the process
for other staffs.
5. We never hesitate to ask our contacts for recruitment
leads, nor they to offer them gratuitously. In one special effort
to find multi-disciplinary analysts, 34 professors and other
researchers were contacted. They suggested 30 first-class leads,
of which one is now in process for employment and others are under
consideration. The DDI/CAR sent recruitment letters to about 20
scholars on his mailing list on behalf of the CIA Spanish Surname
Coordinator. Response was small, but at least one of the suggested
prospects was hired by OPR.
6. As you are well aware, there are also informal contacts
between our analysts and colleagues they have known for years.
These are augmented further by attendance at meetings of professional
associations and the informal consultations with new people that
arise on such occasions. In addition, some OPR analysts write
for outside publication and get substantive feedback. Some of our
work and that of other DDI offices is sent to scholars by the
DDI/CAR and receives substantive response. Finally, when our
middle- and senior-level analysts appear at professional meetings,
they are sought out by their professional colleagues. They are
asked to participate on panels, to present analytical papers,
and to act as discussants. Often they are asked to comment on
manuscripts of books and monographs. They are respected as
leaders in their fields.
EWIS J. LAPHAM
r
Attachments:
As stated
- 2 -
Approved For Release 2004/05/13 : CIA-RDP91 M00696R000700120007-0
 STAT Approved For Release 2004/05/13 : CIA-RDP91 M00696R000700120007-0
Next 13 Page(s) In Document Exempt
Approved For Release 2004/05/13 : CIA-RDP91 M00696R000700120007-0