REMARKS BY HENRY A. KISSINGER AT CIA ON THE OCCASION OF CIA'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-270-10-5-5
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 17, 2009
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: September 19, 1972
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2009/11/17: LOC-HAK-270-10-5-5
TIME AND DATE:
PLACE:
SUBJECT:
September 19, 1.972
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
12:00 Noon, Monday, September 18, 1972
The CIA Auditorium, Langley, Virginia
Remarks by Henry A. Kissinger at CIA on
the Occasion of CFA's 25th Anniversary
Director Helms introduced Mr. Kissinger by describing him as the man who
was more familiar with CIA's product and performance than any other person
in Washington. Mr. Kissinger, said Director Helms, is CIA's most severe
critic and its most steadfast supporter.
Mr. Kissinger opened his remakks by recalling that early on in the Nixon
Administration when various agreements of mutual support were being made
and when pledges were being extracted that he would confine himself to long-
range planning and not get into operational matters, the Director got him
aside and said all that was very well said but that when the problems began
to fly (Mr. Kissinger noted that he Director had used another ward but there
were ladies present in the auditorium) Mr. Kissinger would find that there
was only one agency which works for the President alone,
alone.
Mr. Kissinger stated that the Director's remark about the Agency
had proved true and that is why Mr. Kissinger feels particularly warm toward
CIA and why he was so glad to be present at the celebration of CIA's 25th
anniversary.
Turning to the body of his remarks, Mr. Kissinger said that at this period
when there are revolutionary changes taking place in the world, dispassionate
analysis is so important to the President and to himself. We live in a period
when conditions change rapidly. We need to know not just what world leaders
are saying but what they mean. We need to have their, sstatement* put into
a background context. That is why CIA's analysis is so important.
?-Mr. Kissinger stated that he reads almost all of CIA's analytic
output with the greatest interest. Long ranger analytic papers he finds
sometimes more useful than the day-to-day reporting.
MORI/CDF
C05141281
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2009/11/17: LOC-HAK-270-10-5-5
 No Objection to Declassification in Full 2009/11/17: LOC-HAK-270-10-5-5
-- Mr. Kissinger noted that he does not send unevaluated reports
to the President (unless they support his point of view) and that he had long
ago reached an agreement with Director Helms that only evaluated reports
should be sent into the President.
Turning toward Carl Duckett (Deputy Director for Science and Technology)
who was on stage, Mr. Kissinger stated that Carl Duckett has been conducting
a seminar for him on technical developments. He noted that such studies
as Mr. Duckett turns out have been absolutely essential. Sensitive
negotiations such as the SALT negotiations could not have been conducted
without the analysis which enabled the President and himself in a supporting
role to handle the final negotiations in Moscow.
Mr. Kissinger alluded to the fact that the method of operation of this Adminis-
tration puts a premium on the type of support provided by CIA's covert
services. For example, the various secret talks -- some of which have come
to light, other of which have not -- never could have taken place without the
assistance of the covert services.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Kissinger expressed thanks to the CIA people
w ho do not receive publicity. He said that beyond the debt that the President
owes and he owes to CIA, he wanted to mention the value of the integrity and
objectivity of the information provided the President and himself. The
Director's briefings give accurate information. He does not try to sway
the policy maker. The people at CIA do have influence on the policy maker
but they exert that influence by giving the policy maker honest options.
Mr. Kissinger ended by wishing 61A well during the coming years and he
stated that he looked forward to working closely with CIA in the years ahead,
providing that the elections go as hoped.
Director Helms thanked Mr. Kissinger for taking the time from the busiest
schedule in town to come and participate in the 25th Anniversary celebrations.
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2009/11/17: LOC-HAK-270-10-5-5