REMARKS OF GENERAL WALTER BEDELL SMITH AT THE NINTH ORIENTATION COURSE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01826R000900040052-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 13, 2001
• Sequence Number: 52
• Publication Date: February 10, 1953
• Content Type: SPEECH

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REMARKS OF
GENERAL WALTER BEDELL SMITH
AT THE
NINTH ORIENTATION COURSE
10 February 1953
Since this is the last time that I will be with you in my old capacity,
I consider it appropriate to review some of our accomplishments.
This Agency is a highly selective one. It would be well if you knew
the figures to illustrate this selectivity. Out of every hundred applicants
for employment in this Agency, all but fourteen are screened out by Person-
nel before they ever get to Security. Another four or five are eliminated
by Security, usually for reasons that reflect in no way on the character of
the individuals. The small residue comes to our Agency as part of a career
service. Now, this selectivity process is being rapidly reflected in the
stature of our personnel.
We now have our own decoration, just approved by the President, which
will be given rarely but will mean a great deal to the recipient. During
the past year, I have given two such decorations to officers of this Agency
for outstanding accomplishments involving great personal risk. The standard
of discipline here is high and it is refreshing to realize that we do not
have disgruntled employees 'speaking about the "inefficiency" and the "inade-
quacy" of their respective services, services to which they owe basic loy-
alty. Let's always remember that loyalty works both ways and will continue
to work both ways in this organization as long as it is headed by the people
who are now,going to head it. That is the type of discipline,' the kind of
loyalty, and the calibre of devotion to duty that is necessary in a career
service of this kind.
Wp have, of course, given to the personnel of this Agency adequate fa-
cilities for expressing their views, for indicating weaknesses in the organ-
ization, and for suggesting improvements. The Inspector General's office is
open to everyone, on a highly confidential basis, for suggestions.or com-
plaints. As you well know, meritorious suggestions are rewarded with cash
or with other recognition. During the past two years, a number of our per-
sonnel have given their lives to their service. Regrettably, the'facts can-
not be published at once nor can the recognition in the form of awards and
decorations be acknowledged immediately. That is one of the penalties you
pay for serving in a highly classified organization of this kind. The reward
lies largely in your sense of accomplishment.
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When President Truman left office, he wrote a letter to the Director, in
which he said: "Truly, no President has ever, in the history of the United
States, been so well informed and so thoroughly and completely advised in the
field of intelligence and foreign developments as I have, due primarily to
the efficiency and the accomplishments of the Central Intelligence Agency."
In due time that fact will be more widely recognized. It is widely recog-
nized now in Government circles. Now, those things are due entirely toyou.
The other day, President Eisenhower asked me to say to the personnel of this
Agency that he expected, and realized he would receive, the same degree of
efficient and loyal support as had been accorded his predecessor. Well, of
course he will.
Our service is to the United States and it is a devoted and a dedicated
and a loyal service. I have to thank you, individually and collectively, for
the support you have given me. Nobody leaves this organization willingly.
You may ask why I did. The reason is very simple. The length of time I can
devote from now on to Government service is strictly limited for various
reasons. We have reached a point in our development where continuity of
leadership is essential. Our organization is good and sound. Our person-
nel are highly qualified and carefully selected. Now, what we need is a
Director who will spend the rest of his active life at the head of this Agency.
Furthermore, we need development in depth so that his deputy, another care-
fully selected and extremely able man, will be able to succeed him. In this
way, the personnel of this fine organization will have a long period of con-
tinuity of leadership. You are going to have that, and it is that fact, and
that fact alone, which reconciles me in leaving. Thank you very much.
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