LETTER FROM GAO DATED 24 OCTOBER 1978 - - REQUESTING DATA AS TO HOW CIA IS SPENDING ITS RESEARCH DOLLARS TO STUDY THE SOVIET UNION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81M00980R000600290004-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Sequence Number: 4
• Content Type: MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD

Approved For Release 2006/08/09: CIA-RDP81 M00980R000600290004-1
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CUB
OLC 78-3271/1
31 October 1978
SUBJECT: Letter From GAO Dated 24 October 1978 -- Requesting
Data as to How CIA is Spending Its Research
Dollars to Study the Soviet Union
1. I called Sam Goldberg, Administrative Assistant to
Senator H. John Heinz, III (R., Pa.), expressing serious
problems that the Agency would have in responding to the
attached letter from GAO. I subsequently was called by
Joe Frumkin, Legislative Assistant to Senator Heinz, who
is the principal staffer in prompting the inquiry from GAO.
2. I explained to Frumkin that the information requested
by GAO is so broad that it would cut across practically every
major activity within the Agency since research on the Soviet
Union is one of the Agency's principal requirements. _I further
explained that our response would involve the revelation
of intelligence sources and methods and would be highly
classified. Frumkin said that the purpose of the inquiry
stems from the concern that the U.S. Government pays out
vast sums of money for studies on the Soviet Union which are
initiated and funded by various agencies and departments who
have diverse interests. The belief is that there is a
large,waste:of money due. to-duplication, unnecessary research
and important informational requirements on the Soviet Union
are not being met. The ynquiry is being conducted to surface
these problems with a view toward establishing "an Institute
on the Soviet Union" comprised of representatives from the
Congress, the Executive Branch and academia which would
direct and focus the research on the Soviet Union. Frumkin
made an analogy to the ".,Institute for the USA" which exists
in the Soviet Union, however, he was quick to state his
recognition that this organization serves as a front for the
intelligence arms of the Soviet Union.
3. Frumkin acknowledged that Senator Heinz is principally
interested in the nonclassified research on the Soviet Union
and made clear that he would not want to delve into any detail
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 Approved For Release 2006/08/09: CIA-RDP81 M00980R000600290004-1
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as to the Agency's intelligence activities directed against the
Soviets. After some discussion, he narrowed his request as
concerns CIA as follows:
A. Stated in general terms, to what extent
does the Agency coordinate its research on the Soviet
Union with other agencies and departments of the
Intelligence Community;
B. Stated in general terms, to what extent
does CIA draw from the research on the Soviet
Union by academia and private research institutions.
-This would include the Agency as a consumer of the
product of these organizations and special studies
conducted by these organizations at the direction of
the Agency; and
C. The furnishing of a listing of unclassified
publications on the Soviet Union prepared by the
Agency.
4. In regard to C.above, Frumkin noted a listing in
the publication "Government Sponsored Research on Foreign
Affairs" prepared by the State Department's Office of
External Research. This lists the publication of various
studies on the Soviet Union conducted by various outside
organizations and funded by the U.S. Government. Frumkin
felt that the Agency could provide a similar listing of its
sponsored research on the Soviet Union if unclassified and
if Agency sponsorship could be disclosed.
5. I told Frumkin that I would check as to whether
or not the above can be provided and would get back to him
if there are any problems. Frumkin requested that anything
that we prepared should be submitted to GAO in response to
their letter. He said he would explain to GAO that the
response is being narrowed in accordance with our discussion.
He agreed not to contact GAO until he had received a call
from me as to the extent to which the Agency can respond.
Distribution:
1 - OLC Subject
1 - OLC Chron
Chief, Coordinati and Review Staff
OLC:PLC:jms (31 October 1978)
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