REMARKS OF MR. PEARSON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP64B00346R000400030069-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 15, 2004
• Sequence Number: 69
• Publication Date: January 21, 1962
• Content Type: TRANS

W'TTG-TV and various. Jan. 21, 1962
.0 o t hXp rON446lease 2004/05/05: CIA-RDP6 W O0400030069-4
PROGRAM
Opinion in the Capital
January 21, 1961 7:30 P.M.
STATION WTTG-TV and various
other stations
CITY Washington, D. C.
REMARKS OF MR. PEARSON
MR. DREW PEARSON WAS SEEN ON THE TV SCREEN AS
HE WAS INTERVIEWED BY MARK EVANS AND MARTIN WELDON.
EVANS: "Drew, I've had the feeling things have been entirely
too quiet as far as you are concerned for too long with the
Kennedy administration, and now it seems as though you've un-
leashed some pretty powerful guns. I know Martin is ready to
fire one at you, so go right ahead."
PEARSON: 'Things are pepping up."
WELDON: "Well., I thought, Drew ...Zd-iscussion of Senator
Byrd and Dupont-General Motors stock disposai7
EVANS: "Drew, on that same subject--or on another subject,
I should say, you have taken some pretty hefty swings at a very
important Kennedy appointee, probably as important a job as there
is in the land, the head of the CIA, Mr. McCone. It looks as
though he may pass in spite of it."
PEARSON: "Oh, he's going to pass, he's going to be nomi-
nated--he's going to be confirmed; I knew that at the start.
But just the same I think it's very important when any man is
up for a very important office that the public has a chance to
look at him. I think it's the obligation of the press to report
the facts on him, and of the Senators to examine them further.
Well, the Senate did yesterday--the Senate Armed Services Com-
mittee did scrutinize him rather carefully, not as carefullyas
perhaps they should, but some members, mainly Mrs. Smith of Maine,
Senator Case of South Dakota, are asking a lot of questions which
I think are very healthy."
Approved For Release 2004/05/05 : CIA-RDP64B00346R000400030069-4
 Approved For Release 2004/05/05 : CIA-RDP64B00346R000400030069-4
EVANS: "Do you feel?--I think you've been rather kind to
the Kennedy administration thus far although I think you do that
pretty much with all administrations until you start finding what
you think are weaknesses. Do you feel this is a real mistake on
the-part of Mr. Kennedy?"
PEARSON: "Yes, I do. I think this is a serious mistake.
McCone has no background (there?)--he doesn't know anything about
espionage problems, intelligence--"
EVANS: "Who does?"
PEARSON: "Well, a lot of people do. 'Allen Dulles certainly
had a long background in it, and a lot of people from the State
Department do, and this man has been a very successful businessman
and all the records show that he's made a lot of money at govern-
ment expense. It's all spelled out in past hearings before various
committees, and why should he be head of an agency which has the
power of life and death in making recommendations in certain parts
of th
ld
e wor
, especially in the near East, where ( ?) is
affected and where he owns--is the second b zesty stockholder. ,n
-