MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVE OGDEN REID (R., N.Y.) RE RADIO FREE EUROPE AND RADIO LIBERTY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74B00415R000200010119-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 10, 2005
• Sequence Number: 119
• Publication Date: February 11, 1971
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2005/05/20 CIA-RDP74B00415R000200010119-4
11 February 1971
SUBJECT: Meeting with Representative Ogden Reid (R. , N. Y.)
re Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty
1. This afternoon Mr. Cord Meyer, ADDP, and I met with
Representative Reid to discuss problems created by legislation Reid
has recently introduced calling for overt funding of RFE and RL. Reid
explained his purpose in introducing this legislation by saying that he
felt both RFE and RL were performing a useful function and should be
continued, but for the good of both them and the Agency the present
relationship should be discontinued. He said in confidence that, in
introducing companion legislation in the Senate, Senator Case had been
strongly influenced by John Marks of his staf. 25X1
2. Mr. Meyer then explained to Reid the history of the
Katzenbach report and subsequent unsuccessful efforts to resolve the
problem of the Radios. He spoke of evidence of their effectiveness, and
left with Reid fact sheets containing additional details. He particularly
25X1
3. Mr. Reid said that he planned to see Senator Case Monday
evening (15 February) and would try to get a clearer idea of the Senator's
position in the matter. Reid said he understood Senator Fulbright planned
public hearings on the issue. Mr. Meyer and I made clear our concern 25X1
that such hearings at this stage could cause nothing but trouble, quite
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4. Mr, Reid said he thought the best solution would be a semi-
public organization of some kind which would be financed by funds
appropriated by the Congress but run by a private board subject to
only loose and broad official policy guidance. He said he thought the
first step would be to get some sort of a draft of such legislation and
supporting material on paper to see what it would look like. In response
to our question, he said he thought Congress would approve something
of this kind if it had active Administration support. He remarked in
confidence, however, that the White House hadn't been very skillful
lately in handling some of its legislative problems. He conceded that
this solution might not work, but at least it would buy some time, and
force those concerned to look the facts in the face. He said that even
if it should turn out that there was no choice but to continue the Radios
as they are now being operated, a serious examination of alternatives
along the lines he had suggested would still be a worthwhile exercise.
5. In parting, Mr. Reid agreed to let us know the results of
his upcoming conversation with Senator Case. We agreed to pull
together material that might be useful for preparing the kind of legis-
Reid had in mind, and to explore the possibility of White House
lation 25X1
support for such legislation.
Distribution:
Original - Subject
1 - ADDP
1 - Chief, CA
?- OLC Chrono
b M. MA URY
___J
/_/Legislative Counsel
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