LETTER TO THE HONORABLE HOWARD H. BAKER, JR. FROM GEORGE BUSH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79M00467A002500080007-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 4, 2005
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: September 27, 1976
• Content Type: LETTER

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September 27, 1976
The Honorable Howard H. Baker, Jr.
Vice Chairman
Select Corrmzi ttee on Intelligence
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
award,
When I not back to the office from our
briefing this morning, I found the
attached Letters to the Editor. I
enclose the original Aviation Week
story, plus Kissinger's reply an -av
reply.
No action required now, but if the
fires get hotter, I will be back in
touch.
Sincerely,
George Bush
Enc.
DCI/1 J27 Stpe. 1976
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September 27, 1976
The Honorable Daniel K. inol1ye
Cha 1 man
Select ConVfittee on Intelligence
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Mr. Chai rrman,
When I got back to the office from, our
briefing this morning, I found the
a
enclose the original ttached Letters to the Editor. I
story, plus KIssinger 1s~`~' r-ePyy an r;
reply.'
NO action required now, but if the
fires get hotter, I will be back in
touch,
X1A
George Bush
X1A
Enc.
DCI/E]/27 Sept. 1976
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 MEM&Wk"RF
A/DCI called thi date to inform us that they
are taking no action on this letter.
25X1A
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September 22a, 1976
Mr. George Bush
Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C. 20505
Dear Mr. Bush:
Your letter of September 17 has been
received and will be published in full in the
September 27 issue of Aviation Week & Space
Technology along with a communication on the
same subject from Secretary of State Henry
Kissinger.
In the interests of accuracy could you
correct your files with the correct spelling of
my name "Hotz".
RBH/sd
Robert B. Hotz',,
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September 22, 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: The President
THROUGH: Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
1. At our last meeting it was suggested that I go by to
see Jack Kemp regarding his concerns about the BACKFIRE. I
had a brief visit with him today. We did not go into the
details of the BACKFIRE study, though I offered to sit down
with him and discuss it more fully if he so desired. We
did discuss the attack on the integrity of the Secretary of
State, the DCI and CIA that resulted from the outrageous
Aviation Week story and the previous columns by George Will
an~Tans W and Novak.
2. Kemp accepted the fact that integrity was not an
issue and that he would defend us on this. He had been
briefed, apparently by the Aviation Week editor and others,
who had convinced him that t e CIA study was inaccurate.
I will follow up on this.
3. Another point: I met yesterda-Y with
analysts felt that we had not withheld or slanted data on the
BACKFIRE study. We are engaged in a battle here against people
who clearly are trying to discredit the CIA study. I am
considering at some point asking one of our oversight committees
to look into these allegations. I am confident such a review
would exonerate the analytical process at CIA and certainly
would lay to rest these slanderous attacks that are being
laid on Secretary Kissinger and indirectly against me. I
will consult with Brent before taking any such move.
Res p e tful l / ours,
George Bush
Di rector
DCI/kgt/22 Sept. 1976
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Remarks: The DCI wishes you to be aware of the
t asks that you hold it extremely
d b
u
attache
1000,
close.
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Is the attached okay?
Seems it might be since
you alluded to it in a
general ay at the
Morning Meeting.
25X1A
,o t(OL:A rntnd ,S
No
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EYES ONLY
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 George Bush
Director
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MMORA-IDUH FOR: The President
THROUGH: Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
to look into these allegations. I am confident such a review
would exonerate the analytical process at CIA and certainly
would lay to rest these slanderous attacks that are being
laid on Secretary Kissinger and indirectly against me. I
will consult with Brent before taking any such move.
considering at some point asking one of our oversight committees
who clearly are trying to discredit the CIA study. I am
analysts felt that we had not withheld or slanted data on the
BACKFIRE study. We are engaged in a battle here against people
1. At our last meeting it was suggested that I go by to
see Jack Kemp regarding his concerns about the BACKFIRE. I
had a brief visit with him today. We did not go Into the
details of the BACKFIRE study, though I offered to sit down
with him and discuss it more fully if he so desired. We
did discuss the attack on the integrity of the Secretary of
State, the DCI and CIA that resulted from the outrageous
Aviation Week story and the previous columns by George Will
an Evans and Novak.
2. Kemp accepted the fact that integrity was not an
.issue and that he would defend us on this. He had been
briefed, apparently by the Aviation Week editor and others,
who had convinced hip. that the CIA study was inaccurate.
I will follow up on this.
i : I met esterda with
.3. Another
DCI/kgt/22 Sept. 1976
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Respectfully Yours,
 22 SEP 1976
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TO: State Executive Secretary Borg FROM:
-AV - 7,
Executive Regis
CIA
Please transmit the below to the Secretary for Mr. Bush
SECRET/
FOR SECRETARY KISSINGER
FROM GEORGE BUSH
AFTER AGREEING WITH YOUR STAFF TO POSTPONE THE RELEASE OF MY
LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF AVIATION WEEK MAGAZINE, I HAVE NOW READ THE
REITERATION OF THE SLANDER IN THIS WEEK'S ISSUE OF THE MAGAZINE IN.
DIRECT CONTRADICTION TO LAST WEEK'S WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT AND
WITHOUT ANY REFERENCE TO YOUR LETTER OR MINE. ACCORDINGLY, I AM
RELEASING.THE TEXT OF MY.LETTER IMMEDIATELY. WARM REGARDS.
GEORGE BUSH
SECRET
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CIPA 17 September 1976
I DID SEE THAT SLANDEROUS AVIATION WEEK STORY. I HAVE MADE
TWO PUBLIC REFERENCES TO IT. ON TUESDAY BEFORE THE CBS RADIO
AFFILIATE EXECUTIVES I SPOKE OUT, THEN YESTERDAY BEFORE THE
ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS. YESTERDAY'S
COMMENTS WERE CARRIED ON TWO OF THE TV CHANNELS HERE.
IN ADDITION, AFTER FAILING TO GET AVIATION WEEK EDITOR
HOLTZ ON THE PHONE, I TODAY FIRED OFF A LETTER PROTESTING THIS
"SLANDEROUS" COVERAGE. THIS STORY WAS INDEED A DIRECT ATTACK
ON YOU, BUT IT WAS ALSO A DIRECT ATTACK ON THE INTEGRITY OF THE
INTELLIGENCE PROCESS AND AN INDIRECT ATTACK ON ME. THE WHITE
HOUSE STATEMENT MAY HELP AND I ALSO HOPE TO ADDRESS MYSELF TO
THIS ON "ISSUES AND ANSWERS" THIS WEEKEND. I SHARE YOUR OUTRAGE
AND WILL DO WHAT I CAN TO HELP SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT.
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September 17, 1976
Robert B. Holtz
Editor
Aviation Week and Space Technology
McGraw-Hill Publications, Inc.
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10020
Dear Mr. Holtz:
The Aviation Week and Space Technology for September 13th
in the ash T ton Roundup section made reference to alleged
manipulation of intelligence produced by the Central Intelligence
Agency. It Is regrettable that you had made no attempt to
give us an opportunity to comment on the relevant portion of
your. report which impugns the integrity of the national foreign
intelligence production process, of Secretary Kissinger, of
myself as the President's chief intelligence adviser, and
most"i'mportant, of all the intelligence professionals who
serve this country.
-
Specifically: I have never received nor would I ever
entertain a suggestion, from whatever source and for whatever
reason..-to slant the intelligence product. I would never
consider abusing my authority as Director of Central Intelli-
gence fot the purpose of manipulating results of professional
analysis of intelligence data. I have complete confidence
that CIA and Intelligence Community analysts working on this
type study would resign before they would do what your
article suggests.
In one short article, Secretary Kissinger, CIA analysts
and, by Inference, myself, have been maliciously slandered.
I hope you will try to partially correct the damage by
printing this letter.
Sincerely,
George Bush
A/DCI/kgt/17 Sept. 1976 Direct ECUTIVE 1 C1 i Y
I off, v.
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Executive Reaiatry
n -UGC:
16 September 1976
DCI,
Attached is draft of letter to the editor
of Aviation Week. 0 dictated it 25X1A
to us from San Francisco this afternoon,
saying he had discussed the subject with
you.
25X1A
DA/DCI
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Mr. Robert B. Holtz
Editor
Aviation Week $ Space Technology
McGraw-Hill Publications, Inc.
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York, N. Y. 10020
The Aviation Week and Space Technology for September 13
in the Washington Roundup section made reference to alleged
manipulation of intelligence produced by the Central
Intelligence Agency. It is regrettable that you had
made no attempt to give us an opportunity to comment on
the relevant portion of your report which impugnes the
integrity of the national foreign intelligence
production process, of myself as the President's Chief
intelligence advisor, as well as head of the Central
Intelligence Agency, and, not least, of the intelligence
professionals who serve this country.
Specifically: I have never received nor would I
ever entertain a suggestion, from whatever source and
for whatever reason, to slant the intelligence product.
I have never abused nor would I ever consider abusing my
authority as Director of Central Intelligence for the
purpose of manipulating results of professional analysis
of intelligence data. These assertions in your report,
as well as your allegations concerning manipulation of
basic data, are totally untrue and without foundation in
fact.
I am confident that you will give emphatic prominence
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damage already caused by the publication and the re-
publication of these false charges.
Sincerely,
George Bush
Director
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