THE QUESTION OF AN OUTSIDE UNIVERSITY COURSE ON US INTELLIGENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R000200030026-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 18, 2005
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: June 24, 1974
• Content Type: MF

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24 June 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT The Question of an Outside University Course
on US Intelligence
The members of our ad hoc committee* offer the following
agreed views;
1. We find that there has been increasing curriculum
interest in course work concerning US intelligence. As one example,
at the University of Kansas, a course was given this spring on
"Secrecy in US Foreign Policy," ti~ahich dealt with the role of
intelligence in US foreign policy**; eve are informed that this
course will be offered again in the fall semester of 1974. A
number of schools offer course work in which intelligence is one
unit or subject within a broader course. One such example is
"Conduct and Control of American Foreign Policy," which is being
taught this summer by Professor James D. Atkinson at Georgetown
University; this course includes the subject of "the increased
importance of intelligence agencies in foreign policy." There are
scattered such examples elsewhere. And, as a related item,
Harry Rositzke has participated as an outside expert in a seminar
course at Fletcher on the subject of reporting from abroad,
**The course was designed and taught by Associate Professor
Cecil B. Jones, Jr., Cdr., USN, who is with the Navy ROTC program
there.
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2. In our view, there is room for more such curriculum
attention to the question of US intelligence. We consider it
best to think in terms of a unit for module) of an upper division
or graduate course dealing ~~rith US foreign poi icy making, rather
than of an entire semester's attention being given to the subject
of intelligence.
3. In our view, any approaches to academia on the general
subject should be open and overt. CIA would wish to avoid any
public or Congressional suspicion that the Agency was engaged in
sponsoring or encouraging an unacknowledged domestic activity, no
matter how innocent or well-intentioned.
4. There would be both advantages and disadvantages to be
expected. in any expanded treatment of intelligence in academia.
Assuming that the university courses were well done, we could
reasonably expect better public understanding of the legitimate role
of foreign intelligence in US policy making, and a useful filling in
of avoid which now exists in academia concerning the services
which intelligence performs. At the same time, there would be a
risk that some courses or modules would be conducted irresponsibly.
S. It would probably be best to make private approaches
to several universities, not just one. A good initial start might
be to chat with Atkinson at Georgetown, though Ure feel it wise to
make contact at the same time with other schools Nrhich are removed
from the D.C.-CIA presence.. Specific possibilities might be
Professors Richard Ullman at Woodrow Wilson School of International
Studies, Princeton; Lincoln Bloomfield at MIT; and Henry Howe
Ransom at Vanderbilt. All contacts should be made at the personal
level by CIA officers already known to the respective professors.
(Inie`re in pretty good shape on this score.]
6. The key to receptivity would lie in the care with
which specific suggestions are made to the professors. In our
view, approaches might best be along these lines:
a. The entire matter should be completely overt.
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b. The subject could be broached by referring to
Sulzberger's January 1974 New York Times column which cites.
Stevan Dedijer's suggestion that greater public understanding
would result from university course treatment of the intelligence
process.
c. The Director of CIA thinks that greater public
d15CU$S1on of US foreign intelligence -- warts and all -- would
be a good thing, letting irhe chips fall where they may.
d. The content and form of any course units, or
modules, are of course strictly the preserve of the professors,
curriculum committees, and universities interested. As, of course,
whether to offer any such studies, or not.
e. If interested in offering anything- along the line
of intelligence, professors might wish to invite a few outside
speakers to participate in seminars, either individually or in
panels. The fullest and healthiest debate would result from
participation by authorities representing all points of view; this
should of course include critics of CIA.
f. Should any professor/course be interested, the DCI
would be prepared to make senior substantive officers of CIA
available for seminar participation, either for individual pre-
sentations or as members of panels. The DCI would urge any such
CIA officers to be as candid as possible, and to give their own
personal views as citizens.
g. In addition to CIA officers still on active duty,
there are a number of distinguished senior intelligence alumni*
traho, if interested, could give their own personal views and.
perspectives concerning US intelligence.
h. If any professor/universities so requested, CIA
could examine the question of possibly preparing a list of sample
*See llustrative list at Annex.
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subjects and a broadly representative intelligence reading list.
Any such materials should include the organization and function
of the intelligence community; the manner in which i>telligence
products fit into the PJSC policy-making processes; the services
which intelligence performs wick respect to SALT verification and
other national questions; and the changing long-run problems
which face intelligence, US government, and US society.
7. Also at Annex is a related memo of interest. by
Mr. ~1i11ard Matthias.
Attachments: As stated
DDI/OPR:
dll/K5491(24 Jun 74)
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Z~.~davl 27 June_
2:30
Directors Office
Subject: The Question of an Outside University
Course on US intelligence
Attending: Mr. Co
a many of the ad hoc committee
members as possible
Mr. W sh
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4 June 1974
/"i~~pA'~'DU`-i FOR: Director of Training
SLTI3 that is, it i'must not be defensi-rie about thel
~erican intelligence system or its achieverients and failures
must not be anti-Soviet or anti-Communist in
or referrin ~ its tone ashen discussing
g to thc, Soviet sy;tem~ In its normative theory- it ~1z11 be
aiming at a largely.tlmerican audience, but it will need to be '
critical of t~.merican.. intelligence orga.riization, methods
and personnel 'as of an ~ Just as
critize or ~-, Y other. T'l:e writer ~