CONFIRMATION HEARING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP10M02313R000100750006-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 10, 2012
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: May 5, 1982
• Content Type: MEMO

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Office of General Counsel
Central Intelligence Agency
S May 1982
NOTE FOR: Executive Director
Chief, Legislation Division
SUBJECT : Confirmation Hearing
An initial draft of your
confirmation statement is attached.
Delivery time is approximately ten
minutes. Please let me know if we are
on the right track.
STAT
STAT
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STATEMENT OF
JOHN N. MCMAHON
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE-DESIGNATE
BEFORE THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
UNITED STATES SENATE
MAY , 1982
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MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE,
IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY TO DISCUSS MY
NOMINATION TO BE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE. I AM
THANKFUL FOR THE PRESIDENT'S EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE IN MY ABILITIES,
AND I APPROACH THIS NEW CHALLENGE WITH ENTHUSIASM AND
DETERMINATION.
I HAVE, AS YOU KNOW, SERVED OUR NATION AS A PROFESSIONAL
INTELLIGENCE OFFICER FOR OVER THIRTY YEARS. I AM PROUD OF THAT
SERVICE; IT HAS BEEN VARIED, REWARDING, AND CONSTANTLY INTERESTING. I
HAVE DRAWN GREAT SATISFACTION FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE
TO THE SECURITY AND WELL-BEING OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
THE FIRST PART OF MY CAREER WAS FOCUSED OVERSEAS. I
SUBSEQUENTLY PARTICIPATED IN THE U-2 PROGRAM, AND I BECAME DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF THE AGENCY'S OFFICE OF SPECIAL PROJECTS IN 1965. I LATER
SERVED AS DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICES OF ELECTRONIC INTELLIGENCE AND
TECHNICAL SERVICES. IN 1974, 1 BECAME ASSOCIATE DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR
ADMINISTRATION. I THEN SERVED IN TWO POSITIONS RELATED TO MANAGEMENT
OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, UNTIL BEING APPOINTED DEPUTY
DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS IN JANUARY OF 1978. I BECAME DEPUTY DIRECTOR
FOR NATIONAL FOREIGN ASSESSMENT IN APRIL OF 1981, AND I SERVED IN THAT
POSITION UNTIL JANUARY OF THIS YEAR, WHEN I WAS APPOINTED AS THE
AGENCY'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
WHEN I JOINED THE AGENCY IN 1951, MR. CHAIRMAN, WE LIVED IN AN
ESSENTIALLY BIPOLAR WORLD. IN THOSE DAYS OUR ADVERSARY WAS OBVIOUS,
OUR MISSION WAS CLEAR, AND OUR EFFORTS WERE FOCUSED ACCORDINGLY.
THE UNITED STATES WORKED TO BUILD THE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND
ECONOMIC CAPABILITIES OF ITS FRIENDS, WHILE THE SOVIET UNION STROVE TO
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SUBVERT WHAT WE SOUGHT TO STRENGTHEN. THE RISK OF ATOMIC
CATASTROPHE WAS JUST THEN BEGINNING TO BECOME A FACTOR IN THE
STRUGGLE BETWEEN FREEDOM AND TOTALITARIANISM. WE FOCUSED
INTELLIGENCE RESOURCES ON THE SOVIET UNION AND ITS ALLIES, AND WE
ANALYZED WORLD EVENTS MAINLY IN TERMS OF THEIR EFFECT ON THE EAST-
WEST BALANCE OF POWER.
AS WE MOVE INTO THE 1980s AND BEYOND IT IS CLEAR THAT THE
INTELLIGENCE MISSION MUST BE GEARED TO THREATS WHICH ARE
INCREASINGLY VARIED, SUBTLE, AND COMPLEX. WE MUST NEVER TAKE FOR
GRANTED OUR ABILITY TO ACCURATELY ASSESS THE MILITARY CAPABILITIES
AND INTENTIONS OF OUR KEY ADVERSARIES, AND THE SOVIET UNION MUST
REMAIN OUR FIRST INTELLIGENCE PRIORITY. AT THE SAME TIME, WE MUST
ALSO ENSURE THAT WE APPRECIATE AND UNDERSTAND THE BROAD POLITICAL,
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, AND RELIGIOUS FORCES WHOSE INTERACTION WILL SHAPE
WORLD EVENTS AND INFLUENCE THE DESTINY OF OUR OWN COUNTRY. WE MUST
NOT, MOREOVER, UNDERESTIMATE THE IMPORTANCE OF MORE TRADITIONAL
CAUSES OF INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT, SUCH AS IRREDENTISM AND NATIONAL
PRIDE.
THE ABILITY OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE NATIONAL
POLICYMAKERS WITH THE TIMELY, ACCURATE, AND INSIGHTFUL INFORMATION
THEY NEED TO ADVANCE AMERICAN INTERESTS IN THE WORLD SUCCESSFULLY
REQUIRES THAT WE HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO COLLECT THE RIGHT KIND OF
INFORMATION, TO ANALYZE IT EFFECTIVELY, AND TO PRESENT IT IN A
RELEVANT AND USEFUL MANNER. MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO
HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME INTIMATELY INVOLVED IN ALL FACETS
OF INTELLIGENCE WORK. MY EXPERIENCES IN TECHNICAL AND HUMAN SOURCE
COLLECTION, IN ANALYSIS, IN ADMINISTRATION, AND IN SENIOR MANAGEMENT
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HAVE CONVINCED ME THAT WE CAN BEST ENSURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR
INTELLIGENCE EFFORTS BY APPROPRIATELY EMPLOYING THE FULL RANGE OF
OUR CAPABILITIES. THUS, WHILE WE MUST CONTINUE TO STAY ON THE LEADING
EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY INSOFAR AS OUR INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION SYSTEMS
ARE CONCERNED, WE MUST ALSO TAKE CARE TO ENSURE THAT WE NEVER
BECOME SO ENAMOURED OF GADGETRY THAT WE FORGET FOR A MOMENT THE
CRUCIAL ROLE OF HUMAN SOURCES AND THE CASE OFFICER IN THE FIELD. IN A
CRISIS, MR. CHAIRMAN, ONE WORD FROM A STRATEGICALLY SITUATED HUMAN
SOURCE COULD BE WORTH A THOUSAND PICTURES.
MR. CHAIRMAN, IN DISCUSSING MATTERS INVOLVING INTELLIGENCE
RESOURCES I AM CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE DEBT OF GRATITUDE WHICH WE
ALL OWE TO THE CURRENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE,
ADMIRAL BOBBY RAY INMAN. ADMIRAL INMAN'S BREADTH OF VISION WITH
RESPECT TO THE ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL SECURITY, HIS DEPTH OF
COMMITMENT TO THE INTELLIGENCE MISSION, AND HIS DEVOTION TO THE
FUNDAMENTAL VALUES OF OUR FREE SOCIETY HAVE HAD AN IMPORTANT
POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. IN THE YEARS AHEAD WE
WILL REAP THE BENEFITS OF HIS FARSIGHTED EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH LONG
RANGE PLANS AND PROGRAMS TO REBUILD AND REVITALIZE KEY
CAPABILITIES.
IT IS, OF COURSE, CLEAR THAT IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE THE
INTELLIGENCE PRODUCT MUST BE RELEVANT AND USEFUL TO THOSE INVOLVED
IN THE FORMULATION OF OUR FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICIES. MR.
CHAIRMAN, I BELIEVE THAT THE RECEPTIVITY OF POLICYMAKERS TO
INTELLIGENCE, AND THEIR APPRECIATION OF WHAT INTELLIGENCE CAN DO FOR
THEM, IS HIGHER TODAY THAN AT ANY OTHER PERIOD DURING MY CAREER.
THIS IS INDEED ENCOURAGING, AND THE SITUATION IS DUE IN LARGE PART TO
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THE UNTIRING EFFORTS OF BILL CASEY, WHOSE DIRECT ACCESS TO THE
PRESIDENT HAS BEEN OF INESTIMABLE VALUE, PROVIDING A BRIDGE BETWEEN
POLICYMAKERS AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. THE CHALLENGE WE NOW
FACE IS TO DEMONSTRATE CONSISTENT EXCELLENCE IN INTELLIGENCE
ANALYSIS.
MR. CHAIRMAN, AS THE MUTUAL DETERMINATION OF THE PRESIDENT
AND THE CONGRESS TO RESTORE THE VITALITY OF OUR NATION'S INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY IS INCREASINGLY TRANSLATED INTO REALITY WE SHOULD
EMPHASIZE THAT THE FOCUS OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY'S
ACTIVITIES IS AND MUST CONTINUE TO BE OVERSEAS. WHILE THE AGENCY
CONDUCTS CERTAIN ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE UNITED STATES ANCILLARY TO ITS
EFFORTS ABROAD, THESE MUST REMAIN LIMITED, SUBJECT TO STRICT
STANDARDS OF ACCOUNTABILITY, AND FAR REMOVED FROM ANY ABRIDGMENT
OF THE CHERISHED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF AMERICANS.
FINALLY, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WOULD LIKE TO MENTION MY VIEWS ABOUT
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CONGRESS. SOME
YEARS AGO, UPON BECOMING AWARE OF WHAT WAS THEN A QUITE
FRAGMENTED SET OF CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT ARRANGEMENTS, I URGED
THE AGENCY TO SEEK THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A JOINT COMMITTEE WITH
EXCLUSIVE INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITY. WHILE WE HAVE NOT
REACHED THAT STREAMLINED A SITUATION AS YET, WE HAVE MADE
EXTRAORDINARY PROGRESS IN ASSURING THAT WE HAVE EFFECTIVE, SECURE
CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY.
I REMAIN FIRMLY CONVINCED THAT CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT IS A
POSITIVE BENEFIT TO THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, RATHER THAN A
BURDEN. THE OVERSIGHT SYSTEM SERVES TWO KEY PURPOSES. FIRST, IT
ASSURES TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE OF NECESSITY
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UNDERTAKEN IN SECRET ARE BEING MONITORED BY THEIR ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES. SECOND, IT ASSURES THE INTELLIGENCE OFFICERS WHO
UNDERTAKE THOSE ACTIVITIES THAT THE CONGRESS AND THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE STAND BEHIND AND SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR DIFFICULT AND OFTEN
DANGEROUS ASSIGNMENTS.
THE OVERSIGHT ARRANGEMENTS WHICH HAVE DEVELOPED AND MATURED
OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE ALSO SERVED TO ENHANCE
CONGRESSIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTELLIGENCE MISSION AND OF THE
NEED FOR THE LONG RANGE COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES TO MEET THE
CHALLENGES WHICH LIE AHEAD. THE CUMULATIVE IMPACT OF THE ANNUAL
AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES BY THIS
COMMITTEE AND ITS COUNTERPART IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE
SCRUTINY GIVEN TO CERTAIN BUDGET ITEMS BY THE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEES, THE OVERALL REVIEW CONDUCTED IN GREAT DETAIL BY THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES, AND, PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE
STATUTORY OBLIGATION TO KEEP THE TWO INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES "FULLY
AND CURRENTLY INFORMED" HAS MADE THE CONGRESS AN ACTIVE PARTNER IN
OUR NATION'S INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES. THIS IS AS IT SHOULD BE, AND I
PLEDGE TO YOU THAT I WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO FOSTER AND IMPROVE
THIS VITAL RELATIONSHIP.
MR. CHAIRMAN, THAT CONCLUDES MY PREPARED REMARKS-I WOULD BE
PLEASED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS WHICH YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE MAY HAVE.
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