LETTER TO PATRICK LEAHY FROM STEVEN GARFINKEL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP10T01930R000400100003-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 17, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: April 3, 1985
• Content Type: LETTER

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/04/17: CIA-RDPlOT0193OR000400100003-2
General Information Security
Services Oversight
Administration Office Washington, DC 20405
April 3, 1985
Honorable Patrick Leahy
Vice Chairman
Select Committee on Intelligence
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Mr. Vice Chairman:
Thank you for your letter of March 14, 1985, concerning the Frank
Church papers at Boise State University. While I am concerned
that your letter suggests some misunderstanding of our
intentions, I believe that a continuing dialogue between
executive branch officials and the Select Committee on
Intelligence on this and other issues will aid in resolving them.
As the Select Committee is aware, the Information Security
Oversight Office (ISOO) is an unusual executive branch entity.
Specifically established by the President to oversee the
classification, declassification,-and safeguarding of national
security information, ISOO is an administrative component of the
General Services Administration but receives its policy and
program direction from the National Security Council. ISOO
performs its-function with a great deal of autonomy, representing
no special interest other than the President's concern about the
credibility of the information security system itself. Many
diverse interests, including the .Select Committee, have
complimented ISOO on its effectiveness and objectivity.
One of IS00's primary functions is to receive and act upon
complaints, suggestions, and concerns about the administration of
the information security program from persons within or outside
the executive branch. On a number of occasions ISOO has acted to
resolve the problems that occur when classified information finds
its way into collections of private papers. Therefore, I don't
need to defend-ISOO's interest in the Church papers at Boise
State. ISOO had recognized a potential problem area even before
officials at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) contacted me
to express their concern. The available information, including
the existing finding aids and Boise-State's own press release,
led to the reasonable conclusion that the collection might
contain classified national security information. It was also
very clear to ISOO that the University was not fully aware of the
problems that the existence of classified information within the
collection would present or the steps that would be necessary to
safeguard it.
With these legitimate interests in mind, I communicated with
officials at the University, and then the Senate Historian and
Legal Counsel. Subsequently, officials of the CIA, including its
Director, William J. Casey, communicated with the Select
Committee. In every instance we have sought to explore available
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alternatives in a fully cooperative posture. For example, in my
letter to the University Librarian,-I specifically sought his
input about available initiatives to resolve the question of
whether the collection contained classified information and, if
so, how to go about protecting it. In Mr. Casey's letter of
November 21, 1984, to the then Chairman of the Select Committee,
he concluded: "I would appreciate any assistance that you and
your staff might render in determining whether classified
intelligence information is in fact in the collection and, if so,
how best to deal with the issue."
I very much regret, therefore, that first the University and now
the Select Committee appear to have overreacted to our concerns.
Our intentions have never extended in any manner whatsoever to a
confrontation over the ownership and custodianship of the Church
papers or to a debate on separation of powers issues. I simply
am concerned that reasonable efforts be undertaken to assure that
the collection does not include national security information,
or, alternatively, that classified information within the
collection be appropriately safeguarded.
To this end I again seek the Select Committee's assistance. I
would be more than happy to meet at your convenience with you,
other Members of the Select Committee, or its staff to discuss
the question of the Church papers or any other matter related to
the administration of the information security program.
Sincerely,
'( e3T Steven Garfinkel
STEVEN GARFINKEL
Director
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