CIA: LIFT THE CLOAK

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000500030011-5
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 31, 2003
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: January 27, 1966
• Content Type: NSPR

Approved For Release 2004/01/16 : CIA-RDP75-00149R000500030011-5
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71
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CE;III S': I N 5C l NCc,
1I01;I':0R
E. 174, n93
JAN 2 7 Wbb
CIA
the cloak .
Past proposals for a congressional
watchdog committee or investigation to
check on the Central Intelligence Agency
have come to naught. At a time of Ameri-
can military involvement in Vietnam, it is
doubtful that present proposals, which
many fear could compromise national se-
curity, will get any further than they have
in past years.
It is, moreover, questionable whether
congressional supervision really is the
answer. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy,
and Johnson have consistently opposed
congressional investigations of this sensi-
tive agency.
But the question remains: How does an
open society such as the United States en-
-sure the responsibility of an agency
shrouded in secrecy, such as the CIA? Cer-
tainly, its responsibility cannot be directly
to the public. And it is probably too risky
to make'it responsible to Congress.
But the CIA is already responsible to the
President, and it should be up to him to
see that the agency understands the nature
and extent of its authority and acts strictly
in accord with that understanding.
Furthermore, the President should see
that the man who holds the extremely
sensitive job of directing this agency is as
competent and tactful as he can find.
(There have been recent reports of declin-'
ing morale within CIA, allegedly due to a
lack of confidence in CIA chief, Admiral
William F. Raborn.)
-I: verioi~'6 concerned should be abso-
lutcly clear on the distinction between
intelligence gathering, which is the
primary and proper function of the CIA,
and foreign policymaking, which is the
responsibility of the President and State
Department. Judging from what is known
of the Bay of Pigs incident, and certain
other operations, the CIA has not always
maintained this distinction. It has not al-
ways been clear as to its proper role.
When it does come to understand this
distinction and act accordingly, a lot of
the pressure for congressional inverstl'ga-
tion will vanish.
Approved For Release 2004/01/16 : CIA-RDP75-00149R000500030011-5