HELMS AND FULBRIGHT INTERVIEWED

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00149R000500310026-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 30, 2003
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: July 29, 1966
• Content Type: REPORT

PROGRAM 11 PM Report STATION WTOP-TV
DATE July '29o 1966 11:00 PM
Washington, DC
HELMS AND FULBRIGHT INTERVIEWED
TONY SYLVESTER: "Central Intelligence Agency Director
Richard Helms publicly apologized today for a letter that got
him in trouble with the U.S. Senate and brought a demand for. his
resignation. His letter to the St. Louis Globe Democrat praised
an editorial that was severely critical of Chairman J. William
Fuibright of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"Today, the 53 year old Helms, a career man, who only
recently was selected by President Johnson to take over as CIA
Chief went to the Hill to apologize."
HELMS: "I was just simply saying it was a mistake to
sign this letter. I realize it was a mistake, which I regret.
And I've apologized."
REPORTER: "Did you draft the letter, sir?"
REPORTER: "What were the circumstances?"
FULBRIGHT: "Well, the letter was prepared by an assist-
ant and was submitted to him along with a number of other personal
letters, as distinguished from, you know, business letters -- you
see, he's been recently appointed, and he simply signed it, as he
said, without focusing upon the whole significance of it."
"The circumstances, as described by Mr. Helms certainly
'go a very long way to excuse a mistake, I mean, anybody can make
a mistake, and I'm sure he's going to be very careful not to make
another one of a similar nature."
REPORTER: "Senator Morse called for his, resignation,
Do you favor any move in that direction?"
FULBRIGHT: "I don't think drastic.
I believe he'llbe1ver ba.vary cabout these matters In the
future."
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