LETTER TO HONORABLE LAWTON CHILES FROM W.E.COLBY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-04163R000100020010-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2001
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: February 3, 1975
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 20107/28 : CIA-RDP78-04163R0001000 0-8
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, b.C. 20505 OLC 75-0097
3*FEB 1975
Honorable Lawton Chiles
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
I have your letter dated January 20, 1975 regarding the outside
activities of physician-employees of the CIA. I am, of course, referring
to physicians who practice clinical medicine for the Agency and who are
employees of the U.S. Government. The outside activities of these physicians,
like the outside activities of all other Agency employees, are governed by the
federal statutes and the Executive order pertaining to conflicts of interest and
ethical conduct of Government employees. As long as the outside activities
of employees conform to these standards and the additional standards imposed
by this Agency with regard to security and other. matters, they may conduct
themselves in the same manner as all other employees of the Federal Govern-
ment. To further restrict an individual's activities would appear to me to be
an unjustified intrusion into his or her personal affairs.
For your information, the CIA maintains a specific, outside activities
clearance procedure to ensure that an employee's proposed activities do not
violate the pertinent statutes or the Executive order or possibly reveal
intelligence sources and methods, which I am responsible, by statute, for
protecting. There is absolutely no prohibition on our physicians who
maintain a private practice from discussing their Agency affiliation either
if asked by their patients or if they believe it appropriate to do so. So long
as these physicians meet the high personal and professional standards pre-
scribed for their profession and for employment by the Federal Government,
I see no reason arbitrarily to hinder or limit them in the conduct of their
personal lives.
Sincerely,
/s/ W. E. Coft
W. E. Colby
Director
Approved For Release 2001/07/28 : CIA-RDP78-04163R000100020010-8
 Approved For Release 2t/07/28 : CIA-RDP78-04163R000100010-8
Distribution:
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OGC/AEG:OLC/LLM:cp (3 Feb 75)
Approved For Release 2001/07/28 : CIA-RDP78-04163R000100020010-8