LETTER TO SENATOR PATRICK LEAHY FROM VERNON A. WALTERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79M00467A000200040063-7
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 20, 2006
• Sequence Number: 63
• Publication Date: April 20, 1976
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Rele a 2007/03/06 : CIA-RDP79M00467A00Q 00040063-7
Dear Senator Leahyt
20 April 1976
Thank you for your kind remarks and for
sending me the clipping from The Burlington
Free Press regarding my speech to the Rotary
Club there. I. too, regret that you could not be
there to hear It, but I have enclosed a copy of
the transcript for your retention. I would have
gotten It to you sooner but I have been travelling
for the last few weeks.
With every good wish.
Faithfully,
NAP-01-4 WWAM
Vernon A. Walters
Lieutenant General, USA
The Honorable
Patrick J. Leahy
United States Senate
RIM
Approved For Release 2007/03/06 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000200040063-7
 HENRY M. JACKSC'A WASH.
HOWARD -~V, :.ANNON. NEV.
THOMAS'!. MC INTYRE. N.N.
HARRY F. BY RD, JR.. VA.
SAM NUNN, GA.
JOHN C. CULVER. IOWA
GARY HART, COLO.
PATRICK J. LEAHY. VT.
STROM THURMONO, .
JOHN TOWER, TEX.
BARRY GOLDWATER, ARIZ.
WILLIAM L. SCOTT, VA.
ROBERT TAPT, JR., OHIO
DEWEY P. BARTLETT. OKLA.
JOHN C. STAPPrQvadAF14A14 a el ase 2007/03/06 : CIA-RDP79M00467PA0020004006
1 JCnxfeb ,Sfafez Zenctfe
COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20510
March 10, 1976
I m sorry L. a
hear your speech, but I understand from my friends
who were there that it was well received. Certainly,
representation of what
if the article i say, accurate
well
you had , accepted.
As always, you have handled yourself with your
customary professionalism and expertise, and I
congratulate you for it.
U t I didn't have a chance to.
page of that newspaper.
Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
Deputy Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, DC 20505
Dear General Walters:
I didn't know whether you had already seen
the enclosed clipping from The Burlington Free
Press. It was prominently situated on the front
Enclosure
Approved For Release 2007/03/06 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000200040063-7
 perations
on intelligence
. STETSON suggestion that President Ford's propo ` is-for wolves do not go out into the forests ?' And federal tax dollars are spent
By FREDERICK W nv tl.O of the nation s intelligence gathering then the deputy director added "We have a fgt gathering by all agencies.
1/ ? .~_._a.en not of tho'('iA'S onerationS
-__4t.,.;.mntuac .,.,
r ree ryes sus.. - .... ,_,
"bomba rdment of community were misguide assn what he said was "our side" of
involve "overt" gathering of intelligence an d
lleled
Y I
r
.
n P
p
ers . around thete an unpara
public criticism. the Central Intelligence Tom Wicker of The New York Times id the
Agency can perform its mission and meet Ford Plan would give greater protection jo CIA the cy t tor the that has Walters ? - information from public sources such as foreign
e for the swetal newspapers and other publications, he said.
.t -t?v,t??.c officials who abused their statutory powers MA rt n.oarat]nns': have. been.: A.. > hrap chars of the CIA's time is spent
the CIA deputy director said Monday. while providing for the prosecution
11 - overemphasized }r ~' ' "r y conducting "technological" intelligepnv
who disclosed the abuses. ,This p of our activities bas'gotten al(~o t gathering, presumably through radio broac
In remarks to the Burlington Rotary Club. Lt. Walters described the notion as an "gee in of r on is es minds ? 'fie said
1 Gen Vernon A. Walters defended the agency Wonderland - blackis_white white is tJladt^ ~ttoPoiti did) li w ,he mot itoring and ~terception or decoding of discuss_ nor
other broadcast siinals.
e
ll
igenc
against its critics ana sots me um uv- i.. i, imerpretauun. sip - - - uboned on, the agency's assassuiauuu pa" wafters ,W that strong inte
"We budget "in greatest detail" to the Ford. just impossible" to ensure completely against q1,
t foreign political !ead reported by the is efterssl to the nation's protection against
Administration and the Congress. further CIA abuse, although there will be see
Senate efforts to minimize."., , ellice t headed by Sen. unexpected enemy actions, especially at a time
However, h liownC.laa the ~'of international terrorism; nuclear
We ourselves can live with any kind of The 59-year-old intelligence official said the Frank Church. f? fdaho ' scope of - all oversight the Congress wishes," he said CIA staff is operating with a sense of . , pro feration% Soviet weapons build ups and
speaking to Rotarians and their guests from ; ert operations- . saying theft account fork to 6 expansionary actions into nations such as
Angola.
other service clubs at the Ramada Inn in Soulh "reassurance." eve though it bast cent the;g%ey udget?, and to his
subjected to a "bombardment. I tlunk?witia?hi.
11 1 Burlington. parallel in American history ? knowledge, no menaW~ ol the . "We have to be better informed than at any
Walters drew upon a Russian proverb to been indicted in the past ;7 years, on the time in our history," he said. "Knowledge is
While e ofth the e mmeediaye's coverage fof CIA strong describe the attitude of the CIA staff in th face Walters didn't provide dollar figures war
Despite Uni ted States efforts to achieve
I If you fearfAys budgebut? ltt'salMess t I relaxation of relations with Russia and Chi!
criticis m o
activities, Walters criticized one columnist's of this crtieism. The proverb say cen!l of all power.
Walters said accurate predictions of th
countries' military, technical and poli'
changes are needed.
And, he said he's also mindful of an
Russian proverb which says, en you
friends with the bear do not IL. ;, of you'
He depicted intelligence operation
'force for peace" and said. "We rf
from a naval Pearl Harbor; could wt
from a nuclear Pearl Harbor?
"We cannot afford to be surprise
will not forgive us if we are.."
j J
Approved For Release 2007/03/06 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000200040063-7
IA Official Defends Agenc
Approved For Release 20 / 3/OS9C A DP79MOO467A000200040063-7