SECRET DOCUMENTS SHOULDN'T HIDE STUPID BLUNDERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-01601R000300190001-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 29, 2000
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 22, 1972
• Content Type: NSPR

STATINTL
Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP80-01
EPHRATA, WASH.
GRA . C~.oJOURNAL,
1 x72
SEMI..-WEEKLY .- 3,439
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0nnnnno
The illegal release of the Pentagon Papers
and the more recent use of secret documents
by columnist Jack Anderson has re-opened
the problem of what should and should not be
classified.
During a conversation a few years ago with
the late Senator-Richard Russell I asked why
the CIA reports on Lee Harvey Oswald's
'I ?tra'` as'7ii?:ttexico had to remain classified as
secret and why they had to stay secret for
many years to come.
The senator was at that time, and had been
for more than a decade, chairman of a special
appropriations sub-committee which con-
trolled all CIA.funds. There wasn't anyone
who was in a better position to answer the
question than Russell,
' He gave me a plausible reason for the
secrecy, The senator note([, and it's true, that
we have people in every country in the world
'who are friendly. to the U.S. and though not
citizens of this country- they often supply our
intelligence people with information. Some
are businessmen, some fishermen, artists,
students and so forth. They are basically loyal
to their own country, but still willing to help
us, The CIA report on Oswald's travels in
Mexico contains not only the facts about his
movements in that country but the names of
the individuals who provided those facts. If
the report was made public at this time some
of the contacts would end up facing a firing
squad and if they weren't shot or imprisoned,
they would no longer be of any value as
contracts. Their future services would be iul.
Since they are still needed it makes good
sense to keep their identity unknown.
But what about thirty year?s from now? This
is the time frame being recommended by the
National Security Council as a reasonable
time to keep papers secret yet there are
opponents around who want the lid to stay. on
far beyond three decades.
That's pretty hard to buy even from the
individuals who claim diplomatic or military
secret codes can be endangered. by releasing
thirty year old data. It seenis illogical to
assume that codes aren't changed in more
than thirty ;year's and even more illogical to
believe any nation can keel) a code unbroken
for thirty years. If this is happening it is'a
first for all time. A recent rash of non-fiction
nooks have pretty well dispelled the idea that
unbreakable codes exist. If a man or woman
can conceive them sooner or later another
man or.woman will be able to unravel them.
Anyone who reads my columns very long
knows I am pro-military, but I've long been
aware of the military's inclination to mark
anything and everything secret and keep'that
tag on forever. In some cases this practice
can be defended, but not for 50 at, 100 years.,
While true military secrets should ' be
carefully guarded military blunders should'
not. Time doesn't erase stupidity, but it hides
it and that's wrong.
17uririg World War II many a bulletin board
was so plastered with memos that it was a
standard joke that if one dug deep enough
he'd find a KP order from Valley Forge still
tacked up. If one could actually dig deep
enough in Pentagon records there's a chance
that some of George Washington's actual
orders are still stamped secret. III a free
society that's no joke.
Approved For Release 2001/03/04 : 'CIA-RDP80-01601 R000300190001-1
 AnnrA~/Pd For Release 2001/03/04
JAEMPIIIS, TENN.
WORD
J1 N 0 1972
WEEKLY -- 8,000
INSIGHT
~'he illegal release of the Penta-
gon Papers and the more recent use
of seem t 'docii'ttlents by columnist
ack Anderson has re-opened the
1 roblcln of, what should and should
. not be \Irlssified:
tT During a conversation a _ few,
years ago with the late . Senator
Richard Russell I asked why, the Y
`CIA reports on Lee Harvey-Oswald', HAL SUIT;.
travels in Mexico had to remain classified as secret and why
they had to stay secret for many years to conic.
The senator was at that time, and had been for more
than a decade, chairman of a special appropriations sub-
Committee which controlled all CIA funds. There wasn't
anyone who was 'in a better position to answer the
question than Russell.
p
s
a
ar
e
was a s
an
o
a
Ile gave me a plausible reason for the secrecy. The one dui, deep enough he'd find a l:P order from Valle
y
senator .noted, and it's true, that we hav e people in every Forge still tacked tip. If one could actually dig deep enough,
country in the world who are friendl\ to the U.S. and
in Pentagon records there'; a chance that some of I~eorge
though not citizens of this
countr
th
ft
l
'
,
y
e o
en supp
y our. Washington
? actual orders are still stamped secret. In a
intelli
l
i
h
f
gence peop
e w
t
in
ormation. Some are business- free socie
men, some fishermen, artists, students and so'forth. They '- ~---- -----
arc basically loyal to their own country, but still willing
to help us. The CIA report on Oswald's travels in Mexico
contains not only the facts about his riot' meats in that
country but the name;: of the individuals who provided
those facts. 11' the report tea,, made public at this time
sonde of the contacts would end up facing a firing squad
and if they weren't :hot or imprisoned they would no
longer be o1' any value as contacts. l'beir future services
would be nil. Since they are still needed it makes good;
sense to keep their identity ueknown.
But what about thirty ye.af?s from now? This is the
time frame being recommended by the National Security
Council as a reasonable time to keep papers secret yet'
there are opponents around who want the. lid to stay on far.
beyond three decades.
CIA-RDP80-01601 R
STATINTL
Tliat's pretty hard to biiyeven from the individuals who
claim diplomatic or military secret codes can be endangered
by releasing thirty year old data. It seems illogical to
assume that codes aren't changed in more. than thirty
years in even more illogical to believe any nation can
keep a code unbroken for thirty years. If this is happening
it is it first for all time. A recent rash of non-fiction books
have pretty well dispelled the idea that unbreakable codes
mist.. It a man or woman can conceive them sooner or
later another man or woman will be able to unravel them.
Anyone .who reads my columns very long knows I am
pro-military, but I've long been aware of the military's
inclination to mark anything and everything secret and
keep that tai, on forever. In some cases this practice can be
defended, but not for 50 or 100 years. While true military
secrets should be carefully guarded military blunders
should not. Time doesn't erase stupidity, but it hides it
and that's wrong.
During World War II many a bulletin board was so
lastered with nienio
th
t it
t
d
d j
k
th
t if
that's no joke.
Approved For Release 2001/03/04: CIA-RDP80-01601 R000300190001-1
 SAGA
Approved For Release 20011a3/d`?FC1-ATRDP80-016
SAGA blows' the lid off the South" o:
.narcotics pipeline-naming the polii
erals, and diplomats .in Mexico,?Vene
Peru, Panama, and Bolivia who
`white gold" death racket-that i
drug traffickers in the western He,
STATINTL
 0I1AIII''A6MvedFor Release'2001/03/04: CIA-RD OL 101 R0
',
P9 -- 125 , 376
S - 273,3;4
IVI. _ ,~ l:
l t;
By Richard
c,~reti ~ '?z ~ ,~ ~. i ,
, e r t t t
Vi0shi'100n Co t Servicca, d
C`i2c'. Zi:plr)'1 `tt`l~l ~J1? ?,.rae;it4 C7c1. uric `_
// Wlren 1 yridon I3. .Johnson teas president, /7em in t ICS,
,/ Martin R Uncierv ood had a White House }ass f pacts It1 t? c,~ rI ' 1?c
parkin; space at to the F3xccutrv~; Office ' E?I?.bale 1y lhGpl
a
5~ r,
Iitnldrnr, . 2h rit tt tuii"I -ze a
b and a jet at Andrews Air Force )3100-e 1Cr tin the c;-
~ r L '~' y 7 ; ~ cfS'
reser ;eel for his or,n use. = Tr, , ii2C1 r2Ul~J ~~UC1IZi 'l.tat7t c ZIt( L tS~ ; 77
Now lie is one of the lessen . flown members of Maryland Gov, Marvin esseiel's staff. that goddamned car over there with ire rn~toi -`- --- -
Underwood is an "advclncr, manff S;'hen his running?'
Re, ? said, Yeah. I said, )rat's rly
boss has to talie a trip, Underwood goes in ad- =,ctatvay car r ill case shill"S don't turn oaf riht.'
vance to pave the way. By the time the boss or- ~.I:;e1 s t said, `Come b
on up to the plane,' Ken-
rives, he can be sure that Underwood will have 1iCd teas there. IIe smiled and said, 'I guess you
patted the irirportant hacks, rnassagect~" the want t to meet inc.'
influential egos, alerted the press, arranged the IIe and I ?,t'all:ed dovrn the ramp. Everybody,
~_. reception lines, n'l then will lra.vc faded into an tirotrf;irL I Xras really in. T'her'e was a bib picture
P.rrtl1USol es, a d of then
e
Ott%n rave fa irl the Knoxville paper, The caption Said 'Marty
If the advance job is clone properly, the effect Under woo is one of befo closest assistants.'
is all appearance of a spontanco;rs outpouring of Christ, I never met Min bcfor?e."
good will for the chief, l"ss than a month later LJndcrttrood and
Ido t ~, when Understood Is not out Hobert Y. Kennedy had a row at tlra It4inm.
ere "a.crvancrn:r" de Mandel, he lives in 'apoiis airport. The press plane: had been beet for soranneisparhererrt: in 'I otvsorr, MCI,, with Ills he liverlirn circling. Robert Keiniedy, furious at the delay,
and m.erndries of the Johnson years, aril he tells neve ci Underwood, Underwood quit, Ile says lie
interesting stori ?s. rie~'er spoke to i;oi ert Kennedy , '
,~ tain,
Dy then, Underwood had nravcd to
X~.['.l"1Il?yWslashington. He was with the Commerce Depart-
(, the beninning rrrc.nt, putting or, trade shows. He stayed on that
relations man for the Schalefferlen Co. ainr 1lowa again,rthis t me from thelWhite House,dys called
and he did "contact work" for Chicabo's Mayor
Richard
Richhard. Daley, i t
in Dale ' With A.f.E a ~ ~~.~en
Ie s off i e one clay in
September nde, d 1960, when w in
0 Donnell gotton panic call about
nn days before the
called and said that John P% Kennedy needed assassination, Kenny O'Donnell ll said, 'Can
advance risen. Underwood recalls the incident go down to Texas and help at these stops?~o ir
this way: said, Sure, I'll be glad to.' That's how I ended
"Daley said, 'Well, there's a ratty r?ighl here in rrp in Ii(trston. I damn near ended up in Dallas.
my office,' Then he said, arty, the herrrlodys It was just the draw of the cards."
need advance men; Do you think you can do In Texas, Underwood worked men who
it?' later. became important assistants to J)hrrson,
Underwood In.-omlitly took off for Kerined >' ? One of them was a Houston. public relations irran
carnlra.ign lreadgtraite y in toff. for Ke Later named Jack V;Ilenti. The other was Dill TvMoyers.
that
that same day he was in Knoxville, Terirr., pay- KennaY s Valenti staff. that Urrrler t~rood tt>~~s on
way for a Presidential candidate he had . When Valenti went to Wash-
in never riles. ington to Work for Jolrrrson, lie called for Un-
lzecallirrf; that first job for the Kenrled -s Un- dertvood at the White House. Johnson was lint'
serfs,c a says: 5'
then installed in the White House and Valenti had;
"One of the ladies asked me, 'flow's Jackie?' Mile str'ai~,,lrt ft'orn Ilo!rtiton.
I said, `She's just great!' The lady asked, 'What "The guard kept telling him, 'There's no
color- hair does she have? I told her, Inc wrong Mtl.r`ty Uudctrvvood here,, Valcrnti said, `You're
color. craz I ?
"Wheir we got into Knoxville', things just is the],resident"" an, I~~ust othrough wt~oo-
turned out great. We had a big crowd. We had a ins for Mill., vror ~
band out there, just dnlo it 13Oar. or
o'I:r'j,rell not off thA}
p
ro>tre it , ~ ase 2001/03/04 CIA-RDp80-41601 R000300~19r~t40 -1