AMHERST CLUB -19 MARCH, NEWSPAPER EDITORS - 10 APRIL

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01554R003200040016-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 4, 2005
• Sequence Number: 16
• Publication Date: March 19, 1980
• Content Type: PAPER

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DCI
19 Mar 80
AMHERST CLUB - 19 MARCH
NEWSPAPER EDITORS - 10 APRIL
Working lunch today - Bill Webster
Classmates - next-door frats
How 2 clean-living Amherstmen end up 30 + years later -
#1 - G-Man
#1 - Spy
Certainly neither anticipated
Doubt Amherst much expectation it was preparing many its grads
end up these fields
But grateful Amherst did not.focus on prep for profession -
rounded, adaptable liberal education
Grateful for it - not so much for what taught - for all
areas knowledge taught me I didn't know about -
and made me want to know about
Perhaps Amherst helped us in being ready to. shift gears and careers -
We both enjoyed our lst careers
Both having exciting time in 2nd
Intell - exciting profession today
Rate change demand flexibility, open-mindedness, innovativeness
I Much involved tech change in techniques collecting info
Satellites
Computers
Lasers .
Signal processing
etc.
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II Also change in other 1/2 intell - analyzing what collected
New techniques - manipulating data -
quantitative analysis of pol, social events
New subject areas
Used to be mil - and pol
Today vast expansion
Terror
Narcotics
Food - grain
Indust production
Health
Econ forecasting
Oil - energy .
Not just Sov Union and E. Eur.
Zimbabwe
Kampuchea
Afghan
Yemen
El Salvador
But surrounding pace change in collection and analysis -
vast change environment in which work - domestic environment
primarily
Like to address that - touches each you
- discussion in country - Unleashed?
- Congress controls
- Risks const.
freedoms
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Past -- intell activities our country isolated, secret
Since 1975 - front-page news, subject to oversight by Congress, W.H.
IOB and others
Result of this coming out from isolation, there are 4 different
dimensions
impact internal operations/org.
impact relations rest Exec. Branch
with Congress
with press and public
1. Influence new environment had on internal operations
Past - CIA had # subdivisions of effort
- meticulous compartmentation of. data
Was a plus for secrecy - (essential of profession)
question - how much?
Subcompartmentation and isolation from each other
had some minuses - ? all relevant facts
- ? checks and balances -
differing judgments
Mistakes - not malicious -
callousness
over-responsiveness
combined with twoo narrow a
perspective bec of this
separation of effort
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Big plus to be tied into policy deliberations
Can be more effective in providing objective,
non-policy data
But while we must be aware of policy to focus our efforts,
must ensure that knowledge does not influence our
conclusions in any way -- sometimes'accused being
politicized - giving answer desired - hope not true
Also hazards in proliferation of info to gain Exec Branch
review.
- a. Means more #'s -
b. Means dealing with policy-making agencies
Motive to leak exists -
Worse today than ever
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- Can lead to intellectual
arrogance; i.e., you don't
know all the facts ....
we know what's best. Again,
not malicious, just human nature.
.Today - moving toward more corporate type of structure
- Corporate structure in best sense becoming
more consultative/collegial/better organized
for long run--trying not.become more
bureaucratic/less flexible; takes careful
balancing.
- Major decision vetted much more before key officers
Especially OGC, OLC - even PA
But also broader judgmental base
All this at some risk to secrecy. To minimize risk, work on
principle - minimizing numbers
e.g., decide on spy of op w/o knowing ID agent
Trying to find happy medium between dangers of isolated decision
making and proliferation of info about sensitive activities
Important new dimension
2. Executive Branch influences on intel environment
Less independent today - less family business than
one part conglomerate
NSC is Board Directors
Provides degree direction on both what collect/analyze
and what do in covert action that is greater than
ever before.
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- Inhibitions on self (characteristic pre
'60s) are gone in post-Watergate
"no holds barred" environment.
- When big $ and turf involved, some people
see own interests threatened by what
might be best for country.
Act instinctively.
3. New environment's imact on Legislative Branch relations
Past - virtually nothing
Small group in know. - Attitude: don't want to know
any more than necessary. Kept out of process.
Today - virtually all
Plus - in touch w/USA
- share responsibility
- differing insights - not part of same policy fights
Minus - #'s + new dimension to leaks
- leak motivations - political - not same as
Exec. Branch.
Process worked well - 3 years - Want continue
Controversy today -
Why? - Attempt codify current practice
Lawyers responsible!
Some see as opportunity to push current practice
closer to ideal as they perceive it - and
perceptions differ
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2 issues:
1. How soon do we notify?
2. How much detail?
How soon - interesting constitutional point
What founding fathers intend by separation of powers -?
Leading newspaper editorial -
If Congress not notified before Pres. acted,
we'd be depriving him and nation of
"Congressional consultation."
Consultation nice voluntary ring to it
But if law says it's mandatory to
notify - not really consultation -
it's partnership - or more -
it's reducing Exec to an adjunct of
Congress
Anyone has veto if knows in advance -
Leak it.
Too many vetos, no action ever.
Seems to me F.F.'s intended Congress to use its law-making
authorities and power of purse strings to do its will
With health, road building, other programs - If Congress
doesn't like what Pres plans
cut off his $ - or direct him to do otherwise in law -
but once $ appropriated, they don't review every
hospital or road that's to be constructed, in advance.
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If Congress judges Executive actions in advance -
how ever know whether Executive effective or not?
- Robs Exec of opportunity to take any initiative
within Congressional guidance and becomes
puppet of Congress.
On detail - matter of perceptions
Only our country. brings Parliament in to this degree -
in itself a problem because
Foreigners don't understand
Secrecy is sine qua non of intell agencies -
public relations is sine qua non of Congresses
Need some restraint
Has been well exercised by committees
Lawyers again!
But committees not complained lacked info for oversight
Differences - yes - but resolved.
4. 4th Estate
Used to get very little publicity
Now a lot
1st - We've opened up
* Public has questioned us
Must have support
Show return
But results - Not process/sources
* All secrets is no secrets
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2nd - We've been opened up, like it or not
* Investigations started - made newsworthy
* Leak is prevalent and investigative reporting is in
Burrowing and piecing it together,
it comes out
Often in degree of detail of no interest
to public - great damage to us -
because helpful to KGB, et al
e.g., description of how to ID CIA
officers abroad - what American cares?
What anti-American cares - All.
Midst hostage crisis.
Most serious challenge
Asking for some help
Hughes-Ryan
FOIA
Identities
Note: none constitute any relaxation of setting
loose of CIA -
All simply pointed toward modicum of secrecy so
we can do our business
Yes conflict - secrecy and open society
Yes conflict - dirty tricks and fair play Americans
Country has to decide if need intelligence - clearly do
Must not carp at reasonable levels of secrecy
and freedom to play dirty tricks against our
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Nation's conscience is clear to those of us entrusted
with this delicate responsibility
Do not want to undermine values we're defending
Do not. trust us alone -
remember - Exec Branch checks and oversight
- Legislative oversight
Poised today at balance point - 3 years experience -
can't demand tip balance even more toward disclosure,
risk of leak, etc. and still call ourselves a SIS
Not asking to be unshackled
Asking again to continue on in way we've performed
past three years -
know no.accusation illegality, impropriety,
abuse
no any inference oversight process not been
thorough and successful.
Public support mandatory
Your interest appreciated.
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