LETTER TO HONORABLE THADDEUS J. DULSKI FROM F. EDW. HEBERT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00818R000100050049-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 1, 2005
• Sequence Number: 49
• Publication Date: October 21, 1971
• Content Type: LETTER

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JAI.':"+. BYRNE. PA.
SAMUEL S. STRATTON, N.Y.
OTIS G. PIKE, N.Y.
RICHARD H. I CHORD. MO.
LUCIEN N. NEDZI. MICH.
ALTON LENNON, N.C.
WILLIAM J. RANDALL. MO.
G. ELLIOTT HAGAN, GA.
CHARLES H. WILSON, CALIF.
ROBERT L. LEGGETT, CALIF.
FLOYD V. HICKS, WASH.
SPEEDY O. LONG, LA.
RICHARD C. WHITE, TEX.
DILL NICHOLS, ALA.
JACK BRINKLEY, GA.
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M.6. 31?ouZe of 3.epreantatibe
COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
Wa0bington, O.QC. 20515
ROBERT H. MOLLOHAN, W. VA.
W. C. (DAN) DANIEL, VA.
G. V. (SONNY) MONTGOMERY, MISS.
MICHAELJ. HARRINGTON. MASS.
HAROLD RUNNELS, N. MEX.
LES ASPIN, WIS.
October 21, 1971
Honorable Thaddeus J. Dulski
Chairman
Post Office and Civil Service Committee
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.
CHARLES S. GUBSER, CALIF.
ALEXANDER PIRNIE. N.Y.
DURWARD G. HALL, MO.
DONALD D. CLANCY, OHIO
ROBERT T. STAFFORD, VT.
CARLETON J. KING, N.Y.
WILLIAM L. DICKINSON. ALA.
CHARLES W. WHALEN. JR., OHIO
JOHN E. HUNT, N.J.
G. WILLIAM WHITEHURST. VA.
FLOYD D. SPENCE, S.C.
C. W. (BILL) YOUNG, FLA.
STAFF
JOHN R. BLANDFORD, CHIEF COUNSEL
FRANK M. SLATINSHEK. ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL
ONETA L. STOCKSTILL, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
I understand that your Committee now has under consideration
H. R. 11150, a bill "To protect civilian employees of the execu-
tive branch of the United States Government in the enjoyment of
their constitutional rights, to prevent unwarranted governmental
invasions of their privacy, and for other purposes."
I was gratified to learn that certain Federal agencies under
the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services including the
Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency are
&nong the sensitive Federal agencies which have been specifically
exempted from application of the provisions of the bill. This
action, as recommended by your Subcommittee, is sound. I there-
ore trust that this particular provision in the bill will remain
unchanged.
As you know, the administration of the Central Intelligence
A ency is governed by the National Security Act of 19+7 and the
Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949. This legislation imposes
on the Director of Central Intelligence responsibility ". . . for
ji.otecting intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized dis-
closure. . ." and provides that "In the interests of the security
of the foreign intelligence activities of the United States . . .
the Agency shall be exempted from the provisions . . . of any . .
:maw which require(s) the publication or disclosure of the organi-
zation, functions, names, official titles, salaries, or numbers of
personnel employed by the Agency . . .".
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October 21, 1971
The reasons for imposing this responsibility on the Director of
Central Intelligence, and for granting him this exemption, I believe
are evident. It is a well-established fact that ever-alert hostile
intelligence services assign the highest priority to identifying and
exploiting personal vulnerabilities of our own intelligence officers.
This is not only because of their access to the most sensitive kinds
of information, but also because their work frequently takes them to
lonely and hostile areas where they are exposed to a variety of
pressures and provocations.
There are two main defenses against these hazards. First, it is
essential that intella;,:._-!nce personnel receive the most thorough screen-
ing and assessment to +'nsure the selection of the right man for the job.
Second, since good s. ity depends largely on the loyalty and morale of
its employees, the A. ? y's personnel policies r-It be carried out with
the utmost regard for the personal dignity and privacy of the individual.
I am convinced that the Agency management fully appreciates this, realizing
that it could not carry out its vital mission, or preserve the security of
its sensitive activities, if the fairness and reasonableness of its per-
sonnel policies did not have the confidence of its employees. Neverthe-
less, the authority of the Director over the Agency's personnel policies,
to be commensurate with his responsibilities, must be undiluted.
The considerations relating to the Central Intelligence Agency apply
with equal force and effect to the National Security Agency as well as
certain other agencies within the Department of Defense.
I would appreciate very much if the views I have expressed in this
letter are made available to the members of your Committee at the time
they consider the Subcommittee's recommendation on H. R. 11150.
With best wishes, I remain
Sincerely,
F. Edw. Hebert
Chairman
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