LETTER TO E. GORDON GEE FROM WILLIAM J. CASEY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R001903710023-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 5, 2008
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: August 12, 1983
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85M00364R001903710023-9
Lernrii irnenigenceAgency I'AU 83-0019/E
12 AUG 1983
Dr. E. Gordon Gee,. President
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506
Dear Dr. Gee:
Relations between the Intelligence and Academic
Communities in the United States have. traditionally been
close. Academicians played a prominent.role in the creation
of the Central Intelligence Agency, as they had in the
establishment of its predecessor, the Office of Strategic
Services. Many of those who came from the campuses to assist
in the founding of those organizations remained here to
complete distinguished careers as intelligence officers.
Over the years, we in this Agency have relied on the colleges
and universities as the almost exclusive sources of
recruitment for our professional staff personnel. We have
also established contractual relationships with both academic
institutions and individual scholars to assist us in our
analytic effort. In turn, we believe that'our academic
counterparts have profited from the excharfge of information.
and insight that results from these contractual
relationships. Additionally, in recent years we have made a
number of our unclassified reports and statistical summaries,
available for use-by those in academe. The relationship, in
short, has been symbiotic, truly beneficial, I believe, to
both partners.
As you know, in the late 1960s and 1970s, strains arose
between the Agency and many colleges and universities.
Fortunately, these strains have dissipated.as most of the
problems have been resolved. As I stated during my
confirmation hearings, I intend to ask American scholars to
serve their country by sharing their scholarship and insights
with those in the Intelligence Community who are responsible
.for preparing the analyses used-to develop foreign policy and
defense strategy.
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85M00364R001903710023-9
 Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85M00364RO01903710023-9
In an attempt to further the restoration of mutual
confidence between the Academic and Intelligence Communities,
I am inviting a small number of college and university chief
executives, including you, to join with me at CIA
Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, on 12 October for an
exchange of views. I envisage a basically informal meeting
beginning at about 9:00 a.m. and continuing to around 4:00
p.m.
I hope to greet you upon your arrival and meet with you
again prior to your departure. In the interval between those
meetings, you will meet and be briefed by a number of senior
officials of the Agency on the activities involved in
carrying out our assigned role in government. Out of these
exchanges, I would hope that you would find answers to any
questions that you might have regarding our work. More
importantly, I look forward to receiving your comments and
suggestions on how this organization might better accomplish
its primary mission of providing our nation's leaders with
the best possible intelligence. From our meetings, that
day, I believe will emerge a greater awareness on the part of
all involved of the benefits to be gained for our respective
organizations and our nation from even closer cooperation in
the future.
I am aware of the busy schedule that you undoubtedly
face, but I would be most grateful if you could find time to
loin me ator for Academic Affairs,
has already been in touch
with a member of your staff and he will be available to
discuss details in connection with your visit if, as I hope,
you can accept this invitation.
Sincerely,
William J. Casey
Director of Central Intelligence
Approved For Release 2008/08/05: CIA-RDP85M00364RO01903710023-9