CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT-QUID PRO QUO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86M00886R001800050045-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 17, 2008
• Sequence Number: 45
• Publication Date: August 16, 1984
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/12/17: CIA-RDP86M00886RO01800050045-2
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
,ELLJGf-
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Executi- j
84-
Director, Office of Legislative Liaison 16 August 1984
NOTE TO: 66
DDCI
o Two pieces attached re our Congressional
relationship: 1) Oversight Quid pro Quo;
2) a cut at a goals statement.
o Either or both might be distributed in-
house (to educate, inform, influence)
our own troops and to the Oversight
Committees in a positive effort at
improved relations, as a two-way deal.
o Welcome comments.
ChiiileS A. riggs
N.B. Parts of the "CIA Quid" came from
Helene Boatner's papers.
*k - OQ I t;L
Approved For Release 2008/12/17: CIA-RDP86M00886RO01800050045-2
 Approved For Release 2008/12/17: CIA-RDP86M00886RO01800050045-2
Congressional Oversight - Quid Pro Quo
I. CIA id
o Our Congressional Oversight Committees have a legitimate right to
accurate and timely information about the Agency and the DO. It
is in our interest to provide that information so that any differences
with Congress focus on substance rather than on whether we have told
them all we should have and at an appropriate time.
o We must, of course, protect sources and methods, but we should not
use that excuse to conceal information. Our objective with Congress
is not to tell them as little as possible but rather to tell them as
much as possible without endangering operations. It behooves us to
provide information with grace and alacrity, not grudgingly and
cautiously.
o We should address the issues, whether or not the specific questions
asked are correctly framed to get at them.
o Exaggeration, evasion and misdirection on minor issues undermine our
credibility with Congress on all issues.
o We must be absolutely neutral, politically, with and between Committees
and Members of Congress.
o We should understand and respect the Congressional function and
recognize the responsibilities that rest on Members and Committees.
II. Congressional Quo
o The Congressional Oversight Committees must make unusual efforts to
perform their role in a bipartisan and secure manner to ensure the
credibility and professional respect necessary for the process to
work.
o Oversight Committee staff self-discipline is required to avoid
overlapping, repetitive and encyclopedic questions which reduce the
credibility of the oversight process, tend to erode security, and
have great manpower impact on analysts and operators.
o Reasonableness must prevail to prevent oversight from degenerating
into micromanagement.
o A positive goal of oversight, balancing the watchdog role, is that
of buffer and defender of a strong U.S. intelligence capability,
especially within Congress but also in assuring the public.
o Oversight Committee Members and staff should understand and respect
the intelligence and covert action functions and recognize the
responsibilities that rest on the personnel who direct these
activities at home and abroad.
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 Approved For Release 2008/12/17: CIA-RDP86M00886RO01800050045-2
CIA Congressional Goals
Keep the Congress informed of pertinent finished intelligence.
Provide the appropriate Coammittees of Congress with timely and
appropriate information on Agency activities which have the potential for
affecting national policies regarding foreign affairs, national security and
the domestic welfare.
Assist in the passage of legislation which strengthens the U.S. foreign
intelligence effort, and assist in resisting the passage of legislation which
weakens the U. S. intelligence effort.
Provide good relations and coammunications between the Congress and the
Central Intellignece Agency.
Coordinate intelligence community views on pending legislation.
Congressional CIA Goals
Provide Congressional oversight and control of intelligence and covert
action to assure that these functions are performed as authorized and are
authorized to perform in a manner consistant with public policy.
Provide the resources and legislative authority to give the nation the
best possible intelligence capability.
Serve as surrogate for the entire Congress on classified intelligence and
covert action matters.
Approved For Release 2008/12/17: CIA-RDP86M00886RO01800050045-2