MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVE CLARENCE CANNON TUESDAY, 14 JANUARY 1964

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90-00610R000200080029-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 18, 2003
• Sequence Number: 29
• Publication Date: January 15, 1964
• Content Type: MFR

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0GC 64-0106
15 January 1964
A IEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT: Meeting with Representative Clarence Cannon
Tuesday, 14 January 1964
1. Met with M2r. Cannon for almost an hour. He a ypeared in a
relaxed mood and before we got down to business I beard t e 4'.ory of
the Manhattan Project, his trip to Germany before World 1,11a r 11. his
trip to Panama ten years ago, and the congressional duties of
President Johnson.
2. Mr. Cannon raised the question of our finances' for V h- year
I indicated that the Fiscal Year 1964 situation was still not finally resolved
mentioning that the Erector had met with the Russell s'ubco:rumittee just
last Friday. L r. Cannon seemed very interested and inquired if senator
Russell had any views on the Agency budget question. Without going into
great detail, I indicated senator Russell felt that with the passage of half
the year he thought possibl the Agency could get by with a Reserve of
25X1 25X Mr. Cannon seemed most
interests in this saying at this sounded very much like his previous
discussions with Senator Russell. I noted that Mr.. Cannon took careful
notes of this. Before I left this subject I indicated it would be most
helpful if the matter could be resolved and if we could get the appropriate
letters from the house and senate Committees agreeing on a solution.
Mr. Ca=on indicated he would look into this. Mr. Cannon further
inquired on our 1965 budget. I stated that the Director felt we were
probably all right but that some cuts had been made indicating an initial
25X1 request o 25X1
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3. 1 mentioned to Mr. Cannon that the Director was planning to
leave for Europe at the end of the week and inquired if there was anything
the Agency or Mr. ;1cCone could do for the .SubcorrarAttee before then.
Mr. Cannon said ho thought not and I then discussed the recent publicity
regarding the Soviet economy which had been attributed to the Agency.
I explained some of the background of this (in line with the Director's
discussion of this with Senator Russell). Mr. Can-on obviously did not
like to see the Agency in public print. on this and stated he thought it was
unfortunate. On the other hand, after the background explanation, he
seemed to be somewhat relieved and agreed that the Director was taking
the proper course in avoiding this kind of thing for the future. I reminded
Mr. Cannon, of course, that since the Director had taken office he had
made no public speeches and was most mindful of the problem of keeping
the Agency ' out of the public domain insofar as possible. Mr. Cannon
emphasized his view on this but repeated his story about the trip of a
member to the South American country where various uniforms were
shown by the government reserving the gaudiest one for display saying
this was their secret service uniform. I indicated to Mr. Cannon that
I got the point.
4. Mr. Cannon turned to the question of whether the current
headquarters was large enough for all personnel. I reviewed this very
quickly with him pointing out that our authorization request had been cut
both by the Bureau of the Budget and by the Congress although, of course,
the appropriation was granted in the full amount of the authorization.
The resulting cuts had cut our building below the space needed to house
all employees at Washington and this had been the subject of a letter of
explanation to Mr. Cannon in 1956. Mr. Cannon then mentioned the
desire several years ago of utilizing some surplus funds appropriated
for the building to build a residence for the Director of Central Intelligence.
He stated that while the majority of the Subcorrimittee would have gone
along on this, one or two members had objected and, therefore, the full
Subcommittee was not in favor of such a project. (This illustrates
Mr. Cannon still remembers the question of surplus building funds and
it is pertinent to current consideration of construction of a new printing
and reproduction facility. )
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5. Mr. Cannon added also that he felt that the Agency was
one of the few in Government that had a proper regard for economy
and utilized its funds in a conscientious manner. He also stated he
had the greatest admiration for dir. McCone and his ability. Mr.
Cannon, as indicated, was gracious and appeared to wish to discuss
various matters. He concluded by saying he was appreciative of my.
coming by to talk with him and asked me to give his regards to
Mr. Mc Cone.
V~;..
SI ~
JOHN S. WARN!:-.;X
Legislative Counsel
cc: DCI
DL'`CI
Ex Dir-Compt.
DD/ S
OGC/LC Subject - Cannon
CIA Sub of House Appropriations
OGC/LC Chrono.
OGC/LC:JSW:mks
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