STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL STANSFIELD TURNER DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE TO THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT OF THE HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE THURSDAY - 20 APRIL 1978

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000300020002-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 15
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 28, 2007
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: April 20, 1978
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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ADMIRAL STANSFIELD TURNER
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
to
THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT
HOUSE PERMANENT SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
Thursday - 20 April 1978
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DCI STATEMENT BEFORE ASPIN SUBCOMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT
THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. I AM PLEASED TO BE WITH YOU
THIS MORNING.
PERHAPS TWO OF THE GREATEST CHANGES AFFECTING THE
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE PROCESS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN
RECENT YEARS ARE OUR POLICY OF MUCH GREATER PUBLIC OPEN-
NESS AND A WELL DEFINED SYSTEM OF CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT.
THIS HEARING EPITOMIZES THOSE TWO CHANGES IN A VERY
DRAMATIC WAY.
I AM DELIGHTED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS
CIA'S RELATIONS WITH THE U.S. MEDIA AND TO DESCRIBE THE
REGULATION I ISSUED ON THIS SUBJECT 30 NOVEMBER 1977.
(A PRESS RELEASE ON THE SUBJECT AND THE REGULATION IS
ATTACHED).
IT WILL BE USEFUL, FIRST, TO OUTLINE MY REASONS FOR
ISSUING SUCH A REGULATION. ONE OF MY EARLY ACTIONS AS DCI
WAS TO INITIATE A REVIEW OF EXISTING CIA POLICIES RE-
GARDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE U.S. NEWS MEDIA. THAT
REVIEW INDICATED THAT SINCE MY PREDECESSOR, MR. BUSH,
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FIRST ISSUED A PUBLIC STATEMENT ON THIS SUBJECT ON
11 FEBRUARY 1976, AGENCY POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS IN THIS
AREA HAD BEEN FURTHER REFINED. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS
RELATIVELY NEW REGULATION IS THAT IT GOES CONSIDERABLY
BEYOND THE TERMS AND SCOPE OF THE 11 FEBRUARY 1976 STATEMENT.
THE NEW REGULATION ALSO RECOGNIZES AND REFLECTS IN
AN INTEGRAL WAY THE IMPORTANT NEW PHILOSOPHY OF OPENNESS
WE HAVE INSTITUTED AT CIA DURING THE PAST YEAR. THAT
PHILOSOPHY TAKES AS A BASIC PREMISE THE RIGHT OF THE MEDIA
AND THE PUBLIC TO KNOW AS MUCH ABOUT THE INTELLIGENCE
PROCESS AND PRODUCT AS IS CONSISTENT WITH SECURITY. THE
CLARIFICATION OF CIA RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE U.S. MEDIA WAS
DESIGNED TO LEAVE NO DOUBT IN ANYONE'S MIND THE EXTENT OF
ANY RELATIONSHIP THE CIA MIGHT PROPERLY HAVE WITH U.S.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES. IT IS WITHIN THAT SPIRIT THAT THE
REGULATION WAS ISSUED AND IT IS IN THAT SPIRIT THAT I
APPEAR HERE BEFORE YOU TODAY.
IN THIS STATEMENT I WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THE POINTS
ABOUT THE REGULATION THAT MIGHT BE OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO
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YOU. BUT FIRST IT IS NECESSARY THAT I MAKE THE CLEAR
DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE AGENCY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
U.S. MEDIA IN AN OPERATIONAL SENSE, I.E., IN COLLECTING
INTELLIGENCE, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY THRUST OF THIS REGULATION,
AND OUR COLLATERAL RESPONSIBILITY TO MAINTAIN REGULAR
LIAISON WITH THE U.S. MEDIA TO PROVIDE TIMELY INFORMATION
ABOUT THE AGENCY, ITS PRODUCT AND THE INTELLIGENCE PROCESS.
CONCERNING THE FORMER RESPONSIBILITY, THE REGULATION
UNEQUIVOCALLY BARS ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH FULL OR PART-TIME
JOURNALISTS (INCLUDING SO-CALLED "STRINGERS") ACCREDITED
BY A U.S. NEWS SERVICE, NEWSPAPER, PERIODICAL, RADIO OR
TELEVISION NETWORK OR STATION, FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING
INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES. THE PARALLEL CLAUSE IN THE
11 FEBRUARY 1976 STATEMENT HAD PROHIBITED, "PAID OR CON-
TRACTUAL RELATIONSHIPS." THIS FORMER FORMULATION RAISED
THE POSSIBILITY THAT AN UNPAID RELATIONSHIP OR QUID PRO QUO
ARRANGEMENT MIGHT BE CONDONED. THE NEW CLAUSE FLATLY
PROHIBITS A RELATIONSHIP OF ANY KIND FOR THE PURPOSE OF
CONDUCTING AN INTELLIGENCE OPERATION.
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AT THE SAME TIME, THE NEW REGULATION EXPLICITLY PROTECTS
THE RIGHT OF ANY CITIZEN, JOURNALIST OR OTHERWISE, TO
VOLUNTARILY IMPART INFORMATION TO AN AGENCY OFFICIAL,
AT HOME OR ABROAD, WHICH THAT CITIZEN BELIEVES IS IMPORTANT
TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. WE BELIEVE IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL
TO PRESERVE THEIR RIGHTS AS U.S. CITIZENS TO VOLUNTARILY
PERFORM A PATRIOTIC SERVICE FOR THEIR COUNTRY. AT THE SAME
TIME I WOULD EMPHASIZE THE REGULATION DOES STRICTLY PROHIBIT
CIA'S TASKING A U.S. JOURNALIST WITH PERFORMING ANY OPERATIONAL
ASSIGNMENT. IN SHORT, WHILE CIA CANNOT ACTIVELY TASK OR
DISPATCH EVEN A WILLING JOURNALIST TO SEEK OUT OR FURNISH
PARTICULAR INFORMATION OR ASSISTANCE, IT MAY ACCEPT WHATEVER
INFORMATION A JOURNALIST ELECTS TO TRANSMIT VOLUNTARILY.
WE BELIEVE IT IS FAIR TO REQUIRE THAT A JOURNALIST
BE DULY ACCREDITED IN ORDER TO BE COVERED BY THIS REGULATION.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS PART-TIME JOURNALISTS (FREE-LANCERS)
WHO ARE NOT ACCREDITED BY ANY U.S. MEDIA ORGANIZATION
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BUT WHO OCCASIONALLY, AND SOMETIMES FREQUENTLY, WRITE FOR
PUBLICATION. MANY OF US HERE TODAY FIT IN THAT CATEGORY.
IN OUR INTERPRETATION OF THE TERM, A FREE-LANCER IS A FREE
AGENT, NOT ACCREDITED BY OR UNDER CONTRACT TO ANY MEDIA
ORGANIZATION. TO LIMIT THE AGENCY'S RELATIONSHIP TO SUCH
A GENERAL, ILL-DEFINED GROUP WOULD INDEED SERIOUSLY HAMPER
ITS ABILITY TO CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO COLLECT
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. I PROBABLY COULDN'T EVEN HOLD MY
JOB.
I AM AWARE THAT CONCERN HAS BEEN EXPRESSED IN SOME
QUARTERS THAT THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY THE REGULATION
COULD BE OVERTURNED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE DCI. I REFER
TO PARAGRAPH THREE OF THE REGULATION WHICH STATES THAT,
"NO EXCEPTION TO THE POLICIES AND PROHIBITIONS STATED ABOVE
MAY BE MADE EXCEPT WITH THE SPECIFIC APPROVAL OF THE DCI."
I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE THE SUBCOMMITTEE THAT THE MOST CARE-
FUL DELIBERATIONS WENT INTO THE INCLUSION OF THIS CLAUSE.
IT ALLOWS FOR THOSE EXTREMELY INFREQUENT BUT EXTRAORDINARY
SITUATIONS WHEN A MEMBER OF THE U.S. NEWS MEDIA ORGANIZATION
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IS IN A POSITION TO PROVIDE UNIQUE AND OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE
INFORMATION TO THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. SUCH A SITUATION
MIGHT ARISE, HYPOTHETICALLY, IF A FOREIGNER ACCREDITED TO
A U.S. MEDIA ORGANIZATION INFORMS A CIA OFFICIAL OF A
PLANNED TERRORIST ACTIVITY (THE PLANNED ASSASSINATION OF
AN AMBASSADOR, THE PLANNED BOMBING OF AN AIRLINER, ETC.).
THE FOREIGNER IS RELATED TO A MEMBER OF THE TERRORIST GROUP
WHO TRUSTS HIM AND NO ONE ELSE--ONLY HE CAN SERVE AS AN
INTERMEDIARY WITH THE TERRORISTS.
WITHOUT THE DISCRETIONARY PROVISION, THE CIA OFFICIAL
WOULD BE UNABLE TO EMPLOY THE SERVICES OF THE FOREIGNER
TO POSSIBLY ASSIST IN DETERRING A MAJOR TERRORIST ACTIVITY.
I WOULD HASTEN TO SAY THAT INCLUDING THIS PROVISION DOES
NO VIOLENCE TO THE SPECIAL STATUS AFFORDED THE PRESS UNDER
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. I EXTEND THE
STRONGEST REASSURANCE THAT THE EXCEPTION WOULD BE USED
ONLY UNDER THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES. I WOULD
ALSO POINT OUT THAT EVEN UNDER SUCH EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUM-
STANCES, THE NORMAL SAFEGUARDS WOULD COME INTO PLAY.
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THAT IS, THE OVERSIGHT CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES WOULD BE IN
A POSITION TO INQUIRE INTO SUCH EXCEPTIONS AS PART OF THEIR
OVERSIGHT RESPONSIBILITIES.
THE 30 NOVEMBER 1977 REGULATION ALSO GOES BEYOND THE
11 FEBRUARY 1976 STATEMENT BY BARRING '"WITHOUT THE SPECIFIC,
EXPRESS APPROVAL OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION
CONCERNED, ...ANY RELATIONSHIPS WITH NON-JOURNALIST STAFF
EMPLOYEES OF ANY U.S. NEWS MEDIA ORGANIZATION FOR THE
PURPOSE OF CONDUCTING ANY INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES."
THIS PROVISION APPLIES TO THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE IN
NO WAY INVOLVED IN WRITING OR EDITING NEWS INFORMATION.
IT IS CIA POLICY NOT TO ENTER INTO ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH
NON-JOURNALISTS (SUCH AS PRINTERS, CIRCULATION PERSONNEL
AND SALESMEN) WITHOUT THE SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND AUTHORIZATION
OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT OF THE NEWS MEDIA ORGANIZATION CONCERNED.
FINALLY, THE NEW REGULATION EXPLICITLY PROHIBITS THE USE
OF THE NAME OR FACILITY OF ANY U.S. NEWS MEDIA ORGANIZATION
PROVIDING COVER FOR ANY AGENCY EMPLOYEES OR ACTIVITIES.
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MR. CHAIRMAN, THE AGENCY IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH THE
SELF-IMPOSED LIMITATIONS OF THIS REGULATION. WHILE THE
SEVERITY OF THE RESTRICTIONS MIGHT ON OCCASION HAMPER THE
DCI'S CAPABILITY TO DISCHARGE HIS RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE
FIELD OF FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION, CIA HAS CHOSEN
TO OPERATE UNDER THESE LIMITATIONS OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE
SPECIAL STATUS AFFORDED THE PRESS BY THE CONSTITUTION.
MOREOVER, OUR RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION OF THE NEED
TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND INDEPENDENCE OF THE PRESS HAS
BEEN BALANCED CAREFULLY AND CAUTIOUSLY AGAINST MY RES-
PONSIBILITY TO COLLECT FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE. EXPERIENCE
TO DATE HAS CONFIRMED THAT APPROPRIATE BALANCE HAS BEEN
FOUND AND THAT THE REGULATION IS APPROPRIATELY FORMULATED.
CIA DOES NOT SEE THE NEED FOR- REVISIONS AT THIS TIME.
AND NOW MR. CHAIRMAN, I WILL TURN MY ATTENTION TO OUR
LIAISON WITH THE MEDIA TO PROVIDE AS MUCH UNCLASSIFIED
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CIA, THE INTELLIGENCE PRODUCT AND THE
INTELLIGENCE PROCESS AS IS LEGITIMATELY POSSIBLE.
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AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM WE ARRANGE, ONLY ON REQUEST OF A
NEWSPERSON, UNCLASSIFIED SUBSTANTIVE BRIEFINGS ON AREAS
OF THEIR INTEREST. THE BRIEFINGS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE
BACKGROUND INFORMATION TO THE NEWSPERSON. WE PROVIDE THESE
BRIEFINGS ON AN UNATTRIBUTABLE BASIS. THIS IS DONE TO
PRESERVE THE CONVERSATIONAL TONE OF SUCH BRIEFINGS AND TO
INSURE THE ANONYMITY PREFERRED BY THE BRIEFERS. IN THIS
WAY THEY DIFFER FROM AN ATTRIBUTABLE INTERVIEW, WHICH WE
ALSO PROVIDE ON REQUEST ON A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS.
THE BRIEFINGS, NORMALLY SOME 3 TO 4 PER WEEK, ARE PROVIDED
BY ANALYSTS FROM THE OVERT SIDE OF THE AGENCY. THERE
HAVE BEEN 172 SUCH BRIEFINGS SINCE MARCH OF 1977 -- 111
DIFFERENT REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDIA WERE BRIEFED.
THERE ARE MANY OTHER ASPECTS TO OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS
PROGRAM, I MYSELF UNDERTAKE A VERY ACTIVE PUBLIC PROGRAM
IN SUPPORT OF OUR DESIRE TO INFORM THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC
ABOUT INTELLIGENCE. IN MY FIRST 12 MONTHS AS DCI, I HAVE
MADE 41 ADDRESSES (INCLUDING 11 TO COLLEGE AUDIENCES),
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SUBMITTED TO SOME 41 INTERVIEWS BY INDIVIDUAL JOURNALISTS
AND PARTICIPATED IN 11 PRESS CONFERENCES.
THROUGH THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE, WE RESPOND TO
TELEPHONE INQUIRIES FROM THE MEDIA IN A POSITIVE AND
FORTHRIGHT, BUT UNCLASSIFIED WAY. WE RECEIVE SOME 60 SUCH
PHONE QUERIES FROM THE MEDIA WEEKLY. THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS
OFFICE ALSO DISSEMINATES TO THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC AS
MUCH OF OUR RESEARCH AS CAN BE REASONABLY DECLASSIFIED.
SINCE MARCH OF LAST YEAR, WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY
2 SUCH UNCLASSIFIED REPORTS PER WEEK. I AM CONVINCED THAT
WE OWE THE PUBLIC AS MUCH OF OUR PRODUCT AS CAN BE LEGITIMATELY
DISSEMINATED AS A RETURN ON THEIR TAX DOLLARS. WITH THESE
SAME OBJECTIVES IN MIND WE SPONSOR GROUP VISITS TO THE
AGENCY AND RESPOND TO SOME 60-70 LETTER INQUIRIES FROM THE
PUBLIC EACH WEEK.
THIS OPENNESS PROGRAM HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY THE
PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA, AND CONTINUES TO EXPAND. I BELIEVE
YOU ARE AWARE THAT I HAVE REQUESTED FIVE ADDITIONAL POSITIONS
FOR THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE TO CARRY ON THIS WORK. I
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PERSONALLY AM CONVINCED IT IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE IN
HELPING TO RESTORE THE PUBLICS CONFIDENCE IN THEIR
INTELLIGENCE SERVICES. I ALSO REQUIRE THE ADDITIONAL
SUPPORT TO ENABLE ME TO PERFORM ADEQUATELY AS THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY'S SPOKESPERSON TO THE CONGRESS, THE
MEDIA AND THE PUBLIC - A NEW RESPONSIBILITY ASSIGNED
THE DCI BY EXECUTIVE ORDER 12036.
MR. CHAIRMAN, WE ARE DETERMINED TO PROVIDE THE MEDIA AND
THE PUBLIC AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE. AT THE SAME
TIME WE ARE DEDICATED TO KEEPING ALL OF OUR RELATIONS
WITH THE U.S. NEWS MEDIA COMPLETELY PROPER AND IN FULL
KEEPING WITH THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.
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PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Phone: [phone]
MEMORANDUM FOR THE MEDIA: New CIA Regulations on Relationships
with U.S. News Media
New CIA regulations on relationships with U.S. news media
organizations have been approved by Admiral Stansfield Turner, the
Director of Central Intelligence.
The Central Intelligence Agency previously issued a public
statement regarding its policy on relationships with representatives
of the U.S. news media on 11 February 1976. That statement said:
"Effective immediately, CIA will not enter into
any paid or contractual relationship with any
full-time or part-time news correspondent
accredited by any U.S. news service, newspaper,
periodical, radio or television network or
station. As soon as feasible, the Agency will
bring existing relationships with individuals
in these groups into conformity with this new
policy."
All existing relationships covered by that policy statement had
been severed by the end of 1976.
A number of additional and relevant points have been raised and
addressed since issuance of that statement.
Admiral Turner consolidated these and incorporated them into
new regulations which he signed on 30 Nov?mber 1977. A copy of the
new regulations is attached.
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NEW REGULATIONS APPROVED ON CIA RELATIONS WITH U.S. NEWS MEDIA
The Director of Central Intelligence, Admiral Stansfield Turner,
ordered implementation of the following regulations on 30 November 1977:
1. Policy. The special status afforded the press under the
Constitution necessitates a careful policy of self-restraint on the
part of the Agency in regard to its relations with U.S. news media
organizations and personnel. Accordingly, CIA will not:
a. enter into any relationships with full-time or
part-time journalists (including so-called "stringers")
accredited by a U.S. news service, newspaper, periodical,
radio, or television network or station, for the purpose
of conducting any intelligence activities. The term
"accredited" means any full- or part-time employee of
U.S. or foreign nationality who is formally authorized
by contract or by the issuance of press credentials to
represent himself or herself either in the U.S. or
abroad as a correspondent for a U.S. news media organization
or who is officially recognized by a foreign government
to represent a U.S. news media organization;
b. without the specific, express approval of senior
management of the organization concerned, enter into any
relationships with non-journalist staff employees of any
U.S. news media organization for the purpose of conducting
any intelligence activities;
c. use the name or facilities of any U.S. news media
organization to provide cover for any Agency employees or
activities.
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2. Limitations
a. The policies set forth above are not designed to
inhibit open relationships with journalists (as for example
contracts to perform translating services or to lecture
at Agency training courses) which are entered into for
reasons unrelated to such persons' affiliation with a
particular news media organization. Willingness on both
sides to acknowledge the fact and nature of the relationship
is the essential characteristic of the open relationships
into which CIA will enter with journalists under this
provision.
b. In addition, CIA will not deny any person including
full-time or part-time accredited journalists and stringers
regardless of profession, the opportunity to furnish informa-
tion which may be useful to his or her Government. Therefore,
CIA will continue to permit unpaid relationships with
journalists or other members of U.S. news media organizations
who voluntarily maintain contact for the purpose of providing
information on matters of foreign intelligence or foreign
counterintelligence interest to the U.S. Government.
c. Likewise, the Agency, through the Office of the
Assistant for Public Affairs to the Director, will continue
to maintain regular liaison with representatives of the news
media to provide public information, answers to inquiries,
and assistance in obtaining unclassified briefings on
substantive matters.
3. Exceptions. No exceptions to the policies and prohibitions
stated above may be made except with the specific approval of the DCI.