HEARINGS ON GATES COULD DEVELOP INTO DEBATE ON CIA ROLE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-01448R000301260071-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 15, 2012
• Sequence Number: 71
• Publication Date: February 3, 1987
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

STAT
. Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/15: CIA-RDP99-01448R000301260071-9
APPFAPED
Q-4 1'%A - WASHINGTON TIMES
3 February 1987
Hearings on Gates
could develop into
STAT
debate on CIA role
By Jennifer Spevacek
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
Senate Majority Leader Robert
Byrd yesterday Warne at ear-
mgs o confirm a successor to CIA
Director William Casey could de-
velop into a e e o e a activities
of the intelligence agency.
"Those hearings could very well
turn into some kind of forum" for a
congressional inquiry into the CIA,
Mr. Byrd said,
The West Virginia Democrat de-
clined to predict whether. Robert
Gates, nominated yesterday by Pres-
ident Reagan to head the agency,
would be confirmed.
President Reagan was wise to se-
lect a career intelligence profes-
sional to take the helm of the CIA,
said Sen. Patrick Leahy, Vermont
Democrat and a member of the Sen- -
ate Intelligence Committee.
"A political appointment would
have guaranteed a long, drawn-out
confirmation process," Mr. Leahy
said.
The announcement that Mr.
Casey, who is recovering from can-
cer surgery at the age of 73, had
resigned was met on Capitol Hill
with praise for his efforts to restore
morale at the agency. He also was
criticized for his turbulent relations
with Congress.
Lawmakers also noted that Mr.
Casey won increased funding for the
CIA during his six-year tenure.
"Bill Casey brought the CIA back
from when it was in a very weakened
condition to a situation," said Sen.
Orrin Hatch, Utah Republican and a
mem er o t e Senate Intelligence
Committee.
Americans are largely unaware
f Mr. Casey's accomplishments, Mr.
Hatch said, but the congressional
oversight committees "all owe a
great debt of gratitude and thanks to
,him," Mr. Hatch said.
Sen. Dave Durenberge Minne-
sota Republican an former Senate
Intelligence Committee chairman,
said Mr. Casey was "as good a direc-
tor of central intelligence as you're
ever going to get in this country."
But Mr. Durenburger and others
were also critical of Mr. Casey's dif-
ficult relations with Congress, call-
ing him a reluctant participant in the
oversight process who seldom vol-
unteered information.
"Overall, I don't. think he's done
anything to enhance the image of the
CIA," said Rep. Larry Smith, Florida
Democrat and a member of the
House Foreign Affairs Committee.
"In Mr. Casey's tenure we saw an
inward-turning of the CIA and a
growing doubt here on the Hill of the
credibility factor."
Mr. Smith, who has accused Mr.
Casey of lying to the committee dur-
ing hearings on the Iran-Contra af-
fair, said the CIA director's resigna-
tion was "in the national interest."
"I'd like to say his answers were a
result of something physiological,
but I really don't think so," Mr. Smith
said. "I am very happy he resigned.
. I'm also grateful because I've
been very disappointed in his per-
formance in the last few months."
Rep. Dave McCurd Oklahoma
Democrat an a member of the
House Intelligence Committee, said
Mr. Casey was reluctant to deal with
members of Congress one-to-one.
"There was a tremendous gap be-
tween the Congress and Mr. Casey,"
Mr. McCurdy said. "I don't think he
appreciated the role of Congress."
"Mr. Gates will be a breath of
fresh air," Mr. McCurdy said. Mr.
Gates, 43, is a "very open, straight-
forward person" who will change
the style of the CIA and improve re-
lations with Congress,' he said.
Rep. Richard Cheney, Wyoming
Republican and another member of
the House Intelligence Committee,
also praised the selection of Mr.
Gates.
"I am a big fan of Gates;' Mr.
Cheney said. "He is the kind of pro
the agency needs."
Nevertheless, Mr. Gates might
still face a difficult confirmation
process in light of his involvement in
the Iran-Contra affair, ,Mr. Leahy
said.
According to a report released by
the Senate Intelligence Committee
last Thursday, Mr. Gates testified
that he first received indications of
the possible diversion to the Nicara-
guan resistance of Iran arms sale
proceeds nearly two months before
it was revealed by Attorney General
Edwin Meese III Nov 25.
"I'd ask a couple of questions of
Mr. Gates," Mr. Leahy _said. "What
did he do to stop it and why wasn't
our committee notified?"
Mr. Leahy said Mr. Gates seems to
have broken a pledge he made dur-
ing his confirmation hearings last
year to keep the committee fully in-
formed.
Sen. Howell Heflin, Alabama
Democrat, said Mr. Casey's illness
shows a need for regular medical ex-
aminations of top government offi-
cials.
"I think perhaps we should look at
the idea of requiring, as we do com-
mercial airline pilots, that there be
periodical physical examinations to
determine whether a person has
some impediment, some mental or
physical defect that could affect the
decision-making function;' Mr. Hef-
lin said.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/15: CIA-RDP99-01448R000301260071-9