EXCERPTS FROM REMARKS BY GEORGE BUSH DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AT CLEVELAND CITY CLUB

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-01448R000502260001-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 8, 2012
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: June 25, 1976
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified and Approved For Release 2012/05/08: CIA-RDP99-01448R000502260001-3
EXCERPTS FROM REMARKS BY
GEORGE BUSH
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
AT
CLEVELAND CITY CLUB
25. JUNE 1976
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EXCERPTS
YOU HAVE ALL HEARD AND READ INNUMERABLE CHARGES AND.
ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE CIA AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY
AS A WHOLE. I HOPE THAT YOU DO NOT COME TO BELIEVE
UNFOUNDED ALLEGATIONS SIMPLY BECAUSE. THEY HAVE APPEARED IN
PRINT OR BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN REPEATED SO OFTEN.
MANY OF THE ALLEGATIONS WERE UTTERLY BASELESS. MANY
OTHERS WERE BLOWN OUT OF ALL PROPORTION TO REALITY. AND
IN THOSE INSTANCES WHERE MISTAKES AND BAD JUDGMENTS HAD.
BEEN MADE, THE AGENCY ITSELF HAD MOVED TO CORRECT THEM
LONG BEFORE THEY BECAME PUBLIC.
ALL OF THIS PUBLICITY, THE INVESTIGATIONS, THE CHARGES
HAVE HAD MANY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES BUT THEY HAVE ACCOMPLISHED
ONE IMPORTANT THING. THEY HAVE MADE THE ROLE OF INTELLIGENCE
A PROPER SUBJECT FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION. THEY HAVE MADE IT
CLEAR TO THOSE OF US IN INTELLIGENCE THAT WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY
TO ENSURE THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THE INTELLIGENCE
PROFESSION AND ITS VITAL ROLE IN ENSURING OUR NATION'S
SECURITY. THE PEOPLE MUST KNOW THAT CIA IS DEDICATED TO
LIVING WITHIN THE LAWS AND CONSTITUTIONAL CONSTRAINTS OF THIS
COUNTRY,
PART OF ASSUMING THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS ACCOMPLISHED BY
FACE-TO-FACE TALKS, AS I AM DOING HERE TODAY. ANOTHER
PART IS ACCOMPLISHED BY ENSURING THAT THE PEOPLE'S ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS HAVE THE INFORMATION THEY
NEED TO PERFORM THEIR ROLE OF OVERSEEING THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY.
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THE CIA AND THE ENTIRE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY WELCOME
STRONG AND EFFECTIVE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT. AS A
PRACTICAL MATTER,'WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL TO GAIN FROM IT. WE
GAIN THE ADVICE AND COUNSEL OF KNOWLEDGEABLE MEMBERS. WE
GAIN THE ASSURANCE THAT YOU, THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE CONFIDENT
THAT YOUR INTELLIGENCE SERVICE IS CLEARLY ACCOUNTABLE TO
BOTH THE EXECUTIVE AND THE CONGRESS.
LET ME GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF THE EXTENT OF THIS ACCOUNTABIL-
ITY BY CITING A COUPLE OF FIGURES. I PERSONALLY HAVE APPEARED
28 TIMES BEFORE VARIOUS CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES SINCE I
BECAME DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE ON JANUARY 30. IN
ADDITION TO MY APPEARANCES, DURING THAT SAME TIME OTHER SENIOR
OFFICERS OF THE AGENCY HAVE BRIEFED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND
COMMITTEE STAFF MEMBERS SOME 65 TIMES. AND, 19 MEMBERS OF
CONGRESS HAVE VISITED THE AGENCY ON SEVERAL OTHER OCCASIONS
FOR BRIEFING SESSIONS.
WE WANT TO COOPERATE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE WITH
THE CONGRESS. BUT CONGRESS MUST ALSO DEAL RESPONSIBLY WITH
SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION. CONGRESS MUST ENSURE
THAT OVERSIGHT ENHANCES, RATHER THAN HINDERS, THE.VITAL
OPERATIONS OF OUR INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES.
ONE IMPORTANT WAY THE CONGRESS CAN DO THIS. IS BY
CENTRALIZING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSIGHT OF THE FOREIGN
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. THIS WAS ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS
OF PRESIDENT-FORD'S MESSAGE TO THE CONGRESS ON FEBRUARY 13.
I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS IT AGAIN.
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THE SENATE HAS NOW ESTABLISHED A PERMANENT SELECT
COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE, IT IS CHAIRED BY SENATOR
INOUYE OF HAWAII; SENATOR BAKER OF TENNESSEE IS THE VICE-
CHAIRMAN, THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT IT
IS NOT CONSOLIDATED OVERSIGHT. I NOW'REPORT TO THREE OTHER
SENATE COMMITTEES. ALTOGETHER THERE ARE SEVEN CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES INVOLVED IN THE FORMAL OVERSIGHT PROCESS. IN
ADDITION, SOME ELEVEN OTHER COMMITTEES OR SUBCOMMITTEES
HAVE MADE OVERSIGHT CLAIMS AND BEEN GIVEN ACCESS TO SENSITIVE
FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION.
.THIS RAPIDLY BROADENED ACCESS TO SENSITIVE MATERIAL HAS
CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE PAST YEAR'S UNPRECEDENTED
NUMBER OF LEAKS OF FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION, SUCH
LEAKS ARE DAMAGING AND CAN HURT AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE
CAPABILITIES FAR INTO THE FUTURE. COMPLEX AND EXPENSIVE
TECHNICAL INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION SYSTEMS CAN BE COUNTERED.
DEDICATED AND COURAGEOUS MEN AND WOMEN WHO RISK THEIR LIVES.
IN THE SERVICE OF THIS COUNTRY CAN BE EXPOSED AND DESTROYED.
AND WE WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MANY POSSIBLE SOURCES OF VALUABLE
INFORMATION DID NOT COME FORWARD BECAUSE THEY FEARED THAT
WE COULD NOT KEEP THEIR SECRETS.
AS DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE, I AM CHARGED BY
FEDERAL STATUTE WITH PROTECTING BOTH THE SOURCES OF OUR
INTELLIGENCE AND THE METHODS BY WHICH WE COLLECT INTELLIGENCE.
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I AM DEAD SET AGAINST OVERCLASSIFICATION, AND I AM TAKING
.STEPS TO SEE THAT ONLY TRUE INTELLIGENCE SECRETS ARE
CLASSIFIED, I AM TOTALLY COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT SECRET
STAMPS ARE NEVER USED TO HIDE FAILURES OR ABUSES. BUT
I AM EVERY BIT AS DETERMINED TO SEE THAT LEAKS, CARELESS
TALK, OR A DESIRE FOR A SENSATIONAL HEADLINE DO NOT RESULT
IN THE SENSELESS DISCLOSURE OF OUR REAL INTELLIGENCE SECRETS,
I SEEK TO COOPERATE WITH THE CONGRESS TO THE MAXIMUM
EXTENT POSSIBLE. I WANT CONGRESS TO BE A CONSUMER OF
INTELLIGENCE -- SHARING IN THE FRUITS OF OUR EFFORTS IN
ORDER TO BE BETTER ABLE TO CARRY OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.
CONGRESS MUST ALSO HELP US TO KEEP OUR TRUE INTELLIGENCE
SECRETS,
NOW LET ME TURN TO ANOTHER MATTER OF VERY SERIOUS
CONCERN TO ME. I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE OF ALLEGATIONS THAT
HAVE BEEN.MADE IN THE PRESS REGARDING THE AGENCY'S SUPPOSED
"SUBVERSION" OF THE PRESS, BECAUSE A FREE PRESS IS
FUNDAMENTAL TO THIS REPUBLIC, I PARTICULARLY WANT TO BE SURE
THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES
IS IN ACCORD WITH REALITY, NOT WITH SENSATIONAL HEADLINES.
HISTORICALLY THE CIA HAS HAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH
INDIVIDUALS IN MANY WALKS OF AMERICAN LIFE. THESE RELATION-
SHIPS, MANY OF A VOLUNTARY AND UNPAID NATURE, HAVE REFLECTED
THE DESIRE OF AMERICANS TO HELP THEIR COUNTRY. SUCH
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RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED WITH THE CLEAR INTENT
OF FURTHERING THE AGENCY'S FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE MISSION
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN AIMED AT INFLUENCING OR IMPROPERLY
ACTING ON ANY AMERICAN INSTITUTION,
ON FEBRUARY 11 OF THIS YEAR, I. ISSUED A POLICY
STATEMENT THAT SAID, IN PART: "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.11
I HAD THOUGHT THAT THIS STATEMENT WOULD BE MORE THAN
CLEAR, BUT THE MEDIA HAS CONTINUED TO WONDER WHETHER THERE
WERE SOME LOOPHOLES LEFT. THE POLICY I SET'OUT ON FEBRUARY 11
IN REALITY REPRESENTED A VOLUNTARY LIMITATION ON OUR PART OF
PERFECTLY LEGITIMATE INTELLIGENCE FUNCTIONS. WE DID THIS
BECAUSE WE ACCEPT THE GENUINE CONCERN OF THE MEDIA, AND
BECAUSE WE, TOO, WISH TO AVOID EVEN THE APPEARANCE OF ANY
IMPROPER USE BY THE AGENCY OF REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR FREE
PRESS,
LET ME MAKE THESE ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS WHICH RESPOND
TO VARIOUS QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT MY FEBRUARY 11 POLICY
DIRECTIVE. WITH REGARD TO THE WORD "ACCREDITED," WE MEAN
ANY FULL OR PART-TIME EMPLOYEES -- INCLUDING STRINGERS -- OF
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AMERICAN OR FOREIGN NATIONALITY WHO ARE FORMALLY AUTHORIZED
BY CONTRACT OR BY THE ISSUANCE OF PRESS CREDENTIALS TO
REPRESENT THEMSELVES AS CORRESPONDENTS FOR AN AMERICAN
NEWS-GATHERING ORGANIZATION OR WHO ARE OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZED
(ACCREDITED) BY A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO REPRESENT AN AMERICAN
NEWS-GATHERING ORGANIZATION,
FURTHER: THE CIA WILL NOT USE FULL-TIME AMERICAN
'JOURNALISTS OR STRINGERS FOR ANI INTELLIGENCE PURPOSES, I
MUST STRESS, HOWEVER, THAT THIS IS SUBJECT TO THE CONDITION I
EMPHASIZED ON FEBRUARY 11 THAT CONTACT IS PERMITTED WITH
JOURNALISTS OR ANY OTHER AMERICAN CITIZENS WHO VOLUNTARILY
SEEK CONTACT WITH THE AGENCY AT HOME OR ABROAD FOR THE
PURPOSE OF TRANSMITTING ON A CONFIDENTIAL BASIS INTELLIGENCE
OR COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE SECURITY INFORMATION WITHOUT FINANCIAL
REMUNERATION OR OTHER FAVOR. MY INTENTION IN CONTINUING TO
AUTHORIZE SUCH CONTACTS IS OBVIOUS: IT IS TO PERMIT
INDIVIDUAL JOURNALISTS, OR MEMBERS OF ANY OTHER PROFESSION
OR GROUP, TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT AS AMERICAN CITIZENS TO
REPORT INFORMATION VOLUNTARILY AND WITTINGLY TO THEIR
GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE AGENCY. I BELIEVE YOU WILL AGREE
THAT NO ONE SHOULD UNEQUIVOCALLY DENY ANY AMERICAN CITIZEN,
INCLUDING JOURNALISTS, THIS RIGHT.
BY THE SAME TOKEN, NEITHER CAN WE BETRAY THE TRUST
IMPOSED ON US BY SUCH INDIVIDUALS TO WHOM WE HAVE MADE
COMMITMENTS OF CONFIDENTIALITY, IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT
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I SIMPLY CANNOT REVEAL THE IDENTITIES OF ANY SOURCES WHO
HAVE WORKED WITH US, WHETHER THEY BE JOURNALISTS OR
MEMBERS OF ANY OTHER GROUP, THOSE IN A. PROFESSION WHOSE
MEMBERS ARE WILLING TO GO TO JAIL RATHER THAN REVEAL A
SOURCE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE CLEARLY DEFINED
RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE LAW TO PROTECT OUR SOURCES. THE
PRESIDENT RESTATED AND REEMPHASIZED THAT RESPONSIBILITY IN
.HIS RECENT EXECUTIVE ORDER.
THE AGENCY RECOGNIZES THE SPECIAL STATUS AFFORDED THE
PRESS UNDER OUR CONSTITUTION, AND WE WILL REMAIN COMPLETELY
WITHIN THE GUIDELINES I HAVE SET FORTH,
THE PRESS AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY BOTH SEEK
KNOWLEDGE, CLEARLY, THE ALTERNATIVE TO ACTING ON THE BASIS
OF KNOWLEDGE IS ACTING ON THE BASIS OF IGNORANCE. AN
INFORMED CITIZENRY AND INFORMED NATIONAL LEADERS ARE
ESSENTIAL. AND THAT IS WHY A FREE SOCIETY MUST HAVE A FREE
AND RESPONSIBLE PRESS. IT IS ALSO WHY A FREE SOCIETY MUST
HAVE AN INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM SECOND TO NONE.
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