LETTER TO THE HONORABLE BIRCH BAYH FROM STANSFIELD TURNER

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-00156R000300050026-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 22, 2003
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: May 10, 1979
• Content Type: LETTER

The Di2cuc
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The Honorable Birch Bayh
Chairman, Select Committee
on Intelligence
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
10 MAY 9979
On 18 January 1979 I sent you a report of our progress
with the program to identify persons who might have suffered
harmful long-term aftereffects from having been subjects,
without their knowledge or consent, of drug research many
years ago. In that interim report I mentioned that, for
purposes of. convenience, we had treated the NKULTRA program
in two parts, one part dealing with research programs at
institutions and the other with the safeh.ouses in New York
City and San Francisco. I am pleased now to submit to you
our final report of the institutional part of the program and
to inform you that I expect to be able to report finally on
the safehouses part of the program within the next 30 to 45
days.
I am happy to note that, the more we have reviewed the
research conducted with CIA funding at private institutions,
the more confident we have grown that our earlier fears were
greatly exaggerated. There are instances in which we have
been frustrated in our efforts to acquire additional knowledge
by the inability of researchers or institutions to add anything
to Agency records. However, the picture that emerges overall
is one in which the research conducted was performed in a
responsible manner. Rather consistently it appears that
subjects of research were volunteers and that the type and
amount of drugs administered were not likely to have caused
long-term aftereffects. These findings are buttressed by the
fact that the various investigations were conducted under the
direction and control of responsible institutions and
investigators.
I believe it to be a significant observation that in most
cases the research conducted at private institutions would
have gone forward without support from CIA funds. Typically,
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research programs were initiated and sponsored by the insti-
tution itself prior to supporting funds being made available
from external contributors. In many cases, programs involving
CIA funds were funded previously, concurrently or subsequently
by other contributors. In general, then, the'research was
conceived, planned and carried out in accordance with insti-
tutional protocol and procedures, without direction or control
by CIA. In those cases in which the knowledge to be acquired
was defined by CIA, the methods employed and procedures followed
nonetheless remained under the control of the institution or
individual researcher. Our review discloses no case in which
the research conducted stands out as a departure from profes-
sional and ethical standards of the time. Results were
available generally to those interested., with concealment only
of the fact of CIA interest and support.
Forwarded herewith are copies of pertinent documentation,
the development of which has led us to the conclusion that no
further action is required with respect s to that. part of the
MKULTRA program conducted at private institutions.
Yours sincerely,
/Yef Stansfield Turner
STANSFIELD TURNER
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