LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT FROM JOHN A. MCCONE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01676R000400160007-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 13, 2003
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: October 20, 1964
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2003/05/05 : CIA-RDP80BO1676R000400160007-6
)ctober 1964
a)ear Mr. President:
I have noticed with some distress a statement in the current
issue of TIME magazine that ".... in 1963, when the CL1 suggested
field investigations on Johnson Aides Moyers, Valenti, Reedy and
Jenkins, there was a long, hostile silence on the -White House end
of the phone. The CIA, lacking legal authority to require investiga-
tions of presidential staffers, had no alternative but to give the four
men top clearance."
This statement is not consistent with the facts. our records
show that on 4 December, Mr. Bromley Smith called my Executive
Assistant, Mr. Walter Elder, and requested the above clearances in
anticipation of a NSC meeting on 5 December at which I was to make
a briefing on a sensitive estimate. Mr. Elder referred the matter to
mne and I ordered the clearances issued. There was no suggestion on
our part for a field investigation nor did the question of legal
authority to require investigations arise. Neither was there any
"long, hostile silence. "
I assume full responsibility for the issuance of the clearances.
This afternoon Mr. John Steele, TIME Washington bureau
Chief. called me and I asked him the source of this statement. He
stated that the statement came from "a high government source
whom I consider knowledgeable." In answer to my question as to
whether the source was in CIA, he responded that it was not. He
refused to answer further questions.
I can throw no further light on the background of this article
which I consider unfortunate but believe it more probably attributable,
to the imagination of the writer than to any other source.
capectfully yours,
lcc - DCI White Hs. file
3 igned
John A. McCone
The White House
AOO~8It o gel sse 2003/05/05: qA-RDP80BO1676R000400160007-6