WE SHOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE URGENT NEED FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE CIA RETIREMENT AND DISABILITY SYSTEM TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE AT A HEARING ON 17 JUNE 1982.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP10-00750R000100770001-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 9, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Content Type: MISC

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We should like to bring to your attention the urgent need for
your support of the proposed revisions to the CIA Retirement
and Disability System to be considered by'the Select
Committee on Intelligence at a hearing on 17 June 1982.
We are supported in our request by William Colby, former CIA
Director, who is serving as our legal counsel. Should you be
willing to discuss the matter with us,.we should be happy to
come to your office at your convenience.
As proposed, CIARDS would be modified to vest dependent spouses
of CIA covert officers with rights in a proportionate share of
retirement and survivor benefits, depending upon the years of
marriage during the officer's career. A spouse would qualify
for coverage by years served abroad, as does the officer. As
proposed, State couits could modify these provisions if a
spouse does not need the financial assistance or is undeserving.
We believe that these proposed modifications are fair, equitable,
and necessary.
At present, CIA dependent spouses, who may have been many years
married and many years overseas, can be left financially unpro-
tected in their old age. Many have served in difficult--some-
times hazardous--circumstances. The countries of interest to
Intelligence officers are frequently countries in political
transition that can lead to civil unrest and violence. For
reasons of secrecy, the foreign homes of CIA employees must be
far from neighbors and outside the security of official com-
pounds. Recent publications that make political statements by
identifying CIA officers also frequently have given names of
other family-members. Thus the spouse of a CIA officer often
is at more risk than a Foreign Service spouse. (Foreign Service
spouses have already been vested with rights similar to those we
are requesting by the Foreign Service Act of 1980.) The CIA
spouse may face more hours of risk than the CIA officer himself,
who spends many hours of his working day behind the protecting
walls of government offices.
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2 -
(CIA spouses, continued)
While in a foreign country, a CIA spouse provides essential
service to the US Government by providing a secure environment
for official business, by making and building friendships among
foreign nationals that can lead to recruitments, to the officer's
fulfilling his assignment with greater ease and effectiveness.
A spouse often undertakes duties, assigned and volunteer, to
support clandestine operations, to add validity to the cover
assignment of the officer. By the lifestyle she achieves for
her family, she demonstrates the success story of American
democracy.
During her years of government service, the CIA spouse gives up
her own career plans. Yet at the end of often invaluable
careers, CIA spouses can find themselves without financial
resources for the retirement years. In divorce court, they
cannot explain their cases adequately or relate details of
their life abroad, because they are bound by secrecy requirements,
often self-imposed through loyalty. Even spouses generously
provided for by alimony can be left without income at the
death of the officer. Widows can find that their incomes do
not keep pay with the inroads of inflation.
The proposed CIARDS amendment will take no new government funding.
A spouse will be drawing from the retirement fund to which she
herself has contributed, as evidenced by the joint income tax
returns filed over the years of service, by the official government
records that have identified her as beneficiary.
Your support of our proposal will demonstrate to the many CIA
spouses now serving around the world that their Government, includ-
ing the Agency they have served so long, and their country
appreciate their loyal and worthwhile service.
Sincerely,
Barbara Colby
STAT
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20 May 1982
The Honorable Barry Goldwater
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Washington, D.C.
For all wives of CIA officers may we express thanks for
your support of our proposal that divorced and widowed
CIA spouses be vested with a share of retirement and
survivor benefits. Not only will the women benefit who
receive this financial support but also the wives who--
remaining married and continuing to go abroad on foreign
tours--will see that they are recognized by the government
and the agency they serve.
We appreciated your courtesy and generousity in giving your
time to the lengthy hearing while matters of international
importance were being discussed elsewhere--matters in
which your leadership is well known and highly valued.
For your attention and sympathetic questioning we are grateful.
We should like to say thank you, too, for encouraging the
Committee's staff and for giving them time to assist us in
preparing our presentation. Their courteous guidance and
sympathetic interest helped immensely in our putting our
request together. Dan Finn and General Counsel Vickie
Toensing did yeoman service in providing encouragement while
giving generously of their time and expert advice. Rob
Simmons, too, was very helpful and kind. We are extremely
grateful.
The hearing itself was impressive--that our country's
elected representatives took the time to listen so carefully
to our request. We know that because it was closed, the
hearing will receive little publicity. But the image of men
of stature facing their peers to discuss the needs of a small
group of US citizens in a quiet hearing room of our nation's
capitol building will be a proud and long-held memory for all
the CIA wives there.
We thank you.
Sincerely,
Barbara Colby
STAT
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20 May 1982
The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Washington, D.C.
Dear Senatore Inouye
For all wives of CIA officers may we express thanks for
your support of our proposal that divorced and widowed
CIA spouses be vested with a share of retirement and
survivor benefits. Not only will the women benefit who
receive this financial support but also the wives who--
remaining married and continuing to go abroad on foreign
tours--will see that they are recognized by the government
and the agency they serve.
We should like to say thank you, too, for encouraging the
Committee's staff to assist us in preparing our presentation.
We believe that the leadership given by Dan Finn was
outstanding--and essential to our presentation. Genera].
Counsel Fickie Toensing was marvelously supportive in pro-
viding encouragement while giving generously of her time and
expert advice. Rob Simmons, too, was very helpful and kind.
We are extremely grateful.
We appreciated your perceptive questioning, which quickly
brought perspective, pointed up accuracies or fallacies,
and filled in omissions in the testimony being presented.
Thank you for your compassion and perceptivity.
The hearing itself was impressive--that our country's
elected representatives took the time to listen so carefully
to our request. We know that because it was closed, the
hearing will receive little publicity. But the image of men
of stature facing their peers to discuss the needs of a small
group of US citizens in a quiet hearing room of our nation's
capitol building will be a proud and long-held memory for all
the CIA wives there.
We thank you.
Sincerely,
Barbara Colby
STAT
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20 May 1982
Ms. Vickie Toensing, General Coun sel
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Washington, D.C.
Many thanks for your warm encouragement and sincere interest
during the processing of our proposal to the subcommittee.
Your expert advice was exactly what we needed. The words
we put in--and the words we took out--on your advice sharpened
what could have been a fuzzy, amateurish presentation.
The spin-off of the hearing--the task force on women's concerns--
may prove to be of even greater importance and worth to the CIA
mission. In talking with wives during the research period
of the Family Employee Liaison Office project, members of the
Federal Women's Program Board found many loyal, enthusiastic
wives who sought to do the best possible job as CIA wives.
They were proud and happy to be part of the CIA team but
were frequently confused as to what their role should be,
how best to support the CIA mission abroad. The wives of the
busiest and most enthusiastic officers seemed to be the
least informed; their husbands were too inolved at work to
seek answers to the queries the wives found important. That
the questions of these women had no outlet demonstrated a
real need for what the task force can provide--a two-way
channel of communications.
Vickie, it's been an exciting experience for us to work with you.
We believe we are lucky to have had your support at this time
of crucial importance to so many CIA women.
We thank you.
Sincerely,
Barbara Colby
STAT
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20 May 1982
Mr. Rob Simmons
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Washington, D.C.
Thank you very much for your support during the processing
of our proposal. Your very capable staff took great care
of us.
We were all warmed by the courtesy and interest shown by
Daniel Finn and Vicki Toensing. Both were very generous
with their time and expert advice.
We were pleased with the interest in, and empathy with, our
cause as demonstrated by the presence of your wife at our
first meeting. Her smiles and nods of encouragement gave
us confidence when we very much needed it.
The hearing itself was an exciting, impressive experience.
Every American can be proud that citizens are listened to
so fairly by Congress--by its elected representatives, its
supporting staffs.
We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude and that
of all wives of CIA covert officers. In all their names,
we send our thanks.
Sincerely,
Barbara Colby
STAT
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Mr. Daniel Finn
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence
Washington, D.C.
Thank you very much for your support and encouragement
during the processing of our proposal to the sub-
committee. With your advice and guidance, what could
have been a stressful and confusing procedure turned
out to be exciting and extremely hopeful.
Senator Inouye was very kind to let you spend so much
time with us and in processing our request. The words in
the Congressional Record reflect not only long and care-
ful work but also legal expertness and empathy with what
we are trying to do--all your contribution. We think
Senator Inouye is fortunate--as are his constituents--
to have you on his staff.
Th hearing itself was an exciting impressive experience.
Every American can be proud that citizens are listened
to so fairly by Congress--by its elected representatives,
its supporting staffs.
For all wives of CIA covert officers, we want to say thank
you from all our hearts.
Sincerely,
STAT
Barbara Colby
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20 May 1982