LETTER TO ROSWELL L. GILPATRIC FROM JOHN A. MCCONE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01580R002004080003-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 14, 2013
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: December 6, 1963
• Content Type: LETTER

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/03/14: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004080003-7
The Honorable Roswell L. Cilpatric
Deputy Secretary of Defense
'a shington, V. C.
Dear Rol:
This refers to your proposed Joint memorand= on "Establish-
.ment of NRP Review Committee, It which formalises the agreement
we reached in but meeting on 23 October to establish procedures for.
monitoring the National Reconnaissance Program.
As you now, I have previously designated Dr. V heelon to act
as my monitor under the terms of the basic Agreement, and I also
look to General Carter for occasional assistance in this regard. Carter
and Wheelon met with l ubini and McMillan on 5 December at Fubini's
suggestion. I am informed that Dr. Fubini proposed that this group
meet biweekly, alternating the office meeting place! that the chairman
as such. would likewise alternate for each meeting and be responsible
for keeping such minutes as might be required as well as furnishing
the coffee. I understand this informal working arrangement was agreed
by all and that they will meet again the third week in December.
Since the meetings already seem to be well started, I suggest
that we proceed in accordance with i ubini's proposal. I would hope
also that you bnd I could meet periodically, perhaps monthly, to
receive status reports and recacrunendations from this monitoring
group.
Sincerely,
John A. McCone
Director
DDCI/MSC:blp
Distribution:
Original & 1 - Addressee
1-DCI 1-DD/S&T
1 - DDCI 1 - ER
1 - Executive Director-Comptroller
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/03/14: CIA-RDP80RO158OR002004080003-7
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/03/14: CIA-RDP80RO158OR002004080003-7
r-f
6 December 1963
General Carter and Bud Wheelon have both reviewed attached
letter from Mr. Gilpatric on the proposed NRP review committee.
They both feel that you should not sign this letter.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/03/14: CIA-RDP80RO158OR002004080003-7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/03/14: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004080003-7
6 December 1963
1. Please note that the attached proposal by Gilpatric
establishes a review committee for NRO in which the chairman of
the committee is the Director of NRO and the two members of the
committee are the monitors designated by McNamara and you to
review the Program on behalf of both of you in accordance with the
NRO Agreement. This makes no more sense than my chairing a
committee on which you and Secretary McNamara are members.
2. Wheelon, McMillan, Fubini and I met in the Pentagon on the
morning of 5 December and we all agreed to meet bi-weekly. We
will take turns meeting in one of our four offices, and the man in
whose office the meeting will be held will act as chairman and will
be responsible for keeping appropriate minutes (he would also
furnish the coffee). All four members will suggest agenda items
to the man who will chair the next meeting. Fubini chaired the
5 December session and our next meeting is scheduled for
December 17 in McMillan's office. The meeting following that will
be in my office and then in Wheelon's office and so on ad infinitum.
It was agreed that only two copies of the minutes would be kept:
one for CIA and one for DOD; and that the minutes will be closely
sequestered. This procedure makes abundant sense to me since it
results in a family type picnic, with a different bastard each,meet-
ing. These meetings should provide worthwhile review of the NRP,
in accordance with the intent of the Gilpatric letter.
3. Incidentally, I suspect that McMillan authored the Gilpatric
letter and that Fubini is unaware of it since it was Fubini who took
the lead at the 5 December meeting in suggesting the ways in which
the four of us can proceed.
4. Since I will not be at the morning meeting because of my
annual physical exam and since I will be in bed with a whole passel
of Marine generals from 10:30 through lunch, I wanted you to have
my views as soon as possible.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/03/14: CIA-RDP80R01580R002004080003-7