PUBLIC HANDLING OF NEW YORK TIMES ALLEGATIONS OF CIA DOMESTIC ACTIVITIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-424-4-3-3
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 16, 2010
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: December 23, 1974
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16
LOC-HAK-424-4-3-3
Insert in answer to last question on page 2:
after 1947 take out period and continue:
which clearly states that the Agency has no
police, subpoena, or law enforcement power
or internal security functions.
IMORI/CDF C02867029
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16 :
LOC-HAK-424-4-3-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16: LOC-HAK-424-4-3-3
THE WHITE HOUSE
WM uINOTON
VIA LDX
December 23, 1974
TO: LARRY EA,GLEBURGER
F ROM; DICK KENNEDY
Attached is the revised set of Q's and A's Ian-'
sending to Rtu-nsfeid.
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16: LOC-HAK-424-4-3-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16 : LOC-HAK-424-4-3-3
NI MMOR.AN'DUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
ay O NNFIDENTIAL/SENSITIV.E
December 23, 1974
MEMORANDUM FOR: DQNALD RUMSFELD
"RO,i~t: RE RY'A.. ?KTSSINGER '.
Public Handling of New York T .xrne s
Allegations of CIA Domestic Activities
In of r public posturing of. this problem today we will want to address
th.i4 fo lowing problems facing the President:
to insure that no such all activities are taking place and
? that the CIA is acting fully within its charter;
.... to insth e that if such activities ever did happen.ct.~rr,cective
t xne.waures :have been taken within the CIA and that appropriate
disciplinary actions have bc~en or will be taken.
-- to assure the American piThlic that the President has firm
control over the activities of the CIA and thereby to x xaintain
public confidence in the intelligence community of the
United States.
I VG r;uggest that the White House not issue a statement on this matter
but address the issue by taking Qs and As in the normal press coni'erence
p. o.cdtir_e. We are concerned that we not act in such a way as to dive
c edence to the allegations of the New York Times story and create an
in'i_'rro;-s6lota that a major problem actually exists and that the Ford
Adnc taiatratioa is confronted with a scandal of major proportions. We
should act in such a way as to make it perfectly clear that these activities
s nti.?dated the current Administration: and that this Administration is
Ktt:;;:iz~g forthrightly to insure that no such activities will occur Burin
P eaAr.etxt Ford's Administratioh,
S at,w following are our views as to the 'likely questions to be a.d tressed
to Lice White House today with our suggested answers.
In general the answers provided are drafted to
iaalcate that the Administration is acting decisively on the matt :ar and
to keep t 1w rnatter within the Administration and head off, if porisil:ble, a
full blo nx Congressional investigatioii outside of the normal. hiSistativc
oversight channels.
'. No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16: LOC-HAK-424-4-3-3
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16 : LOC-HAK-424-4-3-3
tea: VG h:n.t is the President doing about the New York Times reports
of widespread CIA involvement in domestic surveillance activities
during and before the Nixon Administration?
A: The President has directed CIADirec?tor Colby to submit a written
report to him through the NSC within 48 hours. The report is to
contain a detailed description of any CIA activities which ray in
any way have been referrei a to in the Tir es article.
Q; What was the "partial information" the President mentioned
vesierday that he had about this;inatter?
This rtafaren.ce was to advance information that the L-1-L2z4 would be
carrying an article such as that: one that appeared yesterda:.y.
and the President has berm assured that the appropriate Grsxsn.~xrz.itec s
of Congress have been kept f ul~y informed on the activities of the
CIA.
:Fa e CIA is spelled out in the National Security Act of
1~rosideYtt is confident that the CIA is acting within that Charter
0: Can you tell us how the President views the CIA Charter.'? chat
does the President view as the ~.egitin ate role of the Central
Intelligence Agency?
A: I .am not going to discuss the specific activities of the Central
Intelligence Agency as it carries out its duties. The, Charter of
1n 7
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16: LOC-HAK-424-4-3-3 .
Can you describe for us just whit it is that the CIA waa; doing
legitimately as opposed to allegations made by the t7.aM~ ~ York,;,-
Times the Ach ministration considers unfounded? or r ~campZe,
does the Agency maintain a file;of 10, 000 names on Auxerican
citizens?
A: The Preside-Lit has asked Director Colby for a full report on this
matter. We expect that report, to be complete and we will go no
further at this tame.
Does the President maintain cohfidence in Director Colby?
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16: LOC-HAK-424-4-3-3
C0' FIDE IKTIAL /SENSITIVE
cQ? If you will not answer specific que CIA BetiviLies and
;:; e:z?aoraiI3;ies can you tell us abimt position on the
I`..a.t,lonal Security Council? Is he go ug to a suspended pending
the outcome of Mr. Colby's invpatigatiohx?
A a career CIA officer was assigned to the NSC
staff as Director of Intelligence Coordination in March Of 1974.
was recorrirne nded fog this position by Mr. Colby and.
the NSC.considered hint *e11 suited for this position by kris back
ground arid' experience in'a broad -X-an a of tntelli enCe:t acrivities.
.1 am not prepared to discuss. further duti' s on the
cta..ff.
Q, Is the President going to ask Director Helms to return to the US
to obtazn his version of the Nevs York Times allegations ?
A. '171aere are no plans for that at t`-iis time. Should an app-,,r, priate
Congrersslonai Committee wish'to question Ambassador I eli s
we would ask the Ambassador to return for this pu pore'.
o-3
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 UP-058 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2010/09/16: LOC-HAK-424-4-3-3 r
IA) / <
-WASHINGTON (UPI) -- SEN. WILLIAM PROXMIRE, D-WIS., DEMANDED TODAY S
THAT SECRETARY OF STATE HENRY KISSINGER FIRE RICHARD HELMS AS
AMBASSADOR TO IRAN FOR ALLEGED ILLEGAL CIA SPYING ON AMERICANS WHILE
HELMS HEADED THE CONTROVERSIAL AGENCY.
PROXMIRE ALSO ASKED ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL LAURENCE SILBERMAN TO.
HAVE THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT "TAKE IMMEDIATE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST ANY
AND ALL OFFICIALS" WHO VIOLATED THE 1947 NATIONAL SECURITY ACT WHICH
ESTABLISHED THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY.
PRESIDENT FORD WARNED CURRENT CIA DIRECTOR WILLIAM E. COLBY SUNDAY
THAT HE WOULD TOLERATE NO SUCH SPYING ON AMERICANS IN THIS COUNTRY
DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION,
PROXMIRE HAS LONG BEEN A FOE OF VARIOUS COVERT ACTIVITIES OF THE
CIA AND LOST NO TIME IN REACTING-TO A SUNDAY NEW YORK TIMES REPORT
DETAILING ALLEGED SPYING ON THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS BY THE AGENCY
BEGINNING IN THE 19505.
PROXMIRE MADE HIS REQUESTS 0 KISSINGER AND SILBERMAN.
KISSINGER'S OFFICE ACKNOWLEDGED LEI BUT HAD NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT.
HELMS HEADED THE C37 l UNTIL HIS APPOINTMENT AS AMBASSADOR
TO IRAN IN 1973. HE HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED TWICE FROM HIS POST TO.
TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES ON COVERT CIA ACTIVITIES,
PARTICULARLY IN CHILE.
KISSINGER IS DOUBLY INVOLVED AS HELMS' BOSS IN THE FOREIGN SERVICE
AND AS PRESIDENT FORD'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR AND CHAIRMAN OF THE
SO-CALLED 40 COMMITTEE, WHICH REVIEWS ALL COVERT INTELLIGENCE
OPERATIONS.
THE TIMES SAID IN A DETAILED DISPATCH THAT THE CIA UNDER HELMS HAD
SET UP INTELLIGENCE FILES ON AT LEAST 10,000 FOR ANTI-WAR AND OTHER
ACTIVITIES SINCE THE LATE 1950S AND 19605.
SEN. JOHN SPARKMAM, D-ALA., WHO WILL TAKE OVER AS CHAIRMAN OF THE
SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE IN THE NEW CONGRESS, JOINED
PROXMIRE IN DEMANDING AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CIA AND QUESTIONING OF
HELMS.
"I HAVE BEEN SHOCKED BY THE REVELATIONS REGARDING CIA ACTIVITIES
IN THE UNITED STATES," SPARKMAN SAID IN A STATEMENT.
"IT IS MY INTENTION IN THE NEW CONGRESS TO HAVE THE FOREIGN
RELATIONS COMMITTEE LOOK INTO-THESE HATTERS. I HOPE THAT MR. HELMS
WHO IS NOW AMBASSADOR TO IRAN WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THESE HEARINGS
SINCE MANY OF THE THINGS NOW BEING BROUGHT TO LIGHT OCCURRED WHILE HE
WAS HEAD OF THE CIA."
OTHER LAWMAKERS JOINED IN DEMANDING AN ENQUIRY.
SEN. LOWELL WEICKER, R-CONN., A MEMBER OF THE SENATE WATERGATE
COMMITTEE, SAID THAT LEGISLATION TO CREATE A JOINT INTELLIGENCE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WAS "LONG OVERDUE."
HE SAID HE AND SEN. HOWARD BAKER, R-TENN., ALSO A MEMBER OF THE
WATERGATE COMMITTEE, WOULD REINTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO CREATE A
COMMITTEE TO CHECK ON THE CIA AND OTHER INTELLIGENCE BODIES.
IN A RELATED DEVELOPMENT, CONGRESSIONAL SOURCES SAID REP. MICHAEL
HARRINGTON, D-MASS., PLANS A LAWSUIT AGAINST KIS' REASURY
SECRETARY WILLIAM E. SIMON AND COLBY FOR SURVERSIVE CIA ACTIVITIES IN
CHILE.
THE CIA WAS SAID TO HAVE SPENT SOME $9 MILLION IN BRIBING CHILEAN
POLITICIANS, NEWSPAPERS, LABOR UNIONS AND STUDENTS TO PREVENT THE
El..ECTION OF MARXIST PRESIDENT SALVADOR ALLENDE WHO DIED IN A 1973
Lour, IN SANTIAGO.
C01-BY MET MET-TODAY WITH TOP AIDES, ACCORDING TO AN AGENCY
SPOKESMAN, BUT HAD NO IMMEDIATE COMMENT ON THE NEWSPAPER REPORT.
UPI 12-23 12:58 PES
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