POLL DATA REGARDING THE C.I.A.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79M00467A002700040009-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 18
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 7, 2002
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: January 27, 1976
• Content Type: MEMO

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MEMORANDUM
to: Ambassador George Bush
from: Tully Plessey
subj: Poll Data Re ardin the C.I.A.
date: Janua ry 27, 197
1. The attached Harris Survey for December 1975 suggests a
significant shift in public opinion and attitudes toward
the C.I.A. over the past year. Specifically, the momentum
and direction of that shift appears to be out of "undecided/
not sure" and into "negative."
2. In fact, this December Survey report is an excellent and
typical example of biased analysis that we have come to
expect from some research firms with media constituencies
to support. The wording of many of the questions ~n Further-
suFVey begs for negative reactions from the public.
more, tie similarly negative reactions to the activities of
i nvesti gati ng committees i nvolved contradi cts the overvi ew
and tone of the report, as do the findings regarding tighter
controls on the C.I.A. in the future.
3. Briefly stated, the attached report takes the views of an
uninformed and confused public, currently in the process
of emotional "mi 1 l i ng" and searching, and attempts to
engineer its data into a conclusion that the prevailing
national attitude toward the C.I.A. is overwhelmingly
negative.
Our point of view centers around the possibility that
public thinking on this volatile subject is extremely
mercurial, and that events and managed communication
can have a dramatic effect on public perception of
our nation's intelligence efforts in the immediate
future and over the long term.
1 will be in touch with you next week and hope tha ~ we can
explore this subject further at that time.
TP/pzm
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INVESTIGATIONS HURT CIA AND FRt
By Louis Ilarris
Public confidence in both the FBI snd tl:e CIA has been severely shaken as a result of the revelations
Over the past ye1r, according to a recent Harris Survey of 1,394 adults nationwide, the public's ratio
of the job the CIA has been clring has fallen from 39-31 percent negative to 49-32 percent negative. In partic:~la=,
by more than three to one, the public condemns the CIA activity of spying on prominent kznericans here at ho:~.
A 74-9 percent majority of the public also feels that "it was c.?roxig for the CIA to work out a deal s.~th .z=ia
characters to try to assassinate Castro."
The FBI still has a positive rating of 49-39 percent fron the American people, but a real question re;airs
in the public's mind as to wliethrr the chief domestic intelligence axxt of govern;sent can do an effective jcb c:zea
less than half the public expresses confidence in it. A 62-18 percent majority of the public is critical of the
FBI for its domestic surveillance of prominent citizens. A thumping SO-7 percent feel "it was xroag for tse FBI
to send a note to tiartin Luther King suggesting that he commit suicide."
The Congressional committees that have been the main sources of the spectacular revelations 2bout the CIS.
and the FBI have rot covered themselves with glory in the eyes of the p~nerican people. The Church Committee in
the Senate is given a 40-38 percent negative rating. For its part, the Haase Cos2mittee, headed by Rep. Otis Pike
(D.-N.Y.) emerges with a slightly worse, 40-3G percent negative assessment from the public.
The barrage of charges and insinuations about the FBI and the CIA have left much doubt and confusi.on.2ra^-b
the American people. t?Ihen asked if "both the CIA and FBI have learned their lessons and now will run things
properly," a 41-30 percent plurality of the public doubts that this is so, with a substantial 29 percent art sure.
This~is a highly significant fitiding, for it means that the American people simply do not think that the CLi ax:c
~ FBI can be trusted to oversee .their own affairs.
The Harris Survey recently asked a cross sectior. of 1,394 adults nationwide: "How would yac rate Le job
being done by (REP.D LIST)--excellent, pretty good, only fair or poor?"
P.ATINGS OF KEY GROUPS IN FBI AND CIA CO\GRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS
Positive
negative
L'ot Sure
X
X
X
The FBI
Dec. '75
The CIA
Dec. '75
49
32
39
49
12
19
Nov.
31
51
18
pug.
36
45
19
Jan.
34
39
27
Dec. '74
31
39
30
The Senate CIA
Investigating Committee
Dec.
'75
38 ~
40
22
The House
CIA
Investigating Committee
Dec. '75
36
40
24
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The Harris Survey then asked: "Let me read you sore statements some people have made about the recent
investll;ations of the CIA and FBI by.the Senate and louse investigating committees. For each, tell r:e if you
tend to agree or disagree. (P.EGD-STATI?~fL?\TS)."
? Apree Disagree hot Sure
Pro-CIA and FBI X .G X
So much of tine secret work of the CIA and FBI has been made public
that soon they won't bQ able to do their jobs, 52
It would be a mistake to put tighter. controls on the CIA and FBI
because sometimes they know better than any outsider what ins involved
in an investigation. 48
Both the CIA and FBI 'have learned their lessons and now will run things
proverly, ~ 30
Anti-CIA and FBI
It was wrong for the FBI to send a note to Martin Luther King suggesting
that lie commit suicide, 80
It was wrong for the CIA to ~.rork out a deal with Mafia characters to try
to assassinate Castro. 74
IC was a violation of basic rights for the CIA and FBI to .conduct spying
on prominent Americans here at home. 61
Copyright 1976 by the Chicago Tribune.
Norld Rights Reserved,
76: 1
33
15
31
~1
41
~9
7 ~
9
13
17
18
21
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CENTRAL )NTELL(GENCE AGENCY
1 ~~? LVASH}NGTON, D.C. 20505
22 January 1976
.~Y.@4L'~.1V0 'rr3eAias~cf 'i
- - .-- =~
7.5 =/aG ~6 ~',
Many thanks for your hind and thoughtful corr~nents
about the radio interview on Station KDI~A mentioned in
your letter of 21 December.
~Ve here at the Central Intelligence Agency strongly
believe that it is only with the continuinJ support of
our fellow Americans like yourself that we are able to
do the work iv~ich i~~e must to defend and protect America
now and in the future.
Faithfully,
Vernon A. Walters
Lieuten~.nt General, USA
Deputy Director'of Central Intelligence
For VASV:me/22Jan76
Distribution:
Original -Addressee
~ ~ - DDCI files
1-ER
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dear Gen. V~alters;
I heard you on radio K~K'A, 20 ~ecer~ber 1975. I am grateful the
CIA has a rsan?of your caliber, intellegence, and background to
i~tf'orm President Ford.
your answers to questians were very clear and infornativ~. Na,tur-
wlly its understandable all questions could. not be fully a~s~ered.
Too many people, at present, find. fault. with both the Ft3I arld CIA
and claim they are destroying ir~dividuala civil liberties, but I
believe that the exact opposite is taxing place.
There still are many persons vrho believe iz~ the CIA and what it
tries to accomplish, 'out not enough of these bother to voice them
opinions..
STATI NTL
We need the CIA and FBI and men liYe ho will taYe a
strong stand against Conmuuism at every opportunity available,
i~eep up the good work.
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Y~ARADE
ARTHUR H. MOTLEY
Chair~rsan of the Board
P?rade Pubtications,~I'nc. a 212-953-7500
733 Third Avenue, Ne'w York, New York 10017
Writer's Direct Dial No. 212-953-7506
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20 January 19T~i
3ivvir. Charles ~'. Gaeene, J'r.
Thf New York Daily News
1~T2 National Press Building
1~as~iagtoa, ~. G. 2004
]3ear Mr. Gree:aes
'1'haak you, for your very load invitation to the
Gridiron Club dinner oa April 3rd. Jim Weighart
m+~ationed ,this earlier, and I am indeed pieasad to
accept.
Sincerely,
/s/
W. E. Colby
i7i rector
Distribution:
Original -Addressee
1 - DCi w/basic
1 -Assistant to the Director/w/cy basic
I ' ~ /~
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EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
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 App.raved ForyRelease 2002/05/O~IA-RDP79M00467A002700040009-
January 16th
TO:
FROM:
Mr. Bush would :Like to get some advice
on the attached. He says he is inclined
to do it and wants to get CIA's views.
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January 7, 1976
Honorable George Bush
CIA Director-Designate
U. S. Department of State
Washington, D. C. 20520
~v~ tlegv~T
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States has scheduled its annual
Washington Conference for the period 5-9 March, 1976. The Conference.
site will be the Sheraton-Park Hotel.
While I know this date is considerably "down, the road" and consequently_
a firm commitment may be difficult to extend, you are cordially invited
to address our National Security Committee at,_LL:p,Q?A.M.,?on Sunday,
7i ch, in the Virginia Suite of the Sheraton-Park Hotel. ~"'?'
The National Security Committee is composed of 40-45 highly qualified
and motivated individuals responsible to our 1.8 million members for the
positions we advance in the areas of national security and foreign affairs.
I_would expect this core group to be joined by the great majority of our
National and State leaders for such remarks as you choose to deliver. I
would hope that you and Senator John Tower would jointly appear before
this audience, with your topic being "The Future Role of the CIA." I
would suggest that you plan on 20 minutes of "set piece" remarks with
Senator Tower speaking for a comparable period. This would permit some
time for floor questions at the end of the. two presentations.. ?
For 1974 and 1975, speakers on this occasion included Admiral T. H. Moores,
Secretary "Bo" Callaway, Congressman Dan Flood, General Brent Scowcroft,
and Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt. Besides yourself and Senator Tower, this
year's invitees will be Congressman G. V. Montgomery and UN Ambassador
Daniel P. Moynihan. '
FThen your plans are set, please have your office contact our Director of
National Security and Foreign Affairs, Colonel Phelps Jones, USA (Ret.),
at our Washington Office, telephone number -- 543-2239. Col. Jones will
be my point of contact for your appearance.
All best wishes to you.
Most cordially,
~~THOMA~Si C . "PETE" WALKER
~N?a~3onal Commander-in-Chief
... ~~
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V.F.W. MEMORIAL BUILDING ? 200 MARYLAND AVENUE, N.E. e WASHINGTON, D.C. 20002
 Approveq'
Thomas C Walk r
Veterans of Foreign ars
of the United States
none
sus: Ltr: Inviting Bush to address a National Security
:ommitteE: on Sunday 7 March at the Sheraton-Park Hotel
20 Jan ?6: Orig w/1 to DDCI f/action fm ES: 1 cy w/ `
cy of /1 to Asst/DCI f/action fm ES: 1 cy w/1 to ER
.~a.a ~-B-. INTERNAL SUSPENSE 26 Jan 1976.
L
TINTL
Bush/ DCI
:IA-R.DP791~I1004~A002700040009-0
ER NO.
76-312
DATE
7 fan 76
c u-ss.
- m assador Bush Ben Evans
ER NO.
6-?312/1
16 Jan ?6
c u-ss.
none
~B' Note: Stating Mr. Bush would like to get some a?ivise
on the attached, referring to the letter Bush received
from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
inviting him to address theri National Security Commi.tte
on ?Mar. 197b ~ -
Att: as stated above ~~ .
20 Jan ?6: Orig w/att to DDCI fm ES: 1 cy w/att to Asst/
DCI: 1 cy w/att ER via RB. INTERNAL SUSPENSE
2
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 A~~'~? FOES CO~r911-]UidICATIONS AND~E ECTRO~IICSVASSOCIA
Publishers of SIGNAt,-Official Journal of the AFCEA
Skyline Center
5205 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22041
Area Code [phone]
January 15, 1976
i:~ir. William H. Colby
Director
Central Intellegence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505
Dear tir. Colby:
This year we celebrate our nation's Bicentennial and the
30th Anniversary of the Armed Forces Communications and Elec-
tronics Association. We plan to highlight these events by
publishing short statements from military and government
leaders in the May/June Annual Convention Issue of SIGNAL
1'~-agazine.
Since we believe our readers would benefit from sharing
your thoughts, we invite you to submit a short statement suitable
for the occasion of this. anniversary. One possible theme might
be the recognition of new directions, trends, requirernents and
technology that are emerging in the areas of communications,
electronics, command & control, computers, audio visual and
related technologies. .
A statement of 300 words or less accompanied by your
photograph would be a valued addition to this special issue
Our deadline for receiving the copy and your photograph is
March 8, 1976.
I believe your comments will make a major contribution to
this .special ~.ssue, and I would appreciate your participation..
Sincerely,
Z.
ei5rge E~ Pickett
Lt. General, USA (Ret.)
Executive Vice President
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Communications-Electronics-photography SIGNAL MAGAZINE SERVES THE INDUSTRY MILITARY TEAM
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Executive""Secretary
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WHICH MAY BE USED.
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aJNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL SECRET
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NAME AND ADDRESS
DATE
INITIALS
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Assistant to the Directo
Rm. 1F- 04 Hqs .
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ACTION
DIRECT REPLY
PREPAR? REPLY
APPROYAL
DISPATCH
RECOMMENDATION ,
CObSMENT
FILE
RETURN
CONCURRENCE
INFORMAZION
SIGNATURE
Att: D
D A 76-0275 ;
Remarks
Angus:
I feel this appropriately falls
within your bailiwick. Would you please
take whatever action you feel necessary
and forward us a drop copy of your
response.
cc: Executive Secretary
(Ref : ER 76.- 276)
D HERE TO RETURN TO SENDER
ME. ADDRESS AND PHONE NO. DATE
~;; a e, DDA 7D-26 Hqs. 1/22/76
UNCLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL
SECRET
1 Mo. 2 3 7 Use previous editions
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Remarks:
- Executive 5 ory
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