REPORT ON SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT AT UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, 18 FEBRUARY 1976

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86B00985R000400040002-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 24, 2003
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: February 25, 1976
• Content Type: MF

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STATINTL
25 February 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: The DDI
The A/DCI
SUBJECT: Report on Speaking Engagement a University
of Cincinnati, 18 February J 97 ,
1. At your joint request I made arrangements in January
to speak at the University of Cincinnati Winter Quarter Red,
White and Blue speakers series. Organizer for the event was
Chad Solomon, a student (senior, Political Science) who is
President of the Student Program Board. We agreed on the date,
that there would be no off campus advertising and that the
press would not be invited to attend. We both understood
that it would be impossible to prevent news reporting of the
event if someone chose to do so.
2. When I arrived in Cincinnati I found that my appear-
ance had been announced by a series of posters around campus.
The campus newspaper had failed to run an announcement
because of their decision not to publish on the Washington's
Birthday holiday. In an effort to insure sufficient attendance
at the meeting, Chad Solomon had told the city newspapers on
17 February (Enquirer and Post) that I was coming on 18
February. He hope that stu ents would see the article there,
if not in the campus press. I do not believe the city papers
ran the story, though Chad is trying to find out. The local
media certainly knew I was coming, however.
3. I was to speak to a group of 100-150 students in
a lounge of the Student Union at U.C. at 1230. During lunch,
Chad went to check the room to be certain that a microphone
had been set up for me, and chairs for the audience. When
he returned,_.ie said that a television cameraman was there,
reporters from at least one TV station, some radio stations,
two newspapers, and the campus FM station that broadcasts
throughout Cincinnati. (There were about eight microphones
on the table.) I told Chad that I didn't want to turn the
event into a press conference. He left the handling of the
press to me. I called the A/DCI long distance to go on record
with the problem, and proceeded to the meeting.
4. When I was introduced, I said that some weeks earlier
I had been invited to talk on 18 February, that my speech would
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inadvertantly follow the President's by only a few hours, and.
that I did not believe it appropriate for me to appear to
be interpreting either the President or Mr. Bush for the
media. I had come to speak to students about intelligence
in the foreign policy process. I did not wish to be recorded,
but told the press they could stay if they wished. Only
representatives from two newspapers, and one photographer,
stayed.
5. I talked from a text and notes that I had prepared,
for the DDT to use at the Minority Employment Conference in
October. It was a presentation that outlined how the
community and the Agency are organized, to do their work,
and described the variety of services performed in a general
way. I made regular reference to a copy of the 1947 Act.
Based upon what the President had said the night before, I
suggested general ways that the organization of the
Intelligence Community might change.
6. I spoke from about 1245 until 1445, including a long
period of questions from the crowd of about 100 people. I
would class most of the questions as "fair with an edge."
The representative of the Young Socialist Alliance (YSA) spoke
on about three occasions during the question and answer session,
but seemed unable to get the crowd interested in her approach
("the government, in all of its manifestations, does not serve
the people's interest"). YSA had also passed out handbills in
my honor (copy attached).
7. Among questioners, there was much interest in
covert action, how it was approved/initiated, whether it was
proper. There was concern that CIA had not adequately informed
the Congress over the years, and that Congress had failed in
its oversight function. Some wondered if Director Bush was
too political to be DCI. There were questions and charges
about assassination, including the Kennedy and King cases.
One fellow was critical of our "inability" to predict events
when there was ample information (he had nearly been killed
in the. Tet offensive). A number of people asked how to get
a job.
8. I went from this talk to a small (15) freshman
honors class in Political Science. I spoke and answered
questions for about an hour. They were interested in the
Executive-Congressional aspects of foreign affairs and
foreign intelligence. One student in the class was.a cub
reporter for the campus newspaper. He taped the session with
my permission, though his machine malfunctioned throughout
the hour.
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He guaranteed that he would not write for the professional
press, and the professor, Barbara Bardes, was sure to hold
him to.hij pledge. She asked several questions to guide the
group, an; displayed a sophisticated understanding of the D.C.
environme t.
9. 'After dinner, I spoke for about two hours to a small
(12-15) g-oup of students from the Student Political Science
Association. I was competing with a cross-town basketball
rivalry, o attendance was low. This was a sound group of
students. They asked the best questions of the day, zeroing
in on som~ of the philosophical aspects of the conduct of
foreign policy. They had neither more nor less concern about
the prope role of intelligence than a group of 12-15 CIA
professionals might have had. However they felt about intelligence
as indiviIuals, they each seemed to have a~very realistic view
of the world.
10. The series of talks was successful. The Agency
received fairly broad exposure on campus and in a relaxed
way that id not indicate fear or unwillingness to deal
with either truth or allegations. Such appearances should be
repeated whenever the opportunity arises.
11. 11 took along a number of unclassified reference aids
(from II CRS, OER, OPR, OGCR), and told the students that
such aids are available for sale to the public. They were
impressed I left the pack, along with copies of the Bush
and Colby confirmation hearings, with the Political Science
Depart men- . They will be loaned to any interested students
(the libraa~ry seemed to be low in the confidence of the
students .s a: repository for anything to which they wished
access).
12. If I have one strong impression from the trip, it
is that most of the students -- the brightest, the leaders,
the followers, the academic strugglers -- are basically
suspicion of the government. Not so profound an observation,
perhaps; net, my own college generation was suspicious and
cynical in a different way. Most of us "joined" the government
or the corporations believing that our skepticism would be
relieved y real experience. These students seem much more
likely to enter the government or corporations because of
their skepticism. They want to change things. They don't
believe tl.at real experience will disprove what they now
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"know." They are more polite than the kids of the sixties,
and more whole. They seem determined that whatever "the
system" is, it should stress pub3 responsibility.
STATINTL
Coordinator tor Academic e
Attachments:
"CIA Threat" flier
Base correspondence and notes
One line from Cincinnati 11 p.m. news (channel 12, ABC)
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 Qwrera
The speaker at this Wednesday' Red, White, and Blue
series forum, will try to convince us that the crimes of the CIA
are necessary for "upholding the rights of the free world" or
are in the interest of "national security."
Ass.asination attempts, military and economic support
ti" %i.ht wing and fascist. governments, surveillance. and viciti-
miza.tion of anti-war leaders, campus groups, foreign students,
Black organizations, women's liberation activists, and socialists
have all been admitted to by the CIA.
-ASSASINATION ATTEMPTS
The CIA has admitted to attempting, or having plotted
the deaths of Salvadore Allende of Chile, Patrice Lumumba of the
Congo, Trujillo of the Dominican Republic, Fidel Castro,. Martin
Luther King, Malcolm X, and others,
-SUPPORT TO DICTATORSHIPS
Economic and military support have found their way to
the Franco regime in Spain, Salazaar and Caetano in Portugal,, the
Shah of Iran, Marcos in the Phillipines, Rhee in South Korea, 'and
Pinochet"s junta in Chile.
-OPERATION CHAOS
Surveillance and "disruption" tactics similar to the
FBI's Cofntelpro operations, used against a very wide variety of
political activists, campus groups, foreign students, Black
rganizationg, and others.
-COVERT OPERATIONS IN ANGOLA
Recently, the CIA has been actively recruiting coerce.
to fight in Angola, and has been supplying armaments and napalm, at
the expense of, not in the interests of, the Angolans, and the
American people"8 right to decide on our foreign policy..
The Young Socialist Alliance believes that the CIA
should be abolished, and not replaced or "guided" by the congress
or its "oversight" committee, or the president. It has been
fully documented that the past six presidents, at least, and
congresses under them have been aware of, and gave ap roval.if not:
the original orders, to carry out the illegal activities of this
agency. Much of the documentation released, has been a result of
the Political Rights Defense Fund suit, whose plaintiffs are the
Young Socialist Alliance, Socialist Workers Pasty, and others. The
defense of everyone's democratic rights is at stake in this case.
The axis of this case is the questions Does the First Amendment
protect the free speech of everyone including those who actively
oppose administration policy? If you are interested in finding out
more about this suit, fill out and mail the coupon at bottom, toe
YSA. Box #340. Tangem nn Center,
Q I wantlppoa~k~dpp'O~,12/$g CP$~~,.985R000400040002-3
I want more information on the Socialist Workers Party Campaign.
I want to join the YSA.
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Appro i c
TRANSMITTAL SLIP'
DATE
14 Jan 1976
TO:
AJDCT
ROOM NO. BUILDING
1F04
REMARKS:
Angus--
Per our teiecon, I will attend
for the Agency. 'You will answer
the letter in the first instance.
I prefer 18 Feb, but 11 Feb would
be all right. ' dim to
study soon.
FROM:
CAR
ROOM NO. BUILDING
For RJ~ 003/12/x% : CIA-RDP
00
iCRM N0.94.1
REPLACES FORM
WHICH MAY BE USED.
0040002-3
 CFFICE OF STUDENT GROUPS
AND UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS
Mr. Angus Thuermer
Assistant to the Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washi ngton, D.C.
?
Cincinnati, Ohio 4,5221
January 3, 1976
The University of. Cincinnati Student Speakers
Bureau is planning its Red, White and Blue speakers
series for Winter Quarter, 1976. The series, entitled
"Poilitics, Policy and Power," is scheduled for Wednesdays
afi T2: 30 PIA throughout the months of January, February
and March. We would be especially pleased to have a
representative of the Central Intelligence Agency included.
in our series.
The C.I.A. is an important and necessary Agency of
our governement. At the present time, though, the Agency
has come under sharp criticism and even Congressional
attack for its operations. Allegations concerning covert
activity both at home and abroad abound, with charges
ranging from the equipping and controlling of private
armies and involvement in political assassination to
the charge that the Agency is a freewhelling and uncon-y
trolled force with secret directives and motives. I
feel that it is now important for the Agency to re-educate
the American people to the purpose and function of the
C.I.A.
~, ,.~? I would like to invite a representative of the C.I.A..
to campus, to discuss the role of the Agency in the frame-
work of American government. This would possibly include.
an examination of the operations of the C.I.A. in foreign
countries, a discussion of the Agency as an intelligence
3 gatherer, and insight to the formation and implementation
tool in domestic and foreign policy and its role in our
national security might also be discussed. An examination
of the charges made against the C.I.A., and_a rebuttal to
them, would be in order, and is.invited.
4
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 January 3, 1976
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The format is as formal or informal as would be
desired. We will be using a medium sized lounge for
the presentation, and the expected audience size would
range from 75 to 150 persons. The speaker might prepare
a talk from 45 minutes to an hour in length, and would
have approximately 30 minutes to answer general questions
from the floor.
Concerning the date of the C.I.A. presentation, T
realize that the availability of. representatives with
the background and ability for such a presentation, and
the desire to speak to a university audience, is not
constant. The dates of February 11 and 18 are particularly
convenient, if arrangements could be made for either.
Other open dates remain if a highly qualified representative
who you feel would best fit the bill is unavailable on those
dates. With-sufficient notice, I would be happy to fit the
date.to your-convenience.
Any special arrangements or suggestions for topic
matter would be discussed gladly. I would be more than
glad to answer any other questions or provide more infor-
mation to you. I hope.to hear from you soon so that I can
work out any scheduling problems that might arise. Your
cooperation will be greatly appreciated.
Yours truly,
Chad Solomon
President
Student Program Board
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15 January 1976
STAT
Mr. Chad Solomon
President, Student Program Board
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221
Dear Mr. Solomon,
Thank you for your letter of January 3.
I am glad to tell you that one of our senior
officers will be glad to appear. He suggests that he
would prefer February 18 if that works out with you.
his is in order, please give me a call (703-
or a note and I will have him get directly in
touch wi you.
Sincerely,
ist
Angus MacLean Thuermor
Assistant to the Director
STATINTL
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