DRAFT OF PRESIDENTAL STATEMENT OF A MEETING WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86B00269R000100130084-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 1, 2002
• Sequence Number: 84
• Content Type: STATEMENT

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DRAFT OF PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT OF A MEETING WITH
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS (to be given out to the press).
IFor some time
a been disturbed by reports that an
attempt might be made to subject the Central Intelligence Agency to a
type of Congressional investigation which would inevitably disclose
highly classified security matters to potential enemies of the United
States. expressed to the Congressional leaders with whom /consulted
this morning uapy feeling that if such an investigation were to take place
it would result in serious harm to our national security. made it clear
k-.10 A
to the Congressional leaders that ecognized that Congress in the
r
exercise of its legislativemlmapap,qaria~Wag has has a clear right
to the information that is essential to it istf thf s dut o
?ndirgncling that the Director of Central Intelligence had been in
close touch with the Armed Services and Appropriations Committees of the
two Houses of the Congress and that hefurnishe4 these Committees such
ha,4 sought. I ly
this relationship should continue and tiw6 these Committees
should be kept currently advised of CIA activities within the wise provision
w (~~x.00
i 4 by the Congress in the National Security Act of 1947 "that the
intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure." It ie-rrry
Director of Central Intelligence shall be responsible for protecting
firm conviction that the Executive and the Congress should cooperate in
carrying out this legislative mandate.
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The President further expressed to the Congressional leaders
his view that it was essential that the Congress should be satisfied as
to the integrity of the administration of CIA, particularly in connection
with the handling Fof the unvouchered funds intrusted
w
to it as well as t its exercise of the powers and duties conferred upon it
A,
directives of the National
under the National Security Act of 1947 and
''
Security Council thereunder. !.. rnrai advised the
Congressional leaders of correspondence which he had had with the
Director of Central Intelligence and of his decision as indicated in
this correspondence and s requested the Director of Central
o set up a Board of Consultants, vith duties and functions
t
Intelligence
',.
,,,..
``
14^: E.L!4 fns t.0 ,
V? A4
outlined tThe Congressional leaders present expressed-unanimous
n
concurrence in the view that they! legislative and investigative
Is
to protect intelligence source and methods from unauthorised disclosure
and Welcomed the President' action in setting up high level Board of
t- N
Consultants.
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T-l is W th r .L z nce to'your letter of 7 June suggesting
the establishment of a Board of Consultants to review the work
of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Inasmuch as I consider it of paramount importance that
the Congress and the people of the United States have complete
confidence in the CIA, I am as of this date constituting such a
body. Dr. Karl Compton, Mr. Robert Sprague, Ambassador
David Bruce and General Omar Bradley have consented to serve
on this Board. You will make available to them any and all
information that they request concerning the Central Intelligence
Agency. I have asked them to advise me by not later than
September 30, 1954 as to the quality and character of the CIA.
Sincerely yours,
Dwight D. Eisenhower
C cam.- O4.,-L_._
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DRAFT OF PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT OF A MEETING
WITH CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS (to be given out to the press.)
The President stated that for some time he had been disturbed
by reports that an attempt might be made to subject the Central Intelligence
Agency to a type of Congressional investigation which would inevitably dis-
close highly classified security matters to potential enemies of the United
States. The President expressed to the Congressional leaders with whom
he consulted this morning his feeling that if such an investigation were to
take place it would result in serious harm to our national security. He made
it clear to the Congressional leaders that he recognized that Congress in
the exercise of its legislative functions has a clear right to the information
that is essential to it to carry out this duty. It was made clear that the
Director of Central Intelligence had been in close touch with the Armed
Services and Appropriations Committees of the two Houses of the Congress
and that he had furnished these Committees such information as they had
ry,. t' a
&I '~.' GA.y.
sought. This relationship should continue and these Committees should
be kept currently advised of CIA activities within the wise provision
included by the Congress in the National Security Act of 1947 "that the
Director of Central Intelligence shall be responsible for protecting
intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure." It was
the President's firm conviction that the Executive and the Congress should
cooperate in carrying out this legislative mandate.
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The President further expressed to the Congressional leaders
his view that it was essential that the Congress 1should be satisfied as
to the integrity of the administration of CIA, particularly in connection
with the handling of the unvouchered funds intrusted to it as well as in
its exercise of the powers and duties conferred upon it under the National
Security Act of 1947 and directives of the National Security Council thereunder.
He advised the Congressional leaders of correspondence which he had had
with the Director of Central Intelligence and of his decision as indicated
in this correspondence and as requested by theDirector of Central Intelligence
to set up a Board of Consultants, with duties and functions outlined in that
correspondence.
The Congressional leaders present expressed their unanimous
concurrence in the view that the legislative and investigative functions
should be exercised by the Congress insofar as CIA is concerned, in a
manner to protect intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized
disclosure and they welcomed the President's action in setting up the
high level Board of Consultants.
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 ILLEGIB
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DRAFT
Dear Mr. Dulles:
I am in agreement with the conclusi
June suggesting that a Board of Consultants be constituted to review
and report to me on the work of the Central Intelligence Agency.
Such a review, in addition to covering the important objectives
you outline, should conform to the following standards. It should
supply the Central Intelligence Agency with guidanc-e; it should be
so conducted as to assist you as Director in protecting intelligence
sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure as provided in
the National Security Act of 1947; it should assist you in furnishing
to the appropriate Committees of Congress such information with
respect to the operations of the Agency as they may reasonably
require in the exercise of their legislative, appropriative and
investigative functions.
At my request, General Omar Bradley, Dr. Karl Compton
and Mr. Robert Sprague have consented to serve as JjUe memberjof
the Board of Consultants. You are instructed to make available to
them such information as they may require in connection with their
review. Other intelligence agencies of the government will be
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instructed to afford the Board like facilities insofar as it may deem
this necessary in considering CIA's function in the coordination
of the intelligence activities of the government.
It is my desire that the Board should complete its study
in time for my consideration before your budget appropriations for
FY '55 are submitted to the Congress.
Sincerely,
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The President
The White House
About five years ago, pursuant to NSC action, a small
committee of persons outside government, but familiar with
intelligence work, was constituted to review the work of the
Central Intelligence Agency. I was Chairman of that Committee,
which included Mr. William H. Jackson and Mr. Mathias Correa.
The report which we submitted in January 1949 served as the basis
for certain organizational changes which my predecessor, General
Bedell Smith, put into effect shortly after he became Director of
Central Intelligence.
In the five years subsequent to this report there have been
basic changes in the world outlook, and in the problems which this
Agency faces. The Soviet have nuclear weapons and are making
important progress in various scientific and technical fields
affecting their over-all strategic situation vis-a-vis the free world.
Intelligence targets have changed; intelligence techniques must be
altered accordingly.
Under these circumstances, I would welcome it if you felt
the time had come to constitute a "Board of Consultants" to review
the work of the Agency, its programs, techniques and administrative
setup, as well as its progress in carrying out its statutory duties and,
in particular, its duty to coordinate and make more effective the
intelligence operations of government. Such a study could include a
review of our personnel policies and of our methods of controlling the
expenditure of the unvouchered funds entrusted to us by the Congress.
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It is my belief that reviews of this nature should be carried
out at periodic intervals as the National Security Council might
determine to be appropriate.
While I might constitute such a board by my own action, I
believe that I could only secure the high caliber of men required
to carry out this mission if you, yourself, took the initiative in
constituting the Board thereby emphasizing the importance you
place upon it.
Faithfully yours,
Allen W. Dulles
Director
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