'CIA & FBI ARE UNDERMINING THE RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PROTECTING,' SAYS HALPERIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88-01315R000200220010-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 18, 2004
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: May 16, 1977
• Content Type: OPEN

- '? Approved For Release 2005/01/11 P88
MAY 16, 1977 ? VOL. LXXI ? NO. 20
01al220010-1
THE COMMONyrEALTH CLUB
OF CALIFORNIA
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94105
224 THE COMMONWEALT~-I
"CIA & FBI Are Undermining the Rights of the People
They Are Supposed to be Protecting," says Halperin
FRIDAY FLASHES - MAY 6th
From Address by
DR. MORTON HALPERIN, Director,
Project on National Security and Civil Liberties
,,The topic of my address today is the
crimes of intelligence agencies. I will be
talking about some of their activities
which are in my view in clear violation
of the laws of this land and of the Con-
stitution. People of the intelligence agen-
cies feel that these subjects should not be
discussed. They describe these matters as
'state secrets' which if released, they say,
would injure the national security of the
United States.
Constitutional Violations
We have found that the information
which is to be kept secret is information
which is readily available to foreign gov-
ernments, to our potential enemies, and
is in fact being kept only from the Ameri-
can people.
It is important to understand that the
U.S. intelligence agencies and the law en-
forcement agencies which are supposed to
be protecting our security in fact engage
in deliberate and systematic violations of
our Constitutional rights.
The FBI engaged in a series of illegal
and unconstitutional programs. It engaged
in wiretaps without warrants against peo-
ple who were being investigated for crim-
inal activities. It engaged in burglaries
activities within the Bureau, senior offi-
cials of the FBI said that these activities
were clearly illegal, but they were useful
and should have been carried out.
WLM-Subversive?
The FBI had a program of infiltration
and surveillance of political organizations
in the U.S., for example, Klu Klux Klan,
Communist Party, Socialist Workers Party,
Southern Christian Leadership Confer-
ence, American Civil Liberties Union
(ACLU), and many others. This infiltra-
tion and surveillance were not based on
the belief that these organizations were
breaking the law. It was based on the be-
lief that the FBI had a right and a patri-
otic duty to investigate people whose
politics the Bureau disapproved of, or
whose political activities might be of in-
terest to the Communist Party in the U.S.,
or political activity which the Bureau
thought jeopardized the status quo within
the U.S.
One of the groups -which came to' the
attention of the FBI was referred to as
the WLM, the Women's Liberation Move-
ment. Mr. Hoover sent out a directive say-
ing that the Bureau had decided that the
Women's Liberation Movement should be
infiltrated and put under surveillance. As
a result, many memorandums were sent
out including one from the office in New
(Continued oa nest p+(e)
The Commonwealth
Published every Monday by the
Commonwealth Club of California
681 Market Street
San Francisco, California 94106
[phone]
Second class postage paid at San Francisco,
Callfomla. Subscription rate $8.00 per year In-
cluded In annual membership dues.
OFFICERS OF THE CLUB 1977
David J. McDaniel-__-_--President
Bradley B. Garretson______Vlce President
Renee Rubin -_Chmn. Exec. Committee
Howard G. Vesper___-______-_Secretary
Henry T. Maschal_____-______-Treasurer
Michael J. Brassington
Director
GOVERNORS OF THE CLUB 1977
John B. Bates, Bernice W. Behrens, Dean
Daskarolis, Vernon L. Goodin, Eugene M.
Herson, Donald P. Krotz, Bruce T. Mitch-
eli, M. Lester O'Shea, Dr. Edgar E. Robin-
son, Justice Allison M. Rouse, Renee
Rubin, John R. Shuman, Benjamin H.
Swig.
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"FBI DECLARED WAR ON MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR."
HALPERIN (Continued from preceding page)
York which said as far as the Bureau of-
fice could determine, there was no such
organization as the WLM. Instead, it
seemed to be a group of different organi-
zations of women who were dissatisfied.
and protested their situation. The New
York office and several other offices said
that they did not feel this activity justified
FBI intervention. With that came a mem-
orandum from Mr, Hoover saying that this
activity was -subversive and therefore the
Bureau would place the Women's Libera-
tion Movement under surveillance.
Therefore, whenever women gathered
in this country, even in groups of five or
six, the Bureau was there conducting sur-
veillance. Whenever environmentalists
gathered, the Bureau was there. When the
ACLU had its bi-annual meetings, the
Bureau was there. In fact, we have not
yet discovered any major political organi-
zation which has not received attention
of the FBI through infiltration, surveil-
lance, and in many cases, wiretappings
and burglaries.
The Bureau was not content to gather
information. It moved on to a program
called 'co and tell pro,' the manipulation
of organizations whose politics the Bureau
did not like.
'Co and Tell Pro'
The Bureau had been confronted by the
fact that in the late 1950s and early 1960s,
the Supreme Court issued a series of
opinions which in effect said that individ-
uals could not be prosecuted for engaging
in political activity. Only individuals who
advocated violence and breaking the law
could be prosecuted. The Bureau knew
of a number of organizations which it con-
sidered subversive, and yet there was no
point in bringing this information to
the attention of the Justice Department.
Therefore, the Bureau took the law into
its own hands and started its 'co and tell'
operations. It began with the Communist
Party and moved to the Socialist Workers
Party. From there it moved to the anti-
war movement and the black nationalist
movement. Against each of these move-
ments, the Bureau engaged in efforts to
undermine the lawful activities and to
move these organizations in a violent di-
rection so that they would be discredited.
Anti-War Movement
One of these campaigns was directed
at Martin Luther King, Jr. You will recall
that Martin Luther King gave a speech at
the Lincoln Monument in Washington
which he talked about a dream for
America, a peaceful integration of Ameri-
can society. Most Americans were moved
and touched by the speech. The FBI was
outraged. The Bureau held an all-day
meeting in which, according to one of the
participants, the FBI declared war on Mar-
tin Luther King. His hotel rooms were
bugged, his telephones were bugged and
his organization was infiltrated.
The Bureau also moved against the
anti-war movement. It infiltrated people
who would propose to move from peaceful
protest to violent activity. According to
FBI memos, its motive was to destroy the
respectibility, credibility and cohesion of
the organizations.
Surveillance Continues
The FBI claims that the `co and tell pro'
operations have come to an end. It admits
that it continues to conduct political sur-
veillance of organizations in the U.S. It
predicates this surveillance on the as-
sumption that these groups may someday
break the law, or if it believes that the
organizations are in some way connected
with a foreign power.
FRIDAY, MAY 27th, 12 NOON GOLD BALLROOM, SHERATON-PALACE HOTEL
"WATER IN THE SHORT RUN: NORTH vs. SOUTH"
David Kennedy, Assistant General Manager, Metropolitan Water District; John Harnett, Gen-
eral Manager East Bay Municipal Utility District; William Gianeili, Former Director of Water
Resources, State of California.
Tickets $6.50 at door
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226 THE COMMONWEALTH
Halperin Discusses CIA's Role in Chilie and the Congo
HALPERIN (Continued from preceding page)
The CIA was set up by Congress in 1947
to conduct intelligence activities abroad.
From the first day of creation, it engaged
in two kinds of activities, neither were
authorized by the Congress. The first ac-
tivity was the surveillance of American
citizens when they were traveling abroad,
or if the CIA thought these citizens posed
a threat to its physical facilities or its in-
formation, That led the CIA to infiltrate
an organization called The Women's Strike
for Peace. We also know that reporters
have been subjected to surveillance. The
CIA also conducts surveillance under the
guise that it is going to hire a particular
person.
All of these programs are going on right
now under the authorization of the Execu-
tive Order issued by President Ford
allegedly to control the intelligence
agency.
The second activity that the CIA has
carried out since its creation is covert
operations-operations designed to inter-
fere with foreign governments. Americans
were told that the CIA was a tool of the
government, supporting U.S. policy of
seeking to promote democracy and free-
dom throughout the world. In fact, how-
ever, the CIA programs were designed to
undermine the principles that the U.S.
stands for in the world.
CIA's Role In Chile
Let us focus our attention on what the
CIA did in Chile, at the direction of
several Presidents. The CIA worked for
one objective-to prevent Allende from
coming to power. When Allende received
the most votes in a free election, there
was a meeting of the Forty Committee,
which runs the CIA covert operations.
The meeting began with Mr. Kissinger,
who was then the President's National
Security Adviser, stating the policy of the
U.S. with regard to Chile. He said, `I do
not see why we need to stand by and per-
mit a country to turn to communism due to
the irresponsibility of its own people.'
The CIA then launched its campaign
against Allende. The CIA said that the
only way to prevent Allende from coming
to power was a military coup. It began
plotting with right-wing groups in Chile
to kidnap the Chilean Chief of Staff, in
order to justify a military coup. The
Chilean military was told that the U.S.
was interested only in keeping Allende.
out of power. The Chilean military was
told that as long as Allende was in power,
there would be no military aid to Chile
from the U.S. and that the country would
be economically forced to starvation.
The military finally acted, the Chief of
Staff was kidnapped and killed. Later, a
coup overthrew that government with the
active support of the CIA.
Lumumba Assassination
Less attention has been focused on the
CIA's activity in the Congo. Its role there
is equally revealing of the way in which
the CIA has been used by our presidents.
In 1960 in the Congo, Lumumba had been
the prime minister and was removed by a
coup. There was a discussion in the Forty
Committee with President Eisenhower
about Lumumba. As a result, it was de-
cided that the CIA should assassinate
Lumumba.
A cable was sent to the CIA station in
the Congo explaining why Lumumba had
to he assassinated. It said that he was a
threat to American policy in the Congo
and in all of Africa. The cable went on to
say that whenever Lumumba spoke, peo-
ple listened and tended to follow him.
Therefore, the CIA station was instructed
to keep him from speaking until he was
assassinated so that he could not regain
support. The cable explained that there
was grave danger in the Congo that the
freely elected parliament of that country
would reconvene. According to the cable,
if the parliament reconvened, it would re-
elect Lumumba as prime minister. Since
it is messier to assassinate a sitting prime
minister than a former prime minister,
the CIA was instructed to see to it that
the parliament did not reconvene until
Lumumba was assassinated. A hired thug
was sent by the CIA to the Congo for the
purpose of carrying out the assassination.
These activities are in the past, but
again I say that none of them have
stopped. We learned just a few days ago
of the CIA directive from Mr. Kissinger
to infiltrate the Micronesian government.
Micronesia is a trust territory of the U.S.,
(Continued on next page)
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THE COMMONWEALTH 227
"CIA: THE PRESIDENT'S SECRET ARMY"
HALPERIN (Continued from preceding page)
placed under American control by the
United Nations with the responsiblity to
guide that territory toward independence.
gov-
After a free election in Micronesia, a
ernment was elected which appointed a
committee to negotiate with the U.S. the
future status of that territory.
Record Is Clear
The U.S. government decided that it
was not prepared to engage in open and
honest negotiations and so it infiltrated
the negotiating team. It also bugged the
rooms of the negotiating team. It sought
to subvert their policies so that the nego-
tiations would result in favor of the U.S.
We have a clear record that the CIA
has been used by our presidents to carry
out those activities which go against the
American ideals and values-policies
which could not be carried out if they
were made public. The CIA has been a
secret army of the President.
It is startling to me that absolutely
nothing has been done to rectify this situ-
ation. The ,01A and the FBI cannot change
their perspective on their rights and ob-
ligations, and the fact that they operate
beyond the Constitution. The new director
of the CIA thinks he has a public rela
tions problem and is trying to restore the
'good name oo the CIA instead of trying
to eliminate the activities which violate
Constitutional rights.
FBI Morale
The director of the FBI, Mr. Kelley,
has complained because last month for the
first time an official of the FBI was in-
dicted for criminal activities. Mr. Kelley
was not proclaiming that this individual
was innocent, his claim is that to indict
an official of the FBI is to undermine the
morale of the FBI.
This situation cannot be allowed to con-
tinue. What is needed is comprehensive
legislation to establish the principle that
the intelligence agencies are not above
.,the Constitution.
Strip Away Secrecy
The FBI should limit itself to investi-
gating criminal activity and should not
engage in manipulation and infiltration of
political organizations. The CIA should be
limited to intelligence evaluation and pro-
ducing the kinds of intelligence analysis
that the President and senior officials
need. It should not be engaged in the
overthrow of governments.
We need to strip away much of the
secrecy which surrounds the intelligence
agencies. Their budgets and functions
should be made public.
We also need a special prosecutor to
deal with the crimes of the intelligence
organizations. The Attorney General of
the U.S. who uses the intelligence agen-
cies to carry out his duties is simply not
in a position to decide to indict officials-
of the intelligence agencies. We need to'
put that job in the hands of an indepen-
rageous statement. Mr. Kelley is suggest
ing that unlike other Americans who are
subject to indictment by trial, the FBI
agent should have immunity. The FBI
seems to have learned nothing from its
experiences and continues to believe that
it has a right to operate above the law.
PHONE CALL LUNCHEON
Wednesday, May 1 8th, 12 Noon
CONCERT ROOM, 1st Floor
SHERATON-PALACE HOTEL
"Can the City Avoid A Fiscal Crisis
While Continuing to Provide the
Existing Level of Services"'
The Honorable
GEORGE R. MOSCONE
Mayor of San Francisco
Call Club Office (362-4903) for reservations.
$6.50 (including tax & tip) .
SECTION ON URBAN AFFAIRS
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228 THE COMMONWEALTH
"CIA Covert Operations Are Controlled by the Forty
Committee - Not Congress nor the Executive Branch"
HALPERIN (Continued from preceding page)
We need to strengthen the rights of
citizens to go into court and to sue in pro-
test of violations of their constitutional
rights.
We are all in the position, if we cherish
the Bill of Rights, to work for effective
controls on the intelligence agencies so
that they are brought under the Constitu-
tion, so that they fulfill the role of pro-
tecting us, and yet leave us free to engage
in the lawful political activity which is
the cherished right of all of us in a demo-
cratic society." (JMR)
Answers to Written Questions from Floor:
Q: have you ever been a target for illegal
activities of an intelligence agency? A: Yes.
My home telephone was wiretapped for a
period of 21 months, 1967-71. It was done
by the FBI under a directive from the Nixon
White House. The American Civil Liberties
Union brought a suit on my behalf. A fed-
eral district judge in Washington ruled that
the wiretapping was illegal and unconstitu-
tional, and has held that Nixon, Halderman
and Mitchell are liable for damages.
Q: How long did it take you in govern-
ment service to realize that illegal activities
were being conducted? A: I was not aware
of illegal activities. The secret activities are
conducted within a secret sub-government.
Covert operations, for example, are con-
ducted through the Forty Committee. We
knew that it met, but did not know what
activities it was engaged in. That continues
to be the case. These activities are not un-
der the control of Congress or most of the
people in the Executive Branch.
Q: What are the sources of your Informa-
tion? A: Most valuable sources are the re-
ports of the Senate Committees and infor-
mation which has been revealed through
various law suits.
Q: Are there any circumstances that
would warrant illegal measures? A: No. The
essence of our Constitution is that it is
meant to work in times of grave stress to
the security of the nation. The Constitution
was drafted by people who lived in very
troubled times. There is enough flexibility
within the Constitution to protect our in-
terests without violating people's constitu-
tional rights.
Q: Will you concede to the fact that the
intelligence agencies provide a vital role In
national defense? A: Yes, if the questioner
will concede that the CIA has done things
that are illegal and unconstitutional. The
CIA's function is to evaluate intelligence in-
formation in order to provide the President
with the best possible estimates as to what
is going on in the world. That is an ex-
tremely important and necessary function.
The function of the FBI is equally clear-
to assist in solving crime. But when the CIA
and FBI stray from those specific functions,
they are undermining the very people they
are to protect.
- Q: Can Howard Hunt's conviction be up-
held if similar activities of the FBI do not
result in convictions? A: Any official of the
government should be subject to Indict-
ment. It is unfortunate that only the friends
of Richard Nixon, with the exception last
month, have been indicted. It reflects the
power of the intelligence agencies. The
White House officials were indicted but the
official>,w. the CIA who participated equally
were ngt.
Q: Is the recent takeover of Ethiopia by
the Marxists a result of the failure of the
U.S. to support Its CIA? A: No idea. In any
case, it is wrong for the U.S. to think it has
the power or the responsibility to dictate
type of government a country should
adopt.
Q: Do you think the ethics package Presi-
dent Carter has requested of Congress will
prevent illegal activities by the intelligence
agencies? A: Package does not touch intelli-
gence agencies. (JMR)
PHONE CALL LUNCHEON
Monday, May 23rd, 12 Noon
ELIZABETHAN ROOM, ST. FRANCIS HOTEL
"U.S.-Mexican Relations"
WILLIAM H. LEURS
Deputy Assist. Secretary of State
International American Affairs
Call Club Office (362-4903) for reservations.
$7.00 (including tax & fip)
SECTION ON LATIN AMERICA
Have you read the report
by the Club's Section on
Water?
Ballots must be returned to
the Club Office by Tues-
day, May 31.
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