Documents / FOIA release
This is a Central Intelligence Agency release dated 2025-06-12 under the JFK Act. It collects 1975 newspaper and magazine clippings. They include Mark Harris's New York Times Magazine essay on a UCLA "Conspiracy in America" conference and the conspiracy-theory mindset, a Jack Anderson column on stalled CIA reform, and wire reports of Richard Helms calling CBS newsman Daniel Schorr "Killer" after he testified to the Rockefeller Commission. There is also an essay on power and a publishing item about Philip Agee's book.
“Nevers”28 pages
# A wise warning PRESIDENT FORD'S cautionary words to the joint session of Congress concerning just and expeditions handling of investigations into the activities of U.S. intelligence operations, were indeed wise. In the final moments of his somber State of the World address, the President suddenly departed from his text to extemporaneously urge "maximum discretion and dispatch" in the Congressional Investigations of CIA and other intelligence agencies. It caught his listeners by surprise. But only for seconds. Almost to a member the combined houses of Congress vigorously applauded for a full 25 seconds. It was the sharpest show of approval during the entire speech. That is good, for he was making a point that troubles many Americans. In the wash of Watergate, committees of both the House and Senate started investigations of the CIA and other U.S. intelligence agencies following charges published in the New York Times that the CIA had engaged in massive illegal domestic spying. President Ford. In worrisome and urgent tone, said it was "ca- tirely proper" that the intelligence system be subject to Congressional review. But, he added: "A sensationalized public debate over legitimate intelligence activities is a disservice to this nation and a threat to our intelligence system. It ties our hands while our potential enemies operate with secrecy, skill and vast resources." The applause erupted. The point had been well made. Since first publication of the charges, intelligence agents at home and abroad have worried that the secrecy of their relationships with the agency would be destroyed. It has harmed CIA's effectiveness, Director William E. Colby has warned. To harm it irreparably, as the President further warned, would be catastrophic. The CIA and all other intelligence agencies should perform within the bounds of their authority - and Congress should assure just that. But, the Congress, and the press, should also operate discreetly within their own boundaries to preserve the imperative functions of intelligence.
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FOIA release, from the cia-readingroom collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. The text was read from the page images by an OCR model; expect the odd misread word. 83 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.