[02/08/1996 - 03/18/1996]: 24194021-20060527F-001-004-2023

Page 1 of 4
MSMail
DATE-TIME 18 March 96 09:55
FROM Baker, James E.
CLASSIFICATION UNCLASSIFIED
SUBJECT
TO
CARBON COPY
TEXT BODY
You are welcome.
Thank you for being thorough as always.
Heads Up
BACKGROUND: 60 Minutes ran a story last night on the "operating location
near Groom Lake," erroneously referred to as Area 51. While the story was
nominally about the facility, the focus was plaintiffs' attorney's version
of a suit filed against Sec. Perry, the National Security Adviser and Sec.
of the Air Force (previously described below). This suit, however, was
dismissed by the district court of Nevada on March 6. Plaintiffs will
appeal. As they say, this is an effort to try the case in the media.
The most troublesome aspect of the story (from my perspective) was the
discussion with Lee Hamilton, the only person interviewed for the story not
associated with Jonathan Turley and plaintiffs. Hamilton criticized the
Government's efforts, upheld by the court, to classify the results of the
EPA inventory and inspection at the operating location. I believe he
referred to the classification of "paint" as nonsense or silly. (Note: I
asked Air Force/GC to consider whether it was appropriate to brief Hamilton
on the operating location.)
314DA3F4.FIN
V*
From: Fetig, James L.
To: Baker, James E.
CC: /N, NonRecord at Al
Subject: RE: 60 Minutes story on Groom Lake [UNCLASSIFIED]
Date: Monday, March 18, 1996 09:47 AM
From: Baker, James E.
To: @PRESS - Public Affairs
CC: /R, Record at Al; Bass, Peter E.; Bell, Robert G.; Kreczko, Alan J.;
Sestak, Joseph A.; @LEGISLAT-Legislative Affairs
Subject: 60 Minutes story on Groom Lake [UNCLASSIFIED]
Date: Monday, March 18, 1996 09:41 AM
RE: 60 Minutes story on Groom Lake [UNCLASSIFIED]
Fetig, James L.
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