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1552899
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January 4, 1975 - Ford, Former CIA Director Richard Helms
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1552899
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document
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January 4, 1975 - Ford, Former CIA Director Richard Helms
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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President (1974-1977 : Ford). Commission on Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Activities within the United States. 1/4/1975-6/6/1975
Governmental investigations
Independent regulatory commissions
Presidential appointments
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1552899
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4
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1975-01-04
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1975
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4
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1975-01-04
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1975
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
DECLASSIFIED
WASHINGTON
E.O. 12958, Sec. 3.5 CIA concurs.
SECRET/XGDS
KOH
11/24/98, NARA, State Dept. Guidelines
Date
5/5/99
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Ford
Richard Helms, Ambassador to Iran,
former CIA Director
John O. Marsh, Counsellor to the President
Philip W. Buchen, Counsel to the President
Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs
DATE AND TIME:
Saturday - January 4, 1975
12:37 - 1:00 p.m.
PLACE:
The Oval Office
The White House
SUBJECT:
Allegations of CIA Domestic Activities
President: Dick, you and I have known each other a long time. I have only
the most admiration for you and for your work. Frankly, we are in a mess.
I want you to tell me whatever you want. I believe the CIA is essential to
the country. It has to exist and perform its functions. We will have a
Blue Ribbon Panel look into these charges. It will investigate the domestic
activities of the CIA.
Helms: Why not add the FBI?
They overlap, and you may as well get to
the bottom of it.
President: I will consider it. Secondly, though, the commission will look
at the Colby report and, thirdly, make recommendations to me. It is a good
commission. I hope they will stay within their charter, but in this climate,
we can't guarantee it. It would be tragic if it went beyond it, because the
CIA needs to remain a strong and viable agency. It would be a shame if
the public uproar forced us to go beyond and to damage the integrity of the
CIA.
I automatically assume what you did was right, unless it's
proved otherwise.
FORD
SECRET/XGDS
GERALD
TOP SECRET XGDS (3)
CLASSIFIED BY: HENRY A. KISSINGER
SECRET/XGDS
-2-
Helms: I have been in the service 32 years. At the end all one has is a
small pension and a reputation -- if any. I testified in Watergate; I didn't
dump on President Nixon and I stuck to the truth. I intend to fight this
matter. I welcome a Blue Ribbon Panel.
At the base is Congressional oversight. No Congress wants
to join hands with the Bay of Pigs, etcetera; it's bad politics. The CIA
is the President's creature.
If allegations have been made to Justice, a lot of dead cats
will come out. I intend to defend myself. I don't know everything which
went on in the Agency; maybe no one really does. But I know enough to
say that if the dead cats come out, I will participate. I think the mood of
the country is ghastly. I feel deeply for you, Mr. President. I am a
member of your team and I don't intend to foul the nest if I can avoid it.
The basic allegation -- that we spied on dissidents stemmed
from the charge to me to discover if there was any foreign connection to
the dissidents. I never permitted any spying on any Congressmen. The
business of the files is ridiculous; if you get a name, of course you make
a record and open a file in case it is relevant thereafter.
President: I have no doubt about your total integrity, and, in fact you did
a good job running the Agency. What we are trying to do is look into the
charges and protect the functions of the Agency with a Blue Ribbon group
which will operate responsibly. I hope you understand my position. You
have my pledge that everything I do will be straightforward. I plan no
witch hunt, but in this environment I don't know if I can control it.
Helms: I will help you, Mr. President. I believe in the Agency and its
mission.
FORD
R
GERALD
SECRET/XGDS
N
Sierel/XGDS Marsh
4 Jan 75 75
P you + & has each atten long time. I hme
only C west advisition for your - your work,
Frankly we in a mrs. I mant you sell
me arbortm you want CIA insention σ
c emety Hos tryst perform its
We smill land Uslne Bitter Paral. It will
investry ate dometime a trustin of of c ,A
H
why not aded F6I. They overlay 8 your may
as wellights bottom fat
P
Jivil consectuit # 2 C Eman will lork
at Colly what 8 #3 male penn to new
It ma and Crusse. I hope they will stay
w/m this chath but in this chinsta, can't
granter Would be hagie of it went beyond
because c C,A huds 8 unim a story
with a soperning world her shand if public
Preed in to go beyond & to damage integisty
fe.A.
I vigat. appeared what you child arms
H
I him in service 32 yes. at end allow
has is small presime reportation if any.
& teatified in Wateryath I din't dring on
Witon + stub to tirth
I intend & fight this moth I welme
a Blue Wither Pund
at bore is if Cing amought Two cong creants to
join hands as/ try fin, etc. It bad polities.
The CIA is - Pus creatme. If allegation
have has math r Instrie, a but of deal
Cnty will 2 intered X abfund mpelf
Idnt hum bring thin which - went on
FORD
2
SERRID
in c agency. maybers one drub, But 2 beven
enough & say that if dend cats comeont, this
I wice / anticipate. 8 think the mood ofc country
is gloothy I feel drugh for you and I don't
am a mumber of your team & I din't intend
to Parl. rest of I can avoid it.
The basic allystrois an dissedunts sharma
stand from change A me to discover
any possign emasition to desdribents,
d When permitted any spying any Compression
The business of co file is vidianars. If you Jet
a have fewse you enchea used, opena
file in case it is interant have pter
a
d have no donght about for Trin intigity -
facts you did good job uning caping
what we trying & do is brea int c changes
+ patient c again us/ a Alne Ribben grengs
which will appliate vop monthly
thope you industrind my postric you
have my playe bey thing Ids will h
I flan no curtch hut but
in this environment 8 don't how if
I unin central it,
H
Junil help you, m.P. I have inc agency
& its missua,
FORD
&
GERALD