224. Editorial Note
In a January 21, 1971, memorandum to President Nixon on the “Sihanoukville Intelligence Failure,” President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger summarized the report of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board on the issue. “The failure of the intelligence community to properly assess the flow of enemy material through Sihanoukville” in Cambodia, Kissinger told the President, “resulted from deficiencies in both intelligence collection and analysis.” Kissinger concluded his memorandum by commenting, “As you know, I have been working with Director Helms on appropriate personnel changes in the Agency. In my discussions, I will also include appropriate reassignment of personnel associated with this intelligence failure. I expected to have a complete report in the near future on changes which Director Helms is initiating.” Below Kissinger’s comment the President wrote: “give me a report on these changes—I want a real shakeup in C.I.A., not just symbolism.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 208, CIA, Vol. IV, Jan–Dec 1971)
[Page 483]Kissinger’s January 21 memorandum is attached to a February 6 memorandum from David Halperin of the NSC Staff to John Brown III of Haldeman’s staff which states: “The housecleaning in CIA directed by the President in his memorandum of November 30 [Document 216] is and will continue to be effected over the course of the next year. It is being done gradually rather than precipitously and General Haig will continue to monitor this.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Agency Files, Box 208, CIA, Vol. IV, Jan–Dec 1971)