Office of the Historian

49. Memorandum From President Ford1

Washington, September 19, 1975.

MEMORANDUM FOR

  • The Secretary of State
  • The Secretary of Defense
  • The Director, Office of Management and Budget
  • The Director, Central Intelligence Agency
  • Philip W. Buchen
  • John O. Marsh, Jr.

As a result of our meeting on intelligence matters,2 I have decided to designate a group specifically responsible for coordinating our response to matters dealing with the intelligence community. This group will be chaired by Jack Marsh. Each of the addressees of this memorandum shall serve as a member of the group.3

I expect the group to function over the next several weeks and possibly months in a manner similar to the Energy Resources Council and Economic Policy Board, that is:

1. The group should meet daily to review problems, discuss strategy, agree on assignments and prepare issues for my decision.4

2. The group will meet with me regularly, as often as twice a week, in order for me to decide issues and review progress.

3. I expect the group to produce by the middle of next week a time table of its actions over the next month including:

Due dates for decision papers;

Development of a comprehensive plan for dealing with Congress and the press; and

Identification of individuals charged with specific responsibilities.5

Gerald R. Ford
  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, OPI 10, Executive Registry, Job 80M01066A, Box 8, Executive Registry Subject Files—1975, The 1975 Reorganization of the Intelligence Community (1 Sep 75–31 Oct 75). No classification marking.↩
  2. On September 19 between 9:50 and 10:50 a.m., Ford met in the White House Cabinet Room with all of the addressees as well as with Hartmann, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Scowcroft, Connor, Counsel Roderick M. Hills, and Counsel to the Vice President Peter J. Wallinson, to discuss intelligence matters. (Ford Library, Staff Secretary’s Office, President’s Daily Diary) No other record of the meeting has been found.↩
  3. Attorney General Levi was also designated as a member.↩
  4. The new Intelligence Coordinating Group met for the first time in the White House Situation Room on September 22. A summary of the meeting is in the Ford Library, National Security Adviser, John K. Matheny Files, Box 6, Subject File, Intelligence Coordinating Group (1).↩
  5. See Document 53.↩