Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XXXVIII, Part 2, Organization and Management of Foreign Policy; Public Diplomacy, 1973–1976

71. Minutes of a Meeting of the Committee on Foreign Intelligence¹

Washington, February 18, 1976, 3:30 p.m.

CFI–M–1

MEMBERS PRESENT

Mr. Robert F. Ellsworth, Deputy Secretary of Defense

Mr. William G. Hyland, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

ALSO PRESENT

Lieutenant General Samuel V. Wilson, USA, Deputy to the DCI for the Intelligence Community

Mr. E. H. Knoche, Associate Deputy to the DCI for the Intelligence Community

Mr. Richard Lehman, Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence

MEMORANDUM FOR THE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE

SUBJECT

• Draft Minutes of the 18 February 1976 Committee on Foreign Intelligence Meeting

1. The Chairman opened the meeting with observations and suggestions as reflected in the attached talking points.² He covered each point and invited the other members to react.

2. Mr. Ellsworth commended the Director’s remarks, saying that he welcomes the DCI’s acting as a Chairman of the Board with respect to national intelligence. DoD leaders, he said, have long felt that a strong national perspective is necessary for intelligence leadership. Noting the charge in the February Executive Order³ calling for the CFI to control budgets and resource allocation, Mr. Ellsworth said it will be important to work out arrangements to coordinate budget and resource cycles. For the CFI to get its job done, the strongest possible staff will be required and well-qualified DoD personnel are available for assignment to the IC Staff, which will serve the CFI.

3. Mr. Ellsworth noted the Executive Order requirement that the CFI establish policy priorities for collection and production of national intelligence. He was not entirely sure what this means and the subject will require further discussion as will the CFI responsibility to set “management policy” for national programs.

4. At this point, Mr. Bush referred to the explicit point that he and the CFI are relieved of responsibility for tactical intelligence resources. Following a discussion of the overlaps between national and tactical intelligence Mr. Ellsworth said he was prepared to assign DoD personnel to work with the DCI’s representatives on this problem.

5. Mr. Ellsworth asked who would preside over the CFI in the DCI’s absence. After some discussion of this, there was agreement that for the time being this would be the DDCI who becomes Acting DCI when the DCI is not at hand. (Chairman Bush referred to plans for there to be two Deputies—one for CIA and one for the Intelligence Community and when the latter is called for by law and Presidentially-appointed, the Community deputy would likely be the one to chair the CFI in the DCI’s absence.) There was agreement on the need to insure the best possible candidate for the Community deputy position and Mr. Ellsworth and Mr. Hyland were asked to provide Mr. Bush with some names to consider—and as soon as possible. Mr. Bush asked if each of the two CFI members will designate someone to attend CFI meetings if they are absent. Each said they would.

6. Mr. Ellsworth urged that the DCI, in his Community role, separate himself perceptibly and conceptually from CIA and Langley. Following a brief discussion the Chairman agreed to Mr. Ellsworth’s request that arrangements permit that personal representatives of CFI members be accredited to the IC Staff.

7. Mr. Hyland noted that the IC Staff will be reviewing NSCIDs and DCIDs to insure compatability with the Executive Order. He urged that a new series of CFI Directives (CFID) be issued beginning with those which can direct temporary arrangements pending development of more permanent machinery and procedures in the future.

8. Mr. Hyland foresaw an IC Staff which would concentrate on three primary areas: budgets, collection, and production evaluation. He emphasized that it is exclusively the DCI’s prerogative to arrange for the production of national intelligence. Mr. Hyland observed, however, that he believes it a matter of CFI concern to assess the value and utility of the intelligence product. In this respect, he noted that the National Security Council will conduct semi-annual reviews of intelligence and he urged that someone on the staff be designated to arrange materials and issues to be considered by the NSC. There was also some discussion of the OMB role in regard to CFI business.

9. There was general agreement that there is utility in considering amalgamation with the IC Staff of the key staff elements of the COMIREX, SIGINT and Human Resources Committees of what has been USIB, all of this in terms of providing maximum support to the CFI and its attention to national intelligence programs.

10. It was agreed that the CFI would meet frequently at the outset, the next meeting to take place at 1500 on 25 February.⁴ The CFI will consider draft directives at that time and further discuss matters of concern.

11. It was agreed that the IC Staff would undertake to develop agreement on an appropriate program and budget cycle (recognizing the sanctity of the DoD cycle) that will permit adequate time for CFI consideration of programs and budgets. In the process, definition of those programs under CFI purview will be made, all of this with an eye to providing the CFI with arrangements for its approval.

12. CFI members at this point met briefly in executive session, the meeting concluding at 1700 hours.

E.H. Knoche

1. Source: National Security Council, Ford Administration Intelligence Files, CFI/First Meeting, February 18, 1976. Secret; [classification marking not declassified]. Drafted by Knoche.
2. A list of Bush’s talking points is attached but not printed.
3. Document 70.
4. The minutes of the CFI’s second meeting, February 25, are in the National Security Council, Ford Administration Intelligence Files, Box I–018, CFI/Second Meeting, February 25, 1976)