Office of the Historian

111. Memorandum From President Carter to the Chairman of the Intelligence Oversight Board (Farmer)1

Washington, December 8, 1980

The first conclusion I draw from your report2 is that the IOB has functioned effectively during my term of office. I am grateful to you and the other members of the Board for all that you have done.

The recommendations in your report in some cases deal with sensitive and complex issues about which opinions are sharply divided. I believe that decisions on these issues should be reserved for the incoming administration to make for itself. I favor continuation of the IOB, and I have been very satisfied with the way it has worked. Whether additional procedures are required is a question that I will leave to my successor.3

Jimmy Carter
  1. Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Subject File, Box 29, Intelligence Oversight Board, 1/78–12/80. No classification marking.↩
  2. The IOB’s report to the President, 1977–1980, is in the Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Staff Material, President’s Intelligence Oversight Board, Box 3, Matting 11/19/80.↩
  3. At the bottom of the memorandum, Carter wrote, “Tom—Please express my personal thanks and admiration to other members & staff for their superb work—J.”↩