Foreign Relations of the United States, 1977–1980, Volume XXX, Public Diplomacy

114. Memorandum From the Director of the United States Information Agency (Reinhardt) to all USIA Domestic and Overseas Personnel¹

Washington, December 13, 1977

The 60-day period in which Congress could act on Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1977² has now expired, without negative action. The House approved the Plan on November 29 by a vote of 357–34;³ the full Senate did not vote on it.⁴ The Plan, therefore, automatically becomes law. The new International Communication Agency will come into being on a date yet to be determined by the President, perhaps on April 1, but no later than July 1, 1978. A number of joint USIA/State/OMB working groups⁵ are hard at work developing options for dealing with the many issues which must be resolved in establishing the new Agency. We shall keep you informed of major progress as it occurs. In the meantime, we shall do our best to respond to your inquiries and we welcome your thoughts and suggestions with regard to the best means of organizing and operating the new Agency. We should all, of course, look upon this as an exciting challenge for the future, a rare opportunity to re-examine, improve and better coordinate the full range of activities to be undertaken by the new Agency. I trust we shall all approach the task at hand in a spirit of enthusiasm and collegiality and with full commitment to the mission for which the new Agency will exist.

John E. Reinhardt
Director

1. Source: National Archives, RG 306, USIA Historical Collection, Subject Files, 1953–2000, Entry A–1 1066, Box 43, United States International Communications Agency Reorganization, 1977–1978. No classification marking. On December 20, The Washington Post reported that the President intended to nominate Reinhardt as Director of the new International Communication Agency. (“Communications Choice Reported,” p. A9)
2. See Document 93.
3. On October 12, Brooks introduced H. Res. 827, a resolution to disapprove Reorganization Plan Number 2. On November 18, the Committee on Government Operations reported H. Res. 827 to the full House. The House rejected H. Res. 827 on November 29. (Congress and the Nation, 1977–1980, vol. V, p. 820)
4. On October 13, Ribicoff introduced S. Res. 293, the companion to H. Res. 827. On November 29, the Committee on Government Affairs reported S. Res. 293 to the full Senate. The Senate did not act on the resolution. (Ibid.)
5. A November 10 memorandum from Read and Curran to members of the Department of State and USIA working groups listed the eight working groups: “Organization of Educational and Cultural Activities;” “Organization of Policy, Planning, Coordination, and Program Development Functions;” “What Organizational Arrangements Should be Made for ‛Media’ other than those Provided for ‛VOA’ in Plan No. 2?;” “Organization of Area Offices and Washington-Field Relationships to Facilitate Adoption of the New Mission of the ICA;” “Adoption of Personnel Systems and Practices that are Commensurate with and Provide an Orderly Transition Toward the Requirements of the ICA;” “Administration;” “Budget;” and “Legal.” (National Archives, RG 306, USIA Historical Collection, Subject Files, 1953–2000, Entry A–1 1066, Box 43, USICA, Reorganization, 1974–1978) Copies of the working groups’ final reports are in the National Archives, RG 306, Office of the Director, Executive Secretariat, Secretariat Staff, Subject Files, 1973–1978, Entry P–116, 1977: Reorganization Folder 2.