118. Action Memorandum From the Under Secretary of State for Management (Read) to Acting Secretary of State Christopher 1
SUBJECT
- Your Role vis-a-vis USIA and then the ICA
ISSUE FOR DECISION
What steps should be taken, if any, to formalize your role vis-a-vis USIA and then the ICA?
ESSENTIAL FACTORS
Existing State-USIA links are many and complex. For example S/P and USIA have recently agreed that USIA will assign an officer to S/P on nonreimbursable detail to improve general policy coordination and formulation between the two organizations.2 PA and USIA have formed a working group to improve operational policy guidance procedures principally for the VOA. M/MO is working with USIA, S/P, the geographic bureaus and the field to integrate USIA and Departmental programs and resources toward agreed ends. A number of State-USIA working groups have recently completed work on options for implementing the reorganization of CU and USIA (see attachment).3 [Page 342] And of course, there are many other State-USIA relationships involving the regional and functional bureaus in the Department.
It is important to note, however, that these linkages lack central coordination; although, M/MO has begun to move into that vacuum.
Such coordination will become more important when the ICA comes into being (probably on April 1, 1978) because we will have lost CU (a major present point of contact with USIA) and because the State-ICA relationship will be a new one based on reorganization plan language (“under the direction of SecState”) and legislative history which is highly generalized and contains considerable potential for misunderstanding and disagreement.
While there was general acceptance in the House and Senate of the need for “policy guidance” from the Secretary to the new Agency, it was also emphasized by some Members, particularly on the House side, that State should not exert day-to-day control over the operations, budget, or personnel system of the new independent Agency and the separate reporting channel between the ICA Director and the President was stressed. Clearly this leaves a large gray in between area (particularly abroad where the Chief of Mission enjoys some operational control over the activities of other agencies) and it is important to create a sensible, cooperative relationship in practice while personalities are compatible on both sides. For example, jurisdiction-minded officials in both organizations, if left to their own devices, could create all sorts of difficulties which could have long lasting effects.
The situation demands sensitive, coordinated management of State’s relationships with USIA/ICA (particularly the early identification and resolution of issues before they become major problems) at an authoritative level in the Department, if State-ICA relations are to be close and useful. It offers the chance to get off to a good start.
In my opinion, you should assume the formal responsibility for the management of State’s relationship with USIA/ICA on behalf of the Secretary. Obviously only the Secretary and you have the appropriate rank to do this.
Designation of a Seventh Floor principal is not enough to provide substantive backup for State’s responsibilities vis-a-vis other organizations. I suggest that responsibility for backstopping you in this new role be centralized in M/MO. We have the experience and capabilities there to integrate and staff the various policy, resource and other issues which will need to be followed on a fairly regular basis. Tasking M/MO with this duty would also permit me to resolve many issues without taking them to you—the pattern which now exists and which has worked fairly well during the reorganization process, surely a baptism of fire.
[Page 343]RECOMMENDATIONS4
1) That you assume the responsibility for managing State’s relationship with USIA/ICA.
2) That you assign the staffing responsibility to M/MO.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, P780040–2606. No classification marking. Drafted by Read and Mason. Printed from an uninitialed copy. A typed notation in the top right-hand corner of the memorandum reads: “PLEASE TREAT AS ORIGINAL OF MEMO.”↩
- See Document 106.↩
- Attached but not printed is an undated paper entitled “Steps Toward Establishment of the International Communication Agency,” drafted in CU and M. The paper indicated that the Department of State-USIA working groups (see footnote 5, Document 114) had completed reports on several topics and that decisions related to broader options would rest with the appointment of the “top management” in the International Communications Agency.↩
- Christopher initialed his approval of both recommendations on January 17.↩