95. Memorandum for the File1

SUBJECT

  • Discussion with Attorney General Robert Kennedy, 2:45 P.M., 27 December 1961

[Here follows numbered paragraph 1 concerning an unidentified defector.]

2. McCone outlined in suitable detail the current thinking on changes in organization of the Agency,2 naming principally the reorganization of USIB; DCI as Chairman representing the President, not the Agency; DDCI as a member of USIB and the spokesman for the Agency; the FBI and NSA remaining as members; DIA to be the sole representative of the Department of Defense and members representing intelligence arms of Army, Navy, Air Force, JCS would drop off of the Board and the AEC member would be an ad hoc member to be called when matters of importance to AEC were up for consideration.

DCI would direct policy of the Agency and exercise extensive coordinating and supervising responsibility over the community. Arrangements would be made for the more thorough distribution of evaluated intelligence to interested government officials.

Deputy DCI would be the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency operating under policy guidance of the DCI. DDP would be divided into two divisions—one to cover conventional types of clandestine intelligence, the other scientific clandestine intelligence, each section to be headed by a Deputy Director. There would be some rearrangements of the functions of the DDI to insure proper dissemination of [Page 196] information estimates, etc., to USIB and the interested government agencies.3

3. With respect to personnel, McCone advised that General Cabell had submitted his resignation effective January 31st and that he would soon propose a name, or list of names, to the President as the new DDCI. McCone generally advocated promotion from within for means of securing continuity and raising the morale of the Agency and stated he had found many men of very great competence in the Agency to choose from. Alternatively, McCone pointed out that in view of his personal circumstances, the President may wish to appoint a man of greater public recognition than anyone presently in the Agency and that if this was the case, McCone would have at least one name to propose (certain names were discussed). Mr. Kennedy generally favored promotion from within as he, too, realized there was an important morale factor within the Agency which must be given consideration.

McCone advised that he intended to discuss this and other matters with the President in Palm Beach on Wednesday, January 3rd.

4. McCone then expressed the view that he had observed that both in the Eisenhower administration and this administration intelligence which was disseminated was not “getting through” and being used for both short-term and long-term policy planning. He gave as examples Syria, Tshombe-Adoula meeting, the Laotian situation, etc. McCone said that he felt the basic purpose in establishing the Agency was to provide a facility for placing current, evaluated intelligence in the hands of policy-makers, including the President, but that this Agency’s role had through the years been subordinated to operational activities. Mr. McCone said this had to be changed.

[Here follows paragraph 5 concerning General Edward G. Lansdale.]

John A. McCone4
  1. Source: Central Intelligence Agency, DCI (McCone) Files, Job 80–B01285A, Memoranda for the Record, 11/29/61–4/5/62. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by McCone.
  2. In an earlier meeting with Attorney General Kennedy on November 29, McCone discussed several organizational questions relating to the intelligence community. McCone’s memorandum for the record includes the following two paragraphs on this subject:

    “(6) [Kennedy] expressed agreement that DCI should exercise coordinating control and direct activities of the entire Intelligence Community, and operations of the Agency should be assigned to Deputy Director. Discussed, but made no comment, on possible legislation to create two distinct posts.

    “(7) McCone outlined his views on problem, including establishment Deputy Director as Agency general manager, have Deputy Director represent Agency on USIB so that Chairman would not represent Agency’s case in disputes before the Board, attach the Office of Coordination to the DCI, and possibly attach the National Board of Estimates to the DCI. Kennedy made no specific comments but indicated general approval.” (Ibid.)

  3. When McCone took up his duties as Director of Central Intelligence on November 29, he asked the CIA Inspector General, Lyman B. Kirkpatrick, to head a study of his role as Director of Central Intelligence, his relationship to the White House and other agencies, and the organization of CIA and the intelligence community. The President’s statement of January 16, 1962 (Document 99), was a result of the study. Subsequently McCone launched a reorganization of the CIA that called for the CIA Comptroller reporting directly to the Director of Central Intelligence and the creation of the positions of Deputy Director of Science and Technology and Executive Director. The Executive Director became the number three position in the CIA, responsible for internal management of the agency. In 1963 the positions of Executive Director and Comptroller were combined.
  4. Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.