208. Editorial Note

On February 28, 1975, Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs William D. Rogers informed Secretary of State Henry D. Kissinger of congressional efforts to investigate past Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) covert operations in Latin America. Noting that such investigations could have “the gravest consequences” on U.S. policy in the region, and that “Chile would perhaps be the most colorful copy,” he concluded, “we must have some modus vivendi that will allow us to cooperate in the legitimate concerns of the Congress and still avoid the severe damage to our position in Latin America that more revelations and acknowledgements of past questions will entail.” (National Archives, RG 59, Central Foreign Policy File, 1975, P830122–0662)

On July 1, 1975, Senator Frank Church (D–Idaho) informed Deputy National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft that the Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence) would investigate cases of “covert para-military operations and covert political action operations.” With regards to Chile, Church stated that the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence would primarily examine “those covert action programs intended to affect the outcome of the 1964 and 1970 Chilean elections, as well as activities undertaken between 1970 and 1973 in Chile, and the rationale for these activities.” (Letter From Church to Scowcroft, July 1; Ford Library, National Security Adviser, NSC Information Liaison with Commissions and Committees Files, Box 6, Authority to Conduct Covert Actions.)

The Committee decided to hold open, as opposed to executive, sessions on CIA covert action in Chile from 1964. The administration was divided as to whether to support the Committee’s intent to hold open hearings. Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research William G. Hyland argued that if the administration cooperated with the Committee, the administration could “ride out as quickly as possible this adverse period which should end shortly and thus get the hearings behind us.” (Memorandum From Marsh to Ford, October 31; ibid., March Files, 1974–1977, Box 59, SSC–Chile) Since the Committee planned to hold open hearings in any event, if the administration supported open hearings, Director of Central Intelligence William E. Colby could publicly state that the nature of covert activity was to support the Chilean democratic process. In addition, if the administration cooperated with the Committee in holding open sessions, the administration could limit the release of the names of Chileans who had worked with U.S. covert operatives.

However, Counsel to the President Philip W. Buchen, Counselor to the President John O. Marsh, and Attorney General Edward H. Levi, [Page 575] Colby, and Scowcroft demurred. They argued that an open session would set a bad precedent, while having a “shattering effect on the willingness of foreign political parties and individuals to cooperate with the U.S. in the future on such operations.” Ford decided to advocate holding executive sessions. (Memorandum From Marsh to Ford, November 1, ibid., President’s Handwriting File, Box 3, National Security–Intelligence) Therefore, CIA officials did not participate in the public hearings regarding covert action in Chile. (Letter From Rogovin to McFarlane, November 4; ibid., Raoul–Duval Files, Box 31, CIA–Covert Activities)

In a November 19 Department of State staff meeting chaired by Kissinger, the Secretary asked Rogers about the impact of the release of the reports of the congressional investigations on inter-American relations. The Assistant Secretary replied the Latin American nations would respond, “‘What kind of country is this? How can you do business with people like this who spill their guts all over the place?’” Later in the conversation, Kissinger summed up the impact of the reports as “a national disgrace.” (Minutes of Secretary of State’s Staff Meeting, November 19; National Archives, RG 59, Transcripts Kissinger Staff Meetings, Lot 78D443, Box 9, Secretary’s Staff Meetings)