LETTER TO STROBE TALBOTT FROM GEORGE V. LAUDER RE ENSURE THAT RALPH DAVIDSON AN

Created: 5/8/1986

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

t Sere. -

central intelligence agency

WASHINGTON. O.OS

= -BLIC AFFAIRS6

86

Mr. Strobe Talbott TIME0 Connecticut Avenue

4 Strobe,

The Director asked me to ensure that Ralph Davidson and Henry Grunwald get copies of his speech to the American Society of Newspaper Editors. They are attached.

While therelear need for the administration to go after its leakersigorous way and for the Congress to do the same,eems to me the media has some responsibilities In this area, too. Attachedecentent to USA TOOAY. It wentnotthe newspaper's "circular file."

I have tried for twoalf years to bring the media to an understanding that this is their Intelligence service and that it helps protect the very freedoms the media enjoys. ave had some success. Nonetheless, with othersas been like peeingale. Thereot of arrogance out there and total contempt for the need to protect intelligence agents and unique technical collection systems which are extremely difficult to create and replace. These sensitive systems cost billions and it takes years to redo them in some novel way to circumvent the countermeasures our adversaries place in our way, thanks to the help that the media provides them. In the meantime, once they are compromised by the media we are deprived of the information they can provide on early warning, arms control, terrorism and other priority national intelligence needs.

This country canreecertainly needsa superb intelligence service. It needs that, too. We have to workIn the media and we in the intelligenceiron out our problems. Thatillingness to listen, not lecture. The media tends to be better at the latter than the former in iratters of this type.

Mr. Strobe Talbott

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The Agency had under consideration your request for the particulars of any complaint we might have against TIME. Before we could arriveecision as to how we should respond, Henry Grunwaldtatement to the press saying that the Agency would not provide TIME with the Information it requested. Since he appears to know everything, including what we are going to do in the Agency before we decide ourselves, perhaps we should let Ms omniscience take precedence over our decision-making process.

Sincerely,

George V. Lauder Director, Public Affairs

Original document.

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