</s>157-1004-10125 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 JFK ASSASSination System Date: 7/77/2015 Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY: SSCIA RECORD NUMBER: 157-1001-1014-0125 RECORD SERIES: MISCELLANEOUS RECOROS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTEE AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 07-M-31 AGENCY FILENUMBER: MISSELLANEOUSE RECORCS OF THECHURCH CONMITTEE ORIGINATOR: SSCIA Document Information FROM: TO: TITLE: DATE: PAGES: 03/10/1976 78 SUBJECTS: SSCGGO, METHODOLOGY COMMITTITE BUSINESS DOCUMENT TYPE: TRANSCRIPT CLASSIFICATION: Declasified RESTRICTIONS: IB: IC CURRENT STATUS: Redact DATE OF LAST REVIEW: 03/22/2000 OPENING CRITERIA: COMMENTS: CCBOX 324 1 NW 50955 DocId: 324235313 Page 1

Summary  
The documents detail congressional committee hearings and discussions regarding the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) use of media entities, religious figures, and proprietary organizations for covert operations. Key debates center on statutory restrictions to prevent CIA exploitation of American journalists, media outlets, and clergy for intelligence activities. Concerns include operational risks, press freedom implications, and legal accountability. Discussions reference historical cases such as Admiral Raborn’s involvement in facilitating CIA-owned airline sales, Dick Welch’s compromised cover identity, and the financial risks of proprietary entities like Air America. Recommendations focus on enhancing oversight, restricting former officials’ influence, and balancing transparency with secrecy. The Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (Church Committee) examines these issues, emphasizing reforms to prevent future abuses of covert operations.  

Key People  
- Senator Walter D. Huddleston (chairman)  
- Senator Gary Hart  
- Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (implied through context)  
- William G. Miller (Staff Director)  
- David Aaron, Joseph DiGenova, Lynn Davis, William Bader, Charles Kirbow, Rick Underfurth, Pat Shea, Elliot Maxwell, Al Quanbeck (Professional Staff Members)  
- John McCone (former CIA Director)  
- Richard Helms (former CIA Director)  
- Admiral Raborn (retired military officer)  
- Dick Welch (CIA station chief in Athens, Greece)  
- Eric Eisenstead (CIA official)  
- Ms. Culbreath  

Key Locations  
- Washington, D.C. (Senate hearing location; Capitol Building, Room S-407)  
- Athens, Greece (context for Welch’s case)  

Key Events  
- Senate Select Committee hearings on CIA media and religious cover usage  
- Debate over statutory prohibitions on CIA operational practices involving journalists, clergy, and proprietary entities  
- Examination of Admiral Raborn’s past involvement in facilitating CIA-owned airline sales  
- Analysis of Dick Welch’s compromised cover identity and its implications for operational security  
- Discussions on annual reviews of CIA proprietaries (e.g., Air America) and budgetary transparency  
- Proposals to restrict former officials’ influence and improve covert operation oversight  

Key Organizations  
- Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities (Church Committee)  
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)  
- U.S. Congress (specifically, the Committee on Foreign Relations and Oversight Committees)  
- Department of Defense  
- General Accounting Office (GAO)  
- Appropriations Committee  
- Fulbright Program (mentioned as a government-funded initiative)

JFK Declassified Files

157-10014-10125.pdf

Document Summary

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