Selected U.S. Senate Proceedings and Debates on Intelligence, 1966-1976

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Intelligence

  • Senator Mondale voices his support for Senator McCarthy's (D-MN) resolution to establish a Select Committee on Intelligence Operations; he expresses concern that the Central Intelligence Agency's interference in foreign elections will affect the United States' foreign policies: "How is such a desirable policy [a democratic government] affected in its execution by the fact that we are in some places using bribery to influence the outcome of elections? Will they not do as we do, not as we say?" 89th Cong., 2nd sess., Congressional Record 112 (May 25, 1966): 11477-11478.
  • In response to President Ford's statements concerning the role of the CIA in Chile, Senator Mondale introduces Senate Resolution 404, to establish a Select Committee on Intelligence Policy: "Clearly, what is required is a new special body, with membership from both Armed Services and Foreign Relations, as well as membership outside of those bodies, which can dig into the urgent issues of what our overseas intelligence operations are for, how they are managed, and how they can really serve the American people." The measure is referred to the Committee on Armed Services. 93rd Cong., 2nd sess., Congressional Record 120 (September 17, 1974): 31362-31364.
  • Debate and passage of Senate Resolution 21 (introduced by Senator Pastore, D-RI), establishing the Select Committee to Study Government Intelligence Activities; The measure is passed and Senator Mondale is assigned to the committee. 94th Cong., 1st sess., Congressional Record 121 (January 27, 1975): 1416-1434.
  • Senator Mondale discusses the report of the Rockefeller Commission on CIA activities: "[A]s laudable as some of the recommendations are, many of the others are either inadequate or ... contradict basic lessons provided by the Commission's own findings—particularly with respect to protecting our constitutional rights. In some cases, the recommendations are little more than pious requests for the President and the CIA to obey the law. In others, the recommendations would go far to legalize the very abuses the Commission deplores. Moreover, the recommendations systematically disregard the necessity of involving the Congress in defining the role and responsibilities of the Central Intelligence Agency." 94th Cong., 1st sess., Congressional Record 121 (June 26, 1975): 21038-21041.
  • Senator Church (D-ID) introduces Senate Resolution 218 for himself and the other members of the Select Committee to Study Government Intelligence Activities, extending the original end date and allocating additional funds. The measure is passed July 31. 94th Cong., 1st sess., Congressional Record 121 (July 24, 1975): 24592-24594.
  • Senator Clark (D-IA) submits a speech given by Senator Mondale at Denison University, in which he addresses problems in the government's intelligence activities and suggests reforms. 94th Cong., 1st sess., Congressional Record 121 (October 9, 1975): 32871-32874.
  • Senator Mondale does not support George Bush's nomination to be the Director of Central Intelligence due to his concern that Mr. Bush will be more focused on campaigning for an elective office rather than attending to the duties required of the Director of the CIA. 94th Cong., 2nd Sess., Congressional Record 122 (January 27, 1976): 1156-1173.
  • Senator Mondale voices his support of S. 2893, establishing a standing Senate Committee on Intelligence Activities (introduced in January by Senator Church, D-ID). He submits his statement before the Senate Government Operations Committee addressing the Ford administration's aguments against the bill: "I begin my discussion of the administration arguments against S. 2893 with the following premise: Intensive Congressional oversight and the development of statutory restrictions on the domestic intelligence agencies, indeed the whole intelligence community, are essential to the preservation of our democracy. I assume there will be minimal risks to the effectiveness of the intelligence agencies through more intensive oversight, but I firmly believe that the risk to democratic principles in the absence of such oversight clearly outweighs any risk to the national security." The bill is referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. 94th Cong., 2nd Sess., Congressional Record 122 (February 18, 1976): 3532-3534.
  • Senator Mansfield (D-MT) introduces Senate Resolution 400 for himself and others, including Senator Mondale; the resolution establishes a Standing Committee of the Senate on Intelligence Activities. 94th Cong., 2nd Sess., Congressional Record 122 (March 1, 1976): 4754-4758.
  • Senator Cannon (D-NV) proposes Amendment No. 1643 to Senate Resolution 400, establishing a Standing Committee of the Senate on Intelligence Activities; the amendment consists of several compromises to the original Resolution. 94th Cong., 2nd Sess., Congressional Record 122 (May 12, 1976): 13678-13695.
  • Senator Mondale speaks in support of Senate Resolution 400, establishing a Standing Committee of the Senate on Intelligence Activities: "The Senate confronts today what can only be called a historic challenge: whether our unique system of constitutional checks and balances, the hallmark of American Government, will be applied to a crucial area of Government activity—the conduct of intelligence operations at home and abroad. This is a vital area: intelligence affects the basic security of the Nation. Equally important, as we found, it can affect our fundamental constitutional rights—the rights that make Americans unique among the peoples of the world. The question is whether the Senate will at last establish effective legislative oversight over the multibillion-dollar U.S. intelligence community." 94th Cong., 2nd Sess., Congressional Record 122 (May 13, 1976): 13973-13990. (Mondale at 13977)
  • Senator Mondale disagrees with an amendment to Senate Resolution 400, introduced by Senators Stennis (D-MS) and Tower (R-TX), which would severely limit the jurisdiction of the proposed Standing Committee on Intelligence Activities. He quotes Madison's Federalist Paper No. 51, underscoring the need for "auxiliary precautions" and ends his statement by saying, "Secrecy, yes. Unaccountability, no. That is why we simply must have full jurisdiction in this oversight committee." 94th Cong., 2nd Sess., Congressional Record 122 (May 17, 1976): 14152-14157. (Mondale at 14157)
  • Debate on Senate Resolution 400 and the Stennis-Tower Amendment; the amendment is rejected. A substitute amendment introduced by Senator Cannon (D-NV) is debated and agreed to. Senate Resolution 400, known as the "Cannon Compromise," is agreed to. The resolution establishes a permanent Select Committee on Intelligence "with exclusive legislative and annual or biannual authorization jurisdiction over the CIA and the Director of Central Intelligence, shared sequential jurisdiction over other national intelligence activities, including significant anticipated activities, and the right to disclose information over the objection of the President, given concurrence of the full Senate." 94th Cong., 2nd Sess., Congressional Record 122 (May 19, 1976): 14643-14679.

Speeches & Publications Submitted