DEPARTMENT OF STATE

WaslImiter D C. MO

11101MUM

SECRET/NOFOR! September 23, 1975

TO: Space Policy Working Group (See distribution)

FROM: State/PM - James E. Goodbyeje

SUBJECT: Press Guidance on the Rockefeller Commission

Report

The attached Q's and A's on the Rockefeller Commission

Report incorporate suggested changes to the original draft

guidance distributed at the working group meeting of

August 27.

While press interest appears to have been restrained

thus far, agencies are requested to draw upon this guidance

in responding to any inquiries on the subject. Questions

dealing primarily with the activities of another agency

may of course be referred to that agency.

Attachment

As stated

Distribution:

Capt. R. Curran, USN (JCS)

Dr. James Wade (OSD/ISA)

vLTC Coyle (SAF/SS)

Dr. Amrom Katz (ACDA)

Mr. Wreathan Gathright (S/P)

Mr. S. Nein Hosenball (NASA)

Dr. Sayre Stevens (CIA)

CA;

PM/NPO:GGOplinger/ri

9/22/75 X21835
•

O's and A's on Rockefeller Commission Report 

Q. What are the operational systems referred to by

the Rockefeller Commission?

. A.) We cannot describe any of the "operational" systems

for national security • reasons. The Presidential

directive is decigned, howeve to cover all classified waca

tinvolving overneald photograph

Q. The Commission's report refers to "aerial photography

systems"? Does that mean aircraft? Does it include

satellites?

A. We cannot comment on technical aspects.

Q. Did the CIA use photographic systems to spy on the

US? Was this another kind of "domestic spying"?

A. The Commission's report makes clear that photographic

systems were used. The Commission found no impropriety

'in their use. Such systems were not, in any event,

used to acquire data on individuals, which was the

main focus of the Commission's concern about CIA's

activities.

Q. The Commission's report says CIA doesn't operate

the systems any more. Who does?

A. That depends on the system, and we've already said

we can't go into technical aspects.

S. Q. Does Defense operate some •f the systems?

A. Yes.

Q. Does NASA?

A. _NASA does not optrate classifiecitverhead photographyjsy

L'he U-2 and RD p57 aircraft are n w being routinely

r used by NASA on an unclassified basis in support

of the civil earth resources survey programd

Q. Why does:the photography have to be classified?

•

A. Disclosure would adversely affect our security

interests by revealing (technical details)

(capabilities) (accuracy) (resolution).

SECRET
Q. Will the new interagency committee be in charge

of all classified photography of the US?

A. It will oversee civilian uses by Federal agencies

of classified photography of the US for domestic

purposes.

Q. Do US agencies have requirements for classified

photography of the US other than the kinds referred

to in the Rockefeller Report?

Q. Could these tests lead to the kind of improper

use the Commission wants to avoid?

A. No.

Q. Who will ensure that CIA will not improperly use

the results of the tests?

A. Presidential guidelines will be set and we are

confident they will be observed. As the Rockefeller

Committee Report indicated, the CIA has resisted

• requests for uses of this photography which it

judged to be law enforcement in nature.

Q. Is any of this info .lion available to private rsern?

A. Information produced may b4 made available to private

users; not the classified photography itself. The

Rockefeller report listed a number of examples of

such uses.

Q. Why can't the needs of civilian agencies be met

from unclassified sources?

A. A great many of their needs can be met in that way.

However, if classified photography can help them,

then the Commission thought it should be available.

This is a way of getting the most out of the taxpayer's

investment.

14. Q. The Commission seemed to favor a single program.

Is anything being done about that?•

A. That involves a number of complex questions which

are being studied. The Administration neither

endorses nor rules out that possibility at the

present time.
a •

• 15. Q. Can domestic agencies obtain classified photography

of other countries?

A. The Commission was concerned with activities within

the US, and the new committee will be concerned

with photography of the US. (I have •o comment on

photography of other countries.)

Q. Will the President's Science Advisor be involved

in the new interagency committee?

A. The establishment of new Science Advisor Office is

still pending.

Q. Would we make available classified data from our

classified system to a foreign requester?

A. We would not ordinarily provide classified photography of the US to a foreign requester unless

there were some significant mutual defense interest

involved.

Q. How can.the US justify running both an open and a

closed reconnaissance system?

A. We see no inconsistency in having classified ilysLzma

to meet national security needs and unclassified

systems to meet civil needs.

Q. How much better is classified photography than

unclassified?

A. We cannot comment on comparative technical capabilitic: