Knowledge Tree
Director of Central Intelligence
Also known as: DCI, Directors of Central Intelligence
Facts (55)
Sources
The Evolution of the U.S. Intelligence Community-An Historical ... govinfo.gov 46 facts
claimPresident Nixon's November 1971 directive reconstituted the United States Intelligence Board to assist the Director of Central Intelligence, established an Intelligence Committee of the National Security Council to coordinate intelligence activities, and created an Intelligence Resources Advisory Committee to advise on the consolidated intelligence budget.
referenceThe 1949 Dulles-Jackson-Correa report called upon the DCI to exert "forthright leadership" and to actively use existing coordination bodies, such as the Intelligence Advisory Committee (IAC), to establish estimates as "the most authoritative statement[s] available to policymakers."
accountThe first national estimate regarding Soviet intentions and capabilities was produced in 1946 at the behest of the President during the tenure of Lieutenant General Hoyt Vandenberg as Director of Central Intelligence.
claimThe Inspector General of the Central Intelligence Agency reported to the Director of Central Intelligence, but could only be removed from office by the President of the United States.
claimIn November 1971, President Richard Nixon issued a directive requiring the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) to be responsible for planning, reviewing, and evaluating all intelligence programs and activities, as well as the production of national intelligence.
claimThe Commission on CIA Activities Within the United States recommended the creation of a joint congressional oversight committee, a stronger executive oversight mechanism, the disclosure of the CIA budget to some extent, the appointment of two confirmed deputy directors (one for management, one for military advice), and a 10-year term limit for the Director of Central Intelligence.
claimRear Admiral Roscoe Hillenkoetter served as the Director of Central Intelligence at the time the Central Intelligence Agency was created.
claimIn 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the United States Intelligence Board as the single forum for intelligence chiefs to provide advice to the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) on intelligence activities, following a recommendation from the Board.
claimOn 24 January 1978, President Jimmy Carter issued an Executive Order on intelligence that reaffirmed the Director of Central Intelligence's authority over priorities, tasking, and the budget; restricted collection techniques, domestic activities, and human experimentation; and reiterated the ban on assassinations.
claimDirector of Central Intelligence (DCI) James Woolsey issued disciplinary measures against CIA officers involved in the Aldrich H. Ames case that were perceived by the public and Congress as relatively mild, leading to an erosion of confidence in the CIA.
claimIn 1949, the U.S. Congress passed legislation granting the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) unique administrative authorities for clandestine activities, including the ability to procure goods and services without standard government procurement rules and to expend funds based solely on a voucher signed by the DCI.
referenceThe Intelligence Organization Act of 1992, enacted as part of the Intelligence Authorization Act for 1993, legally defined the Intelligence Community for the first time, established the three roles of the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), defined the DCI's authorities and responsibilities regarding other Intelligence Community elements, and articulated the Secretary of Defense's responsibilities for executing national intelligence programs.
claimThe report recommended that if a military officer was appointed as Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), the officer should resign their military commission to ensure independence from service ties and rotations that would otherwise preclude the continuity needed for intelligence work.
referenceThe National Security Council accepted the basic findings of the 1949 Dulles-Jackson-Correa report, which concluded that the CIA was not coordinating intelligence activities in the government, correlation and evaluation functions were not well organized, other members of the Intelligence Community were not fully included in the estimates process, and the DCI lacked sufficient day-to-day contact with the work of the CIA.
claimThe United States Intelligence Board, established in the 1950s as the primary advisory body for the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), was utilized inconsistently by different DCIs based on their individual interest in community management.
accountLieutenant General Walter Bedell Smith, who became Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) following the start of the Korean War, implemented recommendations from the Hoover and Dulles-Jackson-Correa reports by recruiting Allen Dulles as Deputy Director for Plans and establishing a Board of National Estimates chaired by William Langer of Harvard University.
claimThe National Security Act of 1947 established the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with the Director of Central Intelligence as its head.
claimAllen Dulles, who became Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) in 1953, did not appoint a Chief of Staff because he maintained an active interest in the daily operations of the CIA.
claimThe Intelligence Advisory Board, established by President Truman's 1946 directive, consisted of civilian and military heads of intelligence agencies tasked with advising the Director of Central Intelligence.
referenceThe 1949 Dulles-Jackson-Correa report recommended that the DCI reorganize his office to include the heads of the CIA's main components on his immediate staff to ensure effective coordination and planning.
claimExecutive Order 11905 established a Committee on Foreign Intelligence within the National Security Council, chaired by the Director of Central Intelligence, to serve as the focal point for intelligence policy and resource allocation.
claimWilliam Casey, who later became Director of Central Intelligence (DCI), was reportedly the principal author of the conclusions regarding the Intelligence Oversight Board and PFIAB.
accountPresident John F. Kennedy did not endorse the recommendation to separate the Director of Central Intelligence from the CIA, but in January 1962, he issued a letter to DCI John McCone directing him to delegate detailed agency operations to his principal deputy to focus on his primary task as Director of Central Intelligence.
referenceThe Intelligence Committee was chaired by the National Security Advisor and consisted of the Attorney General, the Under Secretary of State, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI).
claimThe Clark task force recommended that the CIA reorganize internally to focus on primary missions and that the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) appoint a Chief of Staff or executive officer to manage daily operations.
claimU.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War, efforts to block Communist expansion in Laos, and conflicts in the Middle East, such as the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War of 1967, precluded Directors of Central Intelligence from asserting greater control over the Intelligence Community.
claimThe National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) was designated a separate operating agency of the Department of Defense, reporting to the Secretary of Defense, while the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) retained a role in selecting key personnel and maintained substantial control over the organization's budget, requirements, and priorities.
claimThe Church Committee recommended separating the Director of Central Intelligence from the CIA, enhancing the Director of Central Intelligence's authority over the Intelligence Community, establishing statutory charters for the CIA, DIA, and NSA, publishing the National Foreign Intelligence Budget, and prohibiting clandestine support to repressive regimes that disregard human rights.
claimThe legislation establishing the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) position allowed the President to appoint either a civilian or a military officer, but mandated that if a military officer were appointed, they would be removed from the control of their parent military service.
claimThe Senate Select Committee on Intelligence was given the responsibility for handling confirmation proceedings for the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) and the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence (Deputy DCI) when nominated by the President.
claimThe Senate committee developed the 'National Intelligence Reorganization and Reform Act of 1978' in 1978, which proposed creating a 'Director of National Intelligence' with broader powers than the Director of Central Intelligence to lead the Intelligence Community.
claimPresident Ronald Reagan appointed William Casey, a veteran of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), as the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) and elevated the position to cabinet rank.
accountIn 1988, following the election of President George Bush, who was a former Director of Central Intelligence, Congress received assurances that the Iran-Contra affair would not be repeated and that appropriate consultations would occur regarding future covert actions.
claimThe Schlesinger report recommended that the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) should have a stronger management role, specifically by creating a consolidated budget for the Intelligence Community and overseeing its execution to control costs and improve quality.
accountDuring Rear Admiral Sidney Souers' tenure as Director of Central Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Group (CIG) played a limited analytical role because Souers was reluctant to challenge the analytical product of the State Department's Interim Research and Intelligence Service (IRIS).
quoteAs head of the Central Intelligence Agency, while you will continue to have overall responsibility for the Agency, I shall expect you to delegate to your principal deputy, as you may deem necessary, so much of the detailed operation of the Agency as may be required to permit you to carry out your primary task as Director of Central Intelligence.
claimThe Commission on the Organization of the Government for the Conduct of Foreign Policy recommended that the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) be given greater status in the White House, delegate responsibility for running the CIA to a deputy, occupy an office closer to the White House, and that the CIA be renamed the Foreign Intelligence Agency.
claimPresident Gerald Ford issued Executive Order 11905 on 18 February 1976, which provided the first public description of the Intelligence Community and the authorities and responsibilities of the Director of Central Intelligence and other agency heads.
claimIn July 1961, the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board proposed to President John F. Kennedy that the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) be separated from the CIA and lead an Office of Coordination in the White House.
procedureUnder the Intelligence Organization Act of 1992, the Secretary of Defense was required to consult with the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) before appointing the Directors of the National Security Agency (NSA), the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), and the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).
claimPresident Truman appointed Sidney Souers as the first Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) in January 1946.
claimRear Admiral Sidney Souers served as the first Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) and held the position for six months.
procedureThe National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) utilized the special procurement authorities of the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) to expeditiously procure and operate satellite collection systems for the Intelligence Community.
accountNavy Secretary James Forrestal successfully argued against the proposal to make the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) a member of the National Security Council, claiming the Council would be too large to function effectively and that the DCI would have sufficient access without formal membership.
claimThe National Security Act of 1947 made the Director of Central Intelligence responsible for protecting intelligence sources and methods from unauthorized disclosure.
claimLegislative proposals introduced in 1984 that would have mandated a fixed term for the Director of Central Intelligence and Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, and required them to be career intelligence officers, failed to pass.
History of the Central Intelligence Agency - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org 9 facts
claimThe CIA possessed the unique capability within the US government to make "off the book" payments, which required authorization from the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI).
claimThe Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) formerly oversaw the entire United States Intelligence Community, served as the President's principal intelligence advisor, and headed the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
claimJohn McCone, the Director of Central Intelligence, compared South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem to a bad pitcher, asserting that it would be unwise to remove him from power unless a better replacement was available.
accountWilliam Colby's tenure as Director of Central Intelligence ended following the event known as the 'Halloween Massacre'.
accountThe 9/11 Commission Report was completed in June 2005 and released to the public following an agreement with the U.S. Congress, despite objections from then-Director of Central Intelligence Michael Hayden.
measurementDuring his 17-week tenure as Director of Central Intelligence, James Schlesinger terminated the employment of more than 1,500 CIA employees.
accountGeorge H. W. Bush replaced William Colby as Director of Central Intelligence.
accountIn a recorded meeting in the Oval Office on June 23, 1972, President Richard Nixon discussed Richard Helms, the Director of Central Intelligence, in a conversation with H. R. Haldeman.
claimThe Office of Reports and Estimates (ORE) produced the Daily Summary and the Weekly Summary as its main publications, alongside Intelligence Highlights for internal use and Intelligence Memorandums for the Director of Central Intelligence.