Formation of the CIA and Background
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was formed in 1947 under the National Security Act of the United States. This Act provided the CIA, with the purpose of coordinating control over intelligence between the various branches of the military and federal government. The CIA then gained a specific mission in 1949, to monitor, evaluate and by necessary measures, to protect US interests and citizens abroad.
The Kennedy Administration
John Fitzgerald Kennedy was the 35th president of the United States, and during his term in office, the nature and use of the CIA underwent a significant transition. He was the first president to come from the baby boomer generation, thus contributing to his more progressive views and strategies towards foreign policy. Eisenhower, his republican predecessor, was more concerned and focused on Cold War ideology. Kennedy was more focused on how the US image could be changed and wanted a more responsible role in world affairs.
The Kennedy-Johnson Story
The transition from Eisenhower to Kennedy did not sit well with the power structure of defense, intelligence and state departments. The transition team was hostile to the CIA and this was only exacerbated when the head of the team was Robert Kennedy, the president’s brother. Robert Kennedy did not hide his feelings towards the agency and his appointment as the Attorney General served to undermine their operations. As the transition was taking place, Kennedy appointed Lyndon Johnson as the Vice President, who was an ally of the CIA.
Did JFK Try To Defund The CIA?
There has been much speculation surrounding the relationship between JFK and the CIA, and whether or not JFK attempted to defund the agency. Throughout his time in office, JFK had very public disagreements with the agency, leading to a strained relationship. Publicly, JFK refused to give in to the CIA’s demands and instead worked to create an atmosphere of open discussion and accountability through the establishment of several committees and task forces.
The most direct example of JFK’s attempt to defund the CIA occurred in 1961 when the president proposed cutting the agency’s annual budget. This proposal was met with immense resistance from Congress and the agency declared that such an action would be “devastating.” JFK ultimately conceded and agreed to leave the annual budget for the CIA largely unchanged.
In 1961, the agency had a budget of around $400 million, which was much higher than in prior years. This budget was meant to include costs associated with the agency’s operations, as well as their intelligence gathering activities. It is widely believed that JFK wanted to reduce the overall cost of government operations, including the cost of intelligence gathering.
However, Kennedy did not stop there. He looked to reorganizing the CIA, introducing the position of Director of Central Intelligence, which effectively reduced the power of the agency director. This move had the potential to drastically reduce their budgets and restrict their activities. In addition, the president appointed members of his own team to the CIA’s oversight committee, giving his administration much more influence over the agency’s activities.
The Watergate Scandal
In 1973, just a year after JFK’s assassination, the Watergate scandal broke. This scandal revealed that the CIA had been participating in a variety of illegal activities, including domestic surveillance and dirt digging used against political opponents. This led to a significant decline in public confidence in the agency and it was deemed necessary to restructure it to be held more accountable.
The Church Committee Investigations
In 1975, the Church Committee, which was appointed by President Gerald Ford, conducted a series of investigations into the activities of the CIA to determine if any laws were violated. The findings of this committee revealed that the CIA had engaged in a variety of illegal activities, ranging from assassination attempts to illegal wiretapping. As a result of these findings, the power of the agency was drastically curtailed and Congress passed the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which created strict regulations on how the agency could engage in its activities.
The Legacy of JFK’s Policies
The nature of the CIA has changed significantly since the Kennedy Administration. Now, their mandate does not include spying and interfering in the affairs of foreign countries, and the agency is subject to much stricter oversight by Congress. Although JFK did not successfully defund the agency, his attempts to increase accountability and limit its power have had a lasting effect on the CIA.
1962 Congressional Hearings
In 1962, Kennedy called on Congress to provide an oversight role for the CIA to prevent abuses and lack of accountability. In response to his request, Congress held public hearings, known as the Pike Committee, to investigate the activities of the agency and to ensure that their activities match US foreign interests. These hearings revealed a number of abuses of power and violations of US law, including efforts to overthrow governments in foreign countries. The Congress and Kennedy then agreed to a new set of limitations on the agency and its activities.
CIA Reforms in the 1980s and 1990s
In the 1980s and 1990s, Congress further tightened the regulations surrounding the CIA, including laws such as the Foreign Intelligence and Security Act of 1986 and the Intelligence Authorization Act of 1991. These laws restricted the agency’s activities and severely limited the way they could gather information. In addition, the Congress held several hearings to examine the activities of the agency and passed legislation requiring greater oversight and accountability
Public Perception of the CIA Today
Today, the public perception of the CIA has shifted dramatically from what it was in the 1960s. The passing of the aforementioned laws has helped to create an atmosphere of greater trust and accountability, and there is now much more scrutiny over the activities of the agency. Public opinion is more positive about the agency than it was in the past, as the agency has taken steps to become more transparent and accountable.
Conclusion of JFK’s Impact
It is clear that JFK had an immense impact on the nature and operations of the CIA. Although he did not manage to defund the agency, he did put into place several reforms that have had lasting repercussions on the way the agency operates. His calls for greater accountability and oversight gave Congress the power to ensure that the agency cannot abuse its authority and lead to a shift, in public perception of the agency, from distrust to trust.
