Barrett, David
M. "Glimpses of a Hidden History: Sen. Richard Russell, Congress, and
Oversight of the CIA." International Journal of Intelligence and
Counterintelligence 11, no. 3 (Fall 1998): 271-298.
The focus here is Russell's and Congress' relationship with the CIA during the Eisenhower presidency. The author concludes that "[t]here can be no doubt that Russell was powerful in relation to the CIA; the question that remains largely unanswered is the extent to which he exercised that power." In the absence of the release of relevant records by the government, "[t]he well-known contention that no effective congressional oversight of the CIA existed in this and other parts of the 'era of trust' is not yet proven."
Cogan,
Charles G. "Covert Action and Congressional Oversight: A Deontology."
Studies in Conflict and Terrorism 16, no. 2 (Apr. 1993): 87- 97.
Conner,
William E.
1. "Congressional Reform of Covert Action Oversight Following the Iran-Contra Affair." Defense Intelligence Journal 2, no. 1 (Spring 1993): 35-64.
The author examines the legislative history of the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 1991, "the most extensive intelligence oversight legislation in over a decade," to show that "compromise between Congress and the President can yield practical solutions to difficult, yet profound, national security issues."
2. Intelligence Oversight: The Controversy Behind the FY 1991 Intelligence Authorization Act. AFIO Intelligence Profession Series, No. 11. McLean, VA: Association of Former Intelligence Officers, 1993.
Surveillant 3.4/5: This was the "first significant remedial intelligence oversight legislation in more than a decade." It reflects a "compromise between Bush and Congress as a solution to thorny national security issues."
3. "Reforming Oversight of Covert Actions after the Iran-Contra Affair: A Legislative History of the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 1991." Virginia Journal of International Law 32 (Summer 1992): 871-928.
Conner, William
E.. "Snider Discusses Hill Access to Intelligence." National
Security Law Report 20, no. 1 (Winter 1998): 1, 8, 11-12.
Report on remarks by L. Britt Snider, 15 January 1998, Washington, DC. At the time, Snider was Special Counsel to the DCI; he later served as CIA Inspector General.
[DeConcini,
Dennis [Sen. (D-AZ)].] "April Breakfast Remarks: DeConcini Responds
to Gates Remarks on Oversight." National Security Law Report 15,
no. 5 (May 1993): 1-5. [Text]
Gates,
Robert M. "Strengthening Congressional Oversight of Intelligence."
National Security Law Report 15, no. 2 (Feb. 1993): 1-5.
Text of speech given 18 February 1993 at meeting organized by the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Law and National Security in Washington, DC. Associated coverage of question and answer session published as: National Security Law Report. Editors. "Gates Opposes CIA Role in Industrial Espionage or Active Law Enforcement." 15, no. 2 (Feb. 1993): 1, 5-6.
Glennon,
Michael J. "Congressional Access to Classified Information." Berkeley
Journal of International Law 16, no. 1 (1998): 126-137.
Gumina, Paul. "Title VI of the Intelligence Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1991: Effective Covert Action Reform or 'Business as Usual?'" Hastings
Constitutional Law Quarterly (Fall 1992): 149-205.
According to Lowenthal, this article examines the new reporting requirements for covert actions included in the referent act. The author argues that these requirements are "firmly rooted in the Constitution and in past Congressional acts regarding oversight."
Hastedt,
Glenn P., ed. Controlling Intelligence. London: Frank Cass, 1991.
According to Surveillant 1.2, "[c]hapters cover: the development of the CIA in a historical perspective; a critique of current safeguards against abuse by the CIA; the production of intelligence estimates; controlling intelligence defined as covert action; controlling intelligence defined as counter-intelligence; and the final chapter looks at Canadian government efforts to control intelligence."
For Lowenthal, the book includes "some useful essays on some of the problems related to managing analysis, operations, and counterintelligence." However, a Choice, Dec. 1991, reviewer sees this book as "conceptually and materially flawed," but adds that it "has some value for college libraries." Herman, I&NS 6.4, notes that the book contains "more description than evaluation," and suggests "more dissent and wider coverage" would have been welcome.
Jackson,
William H., Jr. "Congressional Oversight of Intelligence: Search for
a Framework." Intelligence and National Security 5, no. 3 (Jul.
1990): 113-147.
Lowenthal describes this as an analysis of "the political dynamics, institutional arrangements and shifting values and interests that have determined the extent and level of congressional oversight since the creation of the modern Intelligence Community."
Johnson,
Loch K.
1. "The CIA and the Question of Accountability." Intelligence and National Security 12, no. 1 (Jan. 1997): 178-200.
Clark comment: Johnson is arguably the foremost academic writer on the subject of intelligence accountability. His views, however, have been irreducibly influenced by his service on the Church Committee staff. While this gives his work a sameness of tone and viewpoint, it does not diminish the value of his thoughts. His basic argument here is that the investigations of 1975 and the reforms that flowed from them have made the CIA "a part of the government's usual checks and balances," that the resulting increase in accountability is a good thing, and that Congress remains a necessary -- and clearly, constitutionally mandated -- part of maintaining democratic oversight of intelligence activities.
See Stephen Knott's counterargument: "Executive Power and the Control of American Intelligence," Intelligence and National Security 13, no. 2 (Summer 1998): 171-176. Johnson responds in, "Intelligence and the Challenge of Collaborative Government," Intelligence and National Security 13, no. 2 (Summer 1998): 177-182.
2. "The Evolution of CIA Accountability." American Intelligence Journal 16, no. 1 (Spring/Summer 1995): 43-46.
Johnson "grades" the CIA's exposure to external review from the legislative, executive, and judicial branches on a scale of "high," "moderate," and "low" for the years 1947-1994.
3. "The Role of Congress in U.S. Strategic Intelligence." American Intelligence Journal 11, no. 3 (Jul. 1990): 41-45.
4. "A Conversation with Former DCI William E. Colby: Spymaster during the 'Year of the Intelligence Wars.'" Intelligence and National Security 22, no. 2 (Apr. 2007): 250-269.
This "previously unpublished interview ... was conducted in 1991." It is well worth reading.
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