CIA in White House: Issue being probed, says Ford
He expressed confidence that the facts would become known as a result of his own efforts, the expected inquiry by Congress and digging by the American press.
Mr. Ford was replying to questions at a news conference here. Asked about alleged CIA penetration of the White House and other Government departments, Mr. Ford replied: 'As far as I know personally, there are no people presently employed in the White House who have relationships with the CIA of which I am personally unaware.'
Mr. Ford's denial came at the end of a week which heard allegations, during a Senate Committee Inquiry into alleged illegal activities of the CIA, that the Agency had men within the White House.
One report had linked Alexander Butterfield, a former high-ranking White House official to the CIA, but Mr. Ford said there was no precise information on this.
Mr. Butterfield disclosed to the committee looking into the Watergate scandals that Presidential conversations at the White House had been taperecorded.
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