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Approved For Release 2008/11/06: CIA-RDP04M01816R000502010009-4 14 The Department's investigation has not definitively established whether Presidents Kennedy and Johnson were aware of the East Coast Project. President Eisenhower authorized Allen Dulles to brief President-elect Kennedy on all signifi~ . cant intelligence operations conducted by the CIA and other intelligence agencies. President-elect Kennedy met with Mr. Dulles on several occasions during and after the transi- tion period to discuss such operations, but the Department has not been able to determine whether the East Coast Project was covered during the briefings. In 1965, prompted by hearings held by Senator Edward V. Long concerning possible legislation to abolish mail covers by federal agencies, a high CIA official learned that President Johnson apparently had not been briefed on the East Coast Project and "gave instructions that steps should be taken to arrange to pass (information concerning the project) through McGeorge Bundy to the President after the (Long) Subcommittee has completed its investigation." Mr. Bundy does not recall being informed of the East Coast Project. and no documentary record that indicates such instructions were carried out has been found. Richard Helms testified that he believes he may have advised President Johnson of the East Coast project in the spring of 1967 at a meeting during which the President requested information concerning sensitive CIA operations. Again, no direct evidence corroborating or refuting Mr. Helms' statements has been located. A roved For Release 2008/11/06: CIA-RDP04M01816R000502010009-4