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i, why Lie aa 1 : aa a, 1% 4 Laan Se ee eee ee + = 4 2 a al ran a people as well, and to substitute in his place someone of the FBI's selec- tion or someone who stood in the FBI's favor? Can you think of any . justification for such activity on the part of a law enforcement agency ft Mr. Avas, I can’t think of any offhand ; no, sir. The Crarruan, Neither can I. Senator Tower? | Senator Tower. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. What is your understanding of the underlying causes of the feud between Mr. Hoover and Dr. King? . ; ‘Mr. Apawe, Senator Tower, I feel if we got into any discussion of 7~ ‘that, I think we would have to take into consideration certain material which feel should not be disclosed publicly, and I would respectfully ask that a question of motive of Mr. Hoover and the spat with Mr. King should be discussed in executive session, if at all. ; Senator Tower. In 1965, Attorney General Katzenbach was in- formed by Mr. Hoover of the Bureau’s surveillance of Dr. King. What was the Attorney General's reaction? What was his position once he was informed by Mr. Hoover of this surveiliance? Mr. Apa. I don’t recall having seen it. . Senator Tower. In other words. did the Attorney General give any direction to the Bureau in the matter that you know of? . Mr. Apass. Yes. sir. I Mfow that. of course, on the wiretapping on Martin Luther King. it was approved by the Attorney General. I know that the President of the United States and the Attornev General spe- cifically discussed their concern with Dr. King over Communist in- fluence on him. I do know there was concern, but I don’t tie in this date, 1965. . Senator Tower. Do you know whether or not Mr. Hoover ever sought direct authorization from Mr. Katzenbach for this very sensi- tive surveillance of Dr. King? Mr. Apama. I don’t know. Attorney General Kenriedy approved the actual surveillance that was instituted on Dr, King. I don’t know of any correspondence between Attorney General Katzenbach-—— Senator Tower. Or any personal communication between them that would have indicated the level of the Attorney General's involvement? Mr. Apams. No. If my recollection serves me correctly, as far as Attorney General Kennedy was concerned, he requested coverage on Dr. King. The Bureau responded with a request in writing, which is our normal procedure. He declined to approve that request. and then we came back later, a few months later. and requested it again, at which time he did approve. That is my recollection of that. Senator Tower. Why did the Attorney General change his mind! Do you have any ides. or is that arain a matter of sensitivity? Mr. Avams. I don’t know why he actually changed his mind from originally requesting. then declining when it was submitted, and then approving it on the second go-round. It may be in the files. If it is, I would be glad to see what I conld determine. Senator Tower. If you could, we would like to have that. [See foot- note, p. 21. Mr. Apams. Yes,sir, | Senator Tower. Mr. Adams. vou have been familiat with the Bu- reau’s domestic intelligence work for many years. How did the Bureau come to launch the COINTELPRO, and what in essence did COINTELPRO accomplish? ea