Changes

From the start isolationists warned of the danger that the CIA might become an out-of-control "American [[Gestapo]]" like the [[National Socialism|Nazi]] secret police, which could trample American civil liberties. On the other side was fear of a nuclear Pearl Harbor without warning.  

From the start isolationists warned of the danger that the CIA might become an out-of-control "American [[Gestapo]]" like the [[National Socialism|Nazi]] secret police, which could trample American civil liberties. On the other side was fear of a nuclear Pearl Harbor without warning.  

In general [[United States Congress|Congress]] deferred to the [[White House]] until the 1970s on intelligence matters. Only a few members of a few select committees had any legislative oversight; they kept floor debate and written records to a minimum. Congress supported covert action, even though Roscoe Hillenkoetter (DCI 1947–50) and Walter Bedell Smith (DCI 1950–53), both military men, showed little interest. [[Dwight David Eisenhower|President Eisenhower]], by contrast, demanded more covert activities and Allen Dulles (DCI 1953–61) obliged.  

In general [[United States Congress|Congress]] deferred to the [[White House]] until the 1970s on intelligence matters. Only a few members of a few select committees had any legislative oversight; they kept floor debate and written records to a minimum. Congress supported covert action, even though Roscoe Hillenkoetter (DCI 1947–50) and [[Walter Bedell Smith]] (DCI 1950–53), both military men, showed little interest. [[Dwight David Eisenhower|President Eisenhower]], by contrast, demanded more covert activities and Allen Dulles (DCI 1953–61) obliged.  

Congressional support for more aggressive policies increased throughout the 1950s.  Congress took its oversight responsibilities seriously and even challenged the CIA when an alarming intelligence failure, such as when the CIA failed to predict the Soviet acquisition of the atomic bomb (1950), the [[Korean War]] (1953), the [[Hungarian uprising]] (1956), or the [[U-2 Incident|U-2 downing]] (1960). Eisenhower discouraged Congressional probes of agency activities, but Dulles, sometimes gained Congressional support by leaking bits of information to influential congressmen.<ref>David M. Barrett, ''The CIA & Congress: The Untold Story from Truman to Kennedy'' (2005)</ref>

Congressional support for more aggressive policies increased throughout the 1950s.  Congress took its oversight responsibilities seriously and even challenged the CIA when an alarming intelligence failure, such as when the CIA failed to predict the Soviet acquisition of the atomic bomb (1950), the [[Korean War]] (1953), the [[Hungarian uprising]] (1956), or the [[U-2 Incident|U-2 downing]] (1960). Eisenhower discouraged Congressional probes of agency activities, but Dulles, sometimes gained Congressional support by leaking bits of information to influential congressmen.<ref>David M. Barrett, ''The CIA & Congress: The Untold Story from Truman to Kennedy'' (2005)</ref>