CIA Reading Room cia-rdp66b00403r000100370021-6: CONGRESSIONAL POLYGRAPH HEARINGS (10 APRIL 1964 )

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Approved For Release 'rbS/04/21 : CIA-RDP66B00403R000100370021-6 SUBJECT: Congressional Polygraph Hearings (10 April 1964) 1. Army completed testimony this morning; presentation by Provost Marshal, Chief/Provost Marshal School, and Chief/Poly- graph School. Committee hostile; one member expressing opinion polygraph is mumbo-jumbo similar to blood-letting and witchcraft; states that no information has been introduced during sessions to indicate otherwise. Spoke of Executive Branch and Legislative Branch obtaining sample reports, charts, etc. , from Government agencies and examining in light of professional competence. De- nounced lack of proper instructor qualification in fields of medicine psychology and lack of same in examiners. 2. Chairman Moss extremely concerned that individuals submitting to polygraph are not specifically advised that they are watched by 2-way mirrors or that they are being recorded or monitored; considered this supreme invasion of privacy and insisted that Army should amend regulations to require that this be done before any interview takes place. ~`Exc~ac'.~d Sr~^~ zaioTatl. Approved For Release 2005/0..iPP66B00403R000100370021-6 3. Discussed use of polygraph in Vietnam. Will later hold executive session over Army reply. Apparently Army has used both portable standard polygraph and toy Galvannometer of questionable reliability. 4. General outcome this morning poor for polygraph. As you said, the Committee members are now experts. It expressed concern that CID school teaches only modified Backster technique and limits course to less than six months as recommended by Reid. 5, Committee pinpointed the lack of requirements for representatives from other Government agencies attending the CID polygraph school. Pointed out that high school graduate from Post Office with no investigative experience or training or training in psychology or physiology could be admitted and graduated. 6. Although Army CID and Provost Marshal representatives limited their testimony to criminal cases, it is obvious from long dissertations by Committee members that the use of polygraph in screening for loyalty, etc. , is their major concern. CID was re- quired several times to deny the using of polygraph in other than criminal situations. A Committee member expressed the belief that the use of polygraph by Government condones its use by private business. SECRET Approved For Release 2005/d4ff21 : CIA-RDP66B00403R000100370021-6 7. Morning session ended with rehash of statements that polygraph seems limited to an unethical use of psychological pressure and has no scientific or legitimate use above the level of leeches and blood-l etti.ng. S. Coiuinittee meets at Z p, m. , to hear Navy who have apparently been sandbagged by statements today by Arn y that. it is impossible to teach polygraph in less than seven weeks and by Reid's statement, impossible less than six months. Approved For Release 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP