in any propaganda and, therefore, will meet the standards relating to that. However, the provision which I previously cited departs from the charter insofar as it mentions promoting the cause of freedom in Cuba as well as providing news and other commentary about the events in Cuba and elsewhere. So I think what you are telling me is that which you told me earlier which I understand. The charter would constrain us from acting as a surrogate station for at least maybe 70 percent of the time, which is what this legislation apparently envisages, telling true things that promote the cause of freedom in Cuba. This is different from what normally we are permitted to do under the charter. Frankly, my assessment of what you just said and what I just said, I think, are in phase. But I am responding to your concerns, Senator, that we really understand what exactly is meant by this legislation so that an interpretation by us or anybody else does not raise issues that have not been foreseen in advance and hopefully resolved. Senator ZORINSKY. Fine. I would like to ask about the hiring of political people aside from the removal of Mr. Weinberger and the decision not to hire Ms. Zolinski what actions has the USIA taken to clear up the problem of nepotism? Mr. WICK. Well, we do not think there is a problem of nepotism. We sent you a 22-page response to delineate where we thought we had erred and where we thought we were acting properly. We have done nothing different from the last time, when I sent you that letter, in addressing ourselves to the fanciful allegations in the newspapers alleging 150 political appointees and the like. Senator ZORINSKY. Has USIA determined who wrote the job evaluation for Mr. Weinberger, Jr.? Mr. WICK. I think we have given you as much information as we know. It narrows down to almost nobody. Senator ZORINSKY. Did the USIA refer the case of former Deputy Director Robinson to the Justice Department for possible prosecution? Mr. WICK. We referred the internal investigation as a routine matter. Yes, we did. Senator ZORINSKY. What were the results of the Justice Department probe? Mr.WICK. The Justice Department determined that there was nothing there that was prosecutable. [The following material was subsequently supplied for the record :] It is my understanding that USIA has made, or is in the process of making, a series of political appointments to USIA posts that have historically been filled by members of the career service. I have received specific information indicating that the children or family friends of certain high Administration officials have been awarded, or are in line for, a number of particularly choice posts. These include Caspar Weinberger, Jr., son of the Defense Secretary, who is scheduled to go to Bonn as an Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer; Monica Clark, daughter of the National Security Advisor who is also scheduled to become an Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer in Bonn; Daniel Wattenberg, whose father is a Member of The Board for International Broadcasting and who is slated to become an Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer in Paris; Barbara Haig, the daughter of the former Secretary of State, who is an Assistant to the Counselor; a Mr. McFarlane, son of the NSC staffer, who is also slated for a political appointment; and Anne Collins, a family friend of the Clarks', who is scheduled to become Chief Cultural Affairs Officer in London. The London job is, I am told, generally considered the premier overseas posting for a Cultural Affairs Officer and has, in the past, been filled by the most experienced and senior cultural affairs officers. I understand Ms. Collins has little background of public service beyond jury duty. I would appreciate knowing the qualifications of Ms. Collins, Ms. Clark, Ms. Haig, 4/15/83 Charles Wick Page two I would also like to know if the appointments of Mr. Weinberger, Mr. Wattenberg, Mr. McFarlane, Ms. Clark, and Ms. Haig violate the letter or spirit of any antinepotism laws or regulations. I am also particularly interested in the prospective appointment of Jody Ann Zolenski as Cultural Affairs Officer in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. I understand Ms. Zolenski is currently a cashier at the Gourmet Food Emporium, a New York deli, and that her previous employment has been as a waitress, hostess, and restaurant manager. I would like to know what qualifications Ms. Zolenski brings to the Haiti position. I would also like to know how she happened to apply to be selected for this post. I would also like to see the resume of her predecessor. Finally, I would appreciate receiving the aggregate number of non-career appointments made to USIA jobs in this Administration. I would appreciate also having this list broken down by Directorate and office, as well as by type of non-career appointment (e.g. Presidential, Schedule, etc.). I would also like a comparison, broken down in the manner described, to non-career appointments of the previous Administration. I would appreciate your prompt response to this request. I feel it is essential that the Committee have this information in hand before it proceeds to consider the USIA budget request. United States Washington, DC 20547 April 19, 1983 Office of the Director Dear Senator Zorinsky: In the absence of Director Wick, I am responding to your letter of April 15 concerning noncareer appointments with the United States Information Agency. Only two of the individuals you mentioned in your letter are filling positions previously held by career employees of the Foreign Service. During the last administration, the Agency authorized the concept of appointing noncareer Cultural Affairs Officers. While a number of such appointments were contemplated, two were actually made, the CAO in Rome and the CAO in New Delhi, before the end of the administration. The present administration replaced those two officers with career Foreign Service Officers, and appointed noncareer Cultural Affairs Officers instead to London and Ottawa. With the exception of Miss Zolinski, all of the other individuals mentioned in your letter are filling new positions established since the last administration. You ask if these appointments violate any anti-nepotism laws or regulations. USIA is following policies on nepotism that are more stringent than those of many Federal Agencies, but no such laws or regulations prohibit the employment of relatives of other Federal employees in other agencies. The present administration has begun a number of major new initiatives (see enclosure) and has brought in new employees to meet those requirements. At the same time, the Agency has continued to fill 99 1/2% of its Foreign Service positions with career personnel. As a continuation of this policy, next month we will be bringing in the largest new class of career Junior Foreign Service Officers in several years. You asked for the background and qualifications of some recent and proposed noncareer appointees. That information follows: 1. Caspar Weinberger, Jr., is not in the Foreign The Honorable Edward Zorinsky United States Senate USIA 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Monica Clark has been selected to assist the Agency's Daniel Wattenberg is under consideration for appointment to a new junior noncareer position as assistant to the Public Affairs Officer in Paris. Mr. Wattenberg is a graduate in English of Columbia University, where he also studied French, and has experience as a writer and as an editorial research assistant. Anne Collins is a California business executive, a member of the National Council of the Metropolitan Opera and of the Los Angeles County Museum. She has long been interested in fostering educational exchanges. A cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, she has recently been an executive for public information programs of the Atlantic Richfield Company. As Cultural Affairs Officer in London, she will be one of two senior noncareer Cultural Affairs Officers in the world, the same number that had been appointed by the previous Administration. Barbara Haig serves as a noncareer, Schedule C GS-11 You also mention a Mr. MacFarlane, but the Agency She |