C.I.A. HEAD RESIGNS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31091, 21 June 1966, Page 15

C.I.A. HEAD RESIGNS

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) WASHINGTON, June 20. President Johnson has announced the resignation of Admiral William Raborn as director of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, and said he would be succeeded by his deputy, Mr Richard Helms. This was the big surprise at a news conference. He sandwiched word of Admiral Raborn's departure among routine changes recited at the start of the 35minute session. The President said the resignation was accepted “with regret.” There had been reports of unhappiness at high levels within the C.I.A. about Admiral Raborn’s direction of the agency.

Admiral Raborn, a stocky 61-year-old Texan, succeeded Mr John McCone as head of the C.I.A. in April last year. He was the Navy director of research, in charge of teams

developing the Polaris missiles, before he retired in 1963.

The President explained in answer to a question that Admiral Raborn had originally taken the post for a limited period. Departure of the admiral as head of the C.I_A. had been rumoured on many occasions. There have been published reports, without any official confirmation, that President Johnson was not satisfied with his performance. Mr Helms is the third man to head the C.I.A. since Mr Allan Dulles, brother of the late Secretary of State, Mr John Foster Dulles, retired from the job during the Kennedy Administration.

Admiral Raborn graduated from Annapolis NavSl Academy in 1928 and in 1934 became a naval pilot After World War H, in which he served in the Pacific, he switched to guided missiles research and development