Author Description

This is a study of the CIA's relationship with Congress. It encompasses the period from the creation of the Agency until 2004-the era of the DCIs (directors of central intelligence). It does not describe what occurred between the Agency and Congress in chronological order nor does it purport to describe every interaction that occurred over the period encompassed by the study. Rather it attempts to describe what the relationship was like over time and then look at what it produced in seven discrete areas. The principal objective in undertaking this study was not so much to describe as to explain-to write something that would help CIA employees better understand the Agency's relationship with Congress, not only to help them appreciate the past but to provide a guide to the future. About the Author: Mr. Snider's career in the federal government spanned 30 years, split almost evenly between the legislative and executive branches.