November 1, 1975

State Sec H A Kissinger tells HR Select Intelligence Com that during his more than 6 yrs as natl-security adviser to 2 Pres, no covert intelligence operations were undertaken by US without Pres approval; ex-State Dept aide James Gardner testified on Oct 30 that between '72 and '74 some 40 covert operations were approved by Natl Security Com's 40 Com, whose members never held formal meeting; Kissinger says Gardner was 'mistaken' if he meant to imply that these operations were not passed on personally by Pres Nixon; Kissinger's appearance before com is result of its unresolved dispute with him over access to State Dept policy information; he declines to discuss covert intelligence operations; dispute centers on Kissinger's refusal to supply com with memo in which middle-level diplomat criticized State Dept's handling of its responses to aspects of invasion of Cyprus by Turkey last yr; com votes to continue Kissinger's testimony in exec session; Repr J P Johnson says some of undercover intelligence made known to com thus far amounts to 'possible violations' of US laws; Repr R V Dellums charges that Kissinger failed to share with other agencies 'essence' of his conversations with internatl leaders; Repr O G Pike comments (L)

15-yr-old youth, identified only as Rodney L, has been sentenced to up to 18 mos in rehabilitation center; law, Rodney L could have been sentenced to juvenile reformatory in Elmira, NY, for up to 3 yrs or to state training school for up to 18 mos; lenient sentence is passed because it was defendant's 1st conviction and because he had been described as 'a good boy with good grades in school' and judge was reluctant to send juvenile to security facility; outrage over sentences noted (M)

NYS is suspending its plans for all new housing construction and rehabilitation it had hoped to finance over next 5 yrs because of worsening financial crisis; about 42,000 apts in 147 proposed projects are involved, virtually all for low- and moderate-income families; over half the apts were proposed for NYC; West Side Urban Renewal Area will be especially hard hit by freeze; action by NYS Div of Housing and Community Renewal marks what many consider final blow to publicly assisted housing in NYS; housing div officials feel even if voters approve $250-million state bond issue to finance housing for elderly, there is major doubt that bonds can actually be sold; NYS Housing Comr Lee Goodwin, explaining suspension of projects, cited problems of NYS Housing Finance Agency; list of 7 projects proposed for West Side Urban Renewal Area that are affected by freeze (L)

US Amb in Beirut sends his family to Athens and encourages 39 wives and children of Amer officials still in Lebanon to leave (M)

David Packard, chmn of Pres Ford's campaign finance com, resigns following reptd dispute over his approach to fund raising; is 2d ranking campaign official to resign within month; Lee Nunn's departure recalled; resignations seen underscoring difficulty Ford appears to be having getting his campaign under way; many Repub officials claim Ronald Reagan is ahead of Ford in terms of organization in several key primary states; unnamed campaign official claims there were differences' about Packard's preoccupation with amassing contributions of $1,000, despite fact that only first $250 is eligible for Fed matching funds (M)