J. William Doswell
J. William Doswell | |
|---|---|
| Chief of the Office of External Affairs | |
| In office 1981–1982 | |
| Appointed by | William J. Casey |
| Simultaneous position | Legislative Liaison of the Central Intelligence Agency |
| Preceded by | Frederick Hitz |
| Succeeded by | Clair George |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 13, 1927 Richmond, Virginia |
| Died | August 22, 2020 Richmond, Virginia |
| Alma mater | Washington and Lee University |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
John William "Billy" Doswell was an American journalist, lobbyist, and intelligence professional. He graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the final months of World War II.[1]
His life as a journalist included stints at the Richmond Times-Dispatch and the Richmond News Leader.[1] For over 20 years, he worked in public relations and as a government affairs consultant in Richmond and would often be seen at the Virginia General Assembly.[1]
In 1981, the Director of Central Intelligence, William J. Casey appointed Doswell as the Director of the Office of External Affairs.[2] Upon receiving the job, the director told him "Billy, we're going to be a no-profile agency."[3] In this role, Doswell oversaw the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) interactions with Congress, the media, and the public, simultaneously serving as the Legislative Liaison.[4][5]
References
- ^ a b c "John Doswell Obituary (2020) - Richmond, VA - Richmond Times-Dispatch". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
- ^ "BILL CASEY AT THE CIA HELM: QUIETLY IN CONTROL | CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov)". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
- ^ Isikoff, Michael (April 28, 1983). "Keeping the Lid on Tight At the 'No-Profile Agency'". Washington Post.
- ^ Snider, L. Britt (2008). The Agency and the Hill : CIA's relationship with Congress, 1946-2004. Internet Archive. Washington, DC : Center for the Study of Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency. ISBN 978-1-929667-17-8.
- ^ "Paisley v. C.I.A, 712 F.2d 686 | Casetext Search + Citator". casetext.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2025-02-27.