William Colby

William Egan Colby , born on January 4th, 1920, deceased on April 27th, 1996, often called Bill Colby, was the director of the CIA of 1973 to 1976.

Born with Saint Paul (Minnesota), William Colby had a long career in the medium of the Renseignement. During the Second world war, he is member of the teams “Jedburgh” of the OSS in which he binds friendship with in particular Paul Aussaresses; he was parachuted in France and carried out also sabotages in Norway against the German occupant.

He joined the CIA shortly after his creation. He becomes thereafter Chef of station of the CIA to Saigon and person in charge of most of the operations of the CIA carried out during the Guerre of Vietnam, in particular the implementation of very discussed Programme Phoenix intended to break the infrastructure of the Viêt-Cong and person in charge of died of thousands of people.

A little later in 1973 he becomes director of the operations of the CIA, then in September of the same year he becomes director of “the agency”, following the resignation of Richard Helms and the duties taken over temporarily by Schlesinger.

This position will make that it will have in particular to testify in front of the Commission Church to the Congrès to the United States, created in 1975 following the Scandale of Watergate for enquéter on the illegal activities of the CIA since its creation. Colby will collaborate well with the commission, contrary to its predecessor Richard Helms. Under its direction the CIA undergoes important reforms required by the American capacity, in particular the introduction of a parliamentary control. Colby will oblige also James Jesus Angleton in 1974 to resign of its station of against-espionage following the revelation in the press of the illegal operation of opening of the mail of American citizens ordered by this one.

In 1976, Colby is replaced with the head of the CIA, the instigation of Henry Kissinger, by George Bush.

Colby is deceased the April 27th 1996 near its house with Rock Not in Maryland, apparently following an accident of boat. Its body will be found the May 6th, with a score of meter of its canoe. The investigation concluded that Colby had died by drowning after being fallen from its canoe following a heart attack. Its tomb is with the national Cimetière of Arlington.

Various Théorie of the plot of dead less natural was evoked, amongst other things calling upon the fact that the body of Colby did not carry the life jacket which it usually used according to his friends, and which the zone surrounding the canoe had been excavated very often in the days following its disappearance before it is found.

Random links: