several problems associated with employing walk-ins as spies. For
one thing, determining the bona fides of a walk-in is difficult and so
the volunteered information is suspect. Adversary intelligence ser-
vices also sometimes have employed walk-ins as double agents to
test defenses and capabilities and to spread false information.WALTERS, VERNON ANTHONY (1917–2002). General Vernon
Walters was the deputy director of central intelligence (DDCI) dur-
ing the administrations of Richard M. Nixonand Gerald R. Ford.
Walters joined the U.S. army in 1941, retiring in 1976 as a lieutenant
general. In the intervening years, he had a colorful government career.
In the early years of the Cold War, Vernon Walters was aide to
Averill Harriman; accompanied President Harry S. Trumanto a
meeting with an insubordinate General Douglas MacArthur during
the Korean War; shuttled with President Dwight D. Eisenhowerto
a series of summit meetings; and served as translator to Vice Presi-
dent Richard M. Nixon during his goodwill tour of Latin America in- Later, as a military attaché in Paris, General Walters reportedly
borrowed a private airplane from French president Georges Pompi-
dou to smuggle Henry A. Kissingerin and out of France for clan-
destine meetings with North Vietnamese negotiators. President
Richard M. Nixon appointed Walters to be deputy to Director of
Central Intelligence (DCI)Richard Helmsin 1972.
In 1981, President Ronald Reaganappointed General Walters as
ambassador at large and, in 1985, named him to be U.S. ambassador to
the United Nations. President George H. W. Bushappointed General
Walters U.S. ambassador to West Germany in 1989. Fluent in several
languages, General Walters served as translator to many U.S. presi-
dents and was one of America’s more experienced intelligence officers.
WAR POWERS RESOLUTION.Passed by Congress on 7 November
1973, the War Powers Resolution sought to reaffirm congressional
authority in decisions regarding war and peace and in the use of
American armed forces abroad. Under the terms of the resolution, the
president can introduce U.S. forces into hostilities only after a decla-
ration of war, upon specific statutory authorization, or in a national
emergency created by an attack on the United States or its forces.
However, it requires the president to consult with Congress before in-216 • WALTERS, VERNON ANTHONY05-398 (2) Dictionary.qxd 10/20/05 6:27 AM Page 216