What is the 'Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949'?

What is the 'Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949'?

Ronald Kessler (Author of "The Terrorist Watch: Inside The Desperate Race To Stop The Next Attack") gives expert video advice on: What role did President Harry S. Truman play in the formation of the CIA?; How did President Truman form the CIA?; How did President Truman shape the CIA? and more...

The act of 1949 laid out the CIA's basic authorities and authorized it to conduct these secret operations. That was a very unusual thing in this democracy, to have an agency that is answerable directly to the President and can do all of these activities in secret. It was a very far-sighted thing to do at that time.