[abecedarius]

We have a secret police now: what else do you call an organization that secretly collects information against the nation's own citizens to be secretly passed along for 'parallel construction'? That kept this policy itself a secret? Theoretically it's as a byproduct of foreign intelligence-gathering, not a primary function, but this frog feels the pot to be plenty hot already.

[mirimir]

I agree, except for "now". That's clear from Bamford's books. For example, federal charges against the Weather Underground Organization were dropped in late 1973 after a screwup in parallel construction. In 1973, hardly any civilians had ever heard of the NSA (aka "No Such Agency") and they wanted to keep it that way.