EXCERPTS OF REMARKS BY GEORGE BUSH DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE BEFORE THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CALIFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00901R000100040011-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 10, 2001
• Sequence Number: 11
• Publication Date: July 23, 1976
• Content Type: SPEECH

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EXCERPTS OF REMARKS
BY
GEORGE BUSH
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
BEFORE
THE COMMONWEALTH CLUB OF CALIFORNIA
JULY 23, 1976
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LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING OF THE MECHANISM THAT HAS
BEEN CREATED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT TO GATHER AND PRODUCE
INTELLIGENCE, AS YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE SECOND WORLD WAR --
AND SPECIFICALLY PEARL HARBOR -- WHICH FOCUSED AMERICAN
ATTENTION ON THE NEED NOT JUST FOR INFORMATION, BUT FOR
A UNIFIED, NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE, BEFORE THE
WAR, WE HAD WHAT COULD BE CALLED DEPARTMENTAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT HAD MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, THE NAVY
DEPARTMENT HAD NAVAL INTELLIGENCE, AND SO ON,
BUT IN TODAY'S TERMINOLOGY, NO ONE WAS "GETTING IT
TOGETHER," ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HAVE LED AN
ANALYST TO CONCLUDE THAT JAPAN INTENDED TO ATTACK PEARL
HARBOR WAS AVAILABLE IN WASHINGTON, BUT IT WAS NOT IN
ONE PLACE FOR AN ANALYST TO STUDY; IT WAS INSTEAD IN
SEPARATE BITS AND PIECES CAREFULLY CONTROLLED BY EACH
DEPARTMENT,
AFTER THE WAR, IT WAS CLEAR THAT AMERICA REQUIRED
CONTINUING INTELLIGENCE ON DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS ABROAD
AND THAT A CENTRAL ORGANIZATION WAS NEEDED TO ENSURE THAT
WE HAD ALL OUR FACTS TOGETHER AND WOULD NEVER AGAIN BE
CAUGHT BY SURPRISE,
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IN 1947, PRESIDENT TRUMAN SIGNED INTO LAW THE
NATIONAL SECURITY ACT WHICH CREATED THE CENTRAL
INTELLIGENCE AGENCY. THE AGENCY WAS INTENDED TO BE --
AND IS -- THE CENTRAL POINT FOR PRODUCING NATIONAL
INTELLIGENCE, THAT IS, INTELLIGENCE PRODUCED TO SERVE
NATIONAL POLICYMAKERS AND INTELLIGENCE OF INTEREST TO
MORE THAN ONE DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY,
THE AGENCY WAS NOT INTENDED TO TAKE OVER THE VERY
VALID FUNCTIONS OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTAL INTELLIGENCE
ORGANIZATIONS, THOSE ORGANIZATIONS EXIST TODAY AND ARE
ESSENTIAL PARTS OF THE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES THEY SERVE,
THE NATIONAL SECURITY ACT ALSO CREATED THE POSITION
OF DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE -- THE DCI. THE DCI
IS THE NATION'S SENIOR FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER AND
THE PRESIDENT'S PRINCIPAL ADVISOR ON FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE,
IT WAS INTENDED THAT THE DCI SHOULD WEAR TWO HATS: ONE
AS DIRECTOR OF THE CIA AND THE OTHER AS HEAD OF THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.
IN THE EARLIEST DAYS, THE DCI TENDED TO CONCENTRATE ON
HIS ROLE AS HEAD OF THE CIA. BUT OVER THE YEARS, AS THE
PROBLEMS WE FACED ABROAD GREW IN COMPLEXITY, SO., TOO., DID
THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. PEOPLE AND RESOURCES IN ALL OF
THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY INCREASED,
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IN 1971, THE PRESIDENT INSTRUCTED THE DCI TO TAKE A
MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN COORDINATING THE RESOURCES-AND
ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMUNITY, IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS WE
HAVE MADE MAJOR STRIDES IN BUILDING A TRUE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY -- WITH A CAPITAL I AND A CAPITAL C. THE
COMMUNITY NOW CONSISTS OF THE CIA; THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY; THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY; AND THE INTELLIGENCE
COMPONENTS OF THE MILITARY SERVICES, THE DEPARTMENT OF
STATE, THE FBI, THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, AND THE ENERGY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION,
IN FEBRUARY, AS YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER, PRESIDENT
FORD ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT STRENGTHENED THE DCI'S
ROLE AS THE LEADER OF THE NATION'S INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY,
THAT ORDER ALSO DIRECTED NEW ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
TO STRENGTHEN THE DCI`S MANAGEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY,
THESE NEW ARRANGEMENTS HAVE MADE SOME VERY IMPORTANT
CHANGES, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE JUST A MINUTE TO OUTLINE
SOME OF THEM, I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO
UNDERSTAND THESE RELATIONSHIPS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT THE
MISSION OF YOUR INTELLIGENCE SERVICE AND TO REPOSE TRUST
AND RELIANCE IN THE MANNER IN WHICH WE CONDUCT OURSELVES
AND OUR BUSINESS.
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A COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN INTE G ENCE, WHICH I CHAIR,
HAS BEEN CREATED BY THE PRESIDENT, IT CONTROLS BUDGET
PREPARATION AND RESOURCE APPLICATION FOR THE ENTIRE
NATIONAL FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE PROGRAM. IT MANAGES OUR
INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES AND ESTABLISHES POLICY FOR THE
COLLECTION AND PRODUCTION OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE,
AN OPERATIONAL ADVISORY GROUP HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED
TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PRESIDENT CONCERNING SPECIAL
INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL FOREIGN
POLICY OBJECTIVES -- THAT IS, COVERT ACTION. THE GROUP
ALSO REVIEWS AND APPROVES SENSITIVE INTELLIGENCE COLLECTION
OPERATIONS, THE MEMBERS OF THIS BOARD INCLUDE THE ASSISTANT
TO THE PRESIDENT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS, THE
SECRETARIES OF STATE AND DEFENSE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT
CHIEFS OF STAFF, AND THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE.
IN RESPONSE TO THE INVESTIGATIONS OF U.S. INTELLIGENCE
ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY THE ROCKEFELLER COMMISSION AND BY
THE SENATE AND HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEES, THE PRESIDENT ALSO
HAS CREATED AN INTELLIGENCE OVERSIGHT BOARD OF THREE PROMINENT
PRIVATE CITIZENS, THIS BOARD RECEIVES AND CONSIDERS REPORTS
BY THE INSPECTORS GENERAL AND GENERAL COUNSELS OF THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY CONCERNING ANY ACTIVITIES THAT RAISE
QUESTIONS OF LEGALITY OR PROPRIETY, IT IS THE BOARD'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND THE
PRESIDENT ARE PROPERLY ADVISED,
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IN ORDER TO ENABLE ME TO DEVOTE MORE ATTENTION TO
FORMULATING AND CARRYING OUT POLICIES FOR THE COMMUNITY,
THE PRESIDENT ALSO HAS DIRECTED THAT I HAVE TWO DEPUTIES,
ONE IS RESPONSIBLE TO ME FOR THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION OF
THE CIA AND THE OTHER IS RESPONSIBLE TO ME FOR ACCOMPLISHING
MY ROLE AS HEAD OF THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY. LEGISLATION
TO ESTABLISH THESE POSITIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE NEAR
FUTURE,
HAVING GIVEN YOU THE OUTLINE OF THE INTELLIGENCE
COMMUNITY AND OF ITS CONTROL MECHANISM, LET ME SPEAK VERY
BRIEFLY ABOUT THE SPECIFIC ROLE OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY. THE CIA IS THE NATION`S RESOURCE FOR PRODUCING
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, AND IT TRULY IS A NATIONAL RESOURCE OUR TRAINED, SKILLFUL, AND IMAGINATIVE ANALYSTS ARE A WEALTH
BEYOND PRICE.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PROVIDE US TODAY WITH MEANS OF
COLLECTING INFORMATION THAT IS BEYOND THE WILDEST IMAGININGS
OF EVEN A FEW YEARS AGO, YET DESPITE THE MIND-BOGGLING
ADVANCES MADE IN THIS AREA, THERE IS STILL AN ESSENTIAL NEED
FOR INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE. TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED PEOPLE
ARE NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE INFORMATION THAT IS ONLY AVAILABLE
THROUGH ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGEABLE FOREIGN OFFICIALS AND TO THE
PLANS AND INTENTIONS OF FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS THAT MAY BE
ADVERSE TO U.S. INTERESTS,
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I AM A COMPARATIVE NEWCOMER TO THE INTELLIGENCE
BUSINESS, BUT I HAVE BEEN IMMERSED LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE
NO HESITANCY IN SAYING TO YOU THAT THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY IS AN ORGANIZATION OF WHICH THE ENTIRE NATION CAN
BE PROUD,
ON MY WAY HERE TODAY, I WAS REMINDED OF SOMETHING THAT
WAS WRITTEN BY JOHN BUCHAN IN 1940, A TIME OF DESCENDING
DARKNESS ON EUROPE AND THE FREE WORLD, WHEN GREAT BRITAIN
STOOD VIRTUALLY ALONE AGAINST THE SEEMINGLY IRRESISTIBLE
ENEMY, JOHN BUCHAN, AS YOU REMEMBER, IS THE FAMILY NAME OF
LORD TWEEDSMUI R, THEN GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA AND ALSO
AUTHOR OF SOME NOW CLASSIC TALES OF ESPIONAGE AND ADVENTURE,
JOHN BUCHAN WROTE THEN:
"THE UNITED STATES IS THE RICHEST, AND, BOTH
ACTUALLY AND POTENTIALLY, THE MOST POWERFUL STATE
ON THE GLOBE, SHE HAS MUCH, I BELIEVE, TO GIVE
TO THE WORLD; INDEED, TO HER HANDS IS CHIEFLY
ENTRUSTED THE SHAPING OF THE FUTURE, IF DEMOCRACY
IN THE BROADEST AND TRUEST SENSE IS TO SURVIVE, IT
WILL BE MAINLY BECAUSE OF HER GUARDIANSHIP, FOR,
WITH ALL HER IMPERFECTIONS, SHE HAS A CLEARER VIEW
THAN ANY OTHER PEOPLE OF THE DEMOCRATIC FUNDAMENTALS."
THAT WAS WRITTEN IN 1940, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, AND
SURELY IT IS AS TRUE TODAY AS IT WAS THEN, TO BE SURE,
MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED, LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT
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WE DID DISCHARGE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AFTER WORLD WAR II.
LARGELY BECAUSE OF OUR OWN POLICIES AND ACTIONS, WE ARE
NO LONGER IN THE POSITION OF FOOD SUPPLIER TO THE FREE
WORLD; WE ARE NO LONGER IN THE POSITION OF THE REBUILDER
AND SUPPORTER OF WAR-SHATTERED ECONOMIES OF THE WORLD; AND,
LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE SUCCESS OF OUR POLICIES, WE HAVE
RELINQUISHED WHAT TOLERANCE WE HAD FOR BEING THE WORLD'S
POLICEMAN,
BUT THE WORLD IS NOT YET SUCH AS WE WOULD WANT IT TO
BE. MAYBE IT NEVER WILL BE. IT CERTAINLY IS NOT LIKELY
TO BECOME A UTOPIAN WORLD WITHIN OUR LIFETIME OR EVEN IN
THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, AND WHILE WE ARE STRIVING TO
MAKE OUR CONTRIBUTION TO A WORLD OF PEACE AND SECURITY
AND TRUST, WE FIND THAT WE STILL NEED -- QUITE CONSISTENT
WITH THIS STRIVING -- TO HAVE NATIONAL SECURITY SECOND TO
NONE IN THE WORLD.
IN PEACE, PRESIDENT FORD HAS SAID, THERE IS NO
SUBSTITUTE FOR INTELLIGENCE. IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE
COUNTRY THAT WE LOVE AND THE SYSTEM OF FREEDOM IN WHICH WE
BELIEVE, WE MUST ABOVE ALL HAVE KNOWLEDGE, KNOWLEDGE OF
WHAT THE INTENTIONS ARE OF THOSE THAT WOULD WISH US HARM,
KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT POTENTIAL FOR DOING US HARM THEY MAY
POSSESS. WE NEED THAT KNOWLEDGE TO PROVIDE IT TO THOSE
WHO MAKE POLICY FOR OUR NATION SO THAT WE MAY BE PREPARED
WITH POLICIES AND ACTIONS OF OUR OWN, AND SO THAT WE MAY
ADOPT POLICIES AND ACTIONS THAT PROTECT AND PROMOTE OUR
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NATIONAL INTERESTS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF PEACE AND
SECURITY, AND, HOPEFULLY, TRUST, FOR THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE
TO ACTING ON THE BASIS OF KNOWLEDGE IS ACTING ON THE
BASIS OF IGNORANCE AND THAT IS NOT WHAT WE WISH FOR OURSELVES,
EITHER IN OUR PRIVATE LIVES OR IN OUR INTERNATIONAL DEALINGS,
THE ONE ELEMENT OF THE PROFESSION OF INTELLIGENCE,
THAT ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN
RELATIONS, THAT HAS TROUBLED US AS CITIZENS OF A FREE
NATION IS THE NECESSARY -- INDEED, ESSENTIAL -- ELEMENT OF
SECRECY THAT IS INHERENT IN OUR PROFESSION. IT IS NO WONDER
THAT EVEN THE VERY FACT OF SECRECY TENDS TO STIMULATE
SUSPICION AND GIVE AN AURA OF SENSATIONALISM, AND THEREFORE
OFTEN AN ENTIRELY ERRONEOUS PERSPECTIVE TO VARIOUS
DISCLOSURES AND FINDINGS, OCCASIONALLY, IF I MAY SAY SO,
WITHOUT DUE REGARD FOR THE AMOUNT AND QUALITY OF EVIDENCE.
IF SECRECY IS ESSENTIAL, SO TOO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
IS ACCOUNTABILITY, NO ACTIVITY OF OUR GOVERNMENT MAY BE
CONDUCTED WITHOUT BEING SUBJECTED TO A RELIABLE AND
RESPONSIBLE SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES, BUT, MY FRIENDS,
ACCOUNTABILITY.IS ONE THING; RECKLESSNESS IS ANOTHER.
IT IS NOT THOSE WHO DISCLOSE THE NAMES OF OUR INTELLIGENCE
OFFICERS SERVING ABROAD THAT ADD TO THE SECURITY OF A FREE
SOCIETY. IT IS NOT THOSE WHO BELIEVE THEY CAN ON THEIR
OWN JUDGMENT DISCLOSE INFORMATION WHICH HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED
IN THE INTERESTS OF OUR SECURITY THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE
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RESPONSIVENESS OF GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE. AND IT IS NOT
THOSE WHO DETERMINEDLY DENY THE GOOD WILL AND-RESPONSIBILITY-
OF PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF GOVERNMENT BY DWELLING ON ABUSES
OF THE PAST THAT ENHANCE THE MECHANISM OF ACCOUNTABILITY
WHICH THIS FREE SOCIETY HAS CREATED FOR THE CONTROL OF
LEGITIMATELY SECRET GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES,
THE GREAT MAJORITY OF US, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HAVE
FAITH IN THE STRENGTH AND EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR DEMOCRATIC
INSTITUTIONS, FOR WHILE DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS MAY BE
USED TO SOW SEEDS OF WEAKNESS AND DISTRUST, THEY EXIST IN
ORDER TO MAKE US STRONG AND SELF-RELIANT, AND THEY HAVE
PROVED THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN THE 200 YEARS OF OUR HISTORY,
YOU ALL KNOW SOME OF THE PROBLEMS I FACE IN THIS JOB.
I WISH YOU COULD ALSO SHARE IN THE PRIDE I FEEL FOR OUR
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY AND THE COMFORT I GET, AS AN AMERICAN,
IN SEEING THE TREMENDOUS TALENT WE HAVE IN THE CIA AND
ACROSS THE WHOLE COMMUNITY,
I WISH YOU COULD TALK TO SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES WHOSE
HEADS ARE HIGH AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS OF VICIOUS BATTERING,
THEY ARE AS VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED TO THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST
AS OUR STRONGEST CRITICS, BUT THEY HAVE RETAINED A PERSPECTIVE.
THEY KNOW THE NEED FOR A STRONG INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY,
AND THEY ARE PREPARED TO WITHSTAND THE BATTERING, IF THAT
IS NECESSARY, TO WORK FOR A CAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN,
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I WISH YOU COULD HAVE MET THE SON OF RICHARD WELCH,
WHO WAS GUNNED DOWN FOLLOWING DISCLOSURE OF HIS NAME BY
PEOPLE BENT ON DESTROYING CIA. THIS YOUNG MAN KNEW WELL
THAT HIS FATHER HAD DIED FOR A CAUSE IN WHICH HE DEEPLY
BELIEVED,
AND I HOPE THAT INCREASINGLY ALSO YOU WILL DRAW
REASSURANCE AND PRIDE FROM THE MANNER IN WHICH THE
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY NOT ONLY RESPONDS TO THE DIRECTION
OF THE ELECTED CHIEF EXECUTIVE BUT ALSO IS ACCOUNTABLE
TO THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
I BELIEVE THAT AMERICA'S INTELLIGENCE SERVICE IS A
GREAT NATIONAL ASSET, AMERICA'S INTELLIGENCE IS GOOD,
WE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE IT EVEN BETTER. YOUR
UNDERSTANDING, SUPPORT AND TRUST ARE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR
SUCCESS,
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