STATEMENT OF GEORGE BUSH CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ON HIS NOMINATION TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE CIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-00901R000100050002-2
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 10, 2001
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 15, 1975
• Content Type: STATEMENT

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STATEMENT OF?~?,;
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ON HIS NOMINATION TO BE
DIRECTOR OF THE CIA.
December 15, 1975 -- Senate Armed Services Committee
Mr. Chairman and members of the committee:
I am pleased to be back in the United States. .1 am still on
Peking standard time; so if I seem a little tired I hope you will
forgive me.
My nomination was sent to this committee sometime
ago, but I was unable to leave China prior to the President's
The President left Peking December 5th and we left
December 7th.
I recognize that I am being nominated as director of
the CIA at a very complicated time in the history of this agency
and indeed in the history of our country.. In fact, having been
in China for a year, I didn't fully realize the depth of the emotions
surrounding the CIA controversy.
Be that as it may I have a few fundamental views that I
would like to set out in the brief statement.
First, my views on intelligence. I believe in a strong
intelligency-capability for.. the USA. My more than three years
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in two vital foreign affairs posts, plus my attending Cabinet
meetings for four years, plus my four years in Congress, make
me totally convinced that we must see our intelligence capability
strengthened. We must not see the CIA dismantled.
Reporting and investigative work by the Senate and the
House have brought to light some abuses that have taken place over
a long period of time. Clearly things were done that were outrageous
and morally offensive. These must not be repeated and I will take
every step possible to see that they are not.
I understand that Director Colby has already issued directives
that implement some of the decisions of the Rockefeller Commission
decisions designed to safeguard against abuses. If confirmed, I
will do all in my power to keep informed, to demand the highest
ethical standards from those with whom I work and particularly
to see that this agency stays in foreign, I repeat foreign,. intelligence
business.
I am told that morale at the CIA and indeed in other parts
of the intelligence community is low. This must change and I'll
do my best t ch nge it. Some people today are driven to wantonly
disclose sensitive information -- not to the proper oversight
authorities of the Congress but to friend and foe alike around the
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world. In many instances this type of disclosure can wipe out
effective operations, can endanger the lives of patriotic Americans
and can cause enormous damage to our own security.
I view the job of Director of Central Intelligence not as a
maker of foreign policy; but as one who should forcefully and
objectively present to the President and to the National- Security
Council the findings and views of the intelligence community.
It is essential that the recommendations be without political.
It is essential that strongly held differences within the'
intelligence community be presented. , . -
It is essential that without regard to existing policy or
future policy, the intelligence estimates. be presented -- cold,
hard, truthful.
I am convinced that I have the proper access to the
President that was strongly emphasized in the recent Robert D.-
Murphy Commission Report.
I hope you find I have the proper integrity and character
to see the job will faithfully be done.
Further I see the running of the CIA as very important,
but I see the responsibility for coordinating all of our foreign.
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intelligence activities 'as even more important. The CIA has a
fundamental input into intelligence estimates, but so must the
other agencies.
I will be fair to all, but I will do my level best to eliminate
unnecessary duplication of effort and minimize interagency
bureaucratic disputes. It won't be easy, I am told, but I will
try hard on this.
Second, my personal qualifications:
I am familiar with the charges that I am too political
for this job. Here is my side:
Yes, I have been in politics. I served four years in Congress.
I served 2 years as Chairman of my party. I have no apology for
either service, indeed I am proud to have served.
Some of the difficulties the CIA has encountered might
have been avoided if more political judgment had been brought to bear.
I am not talking about narrow political partisanship, I am talking
about the respect for the people and their sensitivities that most
politicans understand.
I do not view political experience as a detriment. I view
it as an asset; but I also recognize the need to leave politics behind
the minute I take on the new job if confirmed.
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I would like to'add:
If confirmed I will take no part, directly or indirectly,
in any partisan political activity of any kind.
I will not attend any political meetings.
I will give no political speeches nor make any political
contributions.
My ability to shut politics off when serving in non partisan
jobs has been demonstrated in two high and sensitive foreign affairs
posts -- as the committee can verify.,
For two years I was Ambassador at the United Nations, and
for a little over a year I served in China as Chief of the U. S.
Liaisoxi Office. Both jobs taught me a lot about the product of our
intelligence community -= both taught me the fundamental importance
of retaining an intelligence community second to. none.
Frankly, many of our friends around the world and some
who are not so friendly are wondering what we are doing to our-
selves as a nation as they see the attacks on the CIA. Some must
wonder if they can depend on us to protect them if they cooperate with
us on important intelligence projects.
I think many admire our ability to cleanse ourselves and admit
mistakes; but in something as sensitive as intelligence they frankly
hope we don't go so far that we will kill off an important asset that
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They themselves and the free world vitally need for their own
security.
In addition to my foreign affairs assignments I attended
Cabinet meetings from 1971-1974. Those four years gave me a
good insight into some of the foreign policy considerations facing
our country.
I think this foreign affairs background will be extremely
useful in my new job.
I also feel the administrative experience I had in starting
and running a business enterprise, which prospered, will be
helpful.
Lastly, I will address myself to a question that is on
the minds of some members of this committee. Namely, the
question of my having been considered in the past for the
Vice Presidency.
When Secre.tar.y.Rumsfeld was before this committee not
so long ago, his name having been speculated on for Vice President,
he said it is presumptuous of me to stand up and take myself out
of consideration for something I am not in consideration for.
The committee accepted this answer then and I offer
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Let me add just one thing more:
If some individual or group comes forward promoting me for
Vice President when I am Director of CIA I will instruct them to
cease such activity.
But there is one other question, namely; "even if you have
not lifted a finger to seek the nomination and even if you have actively
discouraged others from advocating you for office, and the nomination
is then offered to you - will you then accept?
I cannot in all honesty tell you that I would not accept.
I don't think any American should be asked to say he
would not accept.
To my knowledge noone in the history of this Republic has
ever been asked to renounce his political birthright as the price
of confirmation for any office.
I can tell you that I will not seek any office while I hold the
job as CIA Director. I will put politics totally out of my sphere of
activities.
In this new job I serve at the pleasure of the President. I
plan to stay as long as he wants me there.
Some of my friends--have asked me "Why do you accept this
job with all its controversy and with its obvious barriers to political
future?" My answer is simple.
First, the work is desperately important to the survival of this
country and to the survival of freedom around the world.
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Second, old fashioned as it may sound, it is my
duty to serve my country. I did not seek this job, but I want
to do it and I will do my very best.
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