WEBSTER STAYING AT CIA HELM THROUGH AUGUST

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-01448R000401660024-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 22, 2012
• Sequence Number: 24
• Publication Date: July 24, 1991
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23 :CIA-RDP99-014488000401660024-6
STAT- - .
Webster Staying at CIA HeLn Through August
By RUTH SINAI
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Associated Press Writer oats
WA~~~PCN (AP) -William Webster is staying on as CIA director
until the end of August in a move that appears to reflect White
House concern about leaving the agency rudderless during the
confirmation fight over his designated successor, Robert Gates.
Webster, 67, had planned to leave the CIA at the end of July to
go into private legal practice, but he ~~graciously consented " to
postpone his retirement at President Bush's behest, White House
spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said Tuesday.
Webster and Bush had hoped the Senate would have confirmed Gates
by the end of July so he could assume the top CIA job.
But the Senate Intelligence Ccamittee postponed its hearings
until Sept. 16 after new testimony from a former CIA official who
implicated three of his superiors in knowledge of the diversion of
Iran arms sales profits to the Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
The testimony by Alan Fiers has raised new questions about
whether Gates, too, might have known. Gates, who was deputy CIA
director at the time the Iran-Contra scandal broke in 1986,
testified that he didn't know. Nonetheless, he withdrew his 1987
nomination to head the CIA because of questions about the agency's
involvement.
The Intelligence Crrttnittee is seeking limited irnrtunity for Fiers
so he can testify about Gates. Fiers has pleaded guilty to two
counts of unlawfi~lly withholding information from Congress in a
plea bargain with Iran-Ctontra prosecutor Lawrence Walsh.
Fitzwater told reporters that Bush ~~made an impassioned speech
before the Cabinet this morning of the outstanding qualities of Bob
Gates and haw much he supports him. "
The president ~~expressed his personal outrage at much of the
efforts to denigrate (Gates') character by innuendo and leaked
stories," said the spokesman. "We think Bob Gates is an excellent
candidate and he will be confirmmed. "
Webster- developer a reputation, first during nine years at the
FBI and then over his four-year tenure at the CIA, for restoring
confidence at troubled institutions.
He took over the CIA after the agency had been rocked by the
Iran-Contra affair, in which its late director, William Casey, was
deeply involved. Webster ordered an investigation, disciplined
seven staff members and put in place clear-cut directives for
reporting to Congress.
Bush would have liked Webster to stay through Gates'
confirmation process but hawed to webster's desire to start his new
career, officials said.
After Webster leaves, they said, the president will likely
appoint deputy director Richard Kerr to fill in until Gates or
another successor is confirmed.
P~Qe
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/05/23 :CIA-RDP99-014488000401660024-6