EXCHANGE OF REMARKS BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT AND GEORGE BUSH UPON MR. BUSH BEING SWORN-IN AS DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY CIA HEADQUARTERS LANGLEY, VIRGINIA
Document Type:
Collection:
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):
CIA-RDP79M00467A000200120003-4
Release Decision:
RIPPUB
Original Classification:
K
Document Page Count:
6
Document Creation Date:
December 16, 2016
Document Release Date:
November 5, 2004
Sequence Number:
3
Case Number:
Publication Date:
January 30, 1976
Content Type:
PREL
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 30, 1976
OFFICE OF THE WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY
UPON MR. BUSH BEING SWORN-TN-AS
DIRECTOR OF-THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
THE WHITE HOUSE-
EXCHANGE OF REMARKS
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT
AND
GEORGE BUSH
CIA HEADQUARTERS
LANGLEY, VIRGINIA
.THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very, very much, Bill.
May I say at the outset that I fully concur with
your observations-.and comments concerning the quality of'
' -
the people , and- 1 have no question-whatsoever that-they
will,give to.-George Bush,as they have to me, the fullest:
support and the greatest dedication.
Bill, as I told you and your family on Monday
of my high're-gard for your 25 years of dedicated and
distinguished service with the CIA at--'the`time.that I gave
you the National Security Medal, I &'ant every word of it.
Ypu fully deserve it and I wish to congratulate and compliment
you for this-outstanding record.
For good reason, obviously, you have the full
support-:and-deep feeling of all of the people here and those
of_us'not in-the intelligence community are just as grateful
for the fine service-you have given to your agency and.-to.-
your country.
} General Douglas MacArthur once said that in war
there is no.substitute for-victory. Let me assure you that
in peace there is no substitute for intelligence.--The time
-is long overdue for the men and womeri of the American
intelligence community to receive the"praise and the
gratitude of the Nation that you have so conscientiously
served. I have and I will continue to-give Voice publicly
to that gratitude.
As every President since World War 11I depend on
you as one of Americas first lines of defense. Every
morning as a result of your efforts an intelligence.report
is delivered to my desk which is' complete, concise,
perceptive and responsible.
(OVER)
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As a result, I am fully aware of the tremendous
effort, the tremendous teamwork that goes into it and
all of the other intelligence reports that I receive that
are so vital to the making of sound policy decisions on
national security, and let me express my personal gratitude
for this fine work.'-
The appointment of George Bush as your new Director
matches a good man?with'a.good team.- George Bush assumes
the leadership: of .the .'intelligence community af~='.`very
critical point in its history -- critical because national.
and international attention is focused on your work now
as never before.
Because much of your work depends on.:secredy.and.'-
because secrecy adds a new aura of mystery and intrigue,-
there is the natural tendency for extraordinary attention
to.b0_.paid to the intelligence community:when allegations
are made that it has not functioned as it should.
-` - Past.:problems;-any excesses,. the abuses of the
__
past-have.more..than adequately. been. described.- I am
concerned about.-them as I know you. are, but:one thing Is
very, very certain -- we cannot improve this-.agency by __:
destroying it.
Let-mejassure you also I have no'- intention- -of--
seeing:the intelligence-community dismantled, its-operations
paralyzed- or its.; effectivene.ss '- undermined . .The. Administration
:fully:-intends.-.to:, safeguard the ` effectiveness -of this . ... _
agency, the confidentiality of its information and -the-.
and honor of its agents and employees
The irresponsible release . of classified. information
by people who should know better must-'cease: A-better-.
balance must-. be .str.uck..between the right. of: the. people to
know and this country's commitment to survive and live in---
peace.
:Accordingly, in the-nextfew weeks after agreat-
deal of.' study and consultation with experts in* this . field,
I will--announce my decisions on .the steps I,-believe necessary
to strengthen oux- 'foreign intelligence operations. 7.--.,My
actions will be designed to. insure that this Nation-. .has-what'
you- `T' know we musty have the best :intelligence .
capacity in the iorld. _
These --actions will be consistent with .two very
fundamental principles. First,. the United States must_
have a strong and 'effective. capability to-gather,--to..-
evaluate foreign intelligence and conduct necessary
covert operation; and second, these activities must-be
conducted in a Constitutional and lawful manner and never
be aimed at our own citizens.-
MORE
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George Bush shares my commitment to these
principles. As a former .Member of Congress and as the
son of a very great man, a distinguished statesman '--- the'
late Senator Prescott Bush of Connecticut ~-- George has
known all o his life that the people are sovereign and.
that their rights must be secure.
As a former representative of this Government to-..-
the People's Republic., of China. and as the former-United
States Ambassador to the United Nations, George Bush is
in step with world development. I know from first-hand
personal experience.:he is a man..of enormous capability,
sound moral judgment ,and has had,.an -intense .devotion to ..'
public service.- He. is. fully prepared to guide the.; policy
;
decisions of this agency and of the-entire-intelligence
community with a. depth and a breadth of knowledge that
few others have.
George has said that he sees his first task.,
as one of making a tremendous effort to restore public ;t-
confidence in_this fine agency. In that effort he has..my,
full and total support.
I continue to believe that the. Directorof the
Central Intelligence Agency must have direct. Personal access.
to the President. George will have this access on a.-very
regular basis and whenever special. circumstances.require.-..
With his leadership and.with your,help, I believe
we can make this agency an instrument of peace and an object.
of pride for all of our people. That is my goal. and I know
that each and every one of, you share it with me.
Now-it is my great privilege and p-lee.sure . to
introduce Mr. Justice Stewart who will administer the oath
of office.
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DIRECTOR BUSH: Mr. President, members of the
President's Cabinet, distinguished Members of Congress and
other guests and 'fellow':employees :...
First='let me express my appreciation to-you,'
Mr. President, for coming out ' here for this -occasion. We
are honored by your presence..
And I also want to thank Bill Colby for the
marvelous coopeerat on that he has given "me. over the past few
weeks.- -I wish---hiia well as 'he- leaves this agency -to which he
gave so much. :~ ...
Mr. "President;' I accept, 'enthusiastically the
challenge that' you-?-have- given" 'me. I will work hard to earn-
the confidence that. you and the U. S... Senate have placed in: me;.
I will- not .tu'rn".my back: on the past for from the pastwe' have
learned - a -lot': about- what an intelligence :?agency must do .-to:, -
maintain the confidence of the people in an open'society; ''.
But the emphasis now will be on the future, and because of
its dedicated people, this' agency is .the. finest-.,"intelligence
agency -.in the world. They' will have my -total'. * support and-1
have much' to learn- and I'.will work hard - at that. " -But I. pledge
to my associates here this full support.
I am determined to protect?those:things that must be
kept- secret and I:- am more determined ' to"protect those unselfish
and patriotic 'people who, with total' dedications=' serve their'
country,.often:putting their lives on the line,:only to have some
people bent on destroying this agency expose their names,
This- must stop, and I will do my. level ' best' to play a role in
I am equally determined; .Mr. President,'to takea:
new look at some of the practices that may have made. great
sense in-the' past; but that ' now must be *reviewed and re-
thought to see if-"they are ,necessary and-to' see if they are::'
indeed compatible with moral judgment of our countrymen.
And this won't be easy work, but as you-said, sir,, restoration
of public confidence is. essential'-if we are '.to get on about
our important work here, .
And lastly, Mr. President, our goal here is to
provide you and others with intelligence. We are not in
the policy business. We will call them as we see them, and we
will be objective and our estimate will continue-to come to
you without hint of bias. They will be the product of the
best intelligence in the entire world.
I pledge to you that no politics, no policy bias,
will color the collective judgment of the CIA. This is the way
you want it, this is the way the CIA operates, and this is the
way our country must have it.
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Many have said to me since this nomination that,
well, you are taking on a difficult -- and somewhat more
pessimistic say-- taking on an impossible task. That may
be true in one sense, but I consider myself fortunate indeed
to have been confirmed for this challenging. job. I want
this job --- I want to do it well, and I like the dedication
and love of country that I find here. And I am proud to
be a part of the CIA.
Thank you very much.
END. (AT 11:20 A.M. EST)
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