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

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Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79M00467A000200120003-4
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RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
K
Document Page Count: 
6
Document Creation Date: 
December 16, 2016
Document Release Date: 
November 5, 2004
Sequence Number: 
3
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Publication Date: 
January 30, 1976
Content Type: 
PREL
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Approved. pr I ase 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79 674000200120003-4 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) Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000200120003-4 Approve For FWase 2004/12/01 CIA-RDP79111 467QOQ200'120003-4 Page 2 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 Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000200120003-4 ApproveQ.For lease 2004/12101: CIA-RDP79I J467 00200120003-4 Page : 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. Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467A00020012000.3-4 Approvedr Rase 2004/12/01 :lb4giR[3P79N467QP0200120003-4 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. Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000200120003-4 Approved For Fgase 2004/12/01: CIA-RDP79M4670200120003-4 Page 5 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) Approved For Release 2004/12/01: CIA-RDP79M00467AO00200120003-4 25X1A Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000200120003-4 Approved For Release 2004/12/01 : CIA-RDP79M00467A000200120003-4