ROBERT GATES TO BE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B00017R000100080023-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 8, 2011
• Sequence Number: 23
• Publication Date: February 2, 1987
• Content Type: MISC

Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/12/08: CIA-RDP90B00017R000100080023-1
S 1442 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SENATE
ROBERT GATES TO BE DIREC-
TOR. CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE
AGENCY
Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, we
have learned the sad news that Wil-
liam Casey is stepping down as the Di-
rector of Central Intelligence Agency,
although it is not perhaps surprising
since he has undergone medical care
that requires a longer convalescence
than would permit a continuation of
his position as DCI and permit his ab-
sence from that position for such an
extended time. The President has indi-
cated he will appoint Mr. Robert
Gates, the present Deputy, as the new
Director.
I would rise simply to note that in
1984, as the period of our terms as
chairman and vice ohairman respec-
tively of the Senate Intelligence Com-
mittee drew to a close, Barry Gold-
water, our beloved friend of so many
years in this Chamber, and I jointly
introduced a bill that provided that
henceforth the Director of CIA should
be a person who has been a career ci-
vilian or military intelligence officer.
It was our thought that the prob-
lems of political associations in the di-
rectorship worked to the disadvantage
of the community and, indeed, ulti-
mately and often to the disadvantage
of the President who needs as much as
possible an absolutely neutral career
adviser in that post.
The choice of Mr. Gates is the
choice of such a person. I welcome
that.
I would note that although Senator
Goldwater has, of course, left, on the
first day of this 100th Congress I in-
troduced S. 43, the identical bill, indi-
cating nothing more than we felt two
things had happened: One, the time
had come that there was a large
number of career intelligence officers,
both civilian and military, from which
one could choose such a director.
This was not the case in 1947 when
the Defense Act of that year estab-
lished the Department of Defense and
the Central Intelligence Agency. .
From time to time we have had
career officers. Rear Adm. Roscoe
Hillen Koepter was such an officer, a
very distinguished one, the very first
one in such an agency. Rather surpris-
ingly, though you might think it
would move the other way, at first the
very political persons would have come
in because of the absence of career of-
ficers, and then later more career offi-
cers.
Of late, we have seen more political
than career officers in that positon. I
do not think that this always served
the best interests of the intelligence
community, nor did my colleague,
Chairman Barry Goldwater. So, to see
this come about, to see come about a
development that we had thought
might be necessary to legislate, is wel-
come.
It is also, perhaps, suggesting that
the legislation is, even so, in order.
You might suggest that the President
himself has reached a not dissimilar
conclusion for the purposes, of course,
of only this one appointment; but It
might indicate a general movement of
opinion in the executive branch not
different from that which was ex-
pressed here by Senator Goldwater
and myself.
Mr. President, I thank the Chair for
his courtesy in giving me the floor.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The
Senator from Minnesota seeks recogni-
tion.
The Senator from Minnesota is rec-
ognized.
Mr. DURENBERGER. Mr. Presi-
dent, I will be glad to yield a couple of
minutes to my colleague from Penn-
sylvania who I suspect has some spe-
cial references.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President. I
thank the distinguished Senator from
Minnesota for yielding.
February 8, 1987
Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/12/08: CIA-RDP90B00017R000100080023-1
 Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/12/08: CIA-RDP90B00017R000100080023-1
51442
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD - SENATE
NOMINATION OF ROBERT
GATES AS DIRECTOR OF CEN-
TRAL INTELLIGENCE
Mr. DURENBERGER. Mr. Presi.
dent, I rise today as we learn that our
Intelligence community and America Is
experiencing a changing of the guard.
Mr. William Casey, who has been Di-
rector of Central Intelligence since
1981.-who may have been the longest
serving Director of Central IntelU-
gence had It not been for his recent ill-
ness, has resigned from that position.
Since Bill Casey entered the hospital
last December for removal of a brain
tumor. we have all prayed for a swift
and complete recovery. We are told
that Mr. Casey Is progressing well
since his surgery; for that we are all
thankful.
Mr. Casey became the Director of
Central Intelligence at a time when
more was demanded of the intelligence
community of this country than ever
before. The Director became the
major player in such areas as counter-
terrorism and drug Interdiction in ad-
dition to the normal Intelligence re-
quirements. He did not, as some insist,
solicit this business. It was delivered
because of the special and unique ca-
pacity of the intelligence community
under Bill Casey's leadership. Techno-
logical advances continued at a rapid
pace. The requirements for timely and
accurate Intelligence increased while
collection of such intelligence has
become increasingly difficult and re-
sources are more constrained than
ever.
My membership on the Senate
Select Committee on Intelligence
spanned all of Bill Casey's tenure as
DCI. From his initial appointment
until less than 1 month ago, I wit-
nessed his stewardship of our intelli-
gence community first hand. I saw
many successes that others will not
and cannot see, successes that would
have not been possible without the
diligence and commitment of his
effort. The agreement between the ex-
ecutive and legislative branches on the
need for a national intelligence strate-
gy. which lays out requirements and
goals for Intelligence policy. was a
striking success. The quality of analy-
sis within the CIA has improved sub-
stantially under Casey's tenure. When
I first came to the Select Committee
on Intelligence In 1978, we were dis-
cussing how to avoid intelligence fail-
ures such as those experienced in ana-
lyzing events in the Shah's Iran and
February 2, 1987
Somoza's Nicaragua. We have not had league and friend from Minnesota In
comparable failures under Mr. Casey. welcoming the President's oominatlon
Bill Casey deserves much credit for of Mr. Oates to be the Director of
his leadership of the intelligence com- Central Intelligence.
munity during a dynamic and complex As I remarked earlier, toward the
6 years. Under his leadership, morale end of the period which Senator Gold-
throughout the intelligence communi- water served as chairman and I served
ty is far better now than when he took as vice chairman of the Intelligence
over. Through his tireless support of Committee, we jointly introduced leg-
the people who are our most precious islatlon that provided that this posi.
Intelligence asset, Bill Casey rein- tion, Director of Intelligence, should
stilled a sense of pride In those who be given to a career civilian or military
have dedicated their lives to the Intel- Intelligence officer. I reintroduced this
ligence profession. Through his pa- .legislation on the first day of this Con-
tient and painstaking work, he re- press. It reflected our judgment of
stored the national and International what was best for the Intelligence
credibility of our intelligence agencies. -community and, In the end, of course,
Bill Casey earned my respect for his the only criterion could be what best
performance as DCI..As our intelli- served the President and the Congress.
gence community moves toward the as well.
21st century, his contributions will The tendency In recent Presiden-
continue to make a substantial mark. I ties-and It goes a long way .back-to
am sure I speak for many when I voice turn to political advisers to direct a ba-
my hope that his recovery will contin- sically nonpolitical organization has
ue to proceed rapidly and we look for- not been effective. I do not think it
ward to his 'future contributions In has served the President.
American public life. So. I welcome the President's ?deci-
President Reagan accepted DCI sion to turn to the career service. I
Casey's resignation with regret and found him extraordinarily able and
quickly moved to nominate Robert dedicated, and a man who has risen at
Gates as Mr. Casey's successor. Robert an early age to phenomenal heights,
Gates first joined the CIA 20 years to what Is a large bureaucracy and ne-
ago; his confirmation as DCI would cessity.
make him the first CIA career official I think the confidence which the dis-
to hold that position in over a decade. tinguished Senator from Minnesota
Mr. Gates has been acting DCI during has expressed would be shared by any
Casey's absence; he has been Deputy of us who has worked with Mr. Gates
Director of Central Intelligence since and certainly is shared by me. I am
April 1986. Bob Gates was confirmed happy to see, once again, we are is
for that post while I was chairman of convergent views In matters of this
Select Committee on Intelligence. At kind.
his confirmation hearing, I pointed Thank you, Mr. President. I suggest
out the major strength he brought to the absence of a quorum.
the position of DDCI: His ability to The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The
state the facts as he knew them re- clerk will call the roll.
gardless of the political environment. The legislative clerk proceeded to
That is an essential quality in any pro- can the roll.
fessional intelligence officer. Bob Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I ask
Gates has handled his responsibilities unanimous consent that the order for
well, demonstrating commitment, in- the quorum call be rescinded.
tegrity, and ability. The PRESIDENT pro tempore.
As I was convinced that Bob Gates Without objection, It is so ordered.
was an excellent choice fo
D
t
r
epu
y Di-
rector last April, today I am convinced
that he will be an effective Director of
Central Intelligence. At the helm of
one of the most sensitive positions in
Government, Bob Gates will assume
the responsibilities for guiding at a
time when his ability to insure Its ac-
countability to . Congress, and to the
American people Is most important.
I wish him the best during the nomi-
nation process, and trust he will be
confirmed without delay. I am pleased
to offer my congratulations to Bob
Gates for his nomination, to the Presi-
dent for his thoughtfulness in making
the recommendation, and look forward
to Mr. Gates' meeting of the chal-
lenges facing US. Intelligence In the
late (980 s.
Mr. President, I thank you and I
yield the floor.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The
Senator from New York is recognized.
Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, I
wish to join ray distinguished col-
Declassified and Approved For Release 2011/12/08: CIA-RDP90B00017R000100080023-1