FORD WRITES TO CLEAR BUSH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000100010018-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2007
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: December 19, 1975
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

Approved For Release 2007/06/19: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100010018-4
WASHINGTON STAR (GREEN LINE)
19 DECEMBER 1975
By Norman Kempster . -whatever vice presidential Rockefeller became the
Washington Star Staff-Writer- ..";~. prospects he may have had. first Republican figure to
George Bush has become "Ambassador Bush and I withdraw from No., 2 spot
.the second vice presidential agree that the nation's im-' on the 1976 ticket when he
?dtop-out of the,. 1976 -elec- mediate foreign intelli- announced last month that
tion. - - -- ? - gence needs must take he" was removing himself
President Ford "ruled precedence over other. con from consideration.:
Bush off the ticket yester- siderations and there -= -
day, paying the price de-' should be continuity in the ` BUSH .RESIGNED from
manded by several mem- CIA leadership," Ford said' the post as U.S. envoy"to
bers of the Senate Armed '. in a letter to Chairman?. China to accept the CIA ap-
-Services committee for ap- John Stennis, D-Miss. pointment. Previously, he
proval of his appointment to -"Therefore, if Ambassa-'--was a. Republican .con
head the CIA. dor Bush is confirmed by gressman from. Texas, U.S.
'The committee's 12-4': ' the -Senate as -director::; of ambassador to - the - United
vote sent Bush's nomination: - central inteligence, I will Nations and Republican na-.
to the Senate floor for cone'not consider him as my vice:.. tional chairman.
firmation" action after Con-' presidential running mate ? It was the GOP .national
cress ? returns " next month in 1976." ' chairmanship, --which- Bush
From its holiday recess Opposition. to Bush had held during" two hectic;
After Bush refused to. , centered on complaints that'.: yyears- as Richard M...take himself out of the 1976 he would be subject to -po-- Nixon's presidency -- unrav-
picture during -"hearings litical manipulation if the- .eled, that generated most of
earlier in the week, the prospect of the -vice press the criticism-of the CIA ap_i
committee passed the word- dency was dangled in front pointment
to the White House that the - him. Ford apparently hopes
nomination was :?in` deep --'Sources said the Armed that Bush can perform pub
trouble. : -Services Committee voter lic relations miracles at
probably would have been ? Langley, refurbishing' the
FORD CALLED Bush. to . an 8-8 tie if. Bush had not 'Amage of the CIA,. which;
a meeting Wednesday: been taken out of vice was. tarnished by. disclo-:
night, where . the- decision 'presidential consideration.,,,-," sures of assassination' plots,
was made to- .,.sacrifice iu.Vice President ;.Nelson and other abuses..:.:
STAT
Approved For Release 2007/06/19: CIA-RDP99-00498R000100010018-4