Skip to ContentText OnlyGo to Search
Welcome to the White HousePresidentNewsVice PresidentHistory & ToursFirst LadyMrs. Cheney
Welcome to the White HouseGovernmentKids OnlyEspanolContactPrivacy PolicySiteMapSearch
Welcome to the White HouseReceive Email Updates
 

Issues
Economy
Iraq
Education
National Security
Homeland Security
More Issues
En Español
Hurricane Relief

News
Current News
Press Briefings
Proclamations
Executive Orders
Radio
  
News by Date
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
August 2003
July 2003
June 2003
May 2003
April 2003
March 2003
February 2003
January 2003
December 2002
November 2002
October 2002
September 2002
August 2002
July 2002
June 2002
May 2002
April 2002
March 2002
February 2002
January 2002
December 2001
November 2001
October 2001
September 2001
August 2001
July 2001
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001
January 2001

Talk Back
Ask the White House
White House Interactive

Appointments
Nominations
Application

 

Photo Essays
Photo Essays
Search photos by date

 

White House Features - A Gallery of our special pages
  
Federal Facts
Federal Statistics
  
West Wing
History
Home > News & Policies > Nominations by Name
Printer-Friendly Version
Email this page

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
August 10, 2004

video screen capture
multimedia

President's Remarks
video image view
audio image listen
President Bush Nominates Congressman Goss as Director of CIA
The Rose Garden

8:31 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. I'm pleased to announce my decision to nominate Congressman Porter Goss as the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Porter Goss is a leader with strong experience in intelligence and in the fight against terrorism. He knows the CIA inside and out. He's the right man to lead this important agency at this critical moment in our nation's history.

Nominating Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., to be the director of the CIA, President George W. Bush extends his hand to him during the Rose Garden announcement Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004. White House photo by Joyce Naltchayan. The work of the CIA is vital to our security. America faces determined enemies who plan in many nations, send trained killers to live among us, and attack without warning. This threat is unprecedented, and to stop them from killing our citizens, we must have the best intelligence possible. The men and women of the CIA must penetrate closed societies and secretive organizations. They must overcome challenges of language and culture and learn things that our adversaries don't want us to know. Because their work is secret, the men and women of the CIA receive little recognition, but they're protecting our country every day.

Since September the 11th, our intelligence professionals have worked with great determination to stop another attack on America, and our country is grateful.

Director George Tenet and acting Director John McLaughlin have served our nation with distinction and honor. And now, with the agreement of the U.S. Senate, the CIA will have another strong leader in Porter Goss.

I've given Porter an essential mission to lead the agency for the challenges and threats of a dangerous new century. He is well prepared for this mission. Porter Goss brings a broad experience to this critical job. He's a former Army intelligence officer with a decade of experience in the CIA's clandestine service. He knows the agency, and he knows what is needed to strengthen it. He understands the importance of human intelligence. He was a CIA field officer on two continents. He'll make sure that the men and women of the CIA have the capabilities and skills they need to penetrate the hard targets and denied areas, and to get to know the enemy first hand. He also knows the importance of investing in technologies that allow us to look and listen better. And he will work to ensure the agency remains on the cutting edge of technological change.

As Chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence since 1997, and as a member on the Commission on the Roles and Capabilities of the United States Intelligence Community, he has been a leading voice on intelligence and national security and terrorism. He's been a force for positive change. His experience on Capitol Hill will serve him well at the CIA, because he's respected on both sides of the aisle, and because he understands the important role Congress must play in the effort to improve our nation's intelligence capabilities.


Standing with President George W. Bush, Rep. Porter Goss, R-Fla., addresses the media after the President nominated him to be the director of the CIA in the Rose Garden, Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004.  White House photo by Joyce Naltchayan. Over 15 years of service, Porter Goss has built a reputation as a reformer. He'll be a reformer at the Central Intelligence Agency. I look forward to his counsel and his judgments as to how best to implement broader intel reform, including the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission.

I appreciate your many years, Porter, of service to our country. I appreciate your willingness to serve. I'm grateful that you've agreed to step forward and serve once again. Welcome.

CONGRESSMAN GOSS: Thank you very much, Mr. President. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm obviously deeply honored, and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity -- you've outlined a very strong challenge.

I think every American knows the importance of the best possible intelligence we can get to our decision- makers. It is vital, as the President has well said. What many Americans don't realize is that we've got an awful lot of people around the globe doing very, very hard work -- long hours in dangerous situations. The essence of our intelligence capability is people. And we have some wonderful Americans doing a great job.

I used to be part of them when I worked for CIA. I'm very proud to be associated with them again. And I look forward to the challenges of the future. I also look forward to the confirmation process with the Senate. As a member right now on the Hill I know the value of that and the importance of that.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Good job, thank you, sir.

CONGRESSMAN GOSS: Thank you, sir.

END 8:38 A.M. EDT


Printer-Friendly Version
Email this page



President  |  Vice President  |  First Lady  |  Mrs. Cheney  |  News & Policies  | 
History & ToursKids  |  Your Government  |  Appointments  |  JobsContactText only


Accessibility  |  Search  |  Privacy Policy  |  Help