    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [May 14, 1991]
    [Pages 503-506]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing the Nomination of Robert M. Gates To Be Director of
    the Central Intelligence Agency and a News Conference
    May 14, 1991

        The President. Well, I'm pleased to nominate Robert Gates to be the
    Director of Central Intelligence. As most of you know, Bob Gates has
    served as deputy national security adviser for the last two and a half
    years. And before that, he dedicated more than 20 years to the service
    of the CIA and the important task that it performs for our country. It's
    with this background of professionalism, dedication, and integrity that
    I'm asking the Senate to approve his nomination to be the next Director.
        He follows in the distinguished footsteps of Bill Webster. And I
    know that Bob will maintain a strong and responsive Central Intelligence
    Agency that will provide the kind of intelligence America needs to
    maintain its role as leader of the free world.

    [[Page 504]]

        In the last two and a half years, Bob has lent a steady hand to the
    deliberations of our National Security Council. He's directed, as all of
    us know, the Deputies Committee--a group of interagency leaders who in
    times of crisis have met continuously to provide the basic decisions and
    recommendations that have protected America's security interests. In
    Panama and in Liberia, and perhaps most importantly, in Operation Desert
    Storm, Bob Gates has performed with wisdom and precision in laying out
    the options for Presidential action. He's a good man, and I'm proud to
    send his name up to the Senate.
        Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press International]?
        Q. Mr. President, it's pretty clear that there are no qualms in this
    administration about opening up the Iran-contra scandal again, and
    questions to Mr. Gates as to what he knew and when he knew it, in terms
    of----
        The President. What's your question to me?
        Q. My question is, do you have any qualms about----
        The President. No.
        Q. ----this question being opened up?
        The President. No qualms at all.
        Q. And do you think that he'll be able to----
        The President. In fact, we've had consultation with----
        Q. Why did he bow out----
        The President. May I finish, please? We've had consultation with the
    people on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and so far I'm very, very
    pleased with the way they've gone.
        Q. Well, why did he bow out before?
        The President. Well, all that can--everybody gets a hearing up
    there. All will be well.

    Arms Control in the Middle East

        Q. Mr. President, could I ask you a question about the Middle East?
    Mr. President, are you taking the lead as has been reported in pressing
    for a Middle East arms control plan that would freeze Israel's nuclear
    arsenal and require all states in the Middle East to give back chemical
    weapons?
        The President. Well, we're in the process of working this arms
    control problem. And I'm not prepared to give any details on it today at
    all. But there are all kinds of options out there.
        Q. May I follow up? Are you consulting now with allies? And when do
    you think you might have something?
        The President. We are consulting with allies, but--and I can't give
    you--I just don't want to predict on the timeframe. But we are
    discussing it, and I think there's a lot of sympathy for the idea of
    trying to get control of weapons. And I'm strongly for it.

    Nomination of Robert Gates

        Q. The CIA was once a Cabinet position, and under William Casey, the
    last time that Mr. Gates was there, he was considered fairly much a
    director who advocated his own policies. Will Mr. Gates become a Cabinet
    member, or will you keep the CIA in the kind of support role it was----
        The President. I will keep it the way it was when I was there. And
    it will be--he will be at the table when matters of--or we need the
    intelligence to make critical decisions on foreign affairs. He will not
    be a political--trying to shape policy. But he will do a superb job as a
    professional intelligence officer, heading the Intelligence Agency.
    That's the way it's going to be.

    Situation in Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, would you care to give us your reaction to the
    clash between British troops and Iraqi troops, first? And do you think
    it will be necessary for American troops to actually occupy Iraq to
    prevent any more difficulties between the refugees and the Iraqi troops?
        The President. No, I think the way I'd do this is to say that it's
    surprising there have been so few flareups of this nature. Tempers are
    high; it's very difficult for these refugees. And so I don't expect any
    more. And we're working with--we're starting consultations with the
    United Nations. I think you saw Prince Sadruddin Khan's comments
    yesterday about getting U.N. flags over some of the convoys. So, we're
    moving. I want to see this internationalized. But it is to a degree
    because we have British and French forces there.

    [[Page 505]]

        Did I leave out a part of that?
        Q. Do you think the Iraqi troops should be disarmed--should
    voluntarily lay down their weapons or at least pull back?
        The President. Well, I'd leave that to the people that are trying to
    separate the forces there. And I don't--what they should do is be
    careful not to put any of these refugees or any allied troops into
    harm's way.

    Middle East Peace Prospects

        Q. Has President Assad of Syria pretty much slammed the door shut on
    any peace talks in the Middle East? And is the U.S. willing to seek a
    scaled-down version of that--perhaps talks between the Palestinians,
    Jordan, and Israel instead of a wider peace conference? And are you
    growing the least bit discouraged by the failure so far of Secretary
    Baker to get this thing going?
        The President. Well, I wouldn't say it's a failure; but there are
    ups and downs in this process. There always have been. Anybody that's
    ever dealt with the Middle East knows that there are ups and downs in
    the process. But I'm not discouraged. I would like to see President
    Assad do what the Secretary of State has asked. But we'll just keep
    working on this. I can't give you a very optimistic report, but I'm
    about where I was last week or whenever we last talked, to say there's
    room for optimism. But you go forward and then you get some setbacks in
    this process. But it's always been that way.
        Q. Are you seeking a scaled-down version of talks, perhaps, between
    Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinians?
        The President. We will just leave that to the Secretary. And it
    won't help for me to be advocating from here what I think. One of the
    reasons is that when you're dealing with a problem of this complexity,
    you do need to have certain things kept quiet for negotiation. I don't
    want to duck your question, but I just don't feel that it would be
    helpful for me at this critical time to go into the details.
        Yes, two, and then I've got to go.

    Soviet-U.S. Summit

        Q. Mr. President, after your conversation with President Gorbachev
    last Saturday, a Soviet spokesman said there would be a U.S.-Soviet
    summit this summer. Can you confirm that, sir? And secondly, would you
    support inviting Mr. Gorbachev to the economic summit of the G-7 in
    London in July?
        The President. On the first part, I can't confirm it. There's no set
    time, no agreement. I've made clear that I would like to go to Moscow
    under certain conditions and I'd like to think I will. On the second
    part of it--what was the second one on Gorbachev?

    Soviet Participation in the Group of Seven Economic Summit

        Q. Would you favor having Gorbachev come to the economic summit?
        The President. Well, this is a matter that we must discuss with the
    G-7 allies. I think that they've evidenced an interest in this--the
    Soviets have--but I think it's important that if he go there something
    positive will happen. So, this is a matter that I will be discussing
    with the various leaders of the other six countries.
        Two--one more, and then I've really got to go.

    Nomination of Robert Gates

        Q. Considering the controversy over Mr. Gates' nomination last time
    and considering your own ethical standards for your administration, can
    you tell us on what you base your feeling that there is no problem with
    what Mr. Gates' role was at the CIA during the Iran-contra--your own
    knowledge, or did you have an investigation done, or what?
        The President. I know Bob Gates, and I know him to be a man of
    honor. These matters have been discussed. And I have absolutely no
    qualms whatsoever. This matter has been investigated over and over
    again, this Iran-contra. It's been going on for years. If I were worried
    about opening up Iran-contra, you might suggest I wouldn't send that
    name forward. But this man has my full trust. He's honest. He's a man of
    total integrity. And that's the way I'd answer the question. And they'll
    have hearings--they can ask any questions they want.
        Bob, do you want to say something?

    [[Page 506]]

        Q. Just briefly, sir, can I follow up?
        The President. No, Brit [Brit Hume, ABC News], I'm awful sorry, I've
    got to go meet the Queen--[laughter]--get ready to meet the Queen.
        Mr. Gates. Mr. President, I'd just like to thank you. This is a
    great honor for me. I appreciate the opportunity that it represents. And
    if confirmed, I look forward to doing my best to more fully develop what
    is already the best intelligence service in the world. Thank you, sir.
        The President. Thank you very much. Thank you all.

                        Note: The President's 82d news conference began at 9
                            a.m. in the Briefing Room at the White House. In
                            the news conference, the following persons were
                            referred to: William H. Webster, Director of
                            Central Intelligence; William J. Casey, former
                            Director of Central Intelligence; Prince
                            Sadruddin Aga Khan, chief United Nations
                            Representative in Iraq; President Hafiz al-Assad
                            of Syria; Secretary of State James A. Baker III;
                            President Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union;
                            and Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom.