[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.