    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
    [March 11, 1995]
    [Pages 332-333]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Withdrawal of Michael Carns and the Nomination of
    John Deutch To Be Director of Central Intelligence
    March 11, 1995

        It is with profound regret that I accept General Michael Carns'
    decision to withdraw his name from consideration for the position of
    Director of Central Intelligence.
        I understand General Carns' concern that allegations made against
    him in the course of his background investigation could be misconstrued
    and complicate his confirmation. The sad truth is that we live in a time
    when even the most exemplary individuals, like General Carns, who
    already has given so much to his country, are deterred from serving by
    the fear that their records will be distorted, their achievements
    ignored, and their families maligned during the confirmation process.
        General Carns' decision to withdraw is our country's loss. This man,
    who flew more than 200 combat missions over Southeast Asia and
    distinguished himself as a military commander and an innovative manager,
    was prepared to come out of retirement to serve America one more time in
    a vital mission. I deeply regret that he will not have that opportunity
    and that our intelligence community and the American people will not
    have the benefit of his broad experience, his intelligence, and his
    dedication.
        Finding another individual with the exceptional skills and qualities
    needed to lead the intelligence community was no easy task. But in
    Deputy Secretary of Defense John Deutch, who I am pleased to announce my
    intent to nominate as the next Director of Central Intelligence, we have
    found such a man.
        Deputy Secretary Deutch has served at the highest levels of academia
    and Government in a wide variety of positions, from assistant professor
    of chemistry at Princeton to provost at MIT, from Under Secretary of
    Energy under President Carter to member of the President's Foreign
    Intelligence Advisory Board under President Bush, from Under Secretary
    of Defense to Deputy Secretary of Defense in my administration.
        Over the past 2 years, I've enjoyed an increasingly close personal
    and professional relationship with Deputy Secretary Deutch. Together
    with former Defense Secretary Aspin and Secretary Perry, I have asked
    Deputy Secretary Deutch to take on some of the toughest, most important
    assignments at the Pentagon.
        Deputy Secretary Deutch has played a lead role in reviewing our
    nuclear force posture. He's overseen the modernizing of our weapons sys-

    [[Page 333]]

    tems. And he has become intimately familiar with the workings of the
    intelligence community, especially its support for the military. The
    blueprint Deputy Secretary Deutch worked out to eliminate redundancies
    and duplication between our civilian and military intelligence
    demonstrates the kind of innovative thinking we need to meet the new
    challenges of the post-cold-war world.
        Strengthening U.S. intelligence is an effort to which I attach the
    highest personal priority. To make that commitment absolutely clear and
    to underscore that he will be a full member of my national security
    team, I have decided to appoint Deputy Secretary Deutch to my Cabinet if
    he is confirmed as Director of Central Intelligence.
        In John Deutch, we have a dynamic, brilliant leader with all the
    necessary skills for this critical assignment and my highest trust and
    confidence. I look forward to working with him, the Aspin commission,
    and Congress in building an intelligence community that will meet our
    national security challenges well into the next century.

    Note: A statement by Michael Carns was also made available by the Office
    of the Press Secretary.