    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [March 19, 1997]
    [Pages 324-326]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing the Nomination of George J. Tenet To Be Director of
    Central Intelligence and an Exchange With Reporters
    March 19, 1997

        The President. Good afternoon. I have just completed a very
    productive meeting with the Senate and House chairs and ranking minority
    members of the Budget Committee, and all of you know I'm about to leave
    in a few hours for Helsinki for my meeting with President Yeltsin. But
    before we discuss those things, I want to announce my intention to
    nominate George Tenet, who is standing here with me with his family,
    currently the Acting Director of the CIA, as the Director of Central
    Intelligence.
        He brings a wealth of experience and skill to the challenge of
    leading our intelligence community into the 21st century. Beginning in
    1995, he served with real distinction as Deputy Director under John
    Deutch. Prior to that, he was my senior aide for intelligence at the
    National Security Council. He did a superb job of helping to set out our
    intelligence priorities for new challenges. And at the CIA, he has
    played a pivotal role in putting these priorities into place and leading
    the intelligence community in meeting the demands of the post-cold-war
    world.
        As the longtime staff director of the Senate Select Committee on
    Intelligence, George Tenet understands the essential role Congress must
    play in the intelligence community's work. Since joining our
    administration, he has maintained a strong relationship in Congress. He
    knows well the concerns of the intelligence community as well. He knows
    that I must have the unvarnished truth. He knows how critical timely,
    reliable intelligence is to our Nation's security. I'm proud to nominate
    him for this vital job and very grateful for the service that he has
    rendered to our administration and to our country.
        George.

    [At this point, Director-designate Tenet thanked the President and made
    brief remarks.]

        The President. Thank you.
        Mr. Tenet. Thank you.
        The President. Congratulations. Thank you.
        Q. Do you think he will be confirmed?
        The President. I do.
        Q. Why?
        The President. Well, because he's well-known to the Senate and well-
    respected by Republicans as well as Democrats.
        Q. Mr. President----

    Efforts To Balance the Budget and Summit in Helsinki, Finland

        The President. Let me finish my statement.
        Our first order of business when I get back from Helsinki must be to
    finish the job of balancing the budget. We have to do it this year.
    Recent statements by the leaders of the Republican Party in both the
    Senate and the House have given new impetus to this hope, and today we
    began to build on that momentum.
        When I met with the Republican chairs and the ranking Democratic
    members of the Senate and House Budget Committees, along with our budget
    team, including Erskine Bowles, Secretary Rubin, Director Raines, NEC
    Chair Sperling, Legislative Director Hilley, and the Council of Economic
    Advisers Chair, Janet Yellen--of course, along with the Vice President--
    we agreed that, during the recess, they will begin an effort to reduce
    the differences among us in topics including Medicare and Medicaid,
    other entitlements, national defense, domestic spending, revenues, and
    other issues relevant to the budget, so that when I meet with the
    bipartisan leadership after Congress' Easter recess, we will be ready to
    make rapid progress until we reach a balanced budget agreement.
        We agree on the goal. We have agreed on a schedule to start
    discussion. Now comes the hard work of writing the agreement, dollar by
    dollar, program by program, issue by issue. We have circled these issues
    long enough. It's time now to give the American people a balanced
    budget, and I believe we will do it and do it this year.
        Tonight I'm leaving for Helsinki for my 11th meeting with Boris
    Yeltsin, Russia's President. Not too long ago, it was historic whenever
    the President of the United States and the leader

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    of Russia met. Today, our meetings have become almost routine as we work
    through problems and build cooperation. The increasing normalcy of our
    ties make it easy to lose sight of the great opportunity that lies
    before us now. We will focus on three important areas: first, on moving
    forward with our work to build a Europe that is undivided, democratic,
    and at peace for the first time in the history of the Continent; second,
    on continuing to reduce the danger of weapons of mass destruction; and
    third, on expanding the economic partnership that is good for Americans
    and Russians alike.
        In Europe, we can complete the work that was only half-finished a
    half-century ago by bringing stability and prosperity to all the people
    on that continent. That work begins with NATO, the anchor of Europe's
    security. We are adapting NATO to take on new missions, enlarging NATO
    to take in new members, strengthening NATO's partnership with
    nonmembers, and seeking to build a robust partnership between NATO and
    Russia, a relationship that makes Russia a true partner of the alliance.
        In Helsinki, we'll discuss the outlines of a NATO-Russia charter
    that NATO Secretary General Solana and Foreign Minister Primakov are
    negotiating. I believe NATO and Russia should consult regularly and
    should act jointly whenever possible, just as we are doing today in
    Bosnia.
        Our two nations have a responsibility also to continue to lead the
    world away from the nuclear threat. We have already made remarkable
    progress, from signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to extending
    the Non-Proliferation Treaty to bringing START I into force. Now we hope
    to see the Russian Duma ratify START II. Together with START I, it will
    cut arsenals by two-thirds from their cold war height. Just think about
    it; we will, with START I and START II, cut our arsenals by two-thirds
    from their cold war height. But we also want to do more. President
    Yeltsin and I will discuss possible guidelines for further reductions
    under START III.
        Finally, we will focus on Russia's efforts to build a stable and
    prosperous market economy. The Russian people have made remarkable
    strides in a short time. They have created a private sector where once
    there was none. They've slashed inflation and stabilized the ruble.
        Now the challenge is to create a climate that actually attracts more
    investment and promotes more trade so that Russia will have real
    economic growth and that that real growth will reach ordinary citizens.
    President Yeltsin and I will discuss the steps both of us will take to
    create that climate.
        I'm encouraged by the new economic team President Yeltsin announced
    this week. It underscores Russia's commitment to continued reform. This
    is a time of extraordinary opportunity for America and for Russia,
    indeed, for the entire world.
        I look forward to my meetings with President Yeltsin and to our
    common efforts to build a broad foundation for progress, prosperity,
    partnership, and peace in the 21st century. I look forward to balancing
    the budget, and I look forward to George Tenet becoming the next
    Director of Central Intelligence. This is a good day.

    Director of Central Intelligence Nomination

        Q. Mr. President, your decision to move so quickly with this
    announcement--is that a sign that you are concerned about the morale
    within the intelligence community?
        The President. No, but it is a sign that I believe that we should
    not leave these positions vacant long, particularly in the national
    security area, but throughout the Government. You know, the Vice
    President and I have worked very hard to reform and to reduce the size
    of Government, and the Federal employees have taken on increasing
    responsibilities. But we believe where there is a mission, it ought to
    be done and done well, and we ought to keep the morale high and keep the
    direction clear.
        You can't have a ship without a captain, and we need to get after
    it. And I think George Tenet is clearly the best qualified person to
    move quickly into the leadership. He has been the Acting Director, he
    did an outstanding job as John Deutch's deputy, he did a terrific job
    here for us in the National Security Council on intelligence matters,
    and he has the confidence of many, many in the Congress in both parties.
    So I didn't see any point in waiting around. We need to get this done
    and go on.

    Russia and NATO

        Q. Mr. President, if you want an undivided Europe, why are you
    leaving Russia out? Why

    [[Page 326]]

    don't you take her into NATO and make it all one big, happy family?
        The President. First of all, I have never left Russia out. I have
    explicitly said in every speech that I have made about this subject that
    I do not believe Russia should be excluded from NATO membership. I'm not
    sure that Russia would not prefer a special charter between Russia and
    NATO; that's what we're trying to achieve now. But I would be the last
    person to try to exclude them. I don't believe anybody should be
    excluded.
        Q. Do you think she would join?
        The President. I don't know. As I said, it's my belief that at this
    moment in time, Russia would prefer to have a charter setting out a
    relationship between NATO and Russia. But I would never exclude them
    from membership.
        Look, I am trying to build a world for our children and
    grandchildren that will not repeat the worst of the 20th century and
    will take advantage of the best that the future offers.
        Q. That's my point, that the two World Wars were started by nations
    being isolated, Versailles, Yalta, and so forth.
        The President. That's why we've tried to get--right now, it's so
    hard to have a special charter between Russia and NATO, that's why we
    have made it clear that NATO is not an aggressive organization trying to
    limit, restrict, or undermine anyone who wants to treat their neighbors
    with respect and work in concert the way Russia and NATO and the United
    States particularly are working together in Bosnia.
        I'll see you in Helsinki.
        The Vice President. Mr. President, Helen [Helen Thomas, United Press
    International] played Madeleine at the Gridiron, and I think she's still
    in the role. [Laughter]
        The President. Just come get on the plane. Believe me, I missed you,
    and I missed him, and I'm really sorry I missed you both.
        Q. He was fabulous.
        The President. I ought to----
        Q. And you did pretty good.

    Note: The President spoke at 4:49 p.m. in the Red Room at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to NATO Secretary General Javier
    Solana and Minister of Foreign Affairs Yevgeniy Primakov of Russia.