[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book II)]
[August 10, 2004]
[Pages 1564-1566]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks Announcing the Nomination of Porter J. Goss To Be Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
August 10, 2004

    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

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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.
    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 firsthand. 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.
    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.

[At this point, Director-designate Goss made brief remarks.]

    The President. Good job. Thank you, sir.
    Director-designate Goss. Thank you, sir.

Note: The President spoke at 8:31 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to the Commission on Terrorist 
Attacks Upon the United States (9/11 Commission). The transcript 
released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks 
of Director-designate Goss. The Office of the Press Secretary also 
released a Spanish language transcript of these remarks.

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