    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [May 18, 2005]
    [Pages 815-817]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Swearing-In Ceremony for John D. Negroponte as Director of National Intelligence and Michael V.
    Hayden as Deputy Director of National
    Intelligence
    May 18, 2005

        Good afternoon. Thank you for being here. I am honored and pleased
    to congratulate John Negroponte on becoming America's first Director of
    National Intelligence. I also congratulate General Mike Hayden on
    becoming on our Nation's first principal Deputy Director of National
    Intelligence.

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        I want to thank Secretary of State Condi Rice and Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld for joining us today. I appreciate Porter
    Goss, head of the Central Intelligence
    Agency, for joining us, Robert Mueller, Director of the FBI.
        I appreciate Senator Ted Stevens,
    Senate President pro tem, joining us today, along with Senator Jay
    Rockefeller. Thank you
    both for being here. I want to thank Congressman Peter
    Hoekstra, chairman of the House Permanent
    Select Committee on Intelligence, along with Congresswoman Jane
    Harman, ranking member. Thank you both for
    coming.
        I appreciate Chuck Robb,
    Cochairman of the WMD Commission, for joining us today. I want to thank
    members of the intelligence community who have joined us. I thank the
    rest of you for coming too. [Laughter]
        Ambassador Negroponte's position is one of the newest in the
    Government and one of the most demanding. Our Nation is at war, and John
    is making sure that those whose duty it is to defend America have the
    information we need to make the right decisions. He's ensuring that our
    intelligence agencies work as a single, unified enterprise. And he's
    serving as my principal intelligence adviser. These are vital and urgent
    responsibilities, and John has what it takes to fulfill them all.
        In his distinguished career, John has represented America in eight
    nations on three continents. He's served every President since Dwight
    Eisenhower. Over the past 4 years, I've come to know John's wisdom,
    intellect, and integrity. I've relied on his candid judgment to help
    solve complicated problems. I have witnessed his unique ability to bring
    people together, most recently in his historic achievements as
    Ambassador to a free Iraq. I'm grateful to John for answering his
    Nation's call. I thank his family for joining us today.
        John is fortunate to count on an experienced and capable deputy in
    General Mike Hayden. General Hayden understands the intelligence
    community from the ground up. He has a long record of wise and effective
    reform. Mike also has a clear understanding of our enemies in the war on
    terror. He'll be a superb deputy to Ambassador Negroponte. I thank Mike
    for his willingness to serve, and I'm glad to see his family as well.
        As John Negroponte and Mike Hayden carry out their new duties,
    they're relying on the thousands of dedicated professionals working in
    our intelligence community. These men and women serve America with a
    wide variety of talents and expertise. They all report to work everyday
    with the same goal, to protect our fellow citizens from harm.
    Intelligence officers work in secret and often at great risk to their
    lives. Their vigilance and bravery are vital to America's security. And
    on behalf of all Americans, I thank them and their families for their
    service in the cause of freedom.
        As Director of National Intelligence, John is taking action to help
    all who serve in the intelligence community to do their jobs more
    effectively. He has assembled a strong leadership team that reflects a
    wide range of skills and intelligence experience. He's visited a number
    of intelligence agencies. He's listened to experts in a variety of
    fields, and he's made reforms in the daily intelligence briefing. John
    recognizes and values the contributions of all who collect and analyze
    intelligence. He will ensure that they have access to the tools and
    information their missions demand.
        In the days ahead, Ambassador Negroponte and General Hayden will
    continue the structural reforms of our intelligence community that began
    after September the 11th, 2001. We've now implemented the vast majority
    of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations through Executive orders and
    the intelligence reform bill I signed last December.
        My administration is also reviewing all the recommendations made by
    the Silberman-Robb Commission on weapons of mass

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    destruction. We have already begun to implement a number of their
    recommendations. We will continue to evaluate and act on the
    Commission's useful blueprint to improve the quality and quantity of
    intelligence we collect and to be able to analyze that information more
    thoroughly.
        John Negroponte will also ensure the sharing of information among
    agencies and establish common standards for the intelligence community's
    personnel. I have confidence in John Negroponte and Mike Hayden to carry
    out these vital missions. Well-integrated, effective intelligence
    efforts are America's first line of defense against the threats of the
    21st century.
        I thank the Congress for creating the Director of National
    Intelligence position and for swiftly confirming two talented, dedicated
    Americans to lead our intelligence community. I look forward to working
    with this team to improve our intelligence capabilities and to use those
    capabilities to win the war on terror.
        Congratulations to both men. May God bless you and your families,
    and may God continue to bless our country.

    Note: The President spoke at 1:18 p.m. in the Courtyard at the New
    Executive Office Building. In his remarks, he referred to the Commission
    on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons
    of Mass Destruction (Silberman-Robb Commission); and the National
    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 Negroponte.