    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [May 8, 2006]
    [Pages 889-890]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Announcing the Nomination of General Michael V. Hayden as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency
    May 8, 2006

        The President. Good morning. Today I'm pleased to nominate General
    Mike Hayden as the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
    Mike Hayden is supremely qualified for this position. I've come to know
    him well as our Nation's first Deputy Director of National Intelligence.
    In that position, he's worked closely with our Director of National
    Intelligence, John Negroponte, to reform
    America's intelligence capabilities to meet the threats of a new
    century.
        Mike has more than 20 years of experience in the intelligence field.
    He served for 6 years as Director of the National Security Agency and
    thus brings vast experience leading a major intelligence agency to his
    new assignment. He also served as Commander of the Air Intelligence
    Agency, as Director of the Joint Command and Control Warfare Center, and
    as Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States and U.N. Forces in Korea.
        He's held senior positions at the Pentagon, the U.S. European
    Command, the National Security Council, and served behind the Iron
    Curtain in our Embassy in Bulgaria during the cold war.
        Mike knows our intelligence community from the ground up. He has
    been both a provider and a consumer of intelligence. He's overseen the
    development of both human and technological intelligence. He has
    demonstrated an ability to adapt our intelligence services to the new
    challenges of the war on terror. He's the right man to lead the CIA at
    this critical moment in our Nation's history.
        It's my honor to welcome Mike's wife, Jeanine, and their family to the Oval Office. I want to thank
    them for their willingness to support Mike Hayden in his long service to
    the United States.
        With the agreement of the Senate, Mike will succeed a great patriot
    in Director Porter Goss. Under Porter's
    leadership, the CIA launched a 5-year plan to strengthen the Agency's
    human intelligence capabilities. This plan involves increasing the
    number of operatives and sources in the field and building up the
    Agency's analytical capabilities, so the hard-working men and women of
    the CIA have the resources they need to penetrate closed societies and
    secretive organizations.
        Porter also played a vital role in
    shaping the new relationship between the CIA and the new Director of
    National Intelligence. And this process benefited greatly from the
    decades-long friendship between him and Director Negroponte.
        Porter took on a critical job at a
    critical moment in our Nation's history. He instilled a sense of
    professionalism in the CIA and maintained the high standards of this
    vital agency at a time of transition and transformation. Throughout his
    public life, Porter Goss has been a man of accomplishment and integrity,
    and America appreciates his service.
        I'm confident that Mike Hayden will continue the reforms that
    Porter has put

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    in place and provide outstanding leadership to meet the challenges and
    threats of a dangerous new century. Mike Hayden was unanimously
    confirmed by the Senate last year for his current post, and I call on
    the Senate to confirm him promptly as the Director of the Central
    Intelligence Agency.
        The work of the CIA has never been more important to the security of
    the American people. America faces determined enemies who struck our
    Nation on September the 11th, 2001, and who intend to attack our country
    again. To stop them we must have the best possible intelligence. The men
    and women of the CIA are working around the clock and around the world
    in dangerous conditions to gain information that is vital to securing
    our Nation. I appreciate their dedicated service, and so does Mike
    Hayden.
        In Mike Hayden, the men and women of the CIA will have a strong
    leader who will support them. He will ensure they have the resources
    they need to do their jobs. He will enforce the secrecy and
    accountability that are critical to the security of the American people.
        Mike, I appreciate your many years of service to our country. We're
    grateful that you've agreed to step forward and serve once again. Thank
    you very much.

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

        The President. Congratulations, Mike. Thank you very much.
    Appreciate it.
        Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:31 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press Secretary also
    included the remarks of Director-designate Hayden.