[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
[May 31, 2006]
[Pages 1048-1050]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks at a Swearing-In Ceremony for Michael V. Hayden as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in Langley, 
Virginia
May 31, 2006

    Thank you. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be back with 
the really fine people here at the Central Intelligence Agency.

[[Page 1049]]

    I'm honored to be here at the swearing-in of Mike Hayden as 
America's new Director of the CIA. He's such a good man, we're going to 
swear him in twice--yesterday--[laughter]--and today.
    Mike is a patriot; he's a reformer; he's one of our Nation's finest 
intelligence professionals. I know firsthand how good this guy is; I've 
worked with him on some really important issues related to the security 
of the United States. He brings more than two decades of experience in 
the intelligence field. He is going to be a superb leader for the 
dedicated men and women of the CIA.
    I appreciate Ambassador Negroponte 
being with us today, the Director of National Intelligence. I want to 
thank Attorney General Al Gonzales for 
joining us and the Director of the FBI, Bob Mueller, for joining us as well. But most importantly, thank you 
all for coming.
    I'm proud to serve with you. It is such an honor to serve the United 
States of America, and I appreciate your serving along my side to make 
America secure. The role of the CIA is critical to the security of the 
United States. This Agency is helping to lead the intelligence war 
against the terrorists who attacked us on September the 11th, 2001. They 
continue to plot attacks, and together, we are going to stop them.
    The role of the CIA is vital to my doing my job. I cannot do my job 
without the Central Intelligence Agency. This Agency remains the 
principal provider of intelligence analysis to the President, to the 
Director of National Intelligence, and to senior national security 
officials in my administration. As Director of the CIA, Mike will 
continue the reforms needed. America's leaders are going to have the 
best possible intelligence, and Mike Hayden is going to work with you to 
see that that's the case.
    I've asked Mike to continue to develop the human intelligence 
capabilities of the CIA, which are essential to understanding the plans 
and intentions of dangerous regimes and terrorist organizations around 
the world. I've asked Mike to continue improving the analytical skills 
of the CIA, which apply the best minds to interpret the intelligence 
that we gather. I'm confident that under Mike's leadership, the CIA will 
help us stay ahead of America's enemies and win the war on terror.
    The men and women who work here at the CIA have got a tough job and 
a really important job. You must penetrate closed societies and 
secretive organizations. You must master foreign languages and deal with 
unfamiliar cultures. Much of your work is secret, and American lives 
depend on that work remaining secret. America appreciates the good work 
you're doing, and so do I.
    And in Mike Hayden, you have a leader who recognizes your talents, 
who understands your challenges and will ensure that you remain the 
finest intelligence agency in the world.
    In his new position, Mike will build on the good work of Director 
Porter Goss. Nearly 2 years ago, I asked 
Porter to take on a tough assignment, the transformation of the CIA. 
Porter carried out that assignment with skill and determination. He 
upheld the high standards and proud tradition of the Agency, and he 
leaves behind a CIA that's stronger than the one he found. And 
Laura and I wish Porter and his family well as 
they begin a new chapter in their lives.
    Mike Hayden succeeds Porter Goss at a 
time of great change in the world and great challenge for our 
intelligence community. Under the leadership of John 
Negroponte, our intelligence community is 
growing more integrated and more effective every day. And under the 
leadership of Mike Hayden, the Central Intelligence Agency will continue 
to play a critical role in our Nation's intelligence enterprise. Mike 
understands that the CIA must transform to confront new dangers and do 
so without slowing the high tempo at which it already operates, to 
protect this country.

[[Page 1050]]

I'm confident that with Mike Hayden at the helm, the CIA will succeed 
and continue to make important contributions to the security of the 
American people.
    As Mike takes on this important assignment, he has my trust, my full 
trust, and he has the support of a loving family. I'm glad to see his 
wife, Jeanine, his children and  grandchildren, and his father, Harry, and all the other members of the Hayden family who have 
joined us as well today.
    I want to thank Mike for agreeing to serve our Nation once again. 
And I look forward to continuing to work with him to do our duty to 
protect the American people.
    Thank you all for coming today. May God bless Mike Hayden; may God 
bless you all; and may God continue to bless America.

Note: The President spoke at 2 p.m. at CIA Headquarters. The transcript 
released by the Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks 
of Director Hayden.