    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [January 5, 2007]
    [Pages 9-11]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Nomination of John D. Negroponte To Be Deputy Secretary of State and J. Michael
    McConnell To Be Director of National
    Intelligence
    January 5, 2007

        Mr. Vice President, thank you. Madam
    Secretary, thank you for joining us. Ladies
    and gentlemen, welcome to the White House. I am pleased to announce that
    I intend to nominate Ambassador John Negroponte to be our next Deputy
    Secretary of State and Vice Admiral Mike

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    McConnell to be America's next Director of National Intelligence.
        Under the leadership of Secretary Rice,
    the men and women of the State Department are working to expand freedom
    and defend America's interests around the world. The Deputy Secretary of
    State is a key role in shaping American foreign policy and in guiding
    our diplomats deployed around the globe. The Deputy Secretary also helps
    our Nation's chief diplomat manage the State Department and helps
    coordinate with other Federal Agencies so that America speaks to the
    world with one voice.
        I have asked John Negroponte to serve in this vital position at this
    crucial moment. John Negroponte knows the State Department well. After
    all, he started there in 1960 as a foreign service officer in the
    administration of President Eisenhower. In the four and a half decades
    since, he has served our Nation in eight foreign service posts, spanning
    three continents. He served as Deputy National Security Adviser to
    President Reagan. He represented America at the United Nations. He
    served as our first Ambassador to a free Iraq. And for nearly 2 years,
    John has done a superb job as America's first Director of National
    Intelligence.
        John Negroponte's broad experience, sound judgment, and expertise on
    Iraq and in the war on terror make him a superb choice as Deputy
    Secretary of State. And I look forward to working with him in this new
    post.
        Ambassador Negroponte leaves big shoes to fill as the Director of
    National Intelligence. The DNI has become a core part of our national
    security team. The DNI determines the national intelligence budget,
    oversees the collection and analysis of intelligence information,
    ensures that intelligence agencies share information with each other,
    and creates common standards for intelligence community personnel. The
    vigilance of the DNI helps keep the American people safe from harm.
        Admiral Mike McConnell has the experience, the intellect, and the
    character to succeed in this position. He served as Director of the
    National Security Agency during the 1990s. He was the intelligence
    officer for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the
    liberation of Kuwait in Operation Desert Storm. Admiral McConnell has
    decades of experience, ensuring that our military forces had the
    intelligence they need to fight and win wars.
        He's worked with the Congress and with the White House to strengthen
    our defenses against threats to our information systems. He has earned
    our Nation's highest award for service in the intelligence community. As
    DNI, Mike will report directly to me, and I am confident he will give me
    the best information and analysis that America's intelligence community
    can provide.
        I thank John and Mike for taking on these new challenges. I
    appreciate their service to our country. Each of them will do good work
    in their new positions. And it is vital they take up their new
    responsibilities promptly. I'm confident the United States Senate will
    also see the value of these two serving in crucial positions, and I
    would hope that they would be confirmed as quickly as possible.
        Congratulations to you both. Thank you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 9:45 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the
    White House. The transcript released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary also included the remarks of Secretary-designate Negroponte
    and Director-designate McConnell.

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