[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 22 (Monday, June 5, 2006)]
[Pages 1049-1050]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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.
    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

[[Page 1050]]

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 
principle 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. 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.