ACCESSION
NUMBER:372760
FILE ID:TXT304
DATE:12/28/94
TITLE:WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF CIA DIRECTOR WOOLSEY (12/28/94)
TEXT:*94122804.TXT
WHITE HOUSE ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION OF CIA DIRECTOR WOOLSEY
(Texts: White House, Woolsey statements) (630)
Washington -- President Clinton December 28 accepted the resignation of the
director of the Central Intelligence Agency, R. James Woolsey.
A written statement released by the office of the president's press
secretary said the resignation was accepted "with regret," but it did not
indicate when or why Woolsey had resigned.
But it also released a statement by Woolsey saying he had tendered his
resignation in a December 26 letter to the president and noting that his
family figured "prominently" in "making the decision to return to the
private sector."
In the White House statement, Clinton called Woolsey "a staunch advocate"
for maintaining intelligence-gathering at a high level of professionalism
and credited him with improving the quality of the analyses provided by the
CIA and with correcting "security and management lapses in the critical
area of counterintelligence," such as those revealed in the Aldrich Ames
case.
Following is the text of the White House statement:
(begin text White House statement)
The president today announced that he had accepted with regret the
resignation of R. James Woolsey as director of the Central Intelligence
Agency. In doing so, the president praised Woolsey's many accomplishments
in advancing the transformation of U.S. intelligence in the aftermath of
the Cold War.
"Jim Woolsey has been a staunch advocate of maintaining an intelligence
capability that is second to none. He has taken initiatives to streamline
and improve costly collection systems, improve the quality of both analysis
and intelligence and correct security and management lapses in the critical
area of counterintelligence. Jim Woolsey deserves the gratitude of all
Americans for his service to our country. He has my deep appreciation,"
the president said.
The president reiterated the importance that intelligence plays in
protecting American interests around the world.
"Intelligence is a vital element of our nation's power and influence. The
men and women of U.S. intelligence must know how grateful I am for their
1edicated and often unheralded service. I remain committed to ensuring
that they have the support, resources and leadership needed to continue
their outstanding service to their country."
(end text White House statement)
(begin text Woolsey statement)
In a letter to the president on December 26, 1994, I tendered my resignation
as director of Central Intelligence. I said that I was available to serve
as long as until the end of January, if the president wishes, in order to
assist in a transition. Serving as DCI has been a privilege and an honor
and I remain grateful to President Clinton for the opportunity to be part
of his administration. In making the decision to return to the private
sector, however, my family figures prominently. For their patience and
understanding in the face of lost evenings, weekends and holidays, it is
time for recompense.
Intelligence remains vital to our national security. We have taken major
steps in the last two years to reshape American intelligence and ensure
that the CIA and the intelligence community can support the president, his
policymakers, military commanders, and the Congress with intelligence of
the highest quality well into the next century. As the administration and
Congress review the community, I intend to continue to contribute to the
discussion of its roles and missions in the years ahead.
Finally, I am grateful for the opportunity to have served with the
exceptional men and women of the intelligence community and of the Central
Intelligence Agency in particular. Their patriotism, dedication, pride,
skill, and unpublicized achievements are hallmarks of the finest qualities
and accomplishments of the federal service. They continue to be central to
the nation's security. I look forward to introducing my successor to the
best of the best.
(end text Woolsey statement)
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