Clinton CIA Head Endorses Dole
By SANDRA SOBIERAJAssociated Press Writer
Wednesday, June 26, 1996 0959PDT
© Copyright 1996 The Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former Clinton administration CIA director James Woolsey endorsed Republican candidate Bob Dole Wednesday, calling him the candidate with ``the stature, experience and knowledge'' to lead America.
At a news conference with Dole this morning, Woolsey said Dole ``will ensure that our allies will never doubt our intentions nor our enemies doubt our resolve.
``His leadership will offer a steady hand in guiding America's foreign policy,'' Woolsey said.
Woolsey's endorsement gave Dole's challenge of Clinton foreign policy a shot in the arm. Woolsey was careful not to criticize Clinton directly, except to say the administration has underestimated the threat of ballistic missile attacks on the United States.
He saluted Dole for his support for the deployment of a ballistic missile defense system.
Clinton campaign spokesman Joe Lockhart dismissed Woolsey's endorsement as sour grapes. ``I don't view this as a terribly significant event. It probably has more to do with his feelings about leaving the administration than about foreign policy.''
Woolsey resigned in 1994 after two tumultuous years as CIA director, during which he was dogged by the Aldrich Ames espionage affair, congressional criticism of the agency's bloated budget and post-Cold War restructuring. Woolsey departed citing personal and family considerations, and the White House insisted he was not forced from office.
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