Bush Announces CIA Director George Tenet's Resignation

Says deputy director will be new acting director in mid-July

President Bush announced June 3 that he has accepted the resignation of his director of Central Intelligence, George Tenet.

Bush told reporters at the White House, prior to his departure for Europe, that Tenet, citing personal reasons, had submitted his letter of resignation to him at the White House June 2.

The president praised Tenet's public service -- he has been CIA director since July 1997 and served as deputy director for two years before that -- calling him "a strong leader in the war on terror."

Besides the CIA, the director of Central Intelligence has responsibility for government-wide intelligence from 13 government entities: all the military services; the Defense Intelligence Agency; the departments of Homeland Security, State, Energy, and Treasury; the FBI; the National Security Agency; the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency; and the National Reconnaissance Office.

Deputy CIA director John McLaughlin will become acting director when Tenet departs in mid-July. He has served as Tenet's deputy since October 2000.

McLaughlin has been at the agency since 1972, working variously on European, Russian and Eurasian issues.

From 1984 to 1985, McLaughlin worked at the State Department's Bureau of European and Canadian Affairs on a rotational tour of duty.

His undergraduate degree is from Wittenberg University in Ohio, and his master's degree is from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington.

McLaughlin is a former Army infantry officer who served in Southeast Asia.

McLaughlin's official biography may be viewed on the World Wide Web at http://www.cia.gov/cia/information/mclaughlin01.html

Following is the text of the White House statement:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
June 3, 2004

REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE RESIGNATION OF CIA DIRECTOR GEORGE TENET

The South Lawn

THE PRESIDENT: Today, George Tenet, the director of the CIA, submitted a letter of resignation. I met with George last night in the White House. I had a good visit with him. He told me [he] was resigning for personal reasons. I told him I'm sorry he's leaving. He's done a superb job on behalf of the American people. I accepted his letter. He will serve at the CIA as the director until mid-July, at which time the deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency, John McLaughlin, will serve as the acting director.

George Tenet is the -- is the kind of public service [sic] you like -- servant you like to work with. He's strong. He's resolute. He served his nation as the director for seven years. He has been a strong and able leader at the agency. He's been a -- he's been a strong leader in the war on terror. And I will miss him. I send my blessings to George and his family. I look forward to working with him until the time he leaves the agency. And I wish him all the very best.

Thank you.