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CIA
Director Tenet Resigns
President Bush personally made the surprise announcement. "George Tenet, the director of the CIA, has submitted a letter of resignation," he said. The president said Mr. Tenet cited personal reasons for his decision to step down after seven years as head of central intelligence. "He has been a strong leader in the war on terror. And I will miss him," the president said. George Tenet will remain in
his post until mid-July. A deputy will fill the job in an
acting capacity until a replacement is named. President Bush Commends Tenet - Remarks by the President on the Resignation of CIA Director George Tenet - The South Lawn 10:26 A.M. EDT 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 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 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. END 10:28 A.M. EDT For Immediate Release STATEMENT OF FBI DIRECTOR ROBERT S. MUELLER, III, ON THE RETIREMENT OF CIA DIRECTOR GEORGE TENET WASHINGTON, D.C. -- FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III, issued the following statement today: “I have worked closely with George Tenet during my tenure as FBI Director. We have jointly briefed the President every weekday morning and participated in countless other meetings, and I have consistently been impressed by his patriotism, his leadership, and his commitment to protecting the American people. I know he has earned the respect of leaders around the world. He has certainly earned mine. “George has transformed the CIA – working to build its human intelligence capabilities, improving the caliber of its analysis and intelligence products, and providing a model for the use of Information Technology in the Intelligence Community. I have seen the results of his efforts every day in the intelligence we receive and in the unprecedented cooperation between our agencies. “George has sought at every turn to bridge the gap between the CIA and FBI with one goal in mind – the security of the American public. Due to his constant efforts to bring the intelligence agencies closer together, we are better able to predict the actions of our adversaries and to protect Americans from evolving transnational threats. “His resignation is a great loss to the CIA, to the American people, and to me personally. I wish him all the best.” George J. Tenet - The Director of Central Intelligence Source: CIA George John Tenet was sworn in as Director of Central Intelligence on 11 July 1997 following a unanimous vote by both the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and the full Senate. In this position he heads the Intelligence Community (all foreign intelligence agencies of the United States) and directs the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Tenet served as the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, having been confirmed in that position in July 1995. Following the departure of John Deutch in December 1996, he served as Acting Director. Mr. Tenet previously served as Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Intelligence Programs at the National Security Council. While at the NSC, he coordinated Presidential Decision Directives on ''Intelligence Priorities,'' ''Security Policy Coordination,'' ''US Counterintelligence Effectiveness,'' and ''US Policy on Remote Sensing Space Capabilities.'' He also was responsible for coordinating all interagency activities concerning covert action. Prior to serving at the National Security Council, he served on President Clinton's national security transition team. In this capacity, he coordinated the evaluation of the US Intelligence Community. Mr. Tenet also served as Staff Director of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence for over four years under the chairmanship of Senator David Boren. In this capacity he was responsible for coordinating all of the Committee's oversight and legislative activities including the strengthening of covert action reporting requirements, the creation of a statutory Inspector General at CIA, and the introduction of comprehensive legislation to reorganize US intelligence. Prior to his appointment as Staff Director, Mr. Tenet directed the Committee's oversight of all arms control negotiations between the Soviet Union and the United States, culminating in the preparation of a report to the US Senate on ``The Ability of US Intelligence to Monitor the Intermediate Nuclear Force Treaty.'' Mr. Tenet came to the Committee in August of 1985, as designee to the Vice Chairman, Senator Patrick Leahy, after working three years on the staff of Senator John Heinz as both a legislative assistant covering national security and energy issues and as legislative director. Mr. Tenet holds a B.S.F.S. from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and an M.I.A. from the School of International Affairs at Columbia University. He is a native of New York and is married to A. Stephanie Glakas-Tenet. They have one son, John Michael.
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