Sign in Subscribe
Bush, George W.

President Bush Nominates John D. Negroponte as First Director of National Intelligence

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

At a critical juncture for American intelligence agencies, President Bush has nominated John D. Negroponte, a career foreign service officer with decades of diplomatic experience, as the first director of national intelligence. Negroponte, 65, has spent 41 of the last 45 years in government service, serving in senior posts at the State Department, as delegate to the United Nations, and ambassador to Mexico, the Philippines, and Honduras. Bush praised Negroponte's long experience as a consumer of intelligence and his knowledge of the power centers of Washington, saying he trusts his judgment and looks forward to working with him.

Key Takeaways:

  • John D. Negroponte, a career foreign service officer, has been nominated as the first director of national intelligence by President Bush.
  • Negroponte has spent 41 of the last 45 years in government service, serving in senior posts at the State Department and as ambassador to several countries.
  • Bush praised Negroponte's experience as a consumer of intelligence and his knowledge of the power centers of Washington.
  • Negroponte will assume the role of principal intelligence adviser and will have access to the president on a daily basis.
  • The nomination comes at a critical juncture for American intelligence agencies, which have faced serious missteps on Iraq and the Sept. 11 attacks.
  • Negroponte's deputy will be Lt. Gen. Michael V. Hayden of the Air Force, a career military intelligence officer with technical expertise.
  • The Senate Intelligence Committee will hold confirmation hearings for Negroponte as soon as his duties in Iraq are completed.
  • Many in Congress and within intelligence agencies have questioned whether the new legislation assigned enough power to the new intelligence chief to exert control over existing intelligence agencies.

Statistics:

  • John D. Negroponte has spent 41 of the last 45 years in government service.
  • Negroponte has served as delegate to the United Nations from 2001 to 2004 and as ambassador to Iraq since last June.
  • The National Security Agency has been overseen by Lt. Gen. Michael V. Hayden for the last five years.
  • The Senate Intelligence Committee will hold confirmation hearings for Negroponte as soon as his duties in Iraq are completed.

Sources:

  • The New York Times, "President Bush Nominates John D. Negroponte as First Director of National Intelligence", Sept. 18, 2004 (caption: Photos by Doug Mills/ The New York Times)
  • The New York Times, "Bush Nominates John D. Negroponte as First Director of National Intelligence", Sept. 17, 2004 (caption: Photos by Doug Mills/The New York Times)

Read more