1996: Clinton Considered Jamie Gorelick for CIA Director

The Washington Post Archives | December 3, 1996 | John F. Harris

[nwrep]

WOMEN'S GROUPS SEEK ENTRY TO PRESIDENT'S INNER CIRCLE; GORELICK CONSIDERED FOR CIA

December 3, 1996

President Clinton faces a choice as he returns this week to the business of staffing his administration for a second term: He will either make history by appointing a woman to one of the top spots on his national security team, or risk sorely disappointing many of the very voters who provided his margin of victory in last month's election.

This ambivalence is playing itself out in the drama over whether Clinton will name U.N. Ambassador Madeleine K. Albright to be the first female secretary of state. While declining to make Albright's appointment a litmus test for Clinton, top women's advocates said they would regard it as a setback if Clinton does not name a woman to one of several vacancies in top national security jobs that historically have been the province of white men.

"It would be a real blow, and it would be fairly blatant," given how Clinton ran as an advocate for women, said Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women. "Foreign policy is a place where women really do need to make some breakthroughs."

Besides Albright, the woman cited most frequently by administration officials as likely for a top national security job is Deputy Attorney General Jamie S. Gorelick, who is being considered for CIA director.

[Howlin]

One word: Hillary!

[TC Rider]

Gorelick is one of Hillary's creatures.

[AngryJawa]

Get out the duct tape first, k?

Rrrrrrrrip!

I've been thinking about upgrading to a specially-designed kevlar beanie. The duct tape is leaviing a telltale residue between applications.

[MizSterious]

Yes, everything that witch ever touched was corrupt.

[syriacus]

I'll be saying a prayer of thanksgiving that Gorelick didn't get the top position at the CIA..

[onyx]

Can this get any worse?
Mark me down in the "stunned" column.

[iceskater]

As long as it can hold all the pieces after your head explodes from all this stuff.

Frankly, I'm dreading going to the cardiologist in a couple of weeks. He is going to have to upgrade my blood pressure meds.

[michaelt]

She apparently was considered for Defense as well. This is from CNN's site, November 15, 1996:

Cohen Leads Defense Secretary Search

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Nov. 15) -- President Bill Clinton's search for a new secretary of defense has focused on retiring Sen. William S. Cohen (R-Maine), a frequent critic of the administration's foreign policy.

Cohen has strongly criticized the Clinton Administration's Bosnia and Iraq policies. But the president, who has promised to put at least one Republican in his cabinet, is reportedly impressed by the senator's credentials and willing to put aside his attacks.

When asked Sunday if he was willing to serve, Cohen said, "I think anyone who was asked to be secretary of state would be hard-pressed to reject it... I think the same thing would be true with respect to secretary of defense."

Previously, CIA Director John Deutch was considered the leading contender to replace Defense Secretary William Perry, who has resigned. Other candidates include Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.), Deputy Defense Secretary John White and Deputy Attorney General Jamie Gorelick. Aides caution, though, that no choice is likely to be made until next month.

Clinton had hoped to name appointees for both the Defense and State departments before leaving Friday on an extended trip, but both searches were delayed this week.

Earlier this week former Sen. George Mitchell had emerged as the frontrunner for the secretary of state slot but sources now say Richard Holbrooke's candidacy is gaining momentum. Two others also remain on the president's short list: U.N. Ambassador Madeleine Albright and Nunn. The White House appears no longer to be pursuing one-time favorite, retired General Colin Powell.

[Mo1]

Can this get any worse?

Yep .. hold onto your hat

[iceskater]

Good Lord.

[cyncooper]

Color me stunned.

What in God's name qualified her to be CIA Director?!

(I know--malleable fool tool)

Whew, that WAS close.

[iceskater]

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop with respect to funding.
Clinton/China/OBL/nameyourdictator/orfavoriteterroist

[Howlin]

It seems every single position was filled with the intent of "handling" anything that might come up.

As you stated, looking back now, even knowing what we knew then, we didn't know enough. We should have taken to the streets.

[onyx]

Color me stunned.





To: nwrep
Can this get any worse?
Mark me down in the "stunned" column.

46 posted on 04/15/2004 9:03:51 AM PDT by onyx



I am gratified to know we're on the same page.

[iceskater]

We knew Clinton was bad. But I don't think any of us, in our wildest imaginations, ever realized the breadth and depth of the corruption and evil that occupied the White House for 8 long years.

[Mo1]

This just shows that hillary was in charge all along or clinton was ever more stupid than we thought

Hellary was always in charge and still is .. (imo) Bill was just her puppet to push her agenda

[malia]

Oh, I'm sure he will tell us all in his new book, don't you!

[Mo1]

You're trying to make my head explode aren't ya??

All this we are leaning is just the tip of the ice burg

[Howlin]

The really scary part is that, because Gorelick was number two at DOJ, she flew under OUR radar for 8 long years.

That seems to be the MO they chose; put their people in secondary POWERFUL positions with the dupes out front.

So we had Reno, Gorelick, and -- bringing up the rear -- Webster Hubbell.

[mountaineer]

Don't forget Bill Lan Lee