(2006-0680-F) Central Intelligence Agency

The materials in FOIA 2006-0680-F are a systematic body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA request 2006-0680-F contains records from the National Security Council (NSC). Anthony Lake was nominated by President Clinton on December 5, 1996 to be the Director of Central Intelligence (DCI). Since January 1993, Lake had served as President Clinton's National Security Adviser. During the run-up to his Senate confirmation hearings, Lake’s nomination ran into difficulties. After several days of contentious hearings before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Lake withdrew his name from DCI consideration on March 18, 1997. The next day, George Tenet, then Deputy Director of the CIA and former NSC Intel Director, was nominated by President Clinton as DCI. Tenet was confirmed by the Senate on July 10, 1997, and sworn in as the CIA’s 16th Director the next day. Documents were considered responsive to this FOIA if they were dated near the date of President Clinton’s December 1996 nomination of Lake to July 1997, when George Tenet was confirmed by the Senate. The White House Office of Records Management (WHORM) Subject Files contain one relevant record. A packet of material relating to the President’s official announcement of George Tenet’s nomination to Director of Central Intelligence may be found in FG006-11. This packet includes a memo clearing Tenet’s nomination, and unsigned copy of President’s official nomination, and Tenet’s official biographical profile as Deputy Director of Central Intelligence. The White House Staff and Office Files contain memos, correspondence, talking points, press briefings, and emails. Almost all of this material was publicly released in response to Anthony Lake’s nomination as DCI and press inquiries as to the role the National Security Council might have played in arranging meetings between President Clinton and foreign nationals. The text of Lake’s answer to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) in reply to a question concerning whether or not the NSC advised the Chief Executive to meet with foreign representatives is one of the documents available to researchers in the collection. It should be noted that many of the records opened were quite heavily redacted. The Automated Records Management System (Email) and Tape Restoration Project (Email) consists of email concerning Anthony Lake and George Tenet’s nomination to Director of Central Intelligence. Responsive email may best described as memos informing staff of changes of the DCI nomination. The NSC Cable, Email, and Records Management Systems contain additional information on Lake’s nomination and subsequent withdrawal and Tenet’s nomination. The NSC Cable System had no responsive hits. The NSC Email System consists of several folders, which include Lake’s confirmation points to be used in press inquiries, legislative updates regarding the status of Lake’s nomination and upcoming hearings, drafts of a Washington Times op-ed by Ambassador Richard Schifter responding to the critics of Lake, press guidance to be used during Press Secretary briefings, drafts of Lake’s prepared remarks before the Senate Intelligence Committee, and President Clinton’s letter to Lake after his withdrawal from consideration as CIA Director. The NSC Records Management System includes a letter to Lake congratulating him on his nomination to be DCI and President Clinton’s remarks after Lake’s withdrawal.