at great personal risk and sacrifice, they have made countless invaluable contributions to our national security and to the safety and security of all americans. most times their successes will never be known outside the hallowed halls of langley and the oval office. leading the agency in which i served for 25 years would be the greatest privilege, as well as the greatest responsibility of my professional life. mr. president, i want to thank you for your confidence in me, but even more, for your confidence and constant support of the cia and to those who serve in the intelligence community. they need and deserve the support of all of their fellow americans, especially at a time of such tremendous national security challenges. if confirmed as director, i will make it my mission to ensure that the cia has the tools it needs to keep our nation safe and that its work
at great personal risk and sacrifice, they have made countless invaluable contributions to our national security and to the safety and security of all americans. most times the successes will never be known outside the hallowed halls of langley and the oval office. leading the agency in which i serbed for 25 years would be the greatest privilege as well as the greatest responsibility of my professional life. mr. president, i want to thank you for your confidence in me, but even more for your confidence and constant support to the cia and to those who serve in the intelligence community. they need and deserve the support of all of their fellow americans. especially at a time of such tremendous national security challenges. if confirmed as director, i will make it my mission to insure that the cia has the tools it needs to keep our nation safe
but among them all this moment occupies a special place in my heart and in the hearts of my countrymen. a moment of kinship and homecoming in these hallowed halls. speaking for all americans, i want to say how very much at home we feel in your house. every american would because this is, as we have been so eloquently told, one of democracy s shrines. america s time as a player on the stage of world history has been brief. i think understanding this fact has always made you patient with your younger cousins. well, not always patient. i do recall that on one occasion sir winston churchill said in exasperation about one of our most distinguished diplomats he is the only case i know of a bull who carried his china shop with him. that day in june 1982. this day in 1982. reagan went on to give an absolutely blistering critique of the ussr. this wasn t the evil empire speech. but that speech he gave in