Historians hosted this 90minute discussion at their annual meeting in st. Louis. We will go ahead and get started since the moment has arrived and others may trickle in after lunch. My name is beverly gage. Im a history professor at gail and i will be here mostly chairing and timekeeping and asking some questions, but before i introduce the panelists , i just wanted to say a few words about the genesis of this panel, the idea behind it, and some of the issues i hope we will be able to address. This year, 2015, marks the audience anniversary of one of the most important congressional committees, certainly, of the 1970s, and i think arguably of the latter half of the 20th century, and that was the Church Committee. The Church Committee was chaired by idaho Senator Frank Church and the committee began its work in the spring of 1975, and the Church Committee held hearings performed investigations, dug into Background Materials on the American Intelligence Services this was the first mass s
Lots of people are here because this is an normas opportunity to hear the director. We are privileged to have him here. I would say we are fortunate as a country the director is willing to serve at this time. His life has been about service. He was the highest ranking can that at west point when he graduated from west point and career, hasife, been about service. He has been in and out of government and in the private sector. Fortunately, he is willing to thee us as the director of cia. We you please welcome with your warm applause director pompeo. [applause] director pompeo good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for coming to join me. I did pick this place. Fornted to thank csis hosting me today. Im honored to make some of the first public remarks as director of the cia. You laughed appropriately. We had bill webster here. We appreciate it very much. [applause] it is an honor, and i am a little nervous. I thought i would start today by telling you a story. Bright, welleducated young man,
[applause] thank you. I really get applause when i come out. My name is john henry. That weo the director have standing room only and i said lets not wait 15 minutes to watch the clock, lets get going. Lets to do that. Typical of his character, he is always getting added. Thank you. When we had like this, we starta little safety announcement. This, we start with a safety announcement. ,m responsible for your safety so follow my instructions of i ask you to do anything. Im not worried about the wreck about the director, he has guys with guns. If i have to ask you to leave the room, the exits are behind us. The stairs going down or a twoyear. , wille to lefthand turns go over to the courtyard of national geographic, i will order ice cream and we will sing a song of praise for our salvation. [laughter] just follow me if i have asked you to do something. We are honored that director pompeo agree to be here. Said he people sent was going to be here, i was like, what the hell. It is an enorm
[applause] thank you. I really get applause when i come out. My name is john henry. That weo the director have standing room only and i said lets not wait 15 minutes to watch the clock, lets get going. Lets to do that. Typical of his character, he is always getting added. Thank you. When we had like this, we starta little safety announcement. This, we start with a safety announcement. ,m responsible for your safety so follow my instructions of i ask you to do anything. Im not worried about the wreck about the director, he has guys with guns. If i have to ask you to leave the room, the exits are behind us. The stairs going down or a twoyear. , wille to lefthand turns go over to the courtyard of national geographic, i will order ice cream and we will sing a song of praise for our salvation. [laughter] just follow me if i have asked you to do something. We are honored that director pompeo agree to be here. Said he people sent was going to be here, i was like, what the hell. It is an enorm
This is one hour and 10 minutes. [applause] thank you. We are delighted to have you here. So ive standing room only said lets get going. The directors character, he is always at it. When we have a defense like this, we start with a safety announcement. ,m responsible for your safety so follow my instructions of i ask you to do anything. Im not worried about the wreck about the director, he has guys with guns. If i have to ask you to leave the room, the exits are behind us. The stairs going down or a twoyear. , wille to lefthand turns go over to the courtyard of national geographic, i will order ice cream and we will sing a song of praise for our salvation. [laughter] just follow me if i have asked you to do something. We are honored that director pompeo agree to be here. Said he people sent was going to be here, i was like, what the hell. It is an enormous opportunity to hear the director. We are very fortunate as a country that director pompeo is willing to serve at this time. His lif