Statement to Employees by Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Mike Hayden on President George W. Bush's Visit to CIA Headquarters

 August 14, 2008

President Bush’s visit to Headquarters today said a lot about your outstanding work and the vital role of our Agency. In the midst of a sensitive international crisis, the President came to Langley to get the very latest on the situation in Georgia and an update on the war on terror. Steve and I attended both briefings, and the President clearly was pleased with the expertise and insights of our officers.

President George W. Bush, joined by Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Hayden, right, and Deputy CIA Director Stephen Kappes, addresses reporters Thursday, Aug. 14, 2008 at the CIA headquarters in Langley, Va., following President Bush's participation in briefings on the war on terror and the current situation in Georgia. White House photo by Eric Draper.

Many of you had the opportunity to hear President Bush speak when he stopped for lunch in the cafeteria. He expressed his deep appreciation for your contributions, adding that the ultimate value of our Agency’s service can only be fully understood by those who occupy the Oval Office.

Supporting our government with timely, accurate intelligence is our job 24/7, but it isn’t every day that we hear directly from our top customer just how important our work is—and that he stays two hours longer than scheduled. Thank you for ensuring that CIA remains central to the security of our nation, and for making this visit such a great success.

Mike Hayden