*EPF402 06/03/2004
White House Report, June 3: CIA Director Resigns
(Bush announces resignation of CIA Director Tenet) (230)

President Bush told reporters June 3 that he has accepted a letter of resignation from Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet, effective in July.

"He told me he was resigning for personal reasons. I told him I'm sorry he's leaving. He's done a superb job on behalf of the American people," Bush said.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters that Director Tenet called White House Chief of Staff Andy Card June 2 and requested a meeting with the president. He met with President Bush that evening and told him of his decision to resign.

McClellan denied that President Bush had any prior knowledge of Tenet's resignation before his meeting with Tenet on June 2.

"It is my understanding that the CIA will be making his letter of resignation available publicly," said McClellan.

Bush said Tenet would serve until mid-July following which Tenet's deputy, John McLaughlin, will temporarily lead the CIA until a successor is found.

"He's been a strong and able leader at the agency, and I will miss him," the president said of Tenet as he got ready to depart for a trip to Andrews Air Force Base and then on to Europe for the 60th anniversary of the D-Day Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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