residential lot in Houston, plus some bank accounts and life insurance policies. He had a securities
portfolio managed by T. Rowe Price in Baltimore, and he assured Stennis he would be willing todivest any shares that might pose conflict of interest problems. [fn 7]
Congressional reaction reaching the White House before Bush's hearings was not enthusiastic. Dick
Cheney of the White House staff advised Ford to call Senator John Stennis on November 3, noting
that Stennis "controls confirmation process for CIA[fn 8] A few days later Ford had a telephone conversation with Senator Mike Mansfield, the and DOD." Ford replied shortly after, "I did."
Democratic majority leader, and one of his notations was "Geo Bush--for him but he must say no
politics." [fn 9]
Negative mail from both houses of Congre12, Ford received a singular note from GOP Congress was also coming in to the White House. On Novemberssman James M. Collins of Dallas, Texas.
Collins wrote to Ford: "I hope you will reconsider the appointment of George Bush to the CIA. At
this time it seems to me that it would be a greater service for the country for George to continue his
service in China. He is not the right man for the CIA," wrote Collins, who had been willing to
support Bush for the vice presidency back in 1974. "Yfriend Dale Milford who is the only friendly Democrat on Pike's Committee. He strenuouslyesterday," wrote Collins, "I sat next to my
questioned why Bush was being put in charge of the CIA. He likes George but he is convinced that
the Liberals will contend from now to Doomsday that George is a partisan Republican voice. They
are going to sing this song about Republican Chairmen and let the liberal press beat it out in
headlines every day. I have heard this same story fromuse George in some other way. They are going to crucify him on this job and Senator Churc many on the Hill who stand with you. Ph willlease
lead the procession. I hope you find an urgent need to keep Bush in China," wrote Collins, a
Republican and a Texan, to Ford. [fn 10]
There was also a letter to Ford frombeen the chairman of one of the principal House Watergate investigating committees. Nedzi wrote Democratic Congressman Lucien Nedzi of Michigan, who had
as follows:
The purpose of my letter is to express deep concern over the announced appointment of George
Bush as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency.
As Chairman of the Special Subcommittee on Intelligence of the House Armed Services Committee
since 1971, I have had the obligation and opportunity to closely observe the CIA, the other
intelligence agencies, the executive and legislative relationships of these agencies, and vice-versa.
We are at a critical juncture.
After reassuring Ford that he had no personal animus against Bush, Nedzi went on:
However, his proposed appointment would bring with it inevitable complications for the
intelligence community. Mr. Bush is a man with a recent partisan political past and a probable near-
term partisan political future. This is a burden neither the Agency, nor the legislative oversight
committee, nor the Executive should have to bear as the CIA enters perhaps the most difficultperiod of its history.
The Director of the CIA must be unfettered by any doubts as to his politics. He must be free of the
appearance, as well as the substance, that he is acting, or not acting, with partisan political
considerations in mind.
In my judgment, as one buffeted by the winds of the CIA controversy of the last few years, I agree
that a man of stature is needed, but a non-political man.
Accordingly, I respectfully urge that you reconsider your appointment of Mr. Bush to this most