sensitive of positions. [fn 11]
Senator William V. Roth of Delaware sent Bush a letter on November 20 which made a related
point:
Dear George:
It is my deep conviction that the security of this nation depends upon an effective viable CentralIntelligence Agency. This depends in part upon the intelligence agency being involved in no way in (^)
domestic politics, especially in the aftermath of Watergate. For that reason, I believe you have no
choice but to withdraw your name unequivocally from consideration for the Vice Presidency, if you
desire to become Director of the CIA. [...]
If Bush still wanted to pursue national office, wrote Roth, "then I believe the wise decision is for
you to ask the President to withdraw your nomination for the CIA Directorship." [fn 12] Roth sent a
copy of the same letter to Ford.
Through Jthe New York television and radio personality who was also an eminence grise of Skull&Bones.ack Marsh at the White House, Bush also received a letter of advice from Tex McCrary,
"Old Tex" urged Bush to "hold a press conference in Peking while the President is there, or from
Pearl Harbor on December 7, and take yourself out of the Vice Presidential sweepstakes for '76."
McCrary's communication shows that he was a warm supporter of Bush's confirmation. [fn 13]
Within just a couple of days of making Bush's nomination public, the Ford White House was aware
that it had a significant public relations problem. To get re-elected, Ford had to appear as a
reformer, breaking decisively with the bad old days of Nixon and the Plumbers. But with the Bush
nomination, Ford was putting a former party chairman and future candidate for national office at the
head of the entire intelligence community. Ford's staff began to marshal attempted rebuttals for theattacks on Bush. On November 5, Jim Connor of Ford's staff had some trite boiler-plate inserted
into Ford's Briefing Book in case he were asked if the advent of Bush represented a move to
obstruct the Church and Pike committees. Ford was told to answer that he "has asked Director
Colby to cooperate fully with the Committee" and "expects Ambassador Bush to do likewise once
he becomes Director. As you are aware, the work of botto wind up shortly." [fn 14] In case he were asked about Bush politicizing the CIA, Ford was toh the Church and Pike Committees is slated
answer:" "I believe that Republicans and Democrats who know George Bush and have worked with
him know that he does not let politics and partisanship interfere with the performance of public
duty." That was a mouthful. "Nearly all of the men and women in this and preceeding
Administrations have had partisan identities and have held partisan party posts." "George Bush is apart of that American tradition and he will demonstrate this when he assumes his new duties."
But when Ford, in an appearance on a Sunday talk show, was asked if he were ready to exclude
Bush as a possible vice-presidential candidate, he refused to do so, answering "I don't think people
of talent ought to be excluded from any field of publdon't think he's eliminated from consideration by anybody, tic service." At a press conference, Ford said, "Ihe delegates or the convention or
myself.
In the meantime, Bush was in touch with the Ford White House about his impending return to
Washington. On November 27 he wrote to Max L. Friedersdorf, an assistant to Ford: "We'll be backthere in mid-December. It looks like I am walking into the midst of a real whirlwind, but all I know
to do is to give it my all and be direct with the Committee." Then, pencilled in by hand: "Max- I
will be there in EOB on the 10th--Jennifer Fitzgerald with me now in China will be setting up a
schedule for me a day or so in advance," and would Fridersdorf please cooperate with Bush's girl
Friday. [fn 15]