I say the CIA never had any meaningful domestic power. They were a convenient place for J Edgar Hoover to point at when he didn’t want scrutiny on his agency and the secret nature of their work in addition to the considerable power of the FBI under Hoover kept them from defending themselves.
He was also Vice President to a very popular President immediately before being elected. I think that had more to do with his becoming President than his time as director of the CIA.
Since we’re big fans of attributing causation to correlation here, he was also captain of his HS varsity baseball team, and I think that’s what really got him the presidency.
I say the CIA never had any meaningful domestic power. They were a convenient place for J Edgar Hoover to point at when he didn’t want scrutiny on his agency and the secret nature of their work in addition to the considerable power of the FBI under Hoover kept them from defending themselves.
George HW Bush was director of the CIA before President, but i guess that doesnt count as meaningful enough for you?
It doesn’t count as the CIA. When HW became President, HE had the power, not the CIA.
Carter: Tell me about the UFOs.
Bush the I: not until you make me CIA director for life.
Carter: That’s not happening.
Bush the I: sucks to be you then. click
He was also Vice President to a very popular President immediately before being elected. I think that had more to do with his becoming President than his time as director of the CIA.
Since we’re big fans of attributing causation to correlation here, he was also captain of his HS varsity baseball team, and I think that’s what really got him the presidency.
And before that, his family got rich aiding the Nazis.
crack epidemic?