How to become CIA director

For years I've been wondering how someone as sensible as James Woolsey ever became Bill Clinton's CIA director.

A new book, getting much acclaim on other points, "Why America Slept," by Gerald Posner, finally answers the question.

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Indeed, from Posner's account, it seems like it was a mistake. The story is fascinating for what it says about the Clinton administration's priorities and policies.

Woolsey was a conservative Democrat, former Rhodes scholar and attorney who served as undersecretary of the Navy in the Carter administration. He also worked as an arms negotiator in Geneva.

Woolsey was tight with former Rep. Lee Hamilton and former Secretary of State Warren Christopher. Though he endorsed Clinton early in the campaign, he had only met the candidate twice, according to Posner.

But, a few days before Christmas 1992, Woolsey received a call around 9 p.m. from Christopher.

"Could you come to Little Rock and talk to Clinton about the CIA job?" asked Christopher.

Woolsey tells Posner: "I thought that he wanted me to talk to Clinton about who I thought should get the director's job."

His response: "Can I come after New Year's?"

"No, I think you better come today," replied Christopher.

Woolsey took an 11 p.m. flight and arrived in Little Rock at 12:30 a.m. Clinton was waiting for him and met with Woolsey for about an hour.

"He was a great, charming guy," recalled Woolsey. "And of that hour, we spent about 10 minutes talking about the CIA. The rest of the time we basically shared stories about growing up in Arkansas and Oklahoma. I left that meeting still without a clue that he was considering me for the CIA post."

The next morning, he started to get a clue. He was told to meet with Webb Hubbell who had a file on Woolsey and flipped through it during a 30-minute meeting. He kept asking if he had any conflicts of interest or skeletons in his closet.

Back at his hotel the same morning, Woolsey got a call from a campaign staffer informing him there would be a press conference at 12:30. He would be picked up at noon.

Woolsey called Christopher.

"They're picking me up in 20 minutes. Is it to be director of the CIA?"

"Yes," Christopher responded.

"No one asked me," Woolsey said incredulously. "And I've never said yes."

"Don't worry," said Christopher. "Come to the press conference and we'll straighten it out."

"I think I'd like to know before that," said Woolsey.

Christopher called Clinton and rang Woolsey right back.

"Yes, that's what he wants," he said.

"OK, I guess," said Woolsey.

When Woolsey got there, he had a brief meeting with George Stephanopoulos and Dee Dee Myers to go over possible questions.

"What if someone says you are just a bunch of Carter administration retreads?" posed Stephanopoulos.

"I was in the Bush administration," said Woolsey.

"I didn't know you were in the Bush administration, admiral," said a surprised Myers.

"I'm not an admiral," said Woolsey. "I never got above captain."

Myers looked at Stephanopoulos and shook her head: "Oh, really? Well, we better change the press release fast."

But as little attention as Woolsey got from Clinton before his selection, it would only get worse after he took the job.

By the summer of 1993, he asked his old friend Aspin, now defense secretary, if he ever saw the president.

"No," said Aspin.

"Neither do I," said Woolsey. "Do you think Chris (meaning Christopher) is?"

"No, he's not," said Aspin.

"Don't you think it weird we never get together?" asked Woolsey

"I wonder who the hell is seeing him," asked Aspin.

Well, 10 years later, we know a lot more about who Clinton was seeing during his presidency. And now we also know how one astute, mature senior official made it into the animal house of U.S. presidential administrations – by mistake.

Buy "Why America Slept" by Gerald Posner.