A&M's Gates to be next SecDef

After declining an offer to be National Director of Intelligence two years ago, Texas A&M President Dr. Robert M. Gates has been called again to serve his country.

Although his time here was relatively short, he made an absurd amount of progress, and earned the love and respect of the Aggie Family.

Two of my favorite quotes from Dr. Gates:

"Tradition is not for sale."

"ON JANUARY 6, 2005, ANDY CARD, PRESIDENT BUSH’S CHIEF OF STAFF (AND AN OLD FRIEND), CALLED TO SEE IF I WOULD BE WILLING TO BECOME THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE – THE INTELLIGENCE CZAR CREATED BY CONGRESS LAST YEAR WITH AUTHORITY OVER ALL INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES OF THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING CIA AND THE INTELLIGENCE COMPONENTS OF THE FBI AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. I FELT DUTY-BOUND TO GIVE THE REQUEST SERIOUS CONSIDERATION. FOR THE NEXT 17 DAYS AND MOSTLY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS, INCLUDING SEVERAL HOURS AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON THE MONDAY BEFORE INAUGURATION DAY, I WRESTLED WITH THIS DECISION. ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 23RD, I DECIDED THAT IF I COULD HELP MAKE AMERICA SAFER IN A TIME OF TERRORISM AND WAR, THEN I MUST, AND THEREFORE HAD TO ACCEPT THE POSITION AND LEAVE TEXAS A&M.



THAT SUNDAY EVENING, I WROTE OUT WHAT I WOULD SAY AT THE TRADITIONAL INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON WITH THE PRESIDENT – A PRESS CONFERENCE I EXPECTED WOULD TAKE PLACE WITHIN TWO OR THREE DAYS. I ALSO WROTE AN E-MAIL TO ALL AGGIES EXPLAINING MY DECISION, TO BE ISSUED IN COLLEGE STATION AT THE SAME TIME THE PRESS CONFERENCE BEGAN. THE LAST SENTENCE OF THAT E-MAIL READ: “FOR NOW, THOUGH, I ONLY WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT THIS APPOINTMENT WAS DUE TO NO INITIATIVE OF MINE, THAT THE DECISION WAS WRENCHING, AND THAT I CAN HARDLY BEAR THE IDEA OF LEAVE AGGIELAND.”



I THEN WENT FOR A LATE NIGHT WALK AROUND CAMPUS. THROUGH THE QUAD, BY THE EVANS LIBRARY, PAST SBISA AND AROUND THE NORTHSIDE DORMS, BACK BY THE YMCA BUILDING, AND FINALLY TO ACADEMIC PLAZA AND THE STATUE OF SUL ROSS. I SAT DOWN ON A BENCH THERE, AS THOUGHTS RACED THROUGH MY MIND OF ROSS AND RUDDER, OF SILVER TAPS AND MUSTER, OF THE CORPS, OF THE INCREDIBLE STUDENTS AND FACULTY AND STAFF HERE, AND OF ALL THAT IS UNDERWAY TO MAKE A&M EVEN GREATER. I REALIZED, SITTING THERE IN THE DARK, BRUSHING AWAY TEARS, HOW MUCH I HAD COME TO LOVE TEXAS A&M, ALL IT STANDS FOR, AND ALL IT CAN BECOME. AND I KNEW AT THAT MOMENT I COULD NOT LEAVE.

I CALLED ANDY CARD AT 8 A.M. THE NEXT MORNING AND TOLD HIM I HAD TO TELL THE PRESIDENT NO. I HAVE NOT REGRETTED THAT DECISION."

Gig'em Gates! BTHO Iraq Turmoil and Inefficiency in the Armed Forces!


added:



the future Secretary of Defense chills with the Fightin' Texas Aggie class of 2009 at Fish Camp 2005 - Camp Gates