CIA Director Confirmation Day 1, Part 1

The committee heard testimony in the first day of confirmation hearings for Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gates, nominated to become Director of Central Intelligence. Mr. Gates had been deputy director of Central Intelligence in 1986 when the Iran-Contra affair was being conducted in private. While questions have been raised as to his knowledge of the Iran-Contra affair before it became public, Mr. Gates claimed he did not know about the unfolding scandal because the Director of Central Intelligence at the time, William Casey, told him not to bother to pursue the matter as nothing improper was occurring. In his opening statement, Mr. Gates said he should have been more aggressive in finding information on the Iran-Contra affair, and said he would act with greater vigor in the future to get to the bottom of Central Intelligence activities. During the first day of hearings, committee members repeatedly questioned how Mr. Gates could have been second in command at the Central In close