Jump to content

Clair George: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Dubious claim about constitutionality of law
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit
 
(30 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox Officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|name =Clair E. George
| name = Clair E. George
|image =
| image =
|order =
| order =
|office =Deputy Director of Operations, Central Intelligence Agency
| office = [[Deputy Director of CIA for Operations]]
|term_start =
| term_start = July 1, 1984
|term_end =
| term_end = December 1, 1987
|president =[[George H. W. Bush]]
| president = [[Ronald Reagan]]
|predecessor =
| predecessor = John H. Stein
|successor =
| successor = Richard F. Stoltz
|birth_date ={{birth date|1930|8|3}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1930|8|3}}
|birth_place =[[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
|death_date ={{death date and age|2011|8|11|1930|8|3}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2011|8|11|1930|8|3}}
|death_place =[[Bethesda, Maryland]], U.S.
| death_place = [[Bethesda, Maryland]], U.S.
|nationality =
| nationality =
|party =
| party =
|spouse =
| spouse = Mary Atkinson George
|relations =
| relations =
|children =
| children =
|residence =
| residence =
|alma_mater =
| alma_mater = [[Pennsylvania State University]]
|occupation =
| profession = Espionage
|profession =
| religion =
|religion =
| signature =
|signature =
| website =
|website =
| footnotes =
| resting_place = [[Arlington National Cemetery]]
|footnotes =
| branch = {{flag|United States Army}}
| allegiance = {{flag|United States}}
| battles = [[Korean War]]
}}
}}


'''Clair Elroy George''' (August 3, 1930 – August 11, 2011) was a veteran of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]]'s (CIA) clandestine service who oversaw all global espionage activities for the agency in the mid-1980s.<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011">{{cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Adam |date=August 12, 2011 |title=Clair E. George, CIA officer who figured in Iran-contra scandal, dies at 81 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/clair-e-george-cia-officer-who-figured-in-iran-contra-scandal-dies-at-81/2011/08/12/gIQAADpzBJ_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', George was "a consummate spymaster who moved the chess pieces in the CIA’s clandestine games of intrigue".<ref name="The New York Times; August 20, 2011">{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Douglas |date=August 20, 2011 |title=Clair George, Spy and Iran-Contra Figure, Dies at 81 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/us/21george.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=September 13, 2015}}</ref>
'''Clair Elroy George''' (August 3, 1930 – August 11, 2011) was a veteran of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]]'s (CIA) [[National Clandestine Service|clandestine service]] who oversaw all global espionage activities for the agency in the mid-1980s.<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011">{{cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Adam |date=August 12, 2011 |title=Clair E. George, CIA officer who figured in Iran-contra scandal, dies at 81 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/clair-e-george-cia-officer-who-figured-in-iran-contra-scandal-dies-at-81/2011/08/12/gIQAADpzBJ_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref> According to ''[[The New York Times]]'', George was "a consummate spymaster who moved the chess pieces in the CIA's clandestine games of intrigue".<ref name="The New York Times; August 20, 2011">{{cite news |last=Martin |first=Douglas |date=August 20, 2011 |title=Clair George, Spy and Iran-Contra Figure, Dies at 81 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/us/21george.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=September 13, 2015}}</ref>


After serving in Korea and Japan as an enlisted man in Army Intelligence, George was one of the CIA’s earliest recruits. As such George challenged the traditional image of early CIA recruits. He was not a son of privilege and lacked an Ivy League pedigree. By many accounts, he developed a loyal following for his ebullient manner and courage working in some of the world’s most volatile regions.<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/>
After serving in Korea and Japan as an enlisted man in Army Intelligence, George was one of the CIA's earliest recruits. As such George challenged the traditional image of early CIA recruits. He was not a son of privilege and lacked an Ivy League pedigree. By many accounts, he developed a loyal following for his ebullient manner and courage working in some of the world's most volatile regions.<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/>


After a highly decorated career lasting nearly thirty years, including dangerous assignments in [[Beirut]] and [[Athens]], George served for three years in the [[Presidency of Ronald Reagan|Reagan Administration]] as [[Deputy Director for Operations]].<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/> He was the third-ranking official at the CIA under [[William Casey]].
After a highly decorated career lasting nearly thirty years, including dangerous assignments in [[Beirut]] and [[Athens]], George served for three years in the [[Presidency of Ronald Reagan|Reagan Administration]] as [[Deputy Director for Operations]].<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/> He was the third-ranking official at the CIA under [[William Casey]].


George made headlines when he became the highest-ranking target of investigation and prosecution in the [[Iran–Contra affair]]. After a first mistrial, George was eventually found guilty by a jury on only two counts of false statements to congressional committees investigating the Iran-Contra Affair. He was pardoned by President [[George H. W. Bush]] two weeks later along with others involved. The special prosecutor immediately thereafter moved to vacate the indictments against George altogether. In 1996, one of the laws used against George was held unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in an unrelated case.<ref name="Hubbard v United States">[https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/94-172.ZO.html|work= Hubbard v United States] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818215053/https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/94-172.ZO.html |date=August 18, 2010 }}</ref> {{dubious|Claim about unconstitutionality of statute}}
George made headlines when he became the highest-ranking target of investigation and prosecution in the [[Iran–Contra affair]]. After a first mistrial, George was eventually found guilty by a jury on two counts of making false statements to congressional committees investigating the Iran-Contra Affair. He was pardoned by President [[George H. W. Bush]] two weeks later along with others involved. The special prosecutor immediately thereafter moved to vacate the indictments against George altogether.


After his retirement from the CIA, George continued to hold legendary hero status in the intelligence community and was a successful consultant on international matters. He also volunteered nightly for the Suicide Hotline. He died in [[Bethesda, Maryland|Bethesda]] at age 81 of cardiac arrest.<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/> His wife of 45 years, Mary, died in 2008.<ref name="Obituary of wife Mary George">[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/13/AR2008061303527.html|work= Obituary of wife Mary George]</ref>
After his retirement from the CIA, George continued to hold legendary hero status in the intelligence community and he was a successful consultant on international matters.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Shapira|first=Ian|date=2011-10-16|title=At memorial for Iran-contra figure Clair George, CIA colleagues' loyalty endures|language=en-US|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/at-memorial-for-iran-contra-figure-clair-george-cia-colleagues-loyalty-endures/2011/10/14/gIQAQsY3pL_story.html|access-date=2020-08-07|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> He died in [[Bethesda, Maryland|Bethesda]] at age 81 of cardiac arrest.<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/> His wife of 45 years, Mary Atkinson George, had died in 2008.<ref name="Obituary of wife Mary George">[https://web.archive.org/web/20121113051649/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/13/AR2008061303527.html Obituary of wife Mary George]</ref> She had given up her CIA career when they married.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Clair Elroy George was born Aug. 3, 1930 in [[Pittsburgh]]. His family moved several times, ending up in the western [[Pennsylvania]] steel-mill town of [[Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania|Beaver Falls]], Pa., when he was 9.
Clair Elroy George was born Aug. 3, 1930 in [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]. His family moved several times, ending up in the western Pennsylvania steel-mill town of [[Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania|Beaver Falls]], Pennsylvania, when he was 9.


His father was a dairy chemist who worked for the [[United States Department of Agriculture]].
His father was a dairy chemist who worked for the [[United States Department of Agriculture]].


George, nicknamed “Red” because of his hair color, was an academic standout, a musician (drummer) and president of the student council. He worked in a steel mill.
George, nicknamed "Red" because of his hair color, was an academic standout, a musician (drummer) and president of the student council. He worked in a steel mill.


Later he majored in political science and debated at [[Pennsylvania State University]], graduating in 1952. He was set to enroll in [[Columbia Law School]] when he joined the Army instead in the midst of the [[Korean War]]. He learned Chinese and worked in counterintelligence. He joined the CIA after being impressed by agency officers he met in the Far East.
Later he majored in political science and debated at [[Pennsylvania State University]], graduating in 1952. He was set to enroll in [[Columbia Law School]] when he joined the Army instead in the midst of the [[Korean War]]. He learned Chinese and worked in counterintelligence. He joined the CIA after being impressed by agency officers he met in the Far East.


In 1960, George married a CIA secretary, Mary<!-- Carlton --> Atkinson; she died in 2008.<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/><ref name="The Washington Post; June 14, 2008">{{cite news |last=Lamb |first=Yvonne Shinhoster |date=June 14, 2008 |title=Mary A. George; Entertained Overseas as Diplomat's Wife |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/13/AR2008061303527.html |work=The Washington Post |location=Washington, D.C. |at=Obituaries |access-date=May 21, 2017}}</ref> They had two daughters both born in Paris while George was assigned to Bamako, Mali.
In 1960, George married a CIA secretary, Mary<!-- Carlton --> Atkinson; she died in 2008.<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/><ref name="The Washington Post; June 14, 2008">{{cite news |last=Lamb |first=Yvonne Shinhoster |date=June 14, 2008 |title=Mary A. George; Entertained Overseas as Diplomat's Wife |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/13/AR2008061303527.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington, D.C. |at=Obituaries |access-date=May 21, 2017}}</ref> They had two daughters both born in Paris while George was assigned to Bamako, Mali.


==Long CIA service==
==Long CIA service==
As the CIA’s deputy director of operations for three years of the Reagan administration, the third-highest post in the spy agency, George was responsible for cloak-and-dagger activities worldwide. He reached this pinnacle after three decades of working as a spy around the world, specializing in recruiting foreign agents to spy on their own countries for the United States.
As the CIA's deputy director of operations for three years of the Reagan administration, the third-highest post in the spy agency, George was responsible for cloak-and-dagger activities worldwide. He reached this pinnacle after three decades of working as a spy around the world, specializing in recruiting foreign agents to spy on their own countries for the United States.


After the [[Korean War]], George joined the CIA in 1955. Through cunning and mettle, he advanced through the ranks of the clandestine service, working in Cold War proxy zones in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. He went from Hong Kong to Paris, from Mali to New Delhi.
After the [[Korean War]], George joined the CIA in 1955. Through cunning and mettle, he advanced through the ranks of the clandestine service, working in [[Cold War proxy]] zones in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. He went from Hong Kong to Paris, from Mali to New Delhi.


The ''[[Washington Post Magazine]]'' in 1992 quoted a colleague as calling George “a top-notch street man” who operated in what spies call the “night soil circuit”—the less desirable posts of the world.
The ''[[Washington Post Magazine]]'' in 1992 quoted a colleague as calling George "a top-notch street man" who operated in what spies call the "night soil circuit"—the less desirable posts of the world.


George served as the CIA’s station chief in Beirut when civil war erupted there in 1975. His successor would be kidnapped and assassinated. The following year he volunteered to replace the [[Athens]] station chief, who had just been assassinated by the [[Revolutionary Organization 17 November]] for the alleged CIA support of the [[Regime of the Colonels]]. This gesture, perhaps more than anything, brought him recognition as a dedicated officer willing to make his safety secondary to the needs of the agency.<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/>
George served as the CIA's station chief in Beirut when [[Lebanese Civil War|civil war]] erupted there in 1975. His successor would be kidnapped and assassinated. The following year he volunteered to replace the [[Athens]] station chief, who had just been assassinated by the [[Revolutionary Organization 17 November]] over the United States' support of the [[Regime of the Colonels]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1999-11-21 |title=Clinton Says U.S. Regrets Aid to Junta in Cold War |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-21-mn-35991-story.html |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> This gesture, perhaps more than anything, brought him recognition as a dedicated officer willing to make his safety secondary to the needs of the agency.<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/>


George returned permanently to Washington in 1979. He placed first out of 100 candidates in a promotions ranking and was put in charge of the agency’s African division. [[William J. Casey]], whom Reagan had named director of central intelligence, appointed George to successively higher positions, among them as the CIA’s liaison to Congress. He served later as deputy director from 1984 until his retirement in 1987.
George returned permanently to Washington in 1979. He placed first out of 100 candidates in a promotions ranking and was put in charge of the agency's African division. [[William J. Casey]], whom Reagan had named director of central intelligence, appointed George to successively higher positions, among them as the CIA's liaison to Congress. He served later as deputy director from 1984 until his retirement in 1987.


==Distinctions and medals==
==Distinctions and medals==
Line 65: Line 68:
==Iran-Contra Affair==
==Iran-Contra Affair==
{{main|Iran–Contra affair}}
{{main|Iran–Contra affair}}
George was the highest-ranking CIA official to stand trial over the biggest White House scandal since Watergate: a White House-led operation to covertly sell weapons to Iran and divert the profits to right-wing Nicaraguan rebels known as the [[Contras]]. The operation had been engineered out of the White House by Marine Lt. Col. [[Oliver North]], who served on the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] staff. North was then aided by CIA Director [[William Casey]]. Aspects of the operation violated a congressionally-mandated restriction of overt U.S. support of the Contras. George initially told Congress that CIA was not involved in the operation, and he later apologized for being evasive. He said he was trying to protect the agency.
George was the highest-ranking CIA official to stand trial over the biggest White House scandal since Watergate: a White House-led operation to covertly sell weapons to Iran and divert the profits to right-wing Nicaraguan rebels known as the [[Contras]]. The operation had been engineered out of the White House by Marine Lt. Col. [[Oliver North]], who served on the [[United States National Security Council|National Security Council]] staff. North was then aided by CIA Director [[William Casey]].


⚫
In September 1991, George was indicted on 9 counts, including making false statements to Congress. After the first court case ended in a mistrial, George was retried in the fall of 1992 on seven counts, resulting in being found guilty on two charges of false statements to Congressional staff. Before George was sentenced, President Bush pardoned him on December 24, 1992.<ref>{{cite web|title=FINAL REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL FOR IRAN/CONTRA MATTERS|url=https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_17.htm}}</ref> along with several other former administration officials including former defense secretary [[Caspar W. Weinberger]].
George would later explain that he had reservations about the operation all along but said he did not push hard enough to stop it outright.
"At no time—which maybe I should have—did I dash into the director’s office and say, ‘Hey, Bill, we have got to stop all this stuff,’ " George testified before Congress in 1987, to the [[Congressional committees investigating the Iran–Contra affair]].<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011" /> Called in front of to Congress in 1987, George said he’d been "almost megalomaniacal in trying to prove one thing: that we were not involved in that activity because it would have been illegal." Motivated by loyalty to CIA, he said he had not answered as fully as he might have. He said he had "perceived my charter too small" when initially speaking before Congress, but he added, "I don’t lie, and I did not mean to lie."


== In popular culture ==
Casey died in May 1987. FBI Director [[William H. Webster|William Webster]] took over CIA with a mandate to clean house. That December, George was asked to retire.
In the book and subsequent film adaptation of [[Charlie Wilson's War (film)|Charlie Wilson's War]], Clair George is referenced in an argument between CIA case officer [[Gust Avrakotos]] and Director of European Operations Henry Cravely, portrayed on screen by [[Philip Seymour Hoffman]] and [[John Slattery]] respectively.
⚫
In September 1991, George was indicted on 9 counts, including making false statements to Congress. After the first court case ended in a mistrial, George was retried in the fall of 1992 on seven counts, resulting in convictions on two charges of false statements and perjury before Congress. Before George was sentenced, President Bush pardoned him on December 24, 1992.<ref>{{cite web|title=FINAL REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL FOR IRAN/CONTRA MATTERS|url=https://fas.org/irp/offdocs/walsh/chap_17.htm}}</ref> On Christmas Eve, President [[George H. W. Bush]] pardoned George and several other former administration officials, including former defense secretary [[Caspar W. Weinberger]]. The special prosecutor immediately thereafter moved to vacate the indictments against George altogether. In 1996, one of the laws used against George was held unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court in an unrelated case.<ref name="Hubbard v United States"/>

Amid the Iran-contra investigations, George seemed to take the long view of a seasoned operative who knew the nature of politics and spycraft—and their shadowy nexus. He told congressional Iran-Contra investigators in 1987: "This is not the first administration and will not be the last that becomes totally frustrated with its spy service."<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/>

==Professional reputation==
[[Bob Woodward]], in his 1987 book, ''Veil: The Secret Wars of CIA 1981-1987'', said veteran spies regarded George as "an old warhorse symbol of the CIA at its best and proudest".<ref name="The New York Times; August 20, 2011"/>

[[Jack Devine]], who oversaw CIA operations in [[Afghanistan]] and [[Iran]] under George, told the ''[[Washington Post]]'' that his former boss was widely admired for shunning self-promotion and self-aggrandizement.

Devine described George’s management style: "If you wanted Paris, he’d send you to Somalia, and when you were done in Somalia, he’d send you to Paris. He wanted to know if you were a committed operator, or are you a dandy who wants to be pushing cookies around the diplomatic circuit? That’s how he sized people up."<ref name="The Washington Post; August 12, 2011"/>
During George’s trial, the defense repeatedly tried to inform the jury of his espionage achievements, which prosecutors tried to quash because they might impress jurors. Finally, Judge [[Royce C. Lamberth]] told prosecutors they could admit “something equivalent to war-hero status” and leave it at that.<ref name="The New York Times; August 20, 2011"/>

==After the CIA==
After leaving the CIA, George worked as a consultant for a variety of international interests, from European aristocrats to defense contractor [[Halliburton]] to the [[Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus]]. For the circus, George was involved in the defection and recruitment of performers and athletes from totalitarian countries. Later, work George did for [[Feld Entertainment]] drew him back into the headlines. Allegedly, George aided in the Felds' efforts to spy on critics of the family and its circus. George testified in court that he worked as a consultant for [[Kenneth Jeffrey Feld|Kennethe Feld]], and for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, in the early 1990s, work which included surveillance of a journalist who was writing about the Feld family, and of animal rights groups such as [[PETA]].<ref>[http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2001/08/30/circus/index.html The Greatest Vendetta on Earth] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514181208/http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2001/08/30/circus/index.html |date=May 14, 2008 }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 108: Line 96:
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:2011 deaths]]
[[Category:American spies]]
[[Category:American spies]]
[[Category:Cold War CIA spies]]
[[Category:Iran–Contra affair]]
[[Category:Iran–Contra affair]]
[[Category:People of the Central Intelligence Agency]]
[[Category:American people convicted of making false statements]]
[[Category:Recipients of American presidential pardons]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Pennsylvania State University alumni]]
[[Category:People pardoned by George H. W. Bush]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Intelligence Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Intelligence Medal]]
[[Category:CIA agents convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:United States Army personnel of the Korean War]]

Latest revision as of 21:15, 2 December 2024

Clair E. George
Deputy Director of CIA for Operations
In office
July 1, 1984 – December 1, 1987
PresidentRonald Reagan
Preceded byJohn H. Stein
Succeeded byRichard F. Stoltz
Personal details
Born(1930-08-03)August 3, 1930
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedAugust 11, 2011(2011-08-11) (aged 81)
Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
SpouseMary Atkinson George
Alma materPennsylvania State University
ProfessionEspionage
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Battles/warsKorean War

Clair Elroy George (August 3, 1930 – August 11, 2011) was a veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) clandestine service who oversaw all global espionage activities for the agency in the mid-1980s.[1] According to The New York Times, George was "a consummate spymaster who moved the chess pieces in the CIA's clandestine games of intrigue".[2]

After serving in Korea and Japan as an enlisted man in Army Intelligence, George was one of the CIA's earliest recruits. As such George challenged the traditional image of early CIA recruits. He was not a son of privilege and lacked an Ivy League pedigree. By many accounts, he developed a loyal following for his ebullient manner and courage working in some of the world's most volatile regions.[1]

After a highly decorated career lasting nearly thirty years, including dangerous assignments in Beirut and Athens, George served for three years in the Reagan Administration as Deputy Director for Operations.[1] He was the third-ranking official at the CIA under William Casey.

George made headlines when he became the highest-ranking target of investigation and prosecution in the Iran–Contra affair. After a first mistrial, George was eventually found guilty by a jury on two counts of making false statements to congressional committees investigating the Iran-Contra Affair. He was pardoned by President George H. W. Bush two weeks later along with others involved. The special prosecutor immediately thereafter moved to vacate the indictments against George altogether.

After his retirement from the CIA, George continued to hold legendary hero status in the intelligence community and he was a successful consultant on international matters.[3] He died in Bethesda at age 81 of cardiac arrest.[1] His wife of 45 years, Mary Atkinson George, had died in 2008.[4] She had given up her CIA career when they married.

Early life

[edit]

Clair Elroy George was born Aug. 3, 1930 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His family moved several times, ending up in the western Pennsylvania steel-mill town of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, when he was 9.

His father was a dairy chemist who worked for the United States Department of Agriculture.

George, nicknamed "Red" because of his hair color, was an academic standout, a musician (drummer) and president of the student council. He worked in a steel mill.

Later he majored in political science and debated at Pennsylvania State University, graduating in 1952. He was set to enroll in Columbia Law School when he joined the Army instead in the midst of the Korean War. He learned Chinese and worked in counterintelligence. He joined the CIA after being impressed by agency officers he met in the Far East.

In 1960, George married a CIA secretary, Mary Atkinson; she died in 2008.[1][5] They had two daughters both born in Paris while George was assigned to Bamako, Mali.

Long CIA service

[edit]

As the CIA's deputy director of operations for three years of the Reagan administration, the third-highest post in the spy agency, George was responsible for cloak-and-dagger activities worldwide. He reached this pinnacle after three decades of working as a spy around the world, specializing in recruiting foreign agents to spy on their own countries for the United States.

After the Korean War, George joined the CIA in 1955. Through cunning and mettle, he advanced through the ranks of the clandestine service, working in Cold War proxy zones in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe. He went from Hong Kong to Paris, from Mali to New Delhi.

The Washington Post Magazine in 1992 quoted a colleague as calling George "a top-notch street man" who operated in what spies call the "night soil circuit"—the less desirable posts of the world.

George served as the CIA's station chief in Beirut when civil war erupted there in 1975. His successor would be kidnapped and assassinated. The following year he volunteered to replace the Athens station chief, who had just been assassinated by the Revolutionary Organization 17 November over the United States' support of the Regime of the Colonels.[6] This gesture, perhaps more than anything, brought him recognition as a dedicated officer willing to make his safety secondary to the needs of the agency.[1]

George returned permanently to Washington in 1979. He placed first out of 100 candidates in a promotions ranking and was put in charge of the agency's African division. William J. Casey, whom Reagan had named director of central intelligence, appointed George to successively higher positions, among them as the CIA's liaison to Congress. He served later as deputy director from 1984 until his retirement in 1987.

Distinctions and medals

[edit]

George was the recipient of three Distinguished Intelligence Medals from 1983 to 1988 and was awarded the Intelligence Medal of Merit.

Iran-Contra Affair

[edit]
Main article: Iran–Contra affair

George was the highest-ranking CIA official to stand trial over the biggest White House scandal since Watergate: a White House-led operation to covertly sell weapons to Iran and divert the profits to right-wing Nicaraguan rebels known as the Contras. The operation had been engineered out of the White House by Marine Lt. Col. Oliver North, who served on the National Security Council staff. North was then aided by CIA Director William Casey.

In September 1991, George was indicted on 9 counts, including making false statements to Congress. After the first court case ended in a mistrial, George was retried in the fall of 1992 on seven counts, resulting in being found guilty on two charges of false statements to Congressional staff. Before George was sentenced, President Bush pardoned him on December 24, 1992.[7] along with several other former administration officials including former defense secretary Caspar W. Weinberger.

[edit]

In the book and subsequent film adaptation of Charlie Wilson's War, Clair George is referenced in an argument between CIA case officer Gust Avrakotos and Director of European Operations Henry Cravely, portrayed on screen by Philip Seymour Hoffman and John Slattery respectively.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Bernstein, Adam (August 12, 2011). "Clair E. George, CIA officer who figured in Iran-contra scandal, dies at 81". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
  2. ^ Martin, Douglas (August 20, 2011). "Clair George, Spy and Iran-Contra Figure, Dies at 81". The New York Times. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  3. ^ Shapira, Ian (2011-10-16). "At memorial for Iran-contra figure Clair George, CIA colleagues' loyalty endures". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  4. ^ Obituary of wife Mary George
  5. ^ Lamb, Yvonne Shinhoster (June 14, 2008). "Mary A. George; Entertained Overseas as Diplomat's Wife". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. Obituaries. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  6. ^ "Clinton Says U.S. Regrets Aid to Junta in Cold War". Los Angeles Times. 1999-11-21. Retrieved 2022-07-08.
  7. ^ "FINAL REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT COUNSEL FOR IRAN/CONTRA MATTERS".
[edit]
Government offices
Preceded by Deputy Director for Operations
July 1, 1984 – December 1, 1987 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Clair_George&oldid=1260830174"