National Security Advisor (United States)
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The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor, serves as the chief advisor to the President of the United States on national security issues. This person serves on the National Security Council within the Executive Office of the President.
The National Security Advisor is appointed by the President without confirmation by the United States Senate. As such, they are not connected to the bureaucratic politics of the Departments of State and Defense, and are therefore able to offer independent advice. The power and role of the National Security Advisor varies from administration to administration.
In times of crisis, the National Security Advisor mans the White House Situation Room, updating the President on the latest events of a crisis.
The current holder of the post is Stephen Hadley, who succeeded Condoleezza Rice upon her appointment to Secretary of State by President George W. Bush in 2005.
List of National Security Advisors and the Presidents under whom they served:
| Name | Term | President |
|---|---|---|
| Robert Cutler | 1953–1955 | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Dillon Anderson | 1955–1956 | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| William Jackson | 1956 | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Robert Cutler (2nd time) | 1957–1958 | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Gordon Gray | 1958–1961 | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| McGeorge Bundy | 1961–1966 | John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson |
| Walt Rostow | 1966–1969 | Lyndon Johnson |
| Henry Kissinger | 1969–1975 | Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford |
| Brent Scowcroft | 1975–1977 | Gerald Ford |
| Zbigniew Brzezinski | 1977–1981 | Jimmy Carter |
| Richard V. Allen | 1981–1982 | Ronald Reagan |
| William P. Clark, Jr. | 1982–1983 | Ronald Reagan |
| Robert McFarlane | 1983–1985 | Ronald Reagan |
| John Poindexter | 1985–1986 | Ronald Reagan |
| Frank Carlucci | 1986–1987 | Ronald Reagan |
| Colin Powell | 1987–1989 | Ronald Reagan |
| Brent Scowcroft (2nd time) | 1989–1993 | George H. W. Bush |
| Anthony Lake | 1993–1997 | Bill Clinton |
| Sandy Berger | 1997–2001 | Bill Clinton |
| Condoleezza Rice | 2001–2005 | George W. Bush |
| Stephen Hadley | 2005–present | George W. Bush |
[edit] Fictional portrayal
Anna Deavere Smith played National Security Advisor Nancy McNally on the NBC television series, The West Wing.
Tom Everett played NSA Jack Doherty in the film Air Force One. He was killed in the film.
Harris Yulin played National Security Advisor James Cutter in the 1994 motion picture, Clear and Present Danger, and also National Security Advisor Roger Stanton during the second season of 24.
Stan Kelly played National Security Advisor Roman Wolfe for President Bridges's administration and the beginning of President Mackenzie Allen's, and was succeeded by National Security Advisor Anthony Prado, played by Alex Fernandez on Commander in Chief.
Alan Alda played National Security Advisor Alvin Jordan in the movie Murder at 1600.
Richard Jordan played National Security Advisor Dr. Jeffrey Pelt in the movie The Hunt for Red October.
Jayne Atkinson's character Karen Hayes in 24 became National Security Advisor in Day 6; she was forced to resign at about noon by White House Chief of Staff Thomas Lennox.
Bruce McGill portrayed NSA Gene Revell in The Sum of All Fears
[edit] See also
| National Security Advisors of the United States |  |
|---|---|
| Cutler • Anderson • Jackson • Cutler • Gray • Bundy • Rostow • Kissinger • Scowcroft • Brzezinski • Allen • Clark • McFarlane • Poindexter • Carlucci • Powell • Scowcroft • Lake • Berger • Rice • Hadley |
