DECODING THE C WITH THREE DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN
Washington, John Brennan makes the case for the importance of the work done by the nation’s intelligence officials. From the December 3, 2020, online program “John Brennan: Inside the CIA and the Fight for Intelligence.” Part of our Good Lit series, underwritten by the Bernard Osher Foundation. JOHN BRENNAN, Former Director, CIA; Author, Undaunted: My Fight Against America’s Enemies, at Home and Abroad In Conversation with ELLEN NAKASHIMA, National Security Reporter, The Washington Post
ELLEN NAKASHIMA: With a total of 29 years at the CIA and the White House, Mr. Brennan has spent the bulk of his career in public service. From an analyst on near Eastern and South Asian issues to serving as Director [of Central Intelligence] George Tenet’s chief of staff, to heading the National Counterterrorism Center, and ultimately to working directly with President Barack Obama as homeland security advisor and then his CIA director, John Brennan has rare breadth and depth of experience. His book, Undaunted, offers a rich, personal perspective on the world of intelligence and national security and on Washington’s chaotic political environment. So thank you, John, for joining us. Let’s start with your title, Undaunted. What’s the significance behind it? What prompted you to write the memoir you said you never intended to write? JOHN BRENNAN: Undaunted was my memoir, my first and so far only book that I wrote. I decided to put down my experiences, my recollections about my 33-plus years in government, as a way to lift the shroud a bit off of the intelligence and national security environment, which is filled with mystique to a lot of people. But also, and I think more important, [I wrote it] to encourage young Americans to seriously consider a career in public service, whether it be in the intelligence community or the diplomatic corps or law enforcement. This is a great, wonderful country of ours. I’d like to think that most Americans want to give back to this country and to do what they can to help ensure that we remain free and safe and prosperous and do what they can to protect their fellow citizens. The title, Undaunted, it’s a combination of things. I reference in the memoir times when there were strong headwinds blowing toward me. That I tried to persevere. And I guess most recently over the last four years when I have been a bit outspoken, and despite the efforts of some to try to stifle my voice, I like to think I have remained undaunted.
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