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however, are Paseman’s observation on politics and the CIA, especially how change of presidential administrations could bring sweeping, and often negative changes to the agency.- Johnson – declined to run for a second full term, broken by Vietnam- Nixon – resigned in disgrace after ending Vietnam and opening relations with China- Ford – never elected caretaker – Carter – hoist on the petard of fundamentalist Islam in Iran- Reagan – first full, two-term president since Eisenhower and declared war on the evil empire and brought the USSR to its knees with the threat of a still fanciful Star Wars- Bush the father – “won” the Cold War as the Soviet Union collapsed and “coalitioned” Saddam out of Iraq- Clinton – leader of the new world order, peace in our time, and dead Rangers in the streets of Mogadishu- Bush the son – 9/11, Afghanistan, and IraqIn March 1967 author Paseman joined the CIA following successful service as an army armor officer in Germany. Highly trained in the Chinese language, most of his service was in the far east. Paseman served as chief of the East Asia division at Langley and was also station chief Germany, considered the agency’s toughest Cold War field posting.About the AuthorFloyd L. Paseman retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in January 2001 after a thirty-five year career in operations. He now lives in southern Virginia outside Williamsburg where he works as an international security consultant.</DIV>