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 Adviser (abbreviated NSA, or sometimes ANSA to avoid confusion with the abbreviation of the National Security Agency), serves as the chief adviser 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 Adviser's office is located in the West Wing of the West Wing of the White House. He is supported by a staff that produces researcher, briefings, and intelligence for the NSA to review and present to the National Security Council and the President of the United States.

The National Security Adviser 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 Adviser varies from administration to administration.

In times of crisis, the National Security Adviser operates from 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 Advisers and the Presidents under whom they served:

#	Name	Term of Office[1]		President(s) served under
		Start	End
1	Robert Cutler	March 23, 1953	April 2, 1955	Dwight D. Eisenhower
2	Dillon Anderson	April 2, 1955	September 1, 1956	Dwight D. Eisenhower
3	Robert Cutler	January 7, 1957	June 24, 1958	Dwight D. Eisenhower
4	Gordon Gray	June 24, 1958	January 13, 1961	Dwight D. Eisenhower
5	McGeorge Bundy	January 20, 1961	February 28, 1966	John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson
6	Walt W. Rostow	April 1, 1966	December 2, 1968	Lyndon B. Johnson
7	Henry A. Kissinger	December 2, 1968	November 3, 1975	Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford
8	Brent Scowcroft	November 3, 1975	January 20, 1977	Gerald Ford
9	Zbigniew Brzezinski	January 20, 1977	January 21, 1981	Jimmy Carter
10	Richard V. Allen	January 21, 1981	January 4, 1982	Ronald Reagan
11	William P. Clark	January 4, 1982	October 17, 1983	Ronald Reagan
12	Robert C. McFarlane	October 17, 1983	December 4, 1985	Ronald Reagan
13	John M. Poindexter	December 4, 1985	November 25, 1986	Ronald Reagan
14	Frank C. Carlucci	December 2, 1986	November 23, 1987	Ronald Reagan
15	Colin L. Powell	November 23, 1987	January 20, 1989	Ronald Reagan
16	Brent Scowcroft	January 20, 1989	January 20, 1993	George H. W. Bush
17	W. Anthony Lake	January 20, 1993	March 14, 1997	Bill Clinton
18	Samuel R. Berger	March 14, 1997	January 20, 2001	Bill Clinton
19	Condoleezza Rice	January 22, 2001	January 25, 2005	George W. Bush
20	Stephen Hadley	January 26, 2005	Incumbent	George W. Bush

[edit] Fictional portrayals

Anna Deavere Smith played National Security Advisor Nancy McNally on the NBC television series The West Wing. Mary McCormack portrayed Deputy National Security Advisor Kate Harper on the same series.

Tom Everett played ANSA Jack Doherty in the film Air Force One. The character is killed in the film.

Harris Yulin played National Security Advisor James Cutter in the 1994 motion picture Clear and Present Danger, and also Director of the National Security Agency (also NSA) 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 fictional character Karen Hayes in 24 became National Security Advisor in Day 6; she was forced to resign at about noon by fictional White House Chief of Staff Tom Lennox, but was reinstated to her position hours later by fictional President Wayne Palmer.

Jack Ryan is fictional ANSA in the Ryanverse novel Debt of Honor by Tom Clancy.

Ben Goodley is fictional ANSA in the Ryanverse novel Executive Orders, Rainbow Six and The Bear and the Dragon by Tom Clancy.

Bruce McGill portrayed fictional ANSA Gene Revell in The Sum of All Fears

Bill McCorkell is fictional National Security Advisor in James Clancy Phelan's thrillers Fox Hunt and Patriot Act.

Bruce Greenwood portrayed fictional ANSA Bill Sokal in the film Rules of Engagement.

Paul Sorvino portrayed National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger in the film Nixon.

Adjoa Andoh portrayed National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice in the Royal National Theatre's original production of Stuff Happens, by English playwright David Hare.

Gloria Reuben portrayed National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice in The Public Theater's 2006 production of the 2004 play, Stuff Happens, by English playwright David Hare.

Kevin Dunn portrayed National Security Advisor Sandy Berger and Penny Johnson Jerald portrayed National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice in The Path to 9/11.

[edit] References

v • d • e 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