Cox one possible CIA post candidate

Alicia Robinson

Those who know Rep. Chris Cox often mention his intelligence, so

perhaps that makes him a natural choice to head the CIA. And in

recent weeks, Cox has been rumored to be in the running to replace

George Tenet, who announced in June he’ll be leaving the agency later

this month.

Cox on Thursday declined to comment on whether he’s interested,

but some political insiders weren’t surprised by the suggestion.

“That’s an old rumor; that’s been on the street a couple of

weeks,” said Orange County GOP Chairman Scott Baugh.

Baugh’s predecessor, Tom Fuentes, said Cox is an articulate

conservative, who shares President Bush’s pro-life stance and strong

family values, and as such would be qualified for a top

administrative spot.

“Politics is all timing, and it hasn’t been the right moment in

time, but Chris is obviously one of the top leaders of the Republican

Congress, and he is esteemed by all of his elected colleagues in

Washington and in the administration,” Fuentes said. “I think Chris

Cox would be outstanding in any cabinet-level position.”

The 51-year-old Cox is the chairman of the House Homeland Security

Committee and he has figured prominently in intelligence issues, such

as a 1999 investigation into alleged Chinese spying.

But most CIA directors haven’t been elected officials; they’ve

been administrative types who worked their way up inside the agency,

said UC Irvine political science professor Mark Petracca.

And it’s not the first time that Cox has made the so-called short

list for a higher office since he was elected to Congress in 1988.

He’s been mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate, a safe

bet to oust Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, and most recently he was

in line for appointment to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

He withdrew himself from consideration for the judgeship when

faced with a lengthy and potentially grueling confirmation process.

“If there was an award to be given for someone whose name is

frequently mentioned to do ‘x’ in Republican circles and then didn’t

do it, Chris Cox would be the unequivocal winner,” Petracca said.

“It’s possible, I suppose, that he might want to do something for

which the only thing he has to do is get appointed, but if there’s

going to be any serious vetting or campaigning involved, he has

always shied away.”

If Cox gets the appointment to the CIA, a bevy of potential

candidates for his congressional seat is expected.

“You wouldn’t have as many people as the [California] recall, but

you’d have a significant number of folks,” Baugh joked. “People have

been lining up for that seat for many years, and it’s difficult to

know precisely who’s serious about it at this point.”

When Cox was up for the judgeship in 2001, the list of hopeful

successors included elected officials and private citizens such as

state Sen. Dick Ackerman (R-Fullerton), Tustin millionaire Mark

Chapin Johnson and Bill Campbell, then an assemblyman and now an

Orange County supervisor.

Fuentes had his own theory about who among the teeming political

masses should replace Cox, should the congressman move on to a new

office.

“I think they’d all be put aside by the obvious candidate, who

would be [Republican 70th Assembly District candidate] Chuck DeVore,”

Fuentes said. “Chuck was Chris’ deputy, and any other candidate would

just be small in the shadows of Chuck DeVore.”

* ALICIA ROBINSON covers business, politics and the environment.

She may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

alicia.robinson@latimes.com.