The Complex Legacy of R James Woolsey: A Director Lost Between Eras The passing of R James Woolsey, former CIA director under Bill Clinton, marks the end of an era in American national security.
His 84 years on this earth witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the birth of new technologies that transformed espionage, and a persistent struggle to balance vigilance with prudence.
Woolsey's tenure at the CIA was cut short by controversy surrounding his handling of vulnerabilities exposed by Aldrich Ames, the notorious CIA turncoat who betrayed western intelligence assets for millions.