United States National Security Advisor
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The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor, serves as the chief advisor to the President of the United States on national security issues. He or she serves on the National Security Council within the Executive Office of the President.
The National Security Advisor is appointed by the President without confirmation by the United States Senate. As such, he or she is not connected to the bureaucratic politics of the Departments of State and Defense, and is therefore able to offer independent advice. The power and role of the National Security Advisor varies from administration to administration.
In times of crisis, the National Security Advisor mans the White House Situation Room, updating the president on the latest on the crisis.
The previous National Security Advisor, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, was confirmed on January 26, 2005 by an 85-13 vote in the Senate to succeed Colin Powell as Secretary of State. She was succeeded as National Security Advisor by her deputy, Stephen Hadley.
The list of current and former National Security Advisors include:
| Robert Cutler | 1953-1955 |
| Dillon Anderson | 1955-1956 |
| Robert Cutler | 1957-1958 |
| Gordon Gray | 1958-1961 |
| McGeorge Bundy | 1961-1966 |
| Walt Rostow | 1966-1969 |
| Dr. Henry Kissinger | 1969-1975 |
| Brent Scowcroft | 1975-1977 |
| Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski | 1977-1981 |
| Richard V. Allen | 1981-1982 |
| William B. Clark | 1982-1983 |
| Robert McFarlane | 1983-1985 |
| Admiral John Poindexter | 1985-1986 |
| Frank Carlucci | 1986-1987 |
| General Colin Powell | 1987-1989 |
| Brent Scowcroft | 1989-1993 |
| Dr. Anthony Lake | 1993-1997 |
| Sandy Berger | 1997-2001 |
| Dr. Condoleezza Rice | 2001-2005 |
| Stephen Hadley | 2005-present |