Deputy National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley said, on July 22, 2003: ” ‘I am the senior-most official within the NSC [National Security Council] staff, directly responsible for the substantive review and clearance of presidential speeches,’ he said. ‘I failed in that responsibility in connection with the inclusion of these 16 words [regarding a Niger-Iraq uranium deal, in the 2003 State of the Union Address].’ ”
– Bob Woodward, State of Denial, Page 233