Mike Pompeo - Never Give an Inch

To my wife, Susan, whowhen fighting for those she loves, her

Lord, our family, and Americanever gives an inch.

Contents

T he Great American Experiment began in 1776. At the time, its success seemed implausible, but we prevailed. Ever since, the American Republic has delivered for its people. And its people have delivered for one another. Throughout our history, everyday peoplefarmers and printers, traders and carpenters, even machine shop operatorshave stepped forward to defend the things that matter.

Our forty-fifth president, as with each of his predecessors, faced countless challenges. He was an unlikely president, whose ways were as unique as the team that he assembled. Donald Trump was a real estate guy from New York; Mike Pompeo was a guy who had run machine shops in Kansas. This unusual combo set out to lead Americas national security team.

Lead they did, and well. This book narrates and provides the backstory for the four years of the Trump administrations work on behalf of everyday Americans. Youll hear about the geopolitical challenges it faced, how the team translated America First into policy, and, of course, a few good stories. Best of all, its told from the perspective of Mike Pompeo, who served as Americas CIA director and secretary of state. He also happens to be my father.

I was raised in Kansas by two wonderful parents. After retiring from a long career at a regional bank, my mother was always busyshe volunteered at our church, bused me to practices, helped with my homework, and took care of everything in between. My dad worked tirelessly, running a couple of small manufacturing companies, but still managed to be at all my basketball games and school functions. We were a normal family leading a simple midwestern life. Then my father lost his mind and decided to run for Congress in 2010. Like many sons, Ive always looked up to my dad. He is a special man. He imparted to me the importance of faith, family, honesty, hard work, and what it means to never give an inch.

As I was beginning my adult life, I was a typical twentysomething: impatient, thought I knew more about the world than I actually did, and eager to make my mark. From time to time, I would lament to my dad that my career wasnt progressing fast enough, or that I wasnt accomplishing as much as Id hoped, or that my true value was not being rewarded. Every time, my dad had the same response: Put your head down, work hard, and good things will follow. I would roll my eyes so hard that I was worried he might hear it through the phone line. But, as it turns out, parents do know best.

Id seen my dad live out these words countless times in his own life. In business, he devoted everything to the companies he ran and his teams. As a CEO, he shouldered the burden of protecting the livelihood of every single employee and his or her family, knowing that if he failed, hed be failing them. He made tough and bold decisions when necessary, but they were always in the best interest of the people he served.

When he ran for Congress, I knew he wasnt doing it for the fame. If you want to run for office for celebrity or esteem, I recommend singing or acting instead. He wasnt doing it for the elitist DC cocktail parties. To this day, Ive never seen my dad drink more than two Sam Adams in a twenty-four-hour period. He did it because he felt our nation was wandering from our essential principles and that the people in Kansass Fourth Congressional District deserved better.

When then President-elect Trump nominated him to be the director of the CIA, well, that surprised us all. But my dad didnt think twiceit was Gods plan, and he answered the call to serve his country at that moment, and then again as secretary of state. All my life, Id watched my dad diligently focus on whatever task was at hand: serving the team, the people, or the country he represented. He was never thinking about what was next. He just put his head down, worked hard, and, Ill be damned, good things followed.

While one can never plan to be nominated by a president to lead Americas intelligence and diplomatic teams, he was fully prepared for the opportunity. I knew this for a multitude of reasons, but it was evident, even in the smallest of ways, throughout my childhood. Whenever we watched the Army-Navy football game with my buddies (something we never missed), my dad would educate us on the military unit patches as they flashed across the screen. While shooting hoops together in the driveway, hed ask for my opinions on things like Middle East peace in between jumpers. One night, I had my friend Stephen over for dinner. Seemingly out of nowhere, my dad asked him, Do you know who Hans Blix is? Blix, at the time, was the UN weapons inspector leading the monitoring and inspection of Iraqs weapons arsenal. Of course, my friend had no idea who he wasafter all, we were sixth-graders. I apologized to Stephen and then coached him onto the answer, as this was not my first Hans Blix rodeo.

In high school, my dad would often distribute his own pop quizzes, usually around eight on Saturday mornings. I specifically remember once being handed a blank map of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia: You wont be able to grasp global issues if you cant even point out the countries on a map, he would say. Thanks to him, I know the difference between Bangladesh and Ukraine. An eerieyet, in hindsight, obviousforeshadowing of my dads future role as Americas chief spy came when I was eleven or twelve years old. I asked him what his dream job was. Deputy director of the CIA, was his response. You get to run the spies and dont have to deal with the bureaucracy. I guess he overshot his dream job by a hairand, as predicted, ended up dealing with plenty of bureaucracy.

Of course, knowing who Hans Blix is or being able to fill out a blank map doesnt qualify you to be director of the CIA or the US secretary of state. But in these instancesno matter how embarrassing or bothersome they may have been to this teenager at the timeI understood my fathers passion and deep understanding of the world and Americas place in it. I came to revere his ferocious and dogged work ethic, whether he was running his company, fighting for Kansans, or teaching fifth-graders at our church. I listened to him talk about his time at West Point and in the Armyhis love for America was clear, and I could see how it shaped him into the incredible leader that he is today.

Ive always known that my dad was a fierce defender of the Great American Experiment and the essential principles upon which our Founders set the course. And Ive always known that, when it comes to fighting for the America he loves, he would never give an inch.

Now the world knows it, too.

At roughly 2 a.m. on May 10, 2018, white-and-blue American planes returned from Pyongyang, North Korea, to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. We were greeted by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and their spouses. My team and I were happy to be home, but the men of the hour were Kim Dong-chul, Tony Kim, and Kim Hak-songAmerican hostages released from North Korean detention. It was one of the most joyous days of my life. In my hand is the index card those men gave me with words from Psalm 126 written on it: The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Secretary Pompeo and American hostages freed from North Korea, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland; May 10, 2018, AP Photo/Alex Brandon