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The position of National Security Advisor was created in 1953 under President Eisenhower. The role of the National Security Advisor is to coordinate the foreign and defense policies of the country, and advise the President on issues of national security. The position is currently held by Dr. Condoleezza Rice. The National Security Advisor, also referred to as the Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, serves on the National Security Council. The National Security Council was established in 1947 during the Truman
Administration. Its official function is to "advise and assist the President on national security and foreign policies." You can read an excellent history of the NSC on the official White House site. The NSC, which is chaired by the President, also includes the Vice President, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of Defense, as well as several other high-ranking government officials. The role of the National Security Council has varied widely from administration to administration. The Johnson administration tended to disregard it, while the Nixon NSC under Henry Kissinger wielded considerable power.
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