Thornburgh Rejects FBI Directorship

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Dick Thornburgh, who agreed in January to head Harvard's Institute of Politics (IOP), reportedly has turned down an offer to become director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Thornburgh cited a desire to return to politics in turning down the Administration's offer of a 10-year term as head of the FBI, according to national press accounts.

Thornburgh, a Republican who was prohibited by state law from seeking a third consecutive term as governor, left office last fall with a strong approval rating among Pennsylvania voters.

A spokesman for Thornburgh yesterday refused to confirm the offer of the FBI post. The spokesman said, however, that Thornburgh considers himself committed to head the Harvard institute.

"Thornburgh made a commitment to be at Harvard by June 1, and he wants to continue practicing law," said the spokesman, David Kosick. "At this point in time, I don't see that changing."

Under his agreement with Harvard, Thornburgh is permitted to practice law part-time while heading the IOP. At the IOP Thornburgh would succeed Jonathan Moore, who has become US ambassador-at-large for refugee affairs.

Steve Singer, spokesman for the Kennedy School, refused to comment on the Administration's offer to Thornburgh.

Had Thornburgh accepted the FBI post he would have succeeded William Webster, whom Reagan nominated in March to head the Central Intelligence Agency. Webster gained the Senate Intelligence Committee's unanimous endorsement for the Central Intelligenceposition yesterday.

Like the Webster nomination, the choice ofThornburgh for the FBI was viewed as an effort bythe Administration to avoid confrontation withCongress at a time the fallout of the Iran-Contraaffair mires relations between the branches