--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Why did we not know that heads of state…" description: "\"Why did we not know that heads of state were being eavesdropped on, spied on? We are the intelligence committee and we didn't know that.\" — Jan Schakowsky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/jan-schakowsky-3618_committees_why-did-we-not-know-that-heads-of-state_2466806.jpg" --- # Why did we not know that heads of state were being… ![“Why did we not know that heads of state were being eavesdropped on, spied on? We are the intelligence committee and we didn't know that.” quote by Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/jan-schakowsky-3618_committees_why-did-we-not-know-that-heads-of-state_2466806.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/jan-schakowsky-3618_committees_why-did-we-not-know-that-heads-of-state_2466806.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/jan-schakowsky-3618_committees_why-did-we-not-know-that-heads-of-state_2466806.jpg) > “Why did we not know that heads of state were being eavesdropped on, spied on? We are the intelligence committee and we didn't know that.” [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker highlights a failure of oversight, noting that even those tasked with monitoring intelligence were unaware of surveillance on leaders. **In simple terms:** Oversight missed key surveillance. Key Takeaway Improve internal transparency. Themes accountability oversight government surveillance Mood concerned critical Type political analytical When to use this quote - policy review - security audits - legislative hearings - public briefings Key Concepts institutional failure trust deficit Questions to Reflect On - How can oversight bodies stay informed about covert operations? - What safeguards prevent similar blind spots? A Different Perspective Limited access to classified info may hinder full awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Head of state](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/head-of-state/) ## Related quotes > [“Alyosha,” she murmured again, “look out the door, see if mama is eavesdropping.” “Very well, Lise, I will look, only wouldn’t it be better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/alyosha-she-murmured-again-look-out-the-door-see-if-mama-is/) [Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/) > [I grew up in a society where everything you did was eavesdropped on, recorded, snitched on. I had friends when we were kids getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-koum/i-grew-up-in-a-society-where-everything-you-did-was-eavesdropped-on/) [Jan Koum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-koum/) > [“For nearly sixty years I have eavesdropped with impunity on the lives of people who do not exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-setterfield/for-nearly-sixty-years-i-have-eavesdropped-with-impunity-on-the-lives/) [Diane Setterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-setterfield/) > [I shouldn't have eavesdropped, but sometimes, that's the only way to find out the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/i-shouldn-t-have-eavesdropped-but-sometimes-that-s-the-only-way-to/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [We've become the most eavesdropped, monitored, spied on, photographed population in human history, dwarfing anything that was done by the Stasi state and East…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hedges/we-ve-become-the-most-eavesdropped-monitored-spied-on-photographed/) [Chris Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hedges/) > [If we had known that one of those terrorist attacks was coming, could our government have electronically eavesdropped on the attackers without a warrant?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-du-pont/if-we-had-known-that-one-of-those-terrorist-attacks-was-coming-could/) [Pete du Pont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-du-pont/) > [“The doctor tapped my ribs and eavesdropped on my heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-atwood/the-doctor-tapped-my-ribs-and-eavesdropped-on-my-heart/) [Margaret Atwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-atwood/) > [One side thinks the president'€™s request for war-making powers is too brazen and even reckless. The other side thinks it is too spineless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-baker/one-side-thinks-the-president-s-request-for-war-making-powers-is-too/) [Peter Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-baker/) > [Trump's alliance with Russia's Vladimir Putin, in defiance of America's own intelligence community, the Department of Justice, and the bipartisan report of the Senate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-cox-richardson/trump-s-alliance-with-russia-s-vladimir-putin-in-defiance-of-america/) [Heather Cox Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-cox-richardson/) > [Although the House Intelligence Committee report claims to be the definitive statement of the House of Representatives on matters of Benghazi and intelligence, interviews…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-f-hayes/although-the-house-intelligence-committee-report-claims-to-be-the/) [Stephen F. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-f-hayes/) > [House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., whose youthful dreams of being a successful Hollywood screenwriter never materialized, is proving to the world that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/house-intelligence-committee-chairman-adam-schiff-d-calif-whose/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [ I don't think political reform is likely to succeed. \[Senators Tom\] Udall and \[Ron\] Wyden, on the intelligence committee, have been sounding the alarm,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/i-don-t-think-political-reform-is-likely-to-succeed-senators-tom/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [The Intelligence Committee will also examine present counterintelligence programs for the Department of Energy, the National Laboratories, and the Department of Defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-intelligence-committee-will-also-examine-present/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [From my experience as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, if a congressperson is identified as a potential target by a foreign intelligence service,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-hoekstra/from-my-experience-as-chairman-of-the-house-intelligence-committee-if/) [Pete Hoekstra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-hoekstra/) > [As the Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, I have been briefed since 2003 on a highly classified NSA foreign collection program that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-harman/as-the-ranking-democrat-on-the-house-intelligence-committee-i-have/) [Jane Harman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-harman/) ## More by Jan Schakowsky > [The truth matters, and despite my objection to the creation of the Select Panel, as its Ranking Member, I will do all I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/the-truth-matters-and-despite-my-objection-to-the-creation-of-the/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Simply raising fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light trucks to 33 miles per gallon would eliminate our oil imports from the Persian Gulf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/simply-raising-fuel-economy-standards-for-passenger-cars-and-light/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Fast track is about pushing through the TPP, TTIP and future trade agreements that would massively increase the power of big international corporations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/fast-track-is-about-pushing-through-the-tpp-ttip-and-future-trade/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [In conflict zones in particular, we need personnel who wear the badge of the United States, are a part of our official military command,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/in-conflict-zones-in-particular-we-need-personnel-who-wear-the-badge/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Republicans who oppose Obamacare have a responsibility to show that they can do better - not return us to the days when insurance companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/republicans-who-oppose-obamacare-have-a-responsibility-to-show-that/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [The JCPOA is working - preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. It's time for the Republicans to start working, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/the-jcpoa-is-working-preventing-iran-from-developing-a-nuclear-weapon/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Every year, Planned Parenthood serves three million Americans - men and women - and one in five women will receive care at a Planned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/every-year-planned-parenthood-serves-three-million-americans-men-and/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [President Obama's executive actions on immigration are designed to temporarily address major flaws in our broken immigration system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/president-obama-s-executive-actions-on-immigration-are-designed-to/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Democrats stand ready and willing to work with President Trump to improve upon the ACA - but we will not sit by and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/democrats-stand-ready-and-willing-to-work-with-president-trump-to/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [And we've also had now the speaker of the Parliament in Iraq using blatantly anti-Semitic remarks, saying the Jews and sons of Jews are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/and-we-ve-also-had-now-the-speaker-of-the-parliament-in-iraq-using/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Immigration reform is for those thousands of people in my district and the millions of people across the country who want nothing more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/immigration-reform-is-for-those-thousands-of-people-in-my-district/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Every American must be guaranteed dignity and independence in their retirement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/every-american-must-be-guaranteed-dignity-and-independence-in-their/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [The rise of franchising, contracting, and other similar employment practices has made it harder to enforce worker protections like minimum wages, overtime pay, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/the-rise-of-franchising-contracting-and-other-similar-employment/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [I will continue to do all that I can to ensure and enhance worker protections, including the right to bargain collectively.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/i-will-continue-to-do-all-that-i-can-to-ensure-and-enhance-worker/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Memorial Day is all about celebrating the lives of the men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/memorial-day-is-all-about-celebrating-the-lives-of-the-men-and-women/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) [Explore all 126 Jan Schakowsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) ## More Committees quotes > [My feeling has always been that 'Good Eats' would have never happened had it been left to a committee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/my-feeling-has-always-been-that-good-eats-would-have-never-happened/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) > [“The reason you have committees is that you have divided responsibilities,” Jobs said. “We don’t. At Apple you can figure out exactly who is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lashinsky/the-reason-you-have-committees-is-that-you-have-divided/) [Adam Lashinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lashinsky/) > [There is not a revolution that succe Women are suffering because they are being excluded. The high military council excluded women from the committee…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nawal-el-saadawi/there-is-not-a-revolution-that-succe-women-are-suffering-because-they/) [Nawal El Saadawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nawal-el-saadawi/) > [As the first Member of Congress from western Washington to serve on the House Agriculture Committee in over 50 years, I am proud to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-larsen/as-the-first-member-of-congress-from-western-washington-to-serve-on/) [Rick Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-larsen/) > [I was the chairman of the Budget Committee and the lead architect the last time it happened in Washington, and when we did it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/i-was-the-chairman-of-the-budget-committee-and-the-lead-architect-the/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [It is necessary to get a lot of men together, for the show of the thing, otherwise the world will not believe. That is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-trollope/it-is-necessary-to-get-a-lot-of-men-together-for-the-show-of-the/) [Anthony Trollope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-trollope/) > [Government likes committees... a lot. Committees kill all the really good ideas and generally all the really bad ideas. They produce middle-ground mush.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-devos/government-likes-committees-a-lot-committees-kill-all-the-really-good/) [Betsy DeVos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-devos/) > [If computers get too powerful, we can organize them into committees. That'll do them in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-computers-get-too-powerful-we-can-organize-them-into-committees/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have the Chief of Staff of the Republican National Committee and the political director of the Romney campaign, and their two companies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-caddell/when-you-have-the-chief-of-staff-of-the-republican-national-committee/) [Patrick Caddell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-caddell/) > [I find it profoundly symbolic that I am appearing before a committee of fifteen men who will report to a legislative body of one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letty-cottin-pogrebin/i-find-it-profoundly-symbolic-that-i-am-appearing-before-a-committee/) [Letty Cottin Pogrebin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letty-cottin-pogrebin/) > [I come to this debate, Mr. Speaker, as one at the end of 10 years in office on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-come-to-this-debate-mr-speaker-as-one-at-the-end-of-10-years-in/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [I was the chairman of the House Budget Committee and one of the chief architects the last time we balanced a budget, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/i-was-the-chairman-of-the-house-budget-committee-and-one-of-the-chief/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [As Mayor, I will fully support my Arts Commission and its professional selection committees so that they can commission a full range of public…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-newsom/as-mayor-i-will-fully-support-my-arts-commission-and-its-professional/) [Gavin Newsom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-newsom/) > [What's insulting to the American people, the Senate, to this whole process is that the Republicans, with all other nominees, have said Democrats are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/what-s-insulting-to-the-american-people-the-senate-to-this-whole/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [One of the great joys this year and the year before has been how all of the people in this body, men and women,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hayes/one-of-the-great-joys-this-year-and-the-year-before-has-been-how-all/) [Robin Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hayes/) Browse all 623 Committees quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Why did we not know that heads of state were being eavesdropped on, spied on? We are the intelligence committee and we didn't know that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jan Schakowsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/why-did-we-not-know-that-heads-of-state-were-being-eavesdropped-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Committees" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/why-did-we-not-know-that-heads-of-state-were-being-eavesdropped-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/jan-schakowsky-3618_committees_why-did-we-not-know-that-heads-of-state_2466806.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/jan-schakowsky-3618_committees_why-did-we-not-know-that-heads-of-state_2466806.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/jan-schakowsky-3618_committees_why-did-we-not-know-that-heads-of-state_2466806.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Why did we not know that heads of state were being eavesdropped on, spied on? We are the intelligence…” — Jan Schakowsky", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jan Schakowsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Why did we not know that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/why-did-we-not-know-that-heads-of-state-were-being-eavesdropped-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/why-did-we-not-know-that-heads-of-state-were-being-eavesdropped-on/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```