Richard Woolsey: Difference between revisions

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* [[Malcolm Barrett|Agent Malcolm Barrett]]
* [[Malcolm Barrett|Agent Malcolm Barrett]]
* [[Russel Chapman]]
* [[Russel Chapman]]
* [[Chekov|Col. Chekov]]
* [[Henry Hayes|President Henry Hayes]]
* [[Henry Hayes|President Henry Hayes]]
* [[Khalek]]
* [[Khalek]]

Revision as of 09:42, 5 March 2006

Richard Woolsey

Summary

Richard Woolsey is a lawyer and civilian with high level clearances who has worked within the United States military establishment throughout his career. He claims to be very concerned with the secretive nature and potential for cover-ups in covert military operations. From the evidence to date, this concern is genuine and not a mask for other, less pure motives. This desire fueled his joining the NID to audit some of the secret military projects, including the Stargate Program. Later, he was appointed as liaison to the SGC by the International Oversight Advisory (IOA) and he serves as a "civilian watchdog" for the Stargate operations.

Character Biography

Woolsey has both an MBA (Masters degree in Business Administration) and an LLB (advanced law degree) from Harvard (7.18 “Heroes Part 2"). He was lead counsel for the Army Corps of Engineers for a decade, and then moved on to be on the Defense Policy Board. He had to step down from that role when it was revealed that he had financial ties to a large corporation that had been awarded over $800 million in private sector defense contracts by the Pentagon. Woolsey then moved on to the NID. While there, Woolsey wrote an internal memo on the economics of the SGC. In it, he expressed concern about the millions of dollars spent training men and women to fight a war kept secret from the American public and of which they were getting little if anything in return. Hammond later obtained a copy of the memo through Carter's contact with NID Agent Malcolm Barrett, and was horrified to see a dollar value attributed to an SG team member. Woolsey was insulted by the characterization of his pegging a value of a person's life. He threatened Hammond with imprisonment if he ever released information about either the memo or the investigation Woolsey was running.

This investigation was an audit of the $27 million rescue operation of SG-13 team member Senior Airman Simon Wells on P3X-666. Wells was downed by a Jaffa staff blast and couldn't be moved. His team, their backup SG-3, as well as SG-1, SG-5, SG-7, and a medic team headed by Dr. Janet Fraiser were sent to recover him and defend against the enemy Jaffa. Though the mission successfully retrieved Wells, there were others wounded, including Col. O'Neill. Dr. Fraiser was killed. Before even the preliminary reports were filed to the Pentagon, Woolsey had orders from Senator Kinsey to investigate the mission. These orders gave him latitude to interview the various SG team members and Hammond and review relevant documents. Woolsey was greeted with open hostility by the uninjured SG-1 members, who were still grieving for Janet. Carter angrily defended the mission, Teal'c barely deigned to respond to questions, and Daniel refused to participate after responding to a few of Woolsey's aggressive questions once he perceived it was a witch hunt. Woolsey's investigation was happening even before Fraiser's memorial service was held. Hammond did not give Woolsey the chance to ask even one question. He provided his mission report as his sole testimony in the investigation.

This mission report became a damning piece of evidence in a later report of Woolsey's. As it turned out, the audit and preliminary report were a mere rubber stamp to the outgoing President. Woolsey was gathering evidence at the behest of incumbent Vice President Kinsey for an airtight case to cause a complete changeover of personnel at the SGC (7.20 "Inauguration"). Less than a month later, Henry Hayes, was sworn in as President. Kinsey scheduled a meeting with Woolsey and the President to convince Hayes to switch the Stargate program to NID control. Woolsey was a willing participant in the plan because he strongly believed in civilian oversight of top secret military operations. As he later explained to Hammond:

I take great pride in my work, General. My job demands meticulous research, and above all else, impartiality in its execution. My aim is to present an air-tight argument, a point of view for consideration by those I serve with no personal agenda whatsoever.

Woolsey attempted to present such a case to President Henry Hayes. Hayes, however, was suspicious of Kinsey's meeting and called in the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Francis Maynard, to attend as well. Woolsey presented his damning evidence of the careless, insubordinate and emotionally vulnerable General Hammond and SG-1. Maynard countered his every charge. Hayes expressed his own skepticism that the personnel were cracking under the pressure of an admittedly unusual job.

Dejected, Woolsey approached the Vice President to apologize for not being able to convince Hayes. It was then the alcohol imbibed Kinsey let slip that Woolsey's report was a mere formality. The President would be able to use the report for cover to see things the Vice President's way. When Woolsey wondered aloud what would happen if the President didn't follow Kinsey's advice, the dark response was: "Things happen."

Woolsey went to Maynard with his concern about Kinsey's threats. Maynard advised Woolsey to find the evidence. Woolsey used his meticulous research skills to investigate the Vice President. The trail led back to General Hammond. Woolsey remembered Hammond's temporary retirement and inexplicable return to the SGC (see 4.15 "Chain Reaction"). He approached Hammond with his theory, and the General reluctantly handed over a disk containing the evidence linking Kinsey to several rogue NID activities (7.20 "Inauguration"). Hammond warned Woolsey there were other copies of the disk and admitted he never knew, and still didn't know, who to trust with this explosive information. Using this evidence, Woolsey was able to link Kinsey to the cabal of businessmen behind the rogue NID. He suspected the Vice President was still linked to this group. Woolsey provided the disk to President Hayes.

Over a year later, when the Senate Appropriations Committee cut the SGC budget by two-thirds, General Landry was forced to consider other alternatives in receiving the needed funds (9.04 "The Ties That Bind"). Under the President's authorization, he turned to the international committee in charge of the Atlantis expedition. They agreed to fund Stargate Command, but only if someone they appointed had full access to the facility and input into the command decisions of the SGC. Woolsey returned to the SGC in his new role of civilian “watchdog.” He was appointed by the International Oversight Advisory (IOA) to represent their interests and insure their “investment” in the SGC was being most efficiently spent.

Woolsey arrived in-person to the SGC to oversee the actions taken with regard to Khalek, an artificially engineered creation of Anubis, containing both the Goa'uld's pre-ascended DNA and genetic memory as well as the Ancient gene (9.09 "Prototype"). Daniel Jackson's prior experiences with Anubis caused him to forcefully argue that the clone should be destroyed before it was too late. However, Woolsey wanted to study the clone. He oversaw the safeguards put in place to restrain Khalek, and confidently believed they were sufficient. He was shocked when Khalek easily broke free of the restraints and seriously injured Major Altman.

His confidence was renewed by the additional steps taken, and he boasted of them to Khalek. Woolsey was disquieted when Khalek referred to him by first name...and even by the nickname for Richard, "Dick", in an insulting manner. Horrified, Woolsey witnessed Khalek's second escape, bypassing the shunt set to cause his brain death, killing two airman and telekinetically throwing Col. Mitchell against the corridor wall like a ragdoll. Col. Mitchell and Dr. Jackson eventually killed Khalek.

Feeling remorse after this incident, Woolsey made a point to approach Dr. Jackson, assuring Daniel that he would personally make sure the families of the two killed airmen would be taken care of financially. Dr. Jackson coldly acknowledged the comments, but refused to forgive Woolsey for not heeding his warnings. However, Daniel conceded that he too wished he was wrong about Khalek before leaving Woolsey lost to his thoughts.

Woolsey still apparently had a say in other SGC missions. He approved SG-6's mission to P2X-885 (later called 656 by Landry) for reconnaissance on the Priors' actions (9.11 "The Fourth Horseman Part 2"). This mission led to Earth's exposure to the Prior plague which was rapidly becoming a pandemic. The IOA coordinated with Gen. Hammond's office to meet with Landry and discuss this dire situation. Although Woolsey did not attend this meeting, his report was referred to by both Landry and the French Representative, LaPierre. LaPierre questioned whether Woolsey was provided with enough information to make an informed decision, but conceded that Richard stood by the SGC's actions in this matter.

The IOA requested an offworld tour through the Stargate, and Woolsey acted as liaison to both organize and oversee the mission (9.17 "The Scourge"). The IOA delegation was made up of LaPierre, the Chinese Representative Shen Xiaoyi, and the British Representative, Chapman. Woolsey acted as host and middle-man between the delegation and the SGC personnel. The Pentagon ordered that the flagship team, SG-1, be the protection escort for the delegation on their trip to the scientific outpost, Gamma Site. Once there, the group were given a tour of some of the science labs by the base commander, Col. Pearson. The IOA delegation was present when one of the scientists, Dr. Myers, collapsed after being bitten by an alien insect known as R75.

Col. Pearson put the base under lockdown because of the yet unknown cause of Dr. Myers collapse. Woolsey protested and insisted the delegation be allowed to leave on time. He was further infuriated when he noted Myers would be returning to Earth in a medical quarantine rescue capsule. He and Pearson were still bickering when Myers's body exuded a multitude of the insects which began to overrun the base. Woolsey joined SG-1, Pearson, and the other personnel in evacuating the Gate room and leading the delegation to a higher level. Woolsey tried to reassure the delegation that it was a minor problem, and grew frustrated when the power outages disproved his statements.

Pearson determined the delegation would be safest at an unmanned research outpost ten kilometers away from the base. Pearson started to enlist SG-1 to retake the Gate room while summoning a detail to escort the visitors. However, Woolsey stepped in and insisted the delegation continue to be protected by SG-1, as per the Pentagon orders. Pearson acquiesced and sent the group along with two of his men as guides. Woolsey protested when he realized they would be walking all ten kilometers, but Mitchell insisted they follow orders. En route, they discovered the bugs had escaped the base and were now spreading across the area. They took shelter in a rocky cave. During this time, both of Col. Pearson's men were lost to the scourge of insects.

The delegation had differing reactions to this crisis, LaPierre, especially, did not handle the situation well. Woolsey had a heated exchange with Lt. Col. Carter insisting she reassure the delegation and how poorly these events would reflect on the SGC. Carter countered with how dire the situation was and reminded him that her team's focus was on their continued survival. Woolsey took up the reassurance banner for himself. Later, SG-1 determined their only chance was to reach the research outpost and try to contact the rescue ship, Odyssey, when it reached orbit. Otherwise, if the insects did not get them, the poisonous payload Odyssey was likely to release would.

During the final yards, Woolsey followed orders and sprinted to the outpost. They arrived with the bugs on their heels. Carter worked on boosting the signal to contact Odyssey while the rest of SG-1 held off the insects. LaPierre once again panicked and peppered Carter with questions. Woolsey finally snapped and yelled at the French representative to shut up and let her work, earning Carter's gratitude. She joined her teammates outside to protect the delegation as long as they could. The delegation and SG-1 were beamed away before the scourge could overtake them. Woolsey attended the post-mission debrief with Landry and SG-1, explaining that there would be minimal repercussions regarding the incident and that, off the record, the IOA praised the hard work the SGC did under extraordinary conditions.

Neither Woolsey nor the other IOA delegates were aware when Chekov and Shen, the Russian and Chinese delegates, visited the SGC (9.19 "Crusade"). Russia announced they were not renewing the lease of the Russian owned Stargate and were starting their own program. An infuriated Landry immediately ordered a call be placed to Woolsey, but it is unclear whether they ever spoke because Chekov interrupted. The USA and Russia eventually renegoiated the lease and the Stargate remained at the SGC.

Episodes

Gallery

Daniel sneers at Woolsey's threats during the P3X-666 audit.
Woolsey and Hammond at odds regarding the P3X-666 investigation.
Woolsey briefs President Hayes.
Woolsey argues his point.
Woolsey confronts Landry on Khalek.
A respite after escaping the Gamma Site scourge.

Related Characters

Related Articles

Keywords

Other Episodes

Actor


--Aurora 11:35, 24 February 2006 (PST)