WASHINGTON -- Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, a career intelligence officer who has overseen some of the government's most secret and controversial surveillance programs, was confirmed yesterday by the Senate to head the CIA, as it tries to regain some of its lost luster.

Senators voted 78-15 to confirm Gen. Hayden to succeed Porter Goss, who steps down today after 18 stormy months.

The Senate endorsed President Bush's view that Gen. Hayden, a Pittsburgh native, is the right person to take the helm of an agency still rocked by intelligence failures that preceded the 2001 terrorist attacks and the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Mr. Bush first chose Mr. Goss, then a House Republican congressman from Florida and head of that chamber's intelligence committee, for the task. But the president lost confidence after Mr. Goss and his openly partisan aides clashed with veteran officials in the CIA and other agencies.

Gen. Hayden's nomination drew fire from some Democrats and civil liberties groups because he headed the National Security Agency when it began conducting warrantless wiretaps of Americans' international phone calls in a bid to find possible terrorists. Gen. Hayden and Mr. Bush, who acknowledged the program only after news reports outlined it, have said the effort is narrowly targeted at terrorism suspects.

But thousands of phone calls reportedly have been monitored without producing promising leads, and many lawmakers say Gen. Hayden and other officials have yet to explain adequately why they should not have to obtain court warrants for the wiretaps.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter of Pennsylania, the only Republican to vote against confirmation, said he did so to protest "the administration's policy of not informing the Congress ... in a way which enables the Congress and the Judiciary Committee to do our constitutional job on oversight." He called Gen. Hayden "a man with an outstanding record."

Mr. Specter joined 14 Democrats in opposing confirmation. Supporting it were 52 Republicans, including Mr. Specter's fellow Pennsylvanian Rick Santorum, as well as 25 Democrats and one independent.

Mr. Bush praised the vote for Gen. Hayden in a statement, saying: "Winning the war on terror requires that America have the best intelligence possible, and his strong leadership will ensure that we do. General Hayden is a patriot and a dedicated public servant whose broad experience, dedication, and expertise make him the right person to lead the CIA at this critical time."

When Mr. Bush nominated Gen. Hayden on May 8, several House Republicans and a few senators said they feared that his military background was inappropriate for a CIA director at a time when the Pentagon is aggressively trying to expand its role in intelligence matters.

But Gen. Hayden, an engaging man who excels at briefing lawmakers, said in private meetings and open hearings that he has stood up to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld when he disagreed with the secretary's policies and is willing to do so again.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., who raised questions about Gen. Hayden's active military status, yesterday said the general "has convinced me that he can make the transition from the military side to the civilian side of the intelligence community while continuing to move the CIA in a positive direction of change and transition."

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who voted against confirmation, said in a statement that the CIA director should "show respect for the rule of law and recognition of the oversight role of Congress."

She added: "General Michael Hayden has had a distinguished career serving our nation. ... However, I believe there are unanswered questions about whether he will exercise the independence and judgment necessary to be an effective CIA director in an administration that has rejected contrary views."

Senate Democrats signaled from the start that they would not make a concerted effort to block the nomination.