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Appointments
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Mike McCurry's Files
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FOIA Number: 2011-0586-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
Press Secretary
Series/Staff Member:
Mike McCurry
Subseries:
OA/ID Number:
11102
FolderID:
Folder Title:
Appointments
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
S
94
3
10
1
FED APPOINTMENTS
3/27/97
Q:
Where is the Administration on the vacancies at the Fed?
A:
We are in the process of finding two outstanding individuals to serve on the Federal
Reserve Board of Governors. The search process, headed up by NEC Director Gene
Sperling, CEA Chair Janet Yellen, and Treasury Deputy Secretary Larry Summers, has
been very thorough and, so far, very confidential. We'd like it to stay that way.
Q:
Are you getting close? We were led to believe that the appointments would come at
the end of March.
A:
The search is on track. The economic team has narrowed the list of candidates and will
make recommendations to the President in the not-too-distant future. That is all we are
prepared to say at this point in time.
Q:
Are you going to make sure that one of the slots goes to a banker? An African-
American?
A:
There are no preconditions or litmus tests for this search process. The economic team is
looking for superbly qualified individuals who are willing to serve their country in this
important role. Period.
Drafted by Jake Siewert
Cleared by Sperling
03/27/97
12:24
202 458 2223
WHITE HOUSE/NEC
ES.)
Jake
sector
Q: According to Senator Domenici, CBO has been more accurate than OMB in 16
out of 20 projections of the Federal budget deficit during this Administration.
we
call
shorth
A: We have been more accurate than CBO in 70 percent of the projections made at the
this
time the Administration's budget has been submitted -- the most obvious and
straightforward grounds for comparing our current forecasts to CBO's. Senator
it
recess
Domenici's assertion is misleading for several reasons:
Comparison periods. The comparison includes projections from the middle of
the budget cycle, which are not relevant for comparing the current projections, and
relies on inconsistent choices of exactly which forecast to use. In two instances
(1993 and 1996), it uses CBO's revised baseline issued after the President's budget
submission -- which is the baseline used for the Congressional budget resolution.
But for 1994 and 1995, it uses the preliminary CBO estimates released earlier in
the year.
Economic assumptions. In 1993, OMB used CBO economic assumptions for
purposes of the Congressional budget process. But the Administration also
prepared its own forecast to price the President's policies. The Administration's
out-year deficit.projections were considerably lower -- and more accurate -- using
Administration economics rather than CBO economics. It would seem particularly
misleading to mark down the Administration's forecasting record relative to CBO
because in one year the Administration used CBO's economic assumptions.
Current year VS. out-year forecasts. On any consistent basis of comparison, the
CBO's deficit projections tend to be more accurate for the then-current fiscal
years. In such current-year forecasts, CBO has a built-in advantage: the
Administration's economic assumptions must normally be completed in the late
summer or early fall, so that the agencies can develop their budgets, whereas the
CBO finalizes its economic assumptions two or three months later. For
projections of the current fiscal year, an additional quarter of information can be
extremely valuable. That advantage fades, however, for projections of future
years. And for such future years, OMB's forecasts are much more accurate (again
using any fair comparison). Since policy-makers-are-trying-to-balance the budget
five years hence, the track record beyond the current year is probably the most
relevant.
Summary: As in any comparison of this nature, no one is right all of the time. But by
any consistent measure, OMB has outperformed CBO in projecting the deficit in the out-
years. And even the CBO's figures show that the deficit has always been smaller than the
Administration had predicted.
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
February 24, 1997
PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES RICHARD SOCARIDES AS SPECIAL
ASSISTANT AND SENIOR ADVISOR FOR PUBLIC LIAISON
The President today named Richard Socarides as Special Assistant to the President and
Senior Advisor for Public Liaison.
Socarides was the liaison to the lesbian and gay communities for the White House in 1996,
when he served as Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Political Affairs.
He will continue to have that responsibility, among others, in his new post.
From 1993 to 1996, Socarides was White House Liaison for the Department of Labor,
serving before that as political director for Senator Tom Harkin, D-IA. A native of New York,
Socarides was a partner in the law firm of Squadron, Ellenoff, Plesent & Sheinfeld.
He has served on the Boards of Directors of the Lambda Legal Defense and Education
Fund and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD.) He was one of the
principal organizers in 1995 of the first-ever White House Conference on HIV/AIDS.
-30-30-30-
Press Guidance
February 20, 1997
Fed Vacancies
A process is underway headed by the Director of the NEC and including the CEA
and Department of Treasury. We are down to a short list and continuing to
interview candidates.
We started this process in order to fill one vacancy. We then had an unexpected
vacancy and broadened our process to include the two positions.
The economic team was focused heavily on the budget over the past few months.
That announcement is now behind us and we have narrowed the list on these
appointments. We are currently interviewing candidates (per Gene still looking at
more than two but less than ten) and we nominate candidates as expeditiously as
possible.
FYI Only: There was a conference call last week in which those involved narrowed down the
list, but no reccomendations have been given to the President.
April Mellody per Jake Siewert/Gene Sperling
appointments
10-1-96
Martin Kamarck
October 1, 1996
Background
Republican Senators, specifically Mitch McConnell, tried to drastically reduce Export-Import
Bank Chairman Martin Kamarck's salary which is included in the just-passed spending bill. The
Washington Post tried to report that the Vice President made several personal appeals to Senators
to dissuade them against Senator McConnell's proposed legislative language. The salary dispute
was resolved in the negotiations led by Leon Panetta over the weekend.
There is concern among some Republican members about Kamarck saying he's lost their
confidence because of an alleged improper payment he made to 200 Ex-Im employees.
Kamarck was a recess appointment; his appointment runs out in July, 1997.
The Vice President supports Kamarck's appointment but he did not make personal pleas over the
last couple months. That aside, the Administration went into the negotiations with the position
that cutting a chairman's salary through this spending bill would be a bad precedent for future
recess appointments.
Points
o
The legislative language proposed by Senator McConnell was resolved during the
negotiations. The Administration went into the negotiations with a very firm position that
this would set a bad precedent and undermine the President's ability to exercise his power
under the Constitution to make recess appointments.
o
If pushed about the Vice President's role: The Vice President supports Kamarck's
appointment but he did not make direct appeals on this issue at hand. That aside, the
Administration went into the negotiations with the position that cutting a chairman's
salary through this spending bill would be a bad precedent for future recess appointments.
drafted and approved by: G Terzano and Martha Foley, x67035
TheWashington.Post
TUESDAY. OCTOBER 1, 1996
Conferees Urge Clinton to Get Rid of Ex-Im Head
"pa
sue
cal
I
By Paul Blustein
million in extra salary to about 200
Legislative experts said the last
"It is unusual, but this fellow is
up
Washington Post Staff Writer
of the agency's employees.
time they recall Congress taking
dragging down the bank and de-
the
The overpayments, disclosed by
such action against an individual fed-
stroying its reputation," said Sen.
was
The chairman of the U.S. Export-
the Office of Personnel Management
eral employee was 1988, when ap-
Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who led+
of
Import Bank, Martin A. Kamarck,
early this year, averaged nearly
propriators abolished the job of an
the attack on Kamarck as chairman
Ex-
has been strongly rebuked by Con-
$5,000 a year for scores of workers
assistant agriculture secretary over
of the Senate appropriations sub-
Bar
gress, which warned President Clin-
whom the agency said it could not
a funding dispute.
committee that oversees Ex-Im.
ton not to reappoint him and sent
mis
afford to lose.
The Ex-Im is facing a difficult
"What's amazing is that the adminis-
legislation yesterday to the White
said
The legislative language, though
fight next year to win reauthoriza-
tration hasn't canned him a long
House ordering the elimination of
not legally binding, accompanies a
tion. The bank, which finances the
F
time ago."
Kamarck's salary next summer.
massive spending bill, approved by
export of U.S. goods and services,
Business lobbyists, too, voiced
Pre
Language approved by House and
the House on Saturday and the Sen-
enjoys strong support from the busi-
fears that Kamarck's enormous un-
con
Senate conferees said Kamarck "has
ate yesterday, which includes a pro-
ness community but has come under
popularity on Capitol Hill could un-
that
lost the confidence of the commit-
vision banning the use of federal
attack from both left and right as an
dermine Ex-Im's funding prospects
lobt
tees with oversight responsibility for
funds to pay Kamarck's $122,000-a-
example of "corporate welfare."
next year. "Nobody knows anyone
(
the Export-Import Bank" and
year salary. At White House insis-
Kamarck, 47, was widely blamed
who's supportive of him, so you get
zan
"should not continue in [his] posi-
tence, the salary provision would not
on Capitol Hill for both allowing the
to the point where it's a question of
con
tion." The lawmakers were punish-
take effect until after July 21, 1997,
Ex-Im salary problems to occur and
what's best for the bank," said one
that
ing the Ex-Im chief for the allegedly
when Kamarck's current recess ap-
for failing to show sufficient remorse
lobbyist who insisted on anonymity.
teri
improper payment of as much as $1
pointment will run out.
over them.
Kamarck blamed his troubles on
mei
Appointments/Nomonations
6/5/96
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
Immediate Release
June 5, 1996
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
I am pleased to nominate Admiral Jay L. Johnson, U.S. Navy, to be Chief
of Naval Operations.
Admiral Johnson currently serves as the Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
He brings to the job of Chief of Naval Operations a dynamic vision of the Navy's
future, a wealth of operational experience, a decisive leadership style and a
deep regard for America's sailors.
During his distinguished career, Admiral Johnson completed two combat
cruises in Vietnam and served as the Deputy Commander of Operation
RESTORE DEMOCRACY and UPHOLD DEMOCRACY in Haiti. As Commander
SECOND Fleet, he significantly improved the effectiveness of our forces in both
multiservice and multinational operations. As Assistant Chief of Naval
Personnel, he oversaw the career development of the officer and enlisted
community during the challenging post-Cold War drawdown
Admiral Johnson assumes the post of Chief of Naval Operations with the
full trust and confidence of the Navy community at a crucial time in its history.
I will depend upon him to continue Admiral Mike Boorda's high standards and
demanding goals for the Navy. With Admiral Johnson at the helm, I am
confident that our Navy will continue to protect and advance our nation's
freedom and security.
###
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q:
Why did you select Admiral Johnson?
A:
Admiral Johnson has shown throughout his distinguished
career the qualities to lead the Navy at this important time
in its history: a dynamic vision in leading sailors, a
decorated warrior with diplomatic skills, principled
leadership and a deep regard for the men and women of the
Navy.
Q:
Why did you select him over more senior Admirals?
A:
The senior leadership of the Navy had a number of excellent
candidates. Jay Johnson has the unquestionable ability to
meet the future challenges for the Navy, from a changed
security environment to complex social issues. He has my
complete trust and confidence.
Q:
(If asked: If you are trying to get the Navy past Tailhook,
why have you nominated someone who attended Tailhook?)
A:
(I would not have chosen Admiral Johnson as the next Chief
of Naval Operations if I did not have complete trust that he
has the leadership required to lead the Navy as it absorbs
the lessons of this difficult episode. His attendance at
Tailhook has been carefully reviewed by the Navy, the
Defense Department and the Senate on two previous occasions
as he was promoted to three- and four-star rank. On those
occasions, as in this case today, we have every confidence
in his distinguished leadership skills.)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q:
Why did you select Admiral Johnson?
A:
Admiral Johnson has shown throughout his distinguished
career the qualities to lead the Navy at this important time
in its history: a dynamic vision in leading sailors, a
decorated warrior with diplomatic skills, principled
leadership and a deep regard for the men and women of the
Navy.
Q:
Why did you select him over more senior Admirals?
A:
The senior leadership of the Navy had a number of excellent
candidates. Jay Johnson has the unquestionable ability to
meet the future challenges for the Navy, from a changed
security environment to complex social issues. He has my
complete trust and confidence.
Q:
(If asked: If you are trying to get the Navy past Tailhook,
why have you nominated someone who attended Tailhook?)
A:
(I would not have chosen Admiral Johnson as the next Chief
of Naval Operations if I did not have complete trust that he
has the leadership required to lead the Navy as it absorbs
the lessons of this difficult episode. His attendance at
Tailhook has been carefully reviewed by the Navy, the
Defense Department and the Senate on two previous occasions
as he was promoted to three- and four-star rank. On those
occasions, as in this case today, we have every confidence
in his distinguished leadership skills.)
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q:
Why did you select Admiral Johnson?
A:
Admiral Johnson has shown throughout his distinguished
career the qualities to lead the Navy at this important time
in its history: a dynamic vision in leading sailors, a
decorated warrior with diplomatic skills, principled
leadership and a deep regard for the men and women of the
Navy.
Q:
Why did you select him over more senior Admirals?
A:
The senior leadership of the Navy had a number of excellent
candidates. Jay Johnson has the unquestionable ability to
meet the future challenges for the Navy, from a changed
security environment to complex social issues. He has my
complete trust and confidence.
Q:
(If asked: If you are trying to get the Navy past Tailhook,
why have you nominated someone who attended Tailhook?)
A:
(I would not have chosen Admiral Johnson as the next Chief
of Naval Operations if I did not have complete trust that he
has the leadership required to lead the Navy as it absorbs
the lessons of this difficult episode. His attendance at
Tailhook has been carefully reviewed by the Navy, the
Defense Department and the Senate on two previous occasions
as he was promoted to three- and four-star rank. On those
occasions, as in this case today, we have every confidence
in his distinguished leadership skills.)
Appointments 3/21/96
Brooksley Born to the CFTC
March 21, 1996
BACKGROUND: The Wall St. Journal reported today that we are about to name Brooksley
Born, a Washington attorney, to head the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
FOR INTERNAL: Ms. Born has been signed off on and is undergoing counsel review. We
would not expect an announcement before the middle of next month. Discussions have been
ongoing with the Hill regarding her potential nomination.
Points:
The White House has no announcement for the CFTC today and we do not expect one
in the very near future. We do not discuss potential candidates for positions until the
President has made a decision and announcement.
FYI: Bob Nash does not have a problem with us acknowledging off the record that she
is under consideration. We do not want to indicate a decision has been made.
Drafted by Kathy McKiernan per Bob Nash, 6-6502
2-29-96
Dellinger to Replace Drew Days
February 29, 1996
Background: There is a wire story running that the Administration will name Assistant
Attorney General Walter Dellinger to be acting solicitor general to succeed Drew Days, but
will not nominate him for a long-term basis. The story says we are naming a short-term acting
solicitor general in order to avoid Senate confirmation.
Points:
The President has not made a decision on the replacement of Solicitor General Drew
Days, who has chosen to leave his post to return to the private sector at the end of the
current Supreme Court term in July.
As you know, Solicitor Days will continue serving through July and we are early in
the process for finding a replacement. Moreover, we do not comment on candidates for
a position until the President has made a decision and announcement.
Drafted: KMcKiernan
Cleared: Vanessa Weaver, WH Personnel 6-5285