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AMH [Alexis M. Herman] News Clips [binder] [3]
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312197039
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AMH [Alexis M. Herman] News Clips [binder] [3]
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Records of the Office of Staff Secretary (Clinton Administration)
Todd Stern's Files
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[Alexis Herman]
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Clinton Presidential Records
Digital Records Marker
This is not a presidential record. This is used as an administrative
marker by the William J. Clinton Presidential Library Staff.
This marker identifies the place of a tabbed divider. Given our
digitization capabilities, we are sometimes unable to adequately
scan such dividers. The title from the original document is
indicated below.
Divider Title:
Jan. 29, 1997
CAL THOMAS
red Wertheimer, the for-
Party. If these meetings weren't
F
mer president of Com-
mon Cause and a moral
comes. to defining the
Misuses, abuses
about raising campaign contribu-
tions, why did the fund-raiser
icon to some when it
attend? While meetings between
any president and potential donors
straight-and-narrow way
are common in an election year, it
of money and politics, describes
organized by a political party nor
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1997
and excuses
is not common for such events to be
fund-raising by the Clinton admin-
istration and the Democratic
for those who regulate an industry
The Washington Times
National Committee as "a system-
to be present at such gatherings.
atic misuse of the White House." He
Republicans will have a more
called the alleged cash-for-access-
difficult time investigating these
to-the-president scheme "unprece-
cans, Hispanics, blacks and other
occurred, but now says, "I did not
matters than in the first Clinton
dented." Because Mr. Wertheimer
ethnic groups. Republicans were
know that it was a fund-raiser."
term because the president is con-
has been a critic of fund-raising by
frequently demonized at such gath-
The president's nominee for
ducting a pre-emptive strike in
Republicans and Democrats, his
erings, especially when the audi-
labor secretary, Alexis Herman, sat
bipartisanship. From his calling for
description carries more weight
ence was black. "College-educated
in on five of the coffeès. She was put
a volunteerism summit to be co-
than the usual partisan complaints.
black professionals have a different
in charge of Mr. Ickes' special pro-
chaired by former President
Hundreds of pages of new docu-
perspective than black 'blue-col-
ject to attract minorities to vote for
George Bush and Colin Powell, to
ments show President Clinton par-
lar' workers," said one of the
the president, which involved sub-
his proposed reduction in the
ticipated in 71 "coffees" with cor-
papers. "Blacks in rural areas think
stantial fund-raising activity. The
increase in Medicare spending (for
porate donors and supporters.
differently than blacks in urban
public-interest group Judicial
which he and the Democrats demo-
Hillary Clinton, Vice President Al
areas." Any Republican who said
Watch released a video deposition
nized Republicans during the cam-
Gore and his wife attended 32 more
that would be labeled a racist.
from James Hackney, counsel to
paign), Mr. Clinton is trying to build
coffees at the White House with big
The strategy document for win-
the late Commerce Secretary Ron
a rosy public-relations hedge
donors and Democratic fund-rais-
ning Asian votes was written by
Brown, in which he says Miss Her-
around himself in case the scandals
ers. Prior to the release of the doc-
John Huang, a central figure in the
man coordinated White House
become too much even for a public
uments, the administration had
growing fund-raising scandal.
briefings for participants in Com-
largely anesthetized by his charm.
called these gatherings mundane
White House special associate
merce Department trade meetings,
Now that he no longer needs to run
and claimed no fund-raising took
counsel Lanny Davis said those
virtually all of which carried big
again, he says he'll stop taking "soft
place. Technically there may have
involved in the project to target eth-
contributors on foreign missions.
money" campaign contributions if
been no appeal for money during
nic voters contributed their time
White House officials rejected the
Republicans do the same. Last
the meetings, but the documents
over and above the 40-hour work-
implication of a quid pro quo.
week, he pledged to improve the
reveal that those who gained access
week and thus did not violate the
quality of our food.
to the president coughed up $6.5
Hatch Act. That will bear looking
million to his re-election campaign,
T
he documents reveal that
No matter how difficult the task,
into, as will the flipping and flopping
other participants in the cof-
Congress must investigate every
and at least $600,000 of that amount
done by Mr. Gore over his visit to a
fee meetings with the presi-
misuse, abuse and excuse in the
was given shortly after the visits.
California Buddhist Temple, an
dent included some of the nation's
White House fund-raising debacle.
Other papers show former
event that raised $140,000 for the
most prominent bankers and at
Deputy Chief of Staff Harold Ickes
party. At first Mr. Gore denied
least one senior banking regulator,
instructed aides to devise plans to
knowing of any fund-raising at the
the Treasury secretary and the top
Cal Thomas is a nationally syn-
win the support of Asian-Ameri-
temple, then acknowledged it had
fund-raiser for the Democratic
dicated columnist.
THE INQUIRY
Senate Scrutiny on Democratic Financing
By STEPHEN LABATON
Mr. Clinton said.
a grudging release of information in
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 - Senator
Still, both the Senate minority
dribs and drabs and, seemingly, only
Fred Thompson, the head of the Sen-
leader, Tom Daschle of South Dako-
when forced to," Mr. Thompson said.
ate committee investigating improp-
ta, and Senator John H. Glenn Jr. of
"We have seen the broadest claims
er campaign contributions, outlined
Ohio, the ranking Democrat on the
of executive and attorney-client priv-
a broad mandate today for the inqui-
Governmental Affairs Committee,
ry and sàid that hearings remained
urged the Republicans today to im-
ilege in our history. We have seen all
pose strict restrictions on the length
manner of delaying tactics which
months away.
and scope of the inquiry.
Congressional oversight committees
In a brief address on the floor of
But Mr. Thompson said he would
claimed were intended to avoid scru-
the Senate, Mr. Thompson, Republi-
can of Tennessee, said the Senate
not impose limits because the White
tiny by Congress, where noncoopera-
Committee on Governmental Affairs
House had not always been coopera-
tion has been stretched past the cut-
would explore whether the White
tive with Congressional inquiries.
off dates of committee investigations
House had properly maintained legal
"We have seen what appears to be
or even sessions of Congress."
barriers between fund-raising activi-
ties and the official business of gov-
erning, and whether any American
THE NOMINEE
policies or national security deci-
sions had been affected by campaign
contributions.
Hints of a Possible Cloud
He also served notice on the Clin-
ton Administration that he would
consider challenging any claims of
Over Labor Appointment
executive privilege that might be in-
voked by the White House to withhold
By MICHAEL WINES
Democratic causes.
sensitive documents.
A variety of House committees
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 The
The White House has strongly
Senate majority leader, Trent
defended Ms. Herman, saying she.
have begun to explore various angles
of the campaign finance activities of
Lott, cast a shadow today over
put in a full day's work in her'
the Democrats. The Justice Depart-
President Clinton's nomination of
White House job before perform-
ment has also created a special task
Alexis M. Herman as Secretary of
ing any political duties. The
Labor, saying her political activi-
Hatch Act bars Presidential ap-
force to examine the fund-raising
ties while in the White House last
pointees from conducting politi-
activities of the Democratic National
year may have run "awfully close
cal activity while on the job, but
Committee and a number of major
donors.
to the edge" of Federal law.
does not prohibit after-hours
But Mr. Thompson's inquiry is ex-
Mr. Lott, a Mississippi Repübli-
work for parties or candidates.
pected to be the main Senate show-
can, said he did not know whether
But Mr. Lott questioned the
case for examining how the White
the nomination was in jeopardy.
White House position today.
House and the Democratic. Party
The White House and senior Dem-
"This latest information that
raised money for the Presidential
ocratic senators have declared
has come out about arranging for
their confidence that the Senate
meetings, appointments at the
campaign and why so many ques-
White House, as the news media
tionable donations were solicited.
will confirm Ms. Herman.
The Democratic committee has al-
Still, making that happen ap-
reported this morning, it's awful-
ready returned about $1.5 million in
pears to be the first task of two
ly close to the edge of violating
contributions, most of which was so-
top Democratic strategists re-
the Hatch Act," he said after a
licited by John Huang, a former
cruited by the White House to
lunch with Republican senators in
trade official in the Commerce De-
help shepherd its nominations
the Capitol. "I think we have to
partment who left the Government
through the confirmation process.
take a look at what she did and
for a top position on the committee.
Ms. Herman, until recently Mr.
see if there are any problems."
Clinton's liaison to ethnic groups
Mr. Lott said he had considered
Mr. Thompson, who became well-
and other constituent groups, was
Ms. Herman a good choice to
known in Washington two decades
identified in White House files re-
head the Labor Department until
ago for his work as the Republican
leased last week as a leading or-
the latest reports. Asked whether
counsel to the Senate committee in-
ganizer of those groups on behalf
her confirmation was in jeopardy,
vestigating Watergate, said the Gov-
of Mr. Clinton's 1996 re-election
he replied, "I don't know."
ernmental Affairs Committee would
campaign. Among other activi-
Senator James M. Jeffords, the
look at the conduct of both the Demo-
cratic and Republican campaigns.
ties, the documents state, she pre-
Vermont Republican who heads
pared a plan to recruit black sup-
the Labor Committee, has yet to
"This does not mean that we must
porters by inviting black commu-
schedule hearings on Ms. Her-
strain to create some false balance
nity leaders to meet the President
man's nomination, which some
or that we have some sort of party
at the White House.
regard as a sign of trouble. Most
quota system," Mr. Thompson said.
Ms. Herman's office also invit-
of Mr. Clinton's other nominees
"It simply means that we must let
ed Edward Ludwig, the Comptrol-
have either completed their hear-
the chips fall where they may. We
ler of the Currency and a crucial
Ings or have a schedule for them.
are investigating activities, not polit-
Federal banking regulator, to a
But one senior Democratic
ical parties."
much-criticized meeting last May
aide, who spoke only on the condi-
At his news conference today,
of banking executives, their Fed-
tion of anonymity, noted that
President Clinton said that he hoped
eral overseers, the President and
Presidents had used Ms. Her-
Mr. Thompson's investigation would
the Democratic Party's top fund-
man's office as a vehicle for cam-
be "fair and evenhanded."
raiser. The Democratic National
paign planning for years, if not
"I'm confident that any investiga-
Committee arranged the White
decades, and argued that Ms.
tions will reveal what I said, that the
House session, which was not offi-
Herman's political activities so
vast majority of people who give, do
cially a fund-raising event but
far had not been shown to be
so well within the law and with the
which included many of the bank-
much more blatant than those of
best of motives - they really believe
ing industry's biggest donors to
Republican Administrations.
in what they' re doing, on both sides,"
The New York Times
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1997
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1997
Clinton Defends
Since his inauguration last week, Mr.
Clinton has sought to repair the damage
Nominee to Head
to his and the party's reputation over
His Fund Raising,
allegations of improper fund raising, in-
cluding taking contributions from for-
CIA Posted Profit
eigners. Last week, he said the party would
Including Coffees
no longer accept contributions of more
than $100,000 or contributions from U.S.
From a Stock Deal
residents who aren't American citizens.
Yesterday, he reaffirmed his support for
By HILARY STOUT
legislation introduced by Sens. John
By PHIL KUNTZ
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
McCain (R., Ariz.). and Russ Feingold
And ROBERT S. GREENBERGER
WASHINGTON-President Clinton fer-
(D., Wis.) that would limit donations to
Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
vently defended the Democratic Party's
political parties.
WASHINGTON - Anthony Lake, for-
fund-raising methods, including inviting
big donors to the White House for personal
Mr. Clinton generally defended the
mer national security adviser who has
chats. He told reporters that he gives
coffees and other White House gatherings
been nominated to head the Central Intelli-
contributors "a respectful hearing" but
with donors. But he conceded there was a
gence Agency, made at least $2,500 buying
not "a guaranteed result.'
problem with a coffee for a group of
and selling stock in a natural-gas company
Mr. Clinton spent much of the first
bankers that was attended by Comptroller
last year after being told not to invest in
the energy sector.
news conference of his second term an-
of the Currency Eugene Ludwig. Many of
swering questions about the party's fund
the bankers had donated tens of thousands
Clinton administration officials said
raising, including coffees he held with
of dollars to the Clinton campaign.
Mr. Lake's financial adviser had bought
stock in Williams Cos. without Mr. Lake's
people who made large contributions to the
"In retrospect, since the [Democratic
National Committee] sponsored it, I do not
knowledge. They said the adviser sold it
Democratic National Committee.
"I can tell you no decision ever came
think the comptroller of the currency
immediately after White House officials
out of any of those coffees where I or
should have been there,' he said.
reminded Mr. Lake that owning energy
stocks posed a possible conflict of interest
anyone else said. "This person's a contribu-
Just hours after fielding questions
because of his influence over foreign-
tor of what they ask us to do,' he
about fund raising, Mr. Clinton was back
policy matters. Mr. Lake's financial ad-
said. But I do think it's important to
on the money trail as the featured speaker
viser then apologized in a letter: to his
listen to people.'
at a $1 million party fund-raiser here.
client, the officials-said.
Still, he said, "I think what we've all got
-David Rogers and Asra Q. Nomani
Nevertheless, Mr. Lake still retains the
to be candid enough to say is, no one is
contributed to this article.
services of the long-time adviser, one of the
blameless here, it
officials said.
costs so much to pay
Signed on Jan. 9
for these -cam-
paigns, that mis-
The transaction is outlined on a finan-
takes were made
cial-disclosure statement signed by Mr.
here by people who
Lake on Jan. 9 and obtained by The Wall
either did it deliber-
Street Journal yesterday. Mr. Lake's In-
ately or inadver-
volvement in energy investments became
tently. Now it's up
an issue late last year when it was dis-
to others to decide
closed that he had delayed selling four
whether those mis-
energy-industry stocks for two years after
takes were made de-
being told by the White House to divest
liberately or inad-
himself of the investments.
vertently."
The delay allowed Mr. Lake to make a
The president's
Alexis Herman
bigger profit on the shares because they
defensive stance
Increased in value. The Justice Depart-
came as two cabinet nominees face criti-
ment is looking into the delay. Mr. Lake
cism on Capitol Hill over their roles in
blamed the delay on a secretary who, he
his election campaign. Alexis Herman
said failed to pass on E message to his
and Rodney, Slater, the nominees for
financial adviser to sell the stocks.
labor secretary and transportation secre-
Tulsa-based Williams Cos. runs the
tary, respectively, developed a strategy
nation's largest-volume system of inter-
for courting black voters last.year, newly
state natural-gas pipelines. Mr. Lake's
released White House documents say. And
disclosure form shows that he made be-
Ms. Herman appeared to have a role in
tween $2,501 and $5,000 in capital gains and
organizing some of the coffees. Some con-
dividends on the stock. Mr. Lake declined
gressional Republicans charge that Ms.
through a spokesman to comment on the
Herman, as White House director of public
matter.
liaison, and Mr. Slater, as the federal
'Monumental Screw-Up'
highway administrator, may have violated
An administration official familiar with
a law restricting federal employees' politi-
the stock'trade characterized the financial
cal activities.
adviser's decision to invest in the company
Both nominations appear secure, but
after Mr. Lake had already been reminded
the Senate Labor Committee has declined
by the White House to avoid such invest-
to schedule a confirmation hearing for Ms.
ments as "a monumental screw-up.' The
Herman until it receives answers to writ-
official said Mr. Lake was unaware that he
ten questions on her role in the coffees and
owned the stock until it was sold. The
other political activities. And Senate, Ma-
official added that the White House has
jority Leader Trent Lott (R., Miss.) said
informed the Justice Department about the
that while he had initially viewed Ms.
matter. An official at that agency declined
Herman as a good choice, he now believes
to comment.
her activities during the campaign are
Mr. Lake's nomination to head the CIA
"awfully close to the edge of violating" the
already is clouded because of the delay in
law, known as the Hatch Act.
selling the other four stocks and his failure
Mr. Clinton wasn't asked about the
to disclose to Congress the Clinton admin-
nominations yesterday. But Monday,
istration's decision to, in effect. give Iran &
White House press secretary Michael
green light to supply arms to Bosnia. A
McCurry said that Ms. Herman's public
spokesman for the Senate Intelligence
liaison office "was not used as a political
Committee said the panel is aware of the
office" and that "the president has strong
Williams Cos. transactions and "we are
support for the excellent nominee."
looking into this."
Closer To Wage Parity
The questions concern Herman's association with
The increases narrow but do not completely
Ernest Green, who was assistant secretary of la.
close the wage differential between the Sunshine
bor for employment and training while she headed
and Keebler workers, the union reported.
the agency's Women's Bureau.
In the pension area, however, benefits will be
Green, who was charged with administering the
standardized for workers at all six plants over the
Comprehensive Employment and Training Act,
course of the contract. Additional company con-
came under fire after the General Accounting Of-
tributions to the pension plan will permit the
fice found his agency awarded excessive con.
maximum pension benefit for former Sunshine
tracts at the end of the Carter administration. The
workers to be raised to $1,100 per month on Oct. 1,
Labor Department's inspector general subse-
1998; $1,125 on Nov. 1, 1999; and $1,150 on May 1,
quently testified before the Senate Labor and
2000.
Human Resources Committee that a firm Green
The former Sunshine workers also gained a
founded with Herman after they left political of-
guarantee that their health benefits will be main-
fice entered into contractual arrangements with
tained at the current level for the term of the con-
certain recipients of DOL contracts.
tract.
Green denied that any illegal or politically in-
The other Keebler plants are located in Denver,
spired motives were involved in the last-minute
Colo., Grand Rapids, Mich., Cincinnati, Ohio, and
contract awards, and a grand jury investigation
Macon, Ga.
failed to turn up evidence to the contrary. Close to
10 years after he left his Labor Department post,
Politics
1/29/97
Green, a friend of President Clinton's and a na-
tive of Little Rock, Ark., went on to head the tran-
Herman's White House Activities
sition team at the Labor Department after Clin-
Under Scrutiny By Senate Leaders
ton was first elected.
Documents released last week by the White
Daschie Anticipates No Problems
House have raised questions about whether former
Earlier Jan. 28, Senate Minority Leader Tom
White House public liaison Alexis M. Herman,
Daschle (D-SD) said he did not anticipate any
President Clinton's nominee for secretary. of la-
problems that would prevent Herman's confirma-
bor, violated the Hatch Act In arranging meetings
tion. "I don't have any reason to believe that her
between President Clinton and prominent indi-
nomination is, at all, in doubt. She is prepared to
viduals.
answer all questions that senators may have with
Herman reportedly played a key role in setting
regard to her qualifications and her designs for
up meetings over coffee between the president
the office. And I look forward to an early consid-
and top business and labor leaders, including in-
eration of her nomination and, ultimately, confir-
dividuals who subsequently contributed to the
mation," he said.
president's re-election campaign.
Sen. James M. Jeffords, chairman of the Senate
Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss) said
Labor and Human Resources Committee, which
GOP leaders are concerned that the activities of
is expected to consider Herman's nomination,
Herman and others within the administration ap-
said the committee is still collecting information
peared to violate the act, which limits the time
in preparation for a hearing, which has not been
political appointees can spend on political activi-
scheduled. He said-the Government ffairs Com-
ties to off-duty hours.
mittee, chaired by Sen Fred Thompson/R-Tenn),
Lott was asked at a news conference whether
is also looking into Herman's role at the White
Herman's confirmation was "in jeopardy over her
House as part of the committee's investigation
fund-raising activities at the White House or for
campaign finance violations in last
any other reason."
year's election
Responded Lott: "I don't know yet. I thought
Jeffords said the two committees are "working
that she was a good choice for that position, and I
in coordination" so that when Thompson "gots
communicated that last year to the White House."
into the areas of interest to us, he will share that
Lott added, however, that the latest information
information with us and we're helping him in try-
regarding Herman's role in arranging the White
ing to make sure the information he needs is
House meetings is "awfully close to the edge of
available." Jeffords-said had drawn no conclu-
violating the Hatch Act."
sions-from the documents released by the White
"I think we have to take a look at what she did
House.com
and see if there are any problems," the Senate
A White House spokesman denied that any of
majority leader said. "Any time something like
Herman's activities at the White House ran afoul
this comes out, which certainly on its face ap-
of the Hatch Act. The White House has been
pears bad judgment, at least, we have to see, is It
"scrupulous in its adherence" to the statute's re-
more than that?"
quirements, he said, maintaining that any "allow-
able political work" was conducted on Herman's
Earlier Concerns
own time.
Lott also referred to "concerns" about Her-
Herman has been meeting privately with sena-
man's conduct as a "contracting officer" in the fi-
tors to-answer any questions they may have prior
nal days of the Carter administration, but said the
to the confirms ationhearing and subsequent
nominee "answered questions I had for her on
byrtherSenate.
that, and I feel like that there's no problem there."
-By Court Gifford and Deborah Billings
eau of National Affairs, Inc.
Daily L
7/$0+$1.00
0148-269:
SENATE PROBE?
Sen. Fred Thompson; Tennessee Republican and chairman of the
Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, says his panel will
consider investigating and holding hearings on the following
questions:
Whether the presidential campaigns, national political parties or
others engaged in any illegal or improper. campaign activities, or
whether illegal campaign contributions were made to such entities, in
connection with, or relevant to, the 1996 presidential campaign.
Whether, during the course of the 1996 presidential campaign,
executive-branch employees maintained and observed legal barriers
between fund raising and the official business of governing.
Whether presidential campaigns remained appropriately
independent from the political activities pursued for their benefit by
outside individuals or groups.
Whether any U.S. policies or national security decisions were
affected by (1) contributions made to or for the benefit of the president
or (2) improper actions of any executive-branch employee or former
employee.
Whether existing campaign-finance laws, including laws governing
the disclosure of contributions to entitles established for the benefit of
public officials, should be substantially revised and, if SO, in what
manner.
Whether, based on the results of this investigation, laws other than
campaign-finance laws, such as the laws regulating the conduct of
federal officials, should be revised and, if so, in what manner.
The Washington Times
Lott has queries on Herman role
in Clinton fund-raising meetings
REUTERS NEWS AGENCY
"This latest information that
Senate Majority Leader Trent
has come out about arranging
Lott said yesterday that Alexis
for meetings, appointments to
Herman, President Clinton's
the White House
gets awfully
nominee to be labor secretary,
close to the edge of violating the
might have come close to violat-
Hatch Act," Mr. Lott said, refer-
ing the law in her work as a
ring to a law barring govern-
White House official.
ment officials from partisan ac-
Mr. Lott was commenting on
tivities.
Miss Herman's reported role in
Mr. Lott said he did not know-
arranging private fund-raising
if Miss Herman's nomination
meetings between Mr. Clinton
was in jeopardy and had thought
and Vice President Al Gore and
she was a good choice for labor
corporate executives.
secretary.
Congressional Republicans
"I think we have to take a look
say the nominations of Miss
at what she did and see if there
Herman, and Transportation
are any problems," he said. "I
Secretary-designate Rodney
hope there are not."
Slater could be in for a rough
He said that Miss Herman's
time in Senate confirmation
activity "certainly on its face ap-
hearings because of questions
pears bad judgment," and that
about apparent involvement in
senators had to determine if it
political activities.
was anything more than that.
The Washington Times
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1997