Stein, Rob

Stein, Rob 1002/002 POLICY OFFICE 03/20/95 09:01 202 482 4191 FOR tome 8.4 Talking Points for Harold Ickes 3/21 I'm pleased to be here today to provide the White House's answer to the question posed by the Wall Street Journal: Who is Rob Stein? Let's start by noting who Rob Stein is not. He's not a member of the underclass -- read the record of his donations to the Democratic Party. He's not a minority in any way -- he's a white guy from West Virginia. Which I want to quickly assure Senator Byrd, is okay with me. He's not expert in key issues worked on in the Department of Commerce -- like turtle extruder devices in the Gulf of Mexico. But its not enough to say what Rob Stein is not. Let's recognize what he is. Rob Stein is a friend to the White House. In league with Ron Brown, Rob Stein is the man who fulfilled the President's pledge that this Department would become a powerhouse. Rob Stein is supportive and calm -- even when chaos raged around him. Rob is -- in a very real way the glue that has held this Department together. When the White House needed help; when leaders in Commerce needed counsel; when the Secretary wanted it done right -- Rob has always been there. It'll be hard in the White House -- and I know hard in this Department as well -- when Rob isn't here. But he deserves a break. And he goes knowing that he carries with him our gratitude and the gratitude of the President of the United States. Thank you, Rob for all that you've given. And, even after you've left government, when the re-election campaign revs up -- don't forget that it'll be okay to give again. Thanks.