Presidential Personnel

THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON April 28, 1997 MEMORANDUM FOR JODIE TORKELSON FROM: Lynn Cutler, Deputy Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs SUBJECT: Detailee from Department of Interior to White House IGA CC: Sylvia Mathews, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff Marcia Hale, Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs Bob Nash, Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel As you may know, one of the responsibilities I have assumed in Intergovernmental Affairs is the relationships between the White House and the Tribal Nations. This is a very complicated and diverse population and there has been a significant call for someone from Indian Country to serve on the White House staff. While this has been under consideration over the course of the last several months, an opportunity has recently arisen that might alleviate budgetary concerns that would have otherwise prevented the hiring of a Native American liaison. We have received an offer from the Department of the Interior to detail Elizabeth Homer who is Native American and is currently serving in the office of the American Indian Trust to work at the White House two to three days a week. I sincerely hope that we can be assigned a detailee slot for this purpose. In a meeting last week on the Hill with Senator Inouye and Congressman Kildee, the chairs of the Indian Caucuses in their respective chambers, the issue of the Administration's service to the Native American community was discussed. Bob Nash, who was part of this Congressional meeting, fully supports this request, and Marcia Hale has been advised of it. Intergovernmental Affairs would have the office space, since Emily Bromberg's old office is now vacant. From what I understand, there is not a Native American on the White House staff; this is seen as a serious problem in Indian Country. The President has done so much positive work with the Indian nations -- I hope that we can follow-though with his commitments by having this invaluable assistance here to deal with the myriad of issues involved in the Native American community. Thank you for your consideration. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at 6-2896.