ACCESSION NUMBER:00000
FILE ID:97021201.txt
DATE:02/12/97
TITLE:12-02-97  TEXT: CLINTON REMARKS ON NEW SENATE DELAY ON LAKE NOMINATION

TEXT:
(President reiterates strong support of Lake for CIA)  (310)

Washington -- White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry said late
February 11 that the President "spoke by telephone today while on
Capitol Hill with Senator Shelby concerning the nomination of Anthony
Lake to be Director of Central Intelligence.

"The President reiterated his strong support for Tony's nomination,"
McCurry said, "noting that he was superbly qualified, and said that
his foreign policy team needs Tony's leadership at the CIA as
expeditiously as possible.

"The President was concerned to learn during the call that Senator
Shelby intends to delay Mr. Lake's confirmation hearing and urged that
Senator Shelby consider holding the hearing sooner," the White House
Press Secretary said.

"The President said he was confident that Tony and the White House
could resolve any remaining questions on the issues that Senator
Shelby has identified."

Following is the White House text:

THE WHITE HOUSE

February 11, 1997

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

In response to a question from today's daily briefing concerning the
President's conversation with Sen. Richard Shelby, Chairman of the
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence:

The President spoke by telephone today while on Capitol Hill with
Senator Shelby concerning the nomination of Anthony Lake to be
Director of Central Intelligence.

The President reiterated his strong support for Tony's nomination,
noting that he was superbly qualified, and said that his foreign
policy team needs Tony's leadership at the CIA as expeditiously as
possible. The President was concerned to learn during the call that
Senator Shelby intends to delay Mr. Lake's confirmation hearing and
urged that Senator Shelby consider holding the hearing sooner. The
President said he was confident that Tony and the White House could
resolve any remaining questions on the issues that Senator Shelby has
identified.

(end text)
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