August 4, 1994 - Part 4
August 4, 1994 - Part 4
(12:45:22) And let's suppose I were talking about something of a personal nature or a governmental nature involving a colleague, and it would be embarrassing, extremely embarrassing to that colleague if this were to be made public. And he comes and says to me, you know, by the way, how could this, you know, this thing become public. My God, I'll tell you something, I would be furious. I would absolutely be furious with that person and the emotions would run-particularly particularly if he mischaracterized my statements and it turned out to be embarrassing. The emotions would be to throttle him, to do something. What were your emotions? What did you-after you said that you did not say these things, what were your emotions when he came to see you, you knowing about the gist of this? MS. WILLIAMS. I was upset. Senator D'AMATO. Just upset? MS. WILLIAMS. Well, boy, that's a broad range. Senator DAMATO. Well, that's what I'd like you to tell us. The CHAIRMAN. I'm going to let you finish, because we're over. going to give Senator DAmato as much time as he needs, but I do want to go to Senator Murray. You want to finish and complete the answer? Senator DAMATO. You were upset but what did you say to him? 328 MS. WILLIAMS. I don't recall everything I said to him because as you know, when you are upset with someone, you're not exactly clear of what you are saying, what comments you are making. Now, I wasn't throwing any chairs so write off that. Senator D'AMATO. That would be a normal reaction under those circumstances. Ms. WILLIAMS. Well, not with White House property. Senator D'AMATO. Well, that's- The CHAIRMAN. We'll come back to that. Senator MURRAY. OPENING COMMENT OF SENATOR MURRAY Senator MURRAY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have to say sitting on this Committee for the last 5 days, I've learned that "seniority" means you speak to empty chairs. Mr. McLarty, we have heard a lot about this recusal issue over the last 5 days and this Committee has attached a lot of significance to that issue. How much do you think the problem here stemmed from the fact that there was not a separate permanent head of the RTC? Mr. McLARTY. Well, I know there's been, or I'm aware there's been a lot of discussion with this Committee which has oversight of the RTC. I think that was a factor in this situation that didn't lend itself to clarity. Senator MURRAY. You sent a nominee over here, Stanley Tate. Mr. McLARTY. We did. Senator MURRAY. A Republican, and he ultimately withdrew? Mr. McLARTY. That's correct, Senator Murray. Senator MURRAY. Would you have sent a nominee like Stanley Tate, a Republican, if your goal was, as some have suggested here, to be comfortable with the head of the RTC, the person who ultimately would be in charge of the Madison investigation? Mr. McLARTY. No--well, I had no involvement in the nomination of Mr. Tate. In all cases the nominee was sent up, thinking he or she would be qualified to serve and would serve in a capable and evenhanded way. Senator MURRAY. Thank you, Mr. McLarty. Ms. Williams, I have to say looking at your resume, I'm impressed. Would you consider yourself pretty much an expert in media relations? MS. WILLIAMS. I hate to say that I was an expert, but I know a fair amount about the subject. Senator MURRAY. Well, you're Chief of Staff to the First Lady. You have a master's degree from the Annenberg School. You've been in the field for a long time. So would you say it's fair to say you understand how to work with the media, to communicate to the American people? Ms. WILLIAMS. I try. Senator MURRAY. Part of your hectic job, I must say, must be listening to the American people; is that true? Ms. WILLIAMS. Yes. Senator MURRAY. So let me ask you this question: In your opinion in February, those few weeks that this Committee has put an 329 intense light on, were the American people more concerned about Health Care or Whitewater? MS. WILLIAMS. I believe they were more concerned about Health Care, which was why I was trying to keep our focus on Health Care. Senator MURRAY. And was the White House more concerned at that time about Health Care or Whitewater? Ms. WILLIAMS. Oh, absolutely they were more concerned about Health Care. Senator MURRAY. In your opinion, today, are people more concerned about Health Care or Whitewater? Ms. WILLIAMS. In my opinion, I believe people are much more concerned about their Health Care. Senator MURRAY. And Ms. Williams, can you explain to me, as a taxpayer, is the First Lady now spending more time working on Health Care reform or Whitewater? Ms. WILLIAMS. She is spending mostly all of her time working on Health Care, Senator MURRAY. Have you ever seen the First Lady paralyzed? Ms. WILLIAMS. No, I have not. Senator MURRAY. I have to say I have not either. Mr. Chairman, let me just comment here. Some of our colleagues have commented on two meetings-meetings that were so brief that no one sat down. No one remembers them. Maybe the fact that they're not remembering these Whitewater meetings or sitting down to talk about them is a sign of the level of importance that this White House attached to those conversations.