Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 7, 1994 TAG: 9408080065
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By MICHAEL KRANISH BOSTON GLOBE
DATELINE: WASHINGTON NOTE: ABOVE LENGTH: Medium
Altman, a classmate of Clinton's at Georgetown University, so far has won a tentative vote of confidence from the president, despite a drumbeat of suggestions from Republicans and some Democrats that the former Wall Street wizard become a fall guy for the Whitewater affair.
But if the 20 months of the Clinton administration are a guide, Altman, who drew strong criticism for his role in Whitewater during hearings this week, has reason to be nervous. Many of Clinton's closest friends who accompanied him to power in Washington have resigned or been forced out of their jobs. Clinton allies from Arkansas have fared particularly badly.
``The nature of the beast is that it is a tough ride,'' said Scott Rutherford, an Arkansas businessman and member of the Clinton transition team who turned down a chance for a top administration job. ``Part of the emphasis on this is because Clinton is from a small state.''
Like many Clinton friends, Rutherford said the troubles and departures are small compared with those in some Republican administrations that have been plagued by scandals.
Rep. Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Democrat on the House committee investigating Whitewater, said Clinton's aides ``worried excessively'' and may have been overzealous out of a misplaced fear that someone might have done something wrong. But Frank said he saw nothing wrong with putting so many friends in high places, asking, ``Who's he going to appoint - his enemies?''
Frank said there were plenty of people in the Whitewater affair with little connection to the president. Referring to Joshua Steiner, the 28-year-old treasury chief of staff whose diary proved embarrassing to Clinton and his aides, Frank said, ``Steiner is close to puberty, not Bill Clinton.''
Nonetheless, from the suicide of deputy counsel Vincent Foster to the removal of Mack McLarty as chief of staff to the ouster of David Watkins as White House director of administration, Clinton's longtime friends have borne much of the onus of the president's often difficult time in Washington. Those not steeped in the ways of Washington often have had tough times, as Altman's recent troubles suggest.
Indeed, the new chief of staff, Leon Panetta, was brought into the job partly because he does not have long-standing ties to Clinton and is more able to tell the president when he is wrong. Panetta is expected to propose another shake-up that could result in the reassignment or removal of more Clinton friends.
The ``FOBs'' are legendary for the way they formed a tight circle around Clinton during the presidential campaign, fighting for his election and protecting him during the most difficult times. But that strategy appears to have backfired during the presidency, as repeated attempts to protect Clinton are now characterized by Republicans as cover-ups.
Altman created problems for himself when he hesitated over whether to recuse himself from being involved in an investigation related to Whitewater. Another friend of the president, counselor George Stephanopoulos, reportedly became angry that Altman might recuse himself.
Eventually, Stephanopoulos cooled down and Altman did withdraw from the case, but not before the matter exploded with charges of a White House cover-up. In the end, some observers think the misguided actions of Clinton's two friends might create more problems than the actual Whitewater investment.
by CNB