    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [November 14, 1996]
    [Page 2117]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 2117]]

    Statement on the Resignation of Deval Patrick as Assistant Attorney
    General for Civil Rights
    November 14, 1996

        It was with regret that I accepted today the resignation of Deval
    Patrick, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department
    of Justice, who has decided to return to private life. Throughout his
    tenure, Deval was one of my closest and most trusted advisers in the
    area of civil rights. He brought to his job a love of his country and an
    unflagging commitment to equal opportunity for all Americans.
        The country will miss his able service, but we can all be proud of
    the many accomplishments he leaves behind, including his work at the
    forefront of my administration's effort to reform affirmative action
    programs in Federal procurement. Deval took to heart my admonition to
    mend affirmative action, not end it. The intelligence and sensitivity he
    brought to this difficult job has paid off with solid results.
        Another hallmark of his tenure was his stewardship of the
    interagency task force created to investigate the rash of fires
    threatening our Nation's places of worship. Deval was instrumental in
    leading the fight to protect these institutions and to bring
    perpetrators of the burnings to justice.
        I will always appreciate the sacrifice Deval's wife, Diane, and
    their children made so that Deval could provide this service to his
    country.