    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [December 30, 1997]
    [Page 1827]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Presidential Legal Expense Trust
    December 30, 1997

        Hillary and I want to thank the thousands of people who contributed
    so generously to the Presidential Legal Expense Trust. We also want to
    thank Michael Cardozo, the executive
    director of the Trust, the cochairs, Father Theodore Hesburgh and Nicholas Katzenbach, and the other trustees, John Brademas, Ronald Olson, Elliot
    Richardson, Michael Sovern, John Whitehead, and
    Barbara Jordan, who served until her death in
    1996. Hillary and I are immensely grateful for their assistance.
        In light of the trustees' decision to dissolve the Trust, we have
    asked the Counsel's office to advise us concerning the ethical and legal
    requirements that would govern any future efforts to address both the
    substantial legal fees already accumulated and those that will be
    generated by the need for ongoing representation.