[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 30, Number 10 (Monday, March 14, 1994)]
[Pages 442-443]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Letter Accepting the Resignation of Bernard W. Nussbaum as Counsel to 
the President

March 5, 1994

Dear Bernie:

    With deep regret, I accept your decision to resign as Counsel to the 
President. Your friendship and advice have meant a great deal to me over 
the years.
    During your tenure, this Administration named the highest percentage 
of women and minorities to the Federal Judiciary in history, while 
meeting, in a vast number of cases, the highest standards set by the 
American Bar Association. These Judges and Justices will leave a lasting 
imprint on our case law, and their places on the federal bench will be 
clear and abiding signs of encouragement to those long excluded from 
administering our system of justice. Those serving, and those who can 
now dream of being considered, owe you a great debt of gratitude.
    You played an especially significant role in the selections of 
Attorney General Janet Reno, FBI Director Louis Freeh, and Associate 
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg--people who will make our streets safer and 
our society more just for years to come. They are pioneers, and yours 
was the lamp that lit their way.
    It has been said that the best a man can give is his living spirit 
to a service that is not easy. And we have worked together in Washington 
at a time when serving is hard. But you gave this Administration one of 
its liveliest spirits and keenest minds, along with your special 
reverence for duty and friendship. For these contributions, I will be 
for- 

[[Page 443]]

ever grateful; for your accomplishments, I hope you will be forever 
proud.
    Sincerely,
                                                  Bill Clinton

                              ___________
                              

Dear Mr. President:

    It has been a great honor and privilege to serve you as Counsel to 
the President. I am proud of the accomplishments of this Administration 
and those that I know will be achieved in the months and years to come. 
I am also proud of the many contributions my office has made to the wide 
array of policy initiatives of your Administration.
    It was also an honor to have assisted in your choice of Janet Reno 
to be Attorney General of the United States, Louis J. Freeh to be the 
Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
to sit on the Supreme Court of the United States. I am particularly 
proud of assisting in your selection of more than 60 men and women of 
the most distinguished and diverse backgrounds ever to serve on the 
federal bench.
    As I know you know, from the day I became Counsel, my sole objective 
was to serve you as well and as effectively as I could, consistent with 
the rules of law, standards of ethics, and the highest traditions of the 
Bar. At all times I have conducted the Office of the White House Counsel 
and performed the duties of Counsel to the President in an absolutely 
legal and ethical manner. Unfortunately, as a result of controversy 
generated by those who do not understand, nor wish to understand the 
role and obligations of a lawyer, even one acting as White House 
Counsel, I now believe I can best serve you by returning to private 
life. With this letter I am therefore tendering my resignation. It will 
be effective April 5, 1994, to assist you in arranging for an orderly 
transition in the Counsel's office.
    I will always value your friendship and that of the First Lady, and 
will always be grateful for the opportunity you gave me to serve. I wish 
you both the very best.
    Very respectfully,
                                           Bernard W. Nussbaum

Note: Originals were not available for verification of the content of 
these letters.