Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Jordan partner to lobbyists Date: Sat, 7 Nov 92 19:23:58 EST Message-ID: \SE A \HD Jordan partner to lobbyists \BY Michael Hedges \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Vernon Jordan, appointed yesterday as chairman of President-elect Bill Clinton's transition team, is a partner in a Washington law firm well known as a lobbyist for foreign interests. Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld - Mr. Jordan's firm - has among its clients the People's Republic of China, the Chilean Exporter's Association and the government of Colombia. Also represented by the firm: the Korea Foreign Trade Association and three Japanese companies - Matsushita Electric Industrial Corp., Nippon Benkan Kogyo Co. Ltd. and Fujitsu Ltd. A partner in the firm said Mr. Jordan is not a registered foreign lobbyist and does not work directly on foreign accounts. He is a former NAACP field director, executive director of the United Negro College Fund and president of the National Urban League. Throughout the campaign, Mr. Clinton made a point of saying he would cut the influence of foreign lobbyists inside Washington. Speaking on "Larry King Live" on Oct. 28, he outlined this policy: "I think we do have to reduce the influence of lobbyists and special interest groups," he told a caller. "My policy is that no one who works in my administration can lobby for foreign interests or for domestic interests. "And when they leave my administration, if they're in senior positions, they're going to have to wait several years before they can lobby for foreign interests and a couple of years before they can lobby for anybody again. "I think you have got to have the assurance that our people, who are working for you, are working for you and . . . not sitting there thinking every day, when they make a decision, whether they can make some money out of it as soon as they leave the government." Earlier this week, the president of another foreign-interest group, David Steiner of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, resigned after The Washington Times obtained a taped interview in which he boasted of the group's influence. "We have a dozen people in his [Mr. Clinton's] headquarters," Mr. Steiner told Harry Katz, a New York City businessman who said he wanted to contribute $100,000 to candidates supported by AIPAC. "And they are all going to get big jobs." "I'll tell you I have friends on the Clinton campaign, close associates. [Vice President-elect Al] Gore is very committed to us," said Mr. Steiner, who is also a trustee of the Democratic National Committee. Mr. Steiner said Mr. Clinton "is going to help us. He has something in his heart for the Jews. He's got Jewish friends. Bush has no Jewish friends." Asked by Mr. Katz who would be secretary of state under Mr. Clinton, Mr. Steiner said, "I don't know yet, we're negotiating." Asked if AIPAC would have a role in the selection, he said, "We'll have access." In a letter of resignation, Mr. Steiner said he was exaggerating the group's influence and apologized to Mr. Clinton. Akin, Gump has been a strong backer of Democratic candidates. One of the name partners is Robert Strauss, former Democratic National Committee chairman and more recently ambassador to the Soviet Union, then Russia. The role of head of the transition team is not an official government post, so Mr. Jordan will not have to resign to take the job. He announced yesterday he was taking a leave of absence from the firm. Mr. Jordan, 57, also is rumored to be on the short list of candidates for attorney general. If selected for that job, he would be required to sever relations with another employer. A key campaign adviser, Mr. Jordan was one of the emissaries from the Clinton camp to independent Ross Perot and participated in the committee in charge of the search for a vice presidential candidate. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM