
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 12, 1991                   TAG: 9104120233
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

SCHWARZKOPF PLANS TO RETIRE

Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf War whose public popularity has brought him multimillion-dollar book offers, said Thursday he plans to retire within the next few months.

Schwarzkopf, 56, told reporters in Kuwait City that he plans to go fishing, play with his dog and "enjoy being a father" to his three children - "something I haven't done for about eight months."

The four-star general has received lucrative offers from publishers for his memoirs, according to a U.S. Central Command official. In addition, Schwarzkopf could earn large sums on the lecture circuit, officials said.

Time Warner Inc. has offered Schwarzkopf a "multimedia" deal, which could include a book and movie, according to publishing sources. The offer reportedly totals several million dollars. Other publishing companies also are seeking Schwarzkopf's personal memoirs.

Since the war ended, there has been widespread speculation in military circles that Schwarzkopf would become the next Army chief of staff when Gen. Carl E. Vuono retires this summer.

Senior Army officials said that while the job would have been given to Schwarzkopf if he had asked, he was not officially offered the position. Many Pentagon officials say they are relieved that Schwarzkopf did not pursue the job. While he was a successful field commander, officials said his short temper, rudeness and frequent spoken attacks on staffers would have been a serious problem in the politically oriented chief-of-staff job.

Some associates in Saudi Arabia said Schwarzkopf's curtness toward staffers has become even more pronounced since the end of the war.

His belligerence emerged again Thursday when he told reporters, "I have a great feeling of a great victory. Anyone who dares even imply that we did not achieve a great victory obviously doesn't know what the hell he's talking about."

Schwarzkopf is expected to return to Central Command headquarters in Tampa later this month. He likely will spend the next few months compiling reports on "lessons learned" during the war.

Schwarzkopf's children range in age from 13 to their early 20s.

by CNB