Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 16, 1993 TAG: 9312160180
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Knight-Ridder/Tribune
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Aspin, 55, cited unspecified "quite personal reasons" for submitting his resignation, which Clinton accepted at a hastily called Oval Office appearance. Aspin, who was the first member of Clinton's Cabinet to depart, will serve until at least Jan. 20, Clinton said.
Aspin suffered from heart disease and had a pacemaker implanted in March, but Defense Department sources said his resignation was not forced by bad health.
There was widespread speculation that Clinton pushed Aspin out to make way for a stronger leader.
A successor is expected to be nominated "very soon," possibly as early as today, according to White House sources.
R. James Woolsey, Clinton's director of central intelligence, was considered the leading candidate.
Before the surprise announcement, Aspin had been following a routine schedule. He briefed reporters on the controversial C-17 air transport contract in the morning. But, later in the day, he canceled a breakfast with more than a dozen Washington reporters scheduled for early today.
White House aides denied that Aspin had been fired, saying Clinton and Aspin had been discussing his departure for weeks, at Aspin's initiative. Aspin told reporters on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday that he had offered to resign many times in the past; he said the same thing in his letter of resignation.
A Ph.D. who represented Wisconsin in the House for 22 years, Aspin was embroiled in controversy from the moment he was sworn in as defense secretary in January.
It fell to him to broker with a hostile Congress a widely scorned compromise on rules for allowing homosexuals in the military.
His worst moments came after 18 U.S. servicemen were killed in an October firefight in Somalia. Many members of Congress called for his resignation after it was disclosed that Aspin had declined to send armor to protect U.S. forces there even though commanders in the field had requested it.
In hindsight, Aspin expressed regret over the decision but declined to step down. Clinton voiced confidence in his defense chief.
The president praised Aspin graciously Wednesday, hailing his "wise counsel . . . solid leadership . . . and unflappable good humor."
Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., chairman of the Armed Services Committee and a sharp critic of the Clinton administration's defense policy, said he "regretted" Aspin's decision. Nunn said Aspin can take "great pride" in the work he did as defense chief, which will provide a "valuable foundation" for his successor.
Sen. Strom Thurmond, R-S.C., another Armed Services Committee member, said "I believe that all Americans owe him a debt of gratitude."
by CNB