ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, April 13, 1996 TAG: 9604150036
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
Two days after Ron Brown's burial, President Clinton named Trade Representative Mickey Kantor his new commerce secretary Friday in an emotional conclusion to a ``profoundly moving and difficult week.''
Shuffling his economic team, Clinton also promoted Kantor's deputy to be acting trade representative and picked an executive at the housing agency Fannie Mae as budget director, replacing Alice Rivlin who is joining the Federal Reserve Board.
With a bear hug in an East Room ceremony, Clinton and Kantor sealed the surprise move and paid yet another tribute to their mutual friend who died in an April 3 plane crash in Croatia.
``Ron would have loved this moment,'' said Kantor, known for a tough-as-nails negotiating style and nearly two dozen trade deals with Japan.
Like Brown, Kantor is a staunch Clinton ally and experienced political organizer. He was Clinton's 1992 campaign manager; Brown helped spearhead the 1992 campaign as leader of the Democratic National Committee.
``As you might imagine, this has been a profoundly moving and difficult week for all of us in our political family,'' Clinton said.
He also named:
* Kantor's deputy, Charlene Barshefsky, as acting trade representative. She has received widespread praise in the past three years for her high-profile negotiating of trade deals with Japan and China.
* Franklin Raines, vice chairman of the Federal National Mortgage Association, or Fannie Mae, as the new head of the Office and Management and Budget, filling the slot Rivlin will leave.
Republicans quickly praised Kantor, who was sworn in by Vice President Al Gore.
LENGTH: Short : 44 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: AP. President Clinton embraces U.S. Trade Representativeby CNBMickey Kantor in the White House East Room on Friday.