Bush May Mute Some Clinton Swan Songs

AUSTIN, Texas —  President-elect George W. Bush intends to review “each and every” one of President Clinton’s eleventh-hour executive orders, with an eye toward perhaps undoing them, a Bush spokesman said Friday.

Ari Fleischer, the designated White House press secretary, emphasized that Bush does not take issue with Clinton’s prerogative in issuing such orders or making recess appointments.

But in noting that Clinton has been “a busy beaver,” Fleischer added: “We are taking note of them all. And after [Jan.] 20, if we have anything to say, we’ll say it at that time.”

In recent days, for instance, the lame-duck Clinton has issued a permanent ban on logging and road-building on nearly 60 million acres of national forests, set forth new regulations requiring businesses to provide ergonomics programs and appointed a black judge to the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., integrating that circuit for the first time.

Also on Friday, Bush and Vice President-elect Dick Cheney announced additional White House staff appointments, including that of Mary Matalin, a veteran of the previous Bush administration and a prominent television commentator.

She is to serve as counselor to Cheney but also will hold the title of assistant to the president.

Bush named three former top aides here to key White House posts:

Margaret La Montagne, an education expert, will serve as his domestic policy advisor. Albert Hawkins, a budget expert, was named assistant to the president and secretary to the Cabinet. Harriet Miers, a prominent Texas lawyer, will serve as assistant to the president and staff secretary.

Governors to Gather at Ranch

Bush left Austin at midday Friday, returning to his ranch near Crawford, about 100 miles northwest of here, to pack for his move to Washington this month.

At his 1,600-acre Prairie Chapel Ranch, the president-elect is scheduled to host 18 Republican governors today to thank them for campaigning on his behalf and to discuss with them the economy, education and results of his two meetings this week with business leaders, aides said.

“I look forward to meeting with my former fellow governors to discuss the challenges America is currently facing. Governors provide a unique perspective because they see national problems on a local level,” Bush said in a statement.

Fleischer described today’s session this way:

“I think it’s an early sign of how he will govern. . . . Having come from outside of Washington, he believes deeply that many of the nation’s answers can be found in the state capitals and from places in addition to Washington.”

Although Democratic governors are excluded from Saturday’s meeting, Fleischer said that Bush would soon meet with them as well.

“You’re going to see President-elect Bush working closely and actively with governors from both parties,” he said.

Special Emphasis on the Military

On Monday, Bush is scheduled to meet in Austin with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders to discuss defense issues. Also scheduled to participate are Cheney, who was Defense secretary in the previous Bush administration; Defense Secretary-designate Donald H. Rumsfeld and Bush’s choice for national security advisor, Condoleezza Rice.

“Strengthening our military is one of my top priorities,” Bush said in a statement.

La Montagne was a senior advisor during Bush’s years as governor. She developed and implemented his education agenda and made recommendations for key gubernatorial appointments. Earlier, she was associate executive director of the Texas Assn. of School Boards.

Hawkins was Bush’s deputy campaign manager, responsible for financial planning and budget management. He is a veteran budget expert in the Texas Legislature and served as director of its office of budget and planning. Hawkins also was Bush’s chief advisor on state and local fiscal issues.

Miers is co-managing partner of a law firm here. She also has taught law and is a former president of the Texas state bar.

Matalin was among three staff appointments announced by Cheney. She will advise the vice president in a variety of areas, including communication, political strategy and coordination.

Matalin previously served as chief of staff to the Republican National Committee. Matalin, whose husband is James Carville, a top Democratic political strategist, has served as co-host of CNN’s political debate program, “Crossfire,” since July 1999.

During the 1992 presidential campaign, she served on the Bush reelection campaign as deputy campaign manager for political operations.

Cheney also named C. Dean McGrath Jr., who is chief of staff and chief counsel to Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach), as his deputy chief of staff.

McGrath also served in the White House from 1992 to 1993 as deputy assistant to the president and deputy staff secretary. Earlier, he was general counsel for the Peace Corps and acting general counsel at the Transportation Department.

The vice president-elect named Juleanna Glover Weiss as his press secretary, the same job she held during the campaign.