Pentagon Spokeswoman Steps Down (Tori Clarke)

US DoD ^ | 6-16-03 | DoD

[cgk]

United States Department of Defense
News Release
On the web: http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2003/nr20030616-0102.html
Media contact: media@defenselink.mil or +1 (703) 697-5131
Public contact: http://defenselink.mil/faq/comment.html or +1 (703) 428-0711

		No. 419-03
IMMEDIATE RELEASE		June 16, 2003

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Pentagon Spokeswoman Steps Down

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced today that chief Pentagon Spokeswoman Victoria Clarke would step down from her post as assistant secretary of defense for public affairs on June 20. Citing personal reasons for her departure, Clarke said, "I depart sadly, because this has been the best professional experience of my life. It has been a true honor working for the men and women of the U.S. military."

"Torie Clarke is a gifted communicator," said Secretary Rumsfeld. "During her remarkable two years of service in the Department of Defense, she has developed countless new methods to tell the story of our fighting forces, and bring their courage, dedication, and professionalism into sharp focus for all Americans. She will be sorely missed."

Lawrence Di Rita, special assistant to the Secretary of Defense, will perform the duties of the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs until a permanent replacement for Ms. Clarke is confirmed.

[cgk]

Biography of Victoria Clarke Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

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Victoria Clarke was nominated by President George W. Bush to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs on April 5, 2001. She was confirmed by the Senate on May 17, 2001, and sworn in at a ceremony in the Pentagon on May 22, 2001.

In this position, she is responsible for all matters relating to Department of Defense public information, internal information, community relations, information training, and audiovisual matters.

Ms. Clarke comes to her position with extensive public policy experience in both government and the private sector.

Prior to her appointment, Ms. Clarke was the general manager of the Washington, D.C. office of Hill and Knowlton, a global public relations and marketing firm. Previously, she was President of Bozell Eskew Advertising, a leading issue advocacy and corporate communications company. From 1993 to 1998, Clarke was Vice President for Public Affairs and Strategic Counsel for the National Cable Television Association.

In 1992, Clarke served as Press Secretary for the re-election campaign of President George Bush. From 1989 to 1992, she was Assistant U.S. Trade Representative under Ambassador Carla Hills for Public Affairs and Private Sector Liaison. Previously, she served as press secretary to Congressman and then Senator John McCain. In 1982, Ms. Clarke was a press assistant to then Vice President George Bush. From 1979 to 1982, Ms. Clarke worked as an editorial assistant, photographer, and graphics editor for the Washington Star daily newspaper.

Ms. Clarke holds a B.A. degree from George Washington University where she graduated in 1982.

[cgk]

Reuters Story:

Pentagon Spokeswoman Leaving Post, Says Rumsfeld
Mon June 16, 2003 08:52 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Department spokeswoman Victoria Clarke is leaving her government post as assistant secretary of defense for public affairs, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced on Monday.

Praising Clarke as a gifted communicator who developed innovative ways of telling the military's story to the public, Rumsfeld said the spokeswoman was leaving for personal reasons.

Senior defense officials told Reuters privately that Clarke, a former public relations executive and spokeswoman in the 1992 re-election campaign of former President George Bush, was leaving to spend more time with her family. She has had a close working relationship with Rumsfeld.

Clarke will be replaced on an interim basis by Lawrence Di Rita, a special assistant to Rumsfeld, until a permanent replacement is nominated by the White House and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

"I depart sadly because this has been the best professional experience of my life," Clarke said in a brief statement issued by the Pentagon. "It has been a true honor working for the men and women of the U.S. military."

"Torie Clarke is a gifted communicator," Rumsfeld added. "During her remarkable two years of service in the Department of Defense, she has developed countless new methods to tell the story of our fighting forces and their courage, dedication and professionalism into sharp focus for all Americans. She will be sorely missed."

The Washington Times reported last week that Clarke might be planning to take several months off and then join the communications team for the re-election campaign of President Bush.

[Cincinatus]

Interestingly, I recently attended a cocktail party which was attended by several military types who work in the Pentagon. They were universal in their dislike of her. No reasons were given.

[JohnGalt]

Spending more time with her family?

[cgk]

I personally thought she was very good at handling the press during Op. Iraqi Freedom, though I am no military type, just a mom. Whenever they tried to ask some re-framed questions she already said she would not answer... she let them have it, in a professional way. She wouldn't let them dishonor the military either... i.e. quagmire questions, etc.

I wonder if the complaints some people have are about her wardrobe. ;)

[Pukin Dog]

Currently, Military types in the Pentagon are universal in their dislike of Rumsfeld and his team. It is because he has shaken things up to a large degree, and that building full of wannabe Generals and Admirals are no longer running things, like they were during the Clinton Administration.

Torie Clark is an easy target, although she has been one of the most effective people in the entire Bush administration. Military brass that expected an easy, stress free road to retirement are having to do more than attend Air Shows and leak information to get ahead. Rummy rejected their antiquated war plans and exposed serious shortcomings in leadership so bad that promotions are coming from below and outside the usual suspects.

[OldFriend]

Same folks who don't like Rummy either no doubt. The woman was the best of the best. As is Rummy!

[martin_fierro]

'Burgh Girl Done Good.

	It's a 'Burgh Thing.TM
Send FReepmail if you want on/off BPT list
Learn Pittsburghese!

[martin_fierro]

Good luck!

[ewing]

Shes probably going to the relection campaign

[Donna Lee Nardo]

I second all your comments. I adore & respect both Rummy and Victoria.

[OXENinFLA]

Wow! And I heard that George Tenat is moving positions too.

[JohnGalt]

Feb. 28, 2002:
http://www.insightmag.com/main.cfm/include/detail/storyid/194374.html

"...Insight has been told Rumsfeld is very unhappy about the whole situation, as are some of his closest advisors who can't figure out why there wasn't any positive counter-spin on the story.

Washington is a strange town. But even Insight was surprised that it could not get answers to two very simple and straightforward questions. Specifically:

1) Torie, were you or your office behind the damaging and misleading anonymous leaks against OSI that embarrassed Secretary Rumsfeld and the president?

2) Is it correct that you and your office did not correct false information in the press about what actually was in the planning documents for the OSI project?"

[Squantos]

Interesting..........Stay Safe !!

[Cincinatus]

Interesting. I would be surprised if Torie Clarke were behind the NYT "outing" of the OSI. I had always assumed that it was the work of embedded Clintonista holdovers in the Pentagon. But her dodging of the issue is indeed curious.

[cgk]

Haven't heard about George yet... this story was actually "broken" before the fact - on Friday, by Bill Gertz at the Washington Times.

Inside the Ring
    Clarke leaving
    Victoria Clarke, the assistant defense secretary for public affairs, is leaving the Pentagon, according to defense officials.
    Mrs. Clarke has held the position of top Pentagon spokeswoman since May 2001 and has won mixed reviews from officials in the Pentagon and those in the press who cover it.
    One official said Mrs. Clarke, a former public relations executive, is leaving to spend more time with her family.
    Another official said she may be taking time off over the next several months in preparation to join the communications team for President Bush's re-election campaign.
    Mrs. Clarke's last presidential campaign was 1992, when she worked as press secretary for the re-election campaign of President George H.W. Bush.
    Mrs. Clarke was traveling with Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and could not be reached for comment. Spokesmen at the Pentagon declined to comment.
    

[justshe]

Victoria Clark did a superb job handling the media during DoD press conferences. And if, as has been reported, she was the architect behind the embedded reporters program, she deserves major kudos. Brilliant move, imo, and did much to 'educate' not only the brethern in the media, but also gave us some of the best coverage from the field.

[smith288]

She gonna take over for Ari?

[cgk]

And if, as has been reported, she was the architect behind the embedded reporters program, she deserves major kudos

'Tis true. :) Birth of the Embed

[cgk]

Sorry, forgot the snip (I know people hate to leave FR)...pop-ups what not. Birth of the Embed

VICTORIA CLARKE, the veteran political public relations diva, had no idea where the roller coaster was taking her when she signed on to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Relations under Rumsfeld. September 11 changed her world and she was suddenly thrust on the stage with the U.S. military response in Afghanistan. Things did not go so well between the media and the military and the bureau chiefs really did have something to complain about.

But out of that experience Clarke did what she knew best--she went on a campaign. Her goal was to bridge the old gap between the generals and the journalists. She held forums at think tanks, she had bi-monthly meetings with the bureau chiefs, she yessed us to death. Yes, we would have dialogue. Yes, we would consult. Yes, we would get access.

Right, we all said skeptically. We knew the game; the military would never let us in. And even if it did, we wouldn't be allowed near the fighting and would either be censored or not allowed to file stories until it was over.

We were wrong.

Clarke's brilliant idea was to have the embedding project sanctioned from the top down. Get Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Richard Myers on board. "They are very involved in making sure that everybody on our side of the fence understands the intent, understands what the mission is," Clarke said in January, "and that's been a distinct difference from the past." The idea was to push the policy decision down the ranks and not to let concerns about operational security hang it up.

The military used to claim that the media couldn't be trusted; that they would broadcast operational details and men and women in uniform would die. Clarke's answer: If the journalists' lives are on the line too, they'll keep their mouths shut when they're supposed to.

Clarke turned over details of the embed project to a veteran of the Office of Public Affairs, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Bryan Whitman. Whitman's military experience commanding Special Forces in Somalia would serve him well.