    RECORD TYPE: PRESIDENTIAL  (TRP NOTES MAIL)

    CREATOR: Toby Donenfeld ( CN=Toby Donenfeld/O=OVP [ OVP ] )

    CREATION DATE/TIME:26-JUN-1997 22:56:10.00

    SUBJECT:  FDA Commissioner

    TO: Donald H. Gips ( CN=Donald H. Gips/O=OVP [ OVP ] )
    READ:UNKNOWN

    TEXT:
    Ron yanked the FDA Commissioner memo from the lunch memo pack b/c he feels

    that this process has spun out of control and it's not appropriate for the

    VP to be in the position to tell the President that we may not like the

    choice.  Ron feels that we should have been consulted more thoroughly, Al

    Gore should sign off on the person and then it should move forward to the

    President.

    Ron wants you to call Donna Shalala and Bob Nash and "raise hell" about

    the process.  You should say that this is unacceptable, that we should

    have been consulted before one name is going forward to the President.

    Ron wants you to tell Bob to hold off on sending a decision memo to POTUS

    until Donna briefs you on who is being chosen and why and until you and

    the VP are comfortable with that decision.  Also, you should confirm that

    the President wanted more than one name to go to him.

    In general, Ron felt that this whole process needed to reeled in and that

    nothing should move forward to POTUS until a list of people is agreed to.