THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 29, 1993

PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES REPUBLICAN BUSINESSMAN ROGER JOHNSON

TO HEAD GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Washington, D.C. - In a move designed to cut waste and promote efficiency in the federal government, President Clinton today announced his intention to nominate Roger Johnson, chairman and CEO of Western Digital, to head the giant General Services Administration.

The first Republican named to a top post in the new administration, Johnson served as an outspoken advocate for the Clinton-Gore ticket during the presidential campaign, joining with other Orange County, California Republicans to endorse the Clinton-Gore plan to reinvent the government and make it work for the American people.

"Roger Johnson's skills as a business leader and strong commitment to government change will ensure that economy and efficiency are standard rule at the new GSA," said the President. "Partisan politics have no place at this crucial juncture of our history. We must all work together to get our government back on track."

When Johnson joined Western Digital Corporation in 1982 as chief operating officer, the company had just emerged from bankruptcy with revenue of $34 million and 811 employees. Today Western Digital is a billion dollar Fortune 500 company with 7,600 workers.

Created in 1949, GSA is an independent agency of the executive branch with an annual budget of $10.4 billion and 20,000 employees. GSA sets policy for other executive branch agencies in the areas of supply and service procurement, property management, telecommunications and automated data processing. The agency also manages government-wide operations in building construction, leasing and management; motor vehicle, travel and transportation management and property disposal.

A biographical sketch is attached.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ON ROGER JOHNSON

Roger Johnson Joined Western Digital in July, 1982 as president and chief operating officer. He was named to the Board of Directors of the corporation in July, 1983 and was appointed chief executive officer in October, 1983. He was elected chairman of the board in November, 1984. Prior to joining Western Digital, he was president of the Office System Group of Burroughs Corporation and executive vice president and chief operating officer of Measurex Corporation. Earlier in his career, he held positions with Memorex, the Business Machines Division of the Singer Company and the General Electric Company. Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1934, Johnson received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Clarkson College of technology in Potsdam, New York in 1956 and a MBA in industrial management from the University of Massachusetts in 1963. He currently lives in Laguna Beach, California with his wife, Janice, who is a very active fundraiser in Orange County.

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