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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release March 30, 1993

PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES RUTH HARKIN TO HEAD OPIC

Washington, D.C. - President Clinton today announced his intention to nominate Ruth Harkin, a top corporate attorney with expertise in international trade and investment, as president of the Oversees Private Investment Corporation.

"Ruth Harkin has the experience, know-how and new ideas to make OPIC an innovative agency that will work aggressively to increase American investment overseas while protecting jobs at home," the President said.

Harkin has served as Of Counsel to the law firm Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P. since 1983. Part of an office that emphasizes work in litigation, legislation, labor and international trade, she has specialized in corporate, regulatory and public policy matters for domestic clients and worked with CEOs to develop long-term corporate strategies and international trade policies.

Prior to entering private practice, Harkin served for eight years in a policy-making role as deputy general counsel for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Earlier in her career, Harkin served as a special prosecutor in Iowa during a first degree murder trial and as county attorney in Story County, Iowa.

OPIC is a U.S. government agency that provides project financing, investment insurance and a variety of investor services in 140 developing nations and emerging economies throughout the world.

OPIC supports, finances and insures projects that will have a positive impact on the American economy and does not support projects that will result in the loss of U.S. jobs. In Fiscal 1992 OPIC had a record total investment of over $8 billion in 118 projects worldwide.

A biographical sketch is attached.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF RUTH HARKIN

Ruth Harkin has served as Of Counsel to the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P., since 1983, specializing in corporate, regulatory and public policy matters for domestic clients. Prior to entering private practice, she served as Deputy General Counsel with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (1973- 81), as a special prosecutor in a first degree murder trial in Polk County, Iowa (1977-78) and as County Attorney in Story County, Iowa (1973-79). Harkin received a BA from the University of Minnesota in 1966 and a J.D. from the Columbia School of Law at Catholic University in 1972. Harkin, 48, is married to Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and the couple have two children.

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