The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release July 20, 1993

This evening, the White House was contacted by the United States Park Service and informed that the body of Deputy White House Counsel Vincent Foster, Jr. had been discovered at Fort Marcy, near the George Washington Parkway in Virginia. The positive identification of Mr. Foster's body was provided to the White House at approximately 9:55 p.m., and the death was reported by Park Service investigators as an apparent suicide.

Upon learning of Mr. Foster's death, the President issued the following statement.

"It was with deep sadness that I learned of the death of Vincent Foster, who served ably and with distinction as Deputy White House Counsel, and was my friend for over forty years.

"Hillary and I love his wife Lisa and their three children, and we want to draw them close to our hearts and keep them in our prayers in this painful moment of grief.

"His family has lost a loving husband and father, America has lost a gifted and loyal public servant, and Hillary and I have lost a true and trusted friend.

"My deepest hope is that whatever drew Vince away from us this evening, his soul will receive the grace and salvation that his good life and good works earned."

The President has joined the family of Vincent Foster this evening. The White House will have no further comment on his passing until tomorrow.

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