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                       THE WHITE HOUSE 
                 OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, January 23, 1997

     VICE PRESIDENT NAMES CHARLES W. BURSON AS NEW COUNSEL
             Kumiki Gibson To Leave Counsel Post 
               For Employment in Private Sector

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Gore today (1/23) announced the departure of his Counsel, Kumiki Gibson, who will return to her legal career in the private sector. He named Charles Burson to replace Gibson as Counsel to the Vice President.

"Kumiki has done an outstanding job and she will be greatly missed," the Vice President said. "She has been an integral part of my office and a respected member of the White House staff. Kumiki will remain an important member of my extended family, and I look forward to working with her again."

Burson, named today as Gibson's successor, has served as Tennessee Attorney General since 1988. During his eight-year tenure as Tennessee's Attorney General, Burson served as President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG). He was the 1993 recipient of the Wyman Award given annually by the NAAG to the Attorney General who has done the most to promote its goals and enhance the Office of Attorney General.

As Tennessee's Attorney General, Burson has presented four arguments on behalf of the State of Tennessee before the United States Supreme Court. Previously, he was in private practice with the Memphis firm of Burson and Walkup, and then as a partner with Wildman, Harrold, Allen, Dixon, & McDonnell.

Burson received his B.A. with honors from the University of Michigan, an M.A. from Cambridge University, and his law degree from Harvard University. He is a native of Memphis. He is married to Bunny Burson, and they have two daughters, Clare and Kate.

"I am pleased that Charles has agreed to serve as my counsel," the Vice President said. "Charles has a solid reputation for fairness and effectiveness. His record as Tennessee Attorney General has been exemplary. I am certain that his experience will prove invaluable as he begins his service to this Administration and to me in his new job."

Gibson started working for the Vice President in April 1993 as his Associate Counsel. She was named Counsel to the Vice President in November 1994. Prior to that, she worked as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division/Criminal Section and, before that, she was associated with the Washington. D.C. law firm of Arnold & Porter. Gibson, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., attended Harvard University and Northeastern University School of Law. ##