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THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release July 23, 1997

           VICE PRESIDENT NAMES SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS ADVISOR 
            AND TWO DEPUTY DIRECTORS OF LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Gore today named Eli G. Attie as senior communications advisor, and David Thomas and Rick Gonzales as deputy directors of Legislative Affairs.

I am pleased to announce the additions of Eli and Rick to our team and to announce the promotion of David, said the Vice President. All three bring solid experience to the job and will serve as strong members of my staff.

Attie, currently special assistant to the President for strategic planning and communications, will join the Vice President's staff as senior communications advisor, serving as chief speech writer and advisor on broader communications and strategy. Previously, Attie served as special assistant to House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt; as chief speech writer on the 1993, re-election campaign of New York Mayor David Dinkins; and as speech writer and press aide for then-Mayor Dinkins. Attie, a native of New York, is a 1989 magna cum laude graduate of Harvard College.

Thomas, currently legislative assistant to the Vice President, was promoted to deputy director of Legislative Affairs. He will serve as liaison between the Vice President and the U.S. Senate. Previously, Thomas served as staff assistant for U.S. Senator Howard Metzenbaum and interned for then-Senator Gore. Thomas, a native of Lake Forest, Il., has lived in New Orleans and Darian, Conn. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1993 with a degree in U.S. history.

Gonzales, currently a legislative assistant to the President, will serve as deputy director of Legislative Affairs for the Vice President. He will serve as the liaison between the Vice President and the U.S. House of Representatives. Previously, Gonzales served as congressional liaison for the Presidential Inaugural Committee; special projects director and office manager for Vice President Operations, Clinton/Gore 1996; federal legislative representative for the City of Los Angeles; senior legislative assistant for U.S. Representative Lucille Roybal-Allard; and legislative assistant and staff assistant for U.S. Representative Edward Roybal. Gonzales, a native of Brawley, Calif., graduated with a degree in political science from San Diego State University in 1990.

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