THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President

                    STATEMENT OF VICE PRESIDENT GORE
              ON THE DEATH OF SEATTLE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
                          JOHN HENRY STANFORD

Tipper and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of John Stanford, Seattle's School Superintendent.

John was a man of extraordinary achievement, and of rare courage in the face of a debilitating disease. A two-star Army general, he applied the skills that he learned from 30 years in the military to the challenge of improving the education of Seattle's school children. John was a man of great energy and innovative ideas, a gifted leader who lived by a simple motto when it came to the city's children: "love 'em and lead 'em." He will be greatly missed by the people of Seattle -- indeed by people all over America -- who so greatly appreciated his leadership.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

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