THE WHITE HOUSE

                     Office of the Press Secretary
                        (Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt)
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release                                   October 16, 2000

                PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES BILL DUKE TO THE
                   NATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE HUMANITIES

     The President today announced his intent to nominate Bill Duke as a

member of the National Council on the Humanities.

Mr. Bill Duke, of Washington, D.C., is Chairman of Film Studies at Howard University and both a distinguished film director and actor. Among his feature film directing credits are "Hoodlum," "The Boy Who Painted Christ Black," and "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit." His primetime television direction credits include: "Raisin in the Sun," "The Outsider," "Hill Street Blues," and "Fame." As an actor he has appeared in "Payback," "Bird on a Wire," and "American Gigolo." In addition to his work at Howard University, he has also taught and lectured at numerous universities, including Colorado College, Boston University and Lincoln University. Mr. Duke has received several awards, including Special Recognition for "Hoodlum" from Friends of the Black Oscar Nominees, and the Drum Major for Justice Film Award from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Mr. Duke received a B.A. from Boston University, and M.F.A. degrees from New York University and the American Film Institute.

The National Council on the Humanities is responsible for advising the Chair with respect to the policies, programs and procedures necessary for the operation of the National Endowment for the Humanities. In addition, the Council reviews applications for the awarding of grants and makes recommendations to the Chair. Staff support and funding for the council are provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

30-30-30