Bush Picks Kean, Lott Taps Lehman for 9/11 Panel

Bush Picks Kean, Lott Taps Lehman for 9/11 Panel

by Deborah Zabarenko
Reuters
December 16, 2002
http://news.findlaw.com/news/s/20021216/attackcommissiondc.html

WASHINGTON - President Bush on Monday named former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean, a Republican, to head an independent commission investigating the U.S. government's failure to prevent the Sept. 11 attacks.

Later on Monday embattled Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott chose former Navy Secretary John Lehman, completing the 10-member bipartisan commission that is meant to investigate possible policy lapses related to the hijack attacks that killed more than 3,000 people.

These choices came three days after Bush's previous choice, Republican former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, resigned abruptly amid charges of conflicts of interest. Former Sen. George Mitchell, a Maine Democrat, resigned earlier as vice chairman of the commission.

"I am pleased to announce that Thomas Kean, former governor of New Jersey and president of Drew University in New Jersey, will serve as chairman of the National Commission to Investigate the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and the events that led up to it," Bush said in a statement. "Tom Kean is a leader respected for integrity, fairness and good judgment."

Kean, a moderate who was on Democratic President Bill Clinton's commission on race and chaired a national campaign to prevent teen pregnancy, has also been on the boards of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund, United Health Care Corp. and the National Endowment for Democracy.

Lott, under fire for remarks that some critics say show support for racial segregation, named Lehman to the last Republican slot on the commission.

"His experience on the National Security Council and as deputy director of the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency will be a great asset to the Sept. 11 commission," Lott said in a statement.

Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican who has been a strong voice for the 9/11 families, said he was pleased by Lott's choice of Lehman, even though the families had supported former Republican Sen. Warren Rudman of New Hampshire.

"Although the families were understandably united behind the appointment of Senator Warren Rudman, who also had my support, he was ultimately not selected," McCain said in a statement. "I am convinced, however, that John Lehman will aggressively pursue the truth to wherever it may lead so we may help avoid future terrorist attacks on our nation."

Lehman, of Pennsylvania, is chairman of J.F. Lehman & Co., and of OAOT Technology Solutions, and serves as director of the Ball Corporation, Insurance Services Office, SDI Inc., Elgar Inc. and Racal Instruments Inc.

BUSH INITIALLY OPPOSED COMMISSION

The Bush administration at first opposed the commission, which is charged with investigating possible intelligence, aviation security, immigration of other policy lapses related to the Sept. 11 attacks. Victims' families led a public campaign and pressured the president to reverse course.

When he signed legislation creating the commission, Bush urged its members to expedite their work, due to be completed within the next 18 months, and directed them to "follow all the facts wherever they lead."

But a senior administration official conceded that last week's high-level resignations meant the commission was not getting as fast a start as the president had hoped.

Kissinger's selection sparked controversy because of his policy-making role during the Vietnam War and the bombing of Cambodia, and because he is a high-priced private international consultant who declined to make his client list public.

Mitchell, the former Senate Democratic leader, announced last week he would not serve on the panel, citing time pressures. Democrats have recommended former House International Relations Committee chairman Lee Hamilton, an Indiana Democrat, to take Mitchell's place.

Democrats have named five representatives to the Sept. 11 commission, including Hamilton as vice chairman.

House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert, an Illinois Republican, on Sunday appointed former Illinois Gov. Jim Thompson and Fred Fielding, a former White House counsel to President Ronald Reagan.

Thompson is chairman of the Chicago-based law firm Winston & Strawn and Fielding is a senior partner in the Washington law firm Wiley Rein & Fielding.

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