Heckler Claims ‘Vendetta’ by White House Aide

Margaret M. Heckler complained that she was ousted as secretary of health and human services because of a “long-term vendetta” on the part of “one individual in the White House.”

Heckler, who this week resigned from the department to become U.S. ambassador to Ireland, said in an interview published Saturday that the vendetta “went on for years” but that, with the support of President Reagan, she nonetheless was able to accomplish a great deal.

“I was the victim of a long-term vendetta by one individual in the White House,” Heckler told U.S. News & World Report.

“It went on for years. So the well was poisoned. I was never given support by the team. But I was always given the President’s support.”

She did not mention the individual’s name, but the magazine quoted sources close to Heckler as identifying John A. Svahn, assistant to the President for policy development.

Svahn is a former Social Security commissioner and was a deputy to Heckler in the Cabinet post. He has been mentioned as a candidate to replace Heckler, although Reagan said last week that Svahn would not be appointed.

When Heckler appeared with Reagan in the White House press center last Tuesday, both insisted that her ambassadorship represented a promotion. Heckler said Reagan had assured her that it was her decision whether to accept the new post.

In the interview, Heckler insisted that she successfully presided over her department at a time of revolutionary change. She said that she made progress against AIDS syndrome, helped cut the agency’s budget and helped implement a Medicare payment system designed to avert bankruptcy.