Hanoi Visitor Had Clinton Letter of Introduction

White House officials confirmed Wednesday that then-Gov. Bill Clinton gave a letter of introduction late last year to an American businessman who went to Vietnam and met with foreign ministry officials, but said the letter was not intended as an overture to Hanoi and the man was not authorized to act on Clinton’s behalf.

The businessman, Clyde Pettit, spent several weeks in Vietnam in December and January.

“It was a letter of introduction, as governors often give to people on business trips,” said a White House official. “It was not a letter authorizing him to be an emissary for President Clinton. The message was simply, ‘Be nice to the guy when he comes calling.’ ”

Pettit’s letter, written on “State of Arkansas, Office of the Governor” stationery and signed by Clinton, was dated Dec. 9.

During the trip, Pettit presented the letter and reportedly urged foreign ministry officials to give him a letter in return that he could present to Clinton, according to the Reuters news agency, which first reported Pettit’s meeting.

Vietnamese officials told Reuters that Pettit had traveled to their country as a journalist and that they declined to respond to the letter he presented, which was addressed “to whom it may concern.” The Vietnamese told Reuters that Pettit described the letter to them as an important, indirect message from Clinton.

But White House Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers described the missive as “sort of a pro forma thing.” Pettit had known Clinton for many years--both men had worked earlier in their lives for former Arkansas Sen. J. William Fulbright--and Clinton provided the introductory letter as a courtesy, Myers said.

As governor, Clinton frequently provided letters to Arkansas natives traveling overseas. Myers said she did not know how many such letters he had provided after his election as President.

Times staff writer James Mann contributed to this story.