White House to Repay $13,000 Cost of Copter Outing

White House officials will reimburse the government more than $13,000 for an aide’s unauthorized use of a presidential helicopter to go golfing, Administration officials said Saturday.

“Contributions will be remitted within one week,” Communications Director Mark D. Gearan said in a written statement.

David Watkins, director of White House administration, resigned under pressure after it was revealed that he took a presidential helicopter to Camp David, Md., and Holly Hills Country Club near New Market, Md., last Tuesday.

Alphonso Maldon, a White House aide who accompanied Watkins on the 55-mile trip, was reprimanded and will be reassigned.

President Clinton, angry about the incident, promised that taxpayers would be fully reimbursed. When Watkins refused to repay the full amount, other senior officials were solicited to make up the difference.

“David declined to pay the full amount, so people are doing this (making contributions) to fulfill the President’s pledge and move on,” said a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Watkins, whose job included jurisdiction over Camp David, maintained that he made the trip to scout out the golf course for Clinton’s possible use when he goes to the nearby presidential retreat. But Clinton rarely visits Camp David and has no plans to play at Holly Hills, aides said.

Gearan, in his statement, said the $13,129.16 to be reimbursed includes costs for a second helicopter, which ferried no White House aides Tuesday but had conducted a training mission in conjunction with the golf outing.

The Marine Corps calculated the total flight time for the two aircraft at five hours and 31 minutes, with costs estimated at $2,380 per hour.