Aspin Listed as Critical After Stroke : Illness: Doctors at Georgetown University Medical Center are hopeful that the former defense secretary will make a good recovery.

Former Defense Secretary Les Aspin was in critical condition at Georgetown University Medical Center on Saturday after suffering a stroke.

“Upon admission he was awake, lucid and speaking,” said Michael Tebo, a spokesman for the hospital. “The next several days will be critical, but his doctors are hopeful for a good recovery.”

Tebo said Aspin was listed in critical condition and that his family had asked that no further details be disclosed.

He was being treated by cardiologist David Pearle, who has been his personal physician for a heart condition, Tebo said.

The spokesman’s statement on Aspin’s condition came nearly 11 hours after the former Wisconsin congressman arrived at the hospital via ambulance at 9:30 a.m. EDT Saturday.

Aspin, 56, has a history of heart problems; doctors gave him a pacemaker in March, 1993.

President Clinton issued a statement saying he was saddened to learn that Aspin had been hospitalized.

“Hillary and I wish him a speedy recovery,” Clinton said. “Our prayers are with him and his family at this time.”

Aspin, a Wisconsin congressman for 22 years, was chairman of the House Armed Services Committee when Clinton nominated him to head the Pentagon.

He was immediately caught in the cross-fire over Clinton’s plan to drop the ban on gays in the military. At the same time, the military was adjusting to new challenges posed by the disintegration of the former Soviet Union and Aspin was pressed to make deep cuts in defense spending.

The pressures of the job and a series of public relations glitches--including questions about the cost to taxpayers of a trip he took to Europe and reports that he had not provided adequate support for U.S. troops who were killed in Somalia--forced his resignation in December, 1993.

Clinton subsequently tapped Aspin to lead the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, which was established to review the nation’s intelligence agencies and operations.

Aspin also teaches at Marquette University’s Washington Center for Government.