Powell Memoirs Reveal Overtures From Clinton

In his new book, retired Gen. Colin L. Powell says he was asked to consider being candidate Bill Clinton’s running mate and that he was approached twice about becoming the President’s secretary of state.

Previously, Powell turned down a chance to become director of the CIA when then-President-elect George Bush offered him the job in 1988, according to this week’s issue of Newsweek, which obtained a copy of Powell’s autobiography, “My American Journey.”

Newsweek’s account of the book said: “Democratic power broker Vernon E. Jordan Jr. asked [Powell during the 1992 presidential campaign] if he’d consider being Clinton’s running mate.”

After Clinton won, Powell was asked, again by Jordan, about becoming secretary of state, and in 1994 Clinton himself asked Powell to replace Secretary of State Warren Christopher, the magazine reported.

Powell and Jordan were not immediately available for comment, but White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry, traveling with Clinton in Hawaii, did not dispute Powell’s assertions.

“I think you know that the President cast a wide net as he was searching for a running mate,” McCurry said. “It is no secret that President Clinton has very high regard for Gen. Powell, as do many Americans.”

He said Clinton settled on Al Gore and looks forward to being reelected with him. “All the rest is ancient history,” McCurry said.

McCurry said Christopher and the President had candid discussions at the beginning of this year about whether the secretary of state would remain on the job, eventually deciding that he should stay.

McCurry said that as Christopher weighed his future, it was “prudent . . . that the President might have inquired to several people about their interest in that position.”

“Obviously, these are very sensitive personnel discussions, and apparently Gen. Powell has felt free to write about that,” the press secretary said. “That’s his right as an American.”